Well well...

What a surprise...

Apparently, the timeline for yesterday goes something like this: a decision on an economic deal is nearly reached, John McCain arrives in Washington, and sits through a 40 minute meeting on the proposal barely speaking, and suddenly the deal falls apart as the Republicans suddenly counter-propose a vaguely worded, clearly rushed alternative.

See my last post for comments on the political expediency of that maneuver for McCain. You might have heard it here first, depending on whether you read us before other news sources.

So we are left with the last great outstanding question regarding the bizarre fiasco that is fast becoming the McCain campaign: will he show in Mississippi tonight?

I'm guessing he does. I'm guessing there will be a fair bit of fallout from that, but far less than if he leaves the stage empty.