Suspension of Disbelief

Suspension of Disbelief is the "willingness of a person to accept as true the premises of a work of fiction, even if they are fantastic or impossible" and appears to be what is on the Political Menu this week.

First, it looks like Congress has reached some agreement on what the ginormous-sorry-we-took-our-eye-off-the-ball-can we-have-some-more-of-your-money-please bailout will look like.

They made the announcement shortly before McCain and Obama met with the President, but after the meeting, Republican leaders who were in the room emphatically stated: "we will not have a deal."

I'm sure glad that McCain forced a rush on Washington to save the everyone-thinks-its-a-bad-idea plan from certain death.

It also looks like the debates will go on, with or without McCain, with Obama pledging to be available to the media for Q & A from them and/or from the audience. CNN's Paul Begala writes today that we need a debate now precisely to help the country differentiate between the actually very different economic and foreign policy positions.

In other exciting news, Palin held her first "press availability" today after being raked over the coals for days for being so unavailable. A select group of reporters from her press corps were told 20 minutes before she finished touring Ground Zero in NYC that she would make a statement and "take a few questions." She took five. And answered four, sort of:

PALIN: Every American student needs to come through this area so that, especially this younger generation of Americans is, to be in a position of never forgetting what happened here and never repeating, never allowing a repeat of what happened here. I wish every American would come through here. I wish every world leader would come through here, and understand what it is that took place here and more importantly how America came together and united to commit to never allowing this to happen again. And just to hear and from and see these good New Yorkers who are rebuilding not just this are but helping to rebuild America has been very, very inspiring and encouraging. These are the good Americans who are committed to peace and security and its been an absolute honor getting to meet these folks today.

CNN: On the topic of never letting this happen again, do you agree with the way the Bush administration has handled the war on terrorism, is there anything you would do differently?

A: I agree with the Bush administration that we take the fight to them. We never again let them come onto our soil and try to destroy not only our democracy, but communities like the community of New York. Never again. So yes, I do agree with taking the fight to the terrorists and stopping them over there.

POLITICO: Do you think our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan and our continued presence there is inflaming islamic extremists?

A: I think our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan will lead to further security of our nation, again, because the mission is to take the fight over there. Do not let them come over here and attempt again what they accomplished here, and that was some destruction. Terrible destruction on that day. But since September 11, Americans uniting and rebuilding and committing to never letting that happen again.

POLITICO: Do you support the reelection bids of embattled Alaska Republicans, Rep. Don Young and Sen. Ted Stevens?

A: Ted Stevens trial started a couple days ago. We’ll see where that goes.

POLITICO: Are you gong to vote for them?

[no answer.]

JERSEY JOURNAL: What do you think of the bailout package before congress?

A: I don't support that until the provisions that Sen. McCain has offered are implemented in Paulson's proposals.

Whew. Who knows what we will be asked to believe tomorrow.