Letterman knocks McSame down a peg

Rare is the day that I watch the late night talk shows (or whatever they are called) any longer; I actually used to think I would watch them more as I get older, but the opposite seems to be true - most of the time, I couldn't care less. However, I fell asleep in front of the TV last night, and I woke up just in time to catch David Letterman savaging John McCain for canceling his appearance on his show at the last minute. (Thankfully, especially for Democrats and liberals the country over, a surprisingly low key Keith Olbermann filled in.)

Clearly McCain canceling on Letterman was a desperate attempt to gain ground in the polls by trying to look like he's trying to affect some sort of change to the absurd Wall Street bailout being considered in Washington (Update: It looks like it's a done deal - I shudder to think about the compromise that our politicians have come up with in Washington - it will no doubt have elements that both parties can point to leading up to the election so they can all jump up and down and say, "Hey, look what we did to rescue home owners!).

The minute I heard the reason that McCain bailed on Letterman (it was all over the news yesterday afternoon and evening), I immediately said to myself, "it's bullshit," but I was willing to perhaps give him the benefit of the doubt. However, miraculously, the noble GOP Nominee found time in his emergency travel plans to do a sit-down interview with CBS Anchorwoman Katie Couric last night. Needless to say, that didn't go well. (Footage to follow.)

What's more, McCain is now trying to weasel out of the first of three presidential debates scheduled for tomorrow evening. And, to make things more interesting, the McCain camp is now proposing pushing back the vice presidential debate instead (again, more video to follow). It's pretty clear that the McCain campaign is tanking (the poll numbers more than suggest this), & Palin is about as qualified to be president (or vice president) as the man sitting under the I-95 overpass down near the Philadelphia Naval Business Center.

Right now, it's all about buying time - for the McCain campaign as well as for the economy. It doesn't take a political scientist to see that Republicans are desperately trying to hold things together for about six more weeks. Then, all bets are off.

Lots more to come this evening - I've set aside the entire evening for blogging, as well as tomorrow evening to live blog the presidential debate, if it happens at all. Stay tuned...