The subtitle of a Salon article on McCain asking to cancel the debates:

McCain is now unlikely to show up for the first scheduled showdown with Obama. Master stroke or campaign in meltdown?

Only in our completely deranged political climate would anyone even entertain the idea that this could be a “masterstroke.” Can you imagine for a minute what would happen if the circumstances were reversed, and the Democrats were running some doddering old white guy who refused to talk to the press, chose an inexperienced governor as his running mate, and was angling to cancel the debates? Who made as many gaffes per day as McCain does? Who reverses his positions by the minute? I have to believe it would be a bloodbath. This campaign is a frigging joke, and it’s still neck and neck. Unbelievable.

And the conclusion of the article is that McCain probably won’t show up for the debate, because he’d look “weak” if he backed down now. So what, now we just aren’t going to see our candidates debate? How can he even do that?