If there is a standoff right now it’s because McCain parachuted into the negotiations and sabatoged the deal for his political gain.
Dems and Reps had all agreed they had reached a deal as early as 1:00PM today…then McCain made the rounds.
McCain has to tell the American people what he did to convince his Rep. friends to back away from their first claim that a deal had been reached!!!!
THIS STINKS!!!!!!!!!
I’m still not convinced… it’s time they all stop playing politics and try to explain its necessity … very slowly and clearly without trying to point fingers. Rep Frank loves to say it’s so-n-so’s fault… just stop it and get back to work!
I blame McCain. He deliberately injected presidential politics into the delicate discussions on the Hill by asking Bush to invite him and Obama to the White House. I lay 95% of the blame on McCain. The man is a political sham.
Posted by: Mary | September 25, 2008, 9:08 pm 9:08 pm
Who’s to blame? John McCain. He’s the one who suddenly decided to inject the bipartisan efforts and hard work with presidential politics and egomania.
I lost ALL respect for McCain. Country first my *ss.
There’s enough drama in American politics as it is. Did John McCain have to invent new drama so he is the center of attention every 5 minutes?
Posted by: hiss | September 25, 2008, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
Of COURSE the bill shouldn’t pass.
And Frank and Dodd shouldn’t be involved in it at all. Reid and Pelosi, who last week didn’t “know what to do” and wanted to send Congress home, should butt out, pass the gavel, whatever it takes to get rid of this thing.
Having the BushCons and the Democrats in cahoots to establish corporatism/fascism doesn’t look so good. Looks like a deal for the election — maybe to avoid a Republican administration that can get the goods on Bush and the neo-cons …
Hurray for whoever stopped it.
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 25, 2008, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
The bill should NOT pass.
Listen to the urgency in their voices, the frantic screams of an outgoing administration determined to rape Americans of nearly a Trillion dollars before heading out of town with their loot securely in the hands of their wall street investment banker friends.
This bill is a crime. It is theft, lies, deception, and corruption all dressed up as the remedy to a crisis.
Where will the money go? How exactly will it help? Who will it help? (as of today, Ditech is still loaning money to any qualified borrower), What portion of it will end up lost and unnacounted for? Why should the very bozos who caused this crisis be given our trust to resolve it.
There is only one solution to this that makes sense. First, take a breath. Our economy is not failing as fast as they make it seem. Second, entrust the solution to the new president and the new congress, not to an outgoing administration seeking to pull off yet another hit-and-run.
If you email your senators and congressmen and tell them NO to this bill, it might just end up where it belongs, in the garbage can of history.
Why are we so much in a hurry to shell out $700 billion.
The question is a sham… if it passes Mac will be blaimed… if it does not Mac will be blaimed. At least he is sticking his neck out on this. Obama went back to preping for a debate rather than work on this.
“Rep Frank loves to say it’s so-n-so’s fault… just stop it and get back to work!”
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 25, 2008, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm
The bill should NOT pass.
Listen to the urgency in their voices, the frantic screams of an outgoing administration determined to rape Americans of nearly a Trillion dollars before heading out of town with their loot securely in the hands of their wall street investment banker friends.
This bill is a crime. It is theft, lies, deception, and corruption all dressed up as the remedy to a crisis.
Where will the money go? How exactly will it help? Who will it help? (as of today, Ditech is still loaning money to any qualified borrower), What portion of it will end up lost and unnacounted for? Why should the very bozos who caused this crisis be given our trust to resolve it.
There is only one solution to this that makes sense. First, take a breath. Our economy is not failing as fast as they make it seem. Second, entrust the solution to the new president and the new congress, not to an outgoing administration seeking to pull off yet another hit-and-run.
If you email your senators and congressmen and tell them NO to this bill, it might just end up where it belongs, in the garbage can of history.
McCain made a mockery out of the process. Congress was working diligently in a bi-partisan manner to help the American people and he showed up to see how he could help his campaign.
I blame McCain, until he made this big deal about coming to the rescue the deal was all but done.
Posted by: Danny | September 25, 2008, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm
Ugh, it looked like there was a deal worked out before this meeting, which was apparently called hastily by Bush to cover for McCain’s grandstanding on Wednesday. I hope our country doesn’t suffer for it.
“Why are we so much in a hurry to shell out $700 billion.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 25, 2008, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
What do we know? Most top economists agree that the bill should pass to prevent an economic meltdown that would cost all of us even more.
Both McCain the drama queen and some clueless House Republicans screwed it up.
It really doesn’t matter who’s to blame JUST FIX IT…..the house is on fire and it’s not a time to screw around….no “multi tasking”…Obama could never meet with McCain for 10 town halls AFTER REPEATED REQUESTS THROUGHOUT THE LAST THREE MONTHS. Obama can now wait a few days for his debate….UNLESS HE’S WORRIED HE WON’T REMEMBER THE STUFF HE’S CRAMMED IN THAT BRAIN OF HIS ON NATIONAL SECURITY.
McCAIN = COUNTRY FIRST, NOT EGO!
The bail out should pass, but with conditions. The money should be paid back, even over a long term. Guarantees the money will go to where it is needed the most.
Bailouts send the wrong message to business.
Of the two candidates, which one walked into that meeting, started floating ideas no one had heard before, with no details or substance, rallied his cronies, then left the room in a mess.
John McCain. The coming recession is John McCain’s fault. But for his political posturing, we could have rescued ourselves.
“Congress was working diligently in a bi-partisan manner to help the American people”
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 25, 2008, 9:21 pm 9:21 pm
There’s only a standoff so McCAIN WILL HAVE AN EXCUSE to not to debate.
Say GRANDSTANDING!
Posted by: Truth Hurts the GOP | September 25, 2008, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
Posted by StevePA — “Did Obama even show up to the meeting or was he having a separate meeting with Streisand and Speilberg?”
Yes, Steve, if you looked at the photos from McCain’s Circus today, you saw Obama seated 2 seats to the left of Presdint Bush. Listening respectfully to all the Bulls**T coming from the other side of the table. It’s in all the photos from today.
Meanwhile there is 100% concensus on both sides of the House and Senate that McCain’s grandstanding today was stupid and unproductive.
“This bill is a crime. It is theft, lies, deception, and corruption all dressed up as the remedy to a crisis.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 25, 2008, 9:26 pm 9:26 pm
Just stop all the bickering and get something passed so the market doesn’t crash. WE TAX PAYERS ARE USED TO FOOTING THE BILL FOR ALL OF GOVERNMENT’S MISTAKES. WE TAKE IT IN THE ASS EVERYDAY WHY SHOULD NOW BE ANY DIFFERENT? HONESTLY WHAT WE NEED IN THIS COUNTRY IS FOR PEOPLE TO STOP BELIEVING IN THE SYSTEM AND OVERTHROW IT LIKE WE DID THE BRITISH IN 1776. BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS THE SAME BULL@#$! THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON AND REAL PATRIOTS FOUGHT AGAINST TO FORM THIS UNION. BUT I GUESS AMERICANS WENT AND GOT TOO DAMN COMFORTABLE AND REALLY DON’T CARE ANYMORE.
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 25, 2008, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm
McCain put his foot in it, with his usual vainglorious egotism, playing on Bush’s desperation to try to look presidential.
He also clearly double-dealt with Obama to try to get the drop on him. FAIL at that. OK, sure, double-dealing is part of all politics – and there are no refs in this game. I have no problem with the double-dealing part. Hell, Reagan and Roosevelt did it all the time. One thing I actually LIKE about Obama is that he knows that sometimes you have to play the angles, and he’s good at it. But, McCain did it badly and clumsily. Not only is he a vain, smarmy, lying double-dealer, he’s an incompetent one! Very unpresidential.
Regardless of what you think about the current bailout compromise, his injection of presidential politics has badly poisoned the process.
The republicans are stalling so John McCain doesn’t have to go to the debate. McCain wants the debate pushed to October 2nd so that will either bump the vp debate back or eliminate it all together. McCain does not want Sarah Palin to speak. McCain wants to run out the clock so he can walk right into the White House no questions asked.
Fellow Americans please don’t give John McCain a bailout. Tell him to stick with his responsiblities and go to the debate.
I like to consider myself a staunch capitalist and have an economics degree. As much as I despise the idea of a bailout, I look at someone like my father who is about to retire and has done everything right. He saved and invested for years.Now because of this bologna his 401K has lost huge $$$ in the last year. If we let these companies fail, it not only hurts the bigwigs but people likie my father may never get to retire even after doing everything right.
McCain needs to quit posturing and either help get this thing passed or get the hell out of the way!!
Posted by: Grant | September 25, 2008, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm
JAKE
If McCain misses the debate, someone should follow him around and let people know exactly what he is “accomplishing” during those two hours.
Neither McCain or Obama has added anything new to the legislation. There HAD been bipartisan cooperation until McCain made a political mockery of it.
So Washington apparently can’t run without the “maverick”? Who’s the one with the HUGE ego again? McCain hasn’t voted on anything since April, obviously they can survive without him for a couple hours.
Perhaps they might actually get something accomplished if he gets his microphones out of the way.
Posted by: John "Greenspan" McCain to the rescue | September 25, 2008, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm
Quick.
Get Sarah Palin to Washington.
There’s a crisis brewing.
Put her executive experience to use.
Solve the problem
And by Sunday we can watch the NFL games in peace, knowing that we are in good hands.
How much Bank scandel actually follows McCain? Well, He was investigated and largely exonerated in a political influence scandal of the 1980s as a member of the ‘Keating Five’. His connection to Rick Davis, who imbezzeled money from Fannie Mae, as early as last Month. And one of McCains sons, who was a bank auditor, mysteriously left his job , two months before the bank went bankrupt. Even another Senator from an earlier speech, connected McCain to the scandel in the 1980′s. The ‘Keats five’. McCain has told us, he has been in contact with the Senate, but even the Senators said, they had not spoken to him. He just heard of the plan two days ago. McCain has lost Touch. Being touched by CORUPTION, must make him feel a little numb. If he can still feel at all.
I have a question, about any other organizations, he may be a part of.
Americans may be curious to know which one. I suggest transparency be implemented. At least that is McCains platform. It still is, Right?
And guess what, about Todd Palin?
:)
Of course, Sarah could not join. But she could speak at a group meeting. She’s a Female. Only Men join this group. Women join the OTHER ONE.
Who is Senator Richard Shelby…
Who wants the answers?
So McCain sides with FOREIGN CAPITOLIST NAZIS. The Far Right Republican have voiced their opinions, about America. The Do want it to fall. And the said IRAN was bad. CAPITOL TERRORISTS ARE ALREADY IN AMERICA. They are just waiting for Middle America, to kill eachother, trying to get to them.
A ‘CHEMICAL WEDDING’, is the story of Far Far Right Republicans.
Wow Super McCain is on the way if this deal doesnt get done more americans will feel this was a stunt to better poll numbers for McCain it was important for him to get the house republicans on board he wasnt able to achieve that thats presidential for you or trying like a whore to become president.
Posted by: joe | September 25, 2008, 9:36 pm 9:36 pm
This financial crisis has proved once again that Obama is all talk and no action. McCain has been leading to put country first.
The bill was not done before the meeting. The democrats came out early trying to say a deal was done without considering that they had enough votes to pass the plan. Again they rushed to judgement. This current bailout plan is not the solution. It shouldn’t be done hastily just to meet partisan politics. Every Senator and Congressman should be working on it. This is the most important crisis facing our country at this time.
Republicans why not you ask your darling Gov.Sarah Palin to get this deal done she has executive experience of 24 months and thru her smile she will be able to make the deal done certainly she made pakistani president horny.
Posted by: Joe | September 25, 2008, 9:40 pm 9:40 pm
McCain is going nowhere today without heavy make-up. He’s paid more than $5,500 to Tifanie White, the makeup artist who works on “American Idol,” for cosmetic services.
Should America see the REAL McCain, we’d be in another Great Depression already.
In the midst of this crisis, we got a zombie running for President. Much more dead than alive.
McCain: The American Idle.
McCAIN: THE BRITNEY SPEARS OF POLITICS
Stunts McCain Has Pulled
* Selects VP with very little experience that he met once
* Cancels first day of Republican convention
* Makes sure President Bush is no where near the convention
* Says he’s against AIG bailout, four hours later says he is for it
* Says he will suspend his campaign but continues to run ads and have his surrogates speak on TV
* Declares he will fire SEC chairman Chris Cox, later says he’s a good guy
What will John McCain do next? Shave his head at a local barber shop?
gracious, not sure what I said in my last post to get it deleted. To answer the question, well, we don’t really know what the compromise bill is, do we?
I think Bush’s initial $700B request is a joke and a travesty, typical of this Republican’s desire for power without accountability. Most progressives agree. But it’s clear that’s not what he’s going to get. The compromise will involve much less money, first off. Some sort of phased support with significant regulation, accountability, and an equity stake for the public is more like it.
I also think that the GOP is setting this up as a trap for the Dems. They know some kind of bailout is needed, but they’ll work to blame the Dems for it. Buncha degenerates.
By the way who’s acting like another third term of Bush… the Democtrat Congess seem all to happy to be on the President’s side on this one!
Dem Congress = GW Bush
Never thought I’d say it!
Posted by Steve — “Obama should be thrown in jail for his lack of leadership”
Gee, another stupid comment!
First of all, Steve, “lack of leadership” is not a crime. But sending 4,178 Americans to their deaths for a lie is a crime. I think it’s called Treason.
Second of all, Obama has shown more leadership on this issue than anyone else in our government. Obama stated clear requirements for any “bailout”, which he spoke publicly and posted on his website. Most of all, Obama’s leadership came from not jumping head first into following Bush’s war cry and McCain’s 3-ring circus. He politely accepted McCain’s challenge to appear in DC today, and is steadfastly on track for the national debate with McCain tomorrow night.
One candidate knows how to stay on course, and how to lead, and it ain’t McCain.
George Will was rite the conservative made this assertion day before McCain was suspend campaign go to washington [skipped voting 412 times last time voted april 8]get the deal done its looking more of a political stunt to better poll numbers and is about to land on his face Will was rite given crisis he reacts in a violent manner trying to change game here game over McSAme.
Posted by: Joe | September 25, 2008, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm
This is not a just a crisis. It is a mega crisis. In which case McCain made Obama look weak by doing the right thing. Obama would never have suspended his campaign.
That is the difference. McCain leads when the call is there. Obama follows.
Blame or credit does not go to Obama – he just wants to take the credit if it succeeds and say it was not his idea if it fails.
Smooth do-nothing politician.
Why can’t Paulson and/or Barnanke explain in straight English why this will melt down the banking system? Stop telling people that a melt down banking system will lead to a great depression – we all have heard that many times by now and are already, positively and definitely convinced of this causal relationship between banking and economy. Please tell us the details of how the lack of a bail out will cause the banking system to fail.
Why would someone like Warren Buffett put in $5 Billion if the ship is about to go down.
Why do people think someone taking charge and acting like a leader is a political stunt
—————–
Do you not get it? I’ll explain.
McCain isn’t “taking charge” of anything. The legislation was written without him and he had added nothing to it.
THAT’S why it’s a stunt. Because McCain wants people to believe he is a key player in writing this bailout plan and “leading the way” to get it passed. The fact is, he’s simply not.
There was cooperation before he showed up. And now there’s bickering. He should have stayed away and let those more knowledgable work it out. (Which is just about anyone based on what he has said recently.)
And McCain missing two hours for a debate will not have any impact on the outcome of the legislation – we all know that.
Politics Before Country
POW – Prisoner of Wallstreet
Posted by: Go Away McCain, Let People Work | September 25, 2008, 9:50 pm 9:50 pm
It’s official now.
“At today’s cabinet meeting, John McCain did not attack any proposal or endorse any plan,” according to a statement from the McCain campaign.
McCain is a poser, not a leader.
McCain showed up because he knew things were not right with the bill as it was and he did not want the Democrats to rush it through and then have the entire Congress have to take the fall for it.
If any of you would listen to what Joe Average Citizen is saying, they are saying they DO NOT want this bail-out bill.
McCain knew this, and felt it was his duty to his constituents and to the country as a whole, to make sure nothing went through that the people di not approve of.
Think political posturing all you want, but I honestly believe this is why he did it.
Posted by: Lee | September 25, 2008, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm
This makes McCain experience and maverick attitude the more important than our massive undefined entertainer – McCain has lead in the most crucial financial crisis our country is about to face, whereas Obama has followed the way he followed Rezko and Wright, deciding whether a red or blue tie looks good for the debate.
Posted by: country voter | September 25, 2008, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm
McCain, both on the ABC clip referenced above and in his statement on CBS news, was grinning like a cat who swallowed a canary.
That was totally inappropriate considering the seriousness of the situation–a serious crisis that threatens all Americans.
Just based on his demeanor, it appears that John McCain is out for himself, and relishing the spotlight in a juvenile way.
Posted by: Danny | September 25, 2008, 10:11 pm 10:11 pm
Listen to Chris Dodd, who worked so hard on an bipartisan agreement:
“What happened here, basically, if you want an honest appraisal of the thing, we have been spending a lot of time and I am tired. I have spent almost seven straight days at this in trying to come out with a workout plan for our economy a rescue plan,”
“What this looked like to me was a rescue plan for John McCain for two hours and took us away from the work we are trying to do today. Serious people trying to do serious work to come up with an answer.”
To illustrate the chaos and panic in the McCain campaign:
Shortly before 2pm ET, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said on MSNBC that his boss deserves credit for the bipartisan bailout deal.
Bounds then apparently went way off message, indicating that McCain would attend tomorrow’s debate. “We’re going into a debate,” Bounds said, adding “I think we’re going there strong.”
And where are we know? Which deal? What credit did McCain deserve?
The whole campaign lost its bearings.
Theirs is no candidate to deal with a crisis.
You know, the thought of the 60 million a month raised by Obama for Obama for over 10 months, could have easily used to bail out the financial crisis, never cross Obama’s mind. The country is appproacing worst financial crisis our country has ever known and Obama is wastefully spending his money lavishly.
“If any of you would listen to what Joe Average Citizen is saying, they are saying they DO NOT want this bail-out bill.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 25, 2008, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm
We should have known better that anything good would have come out of a meeting behind closed doors with Bush.
We would have been better off if everyone politely declined his invitation and just kept hammering it out until they had a vote today on the Hill! A moderate, middle of the road plan needs to be reached that everyone can begrudgingly get behind…if everyone’s a little unhappy with it, it’ll probably be the best piece of work Congress has done in ages!
Posted by: Amy T | September 25, 2008, 11:39 pm 11:39 pm
Lindsey Graham (R-Fla.) is reporting on Fox that this bill had a huge earmark for ACORN, the oft-maligned community group with a history of both corruption and Obama support. Jake, can you verify or disprove this story? What other earmarks are the Dems trying to push through in their rush to ostensibly bail out Wall Street. I heard the figure was $140 million. Is that true? The American people should be outraged if it is true.
Posted by: Jo Chgo | September 25, 2008, 11:51 pm 11:51 pm
The Democrats tried to put forward a bill without accounting for the views of the House Republicans.
Then, Pelosi realized that her party would be exposed and sought at least 100 House Republicans for cover.
The House Republicans put forth their concerns and principles for passage and the deal fell apart.
Keep in mind, the House Republicans represent a significant portion of Americans who are extremely distressed with the state of affairs. They deserve to be hear and factored into the solution.
Posted by: Captain America | September 26, 2008, 12:21 am 12:21 am
And how many more millions did McCain and RNC raise that could have bailed things out??
Please, pointing fingers only shows that you can, but not that you will do anything.
Obama/Biden ’08
Posted by: Bev | September 26, 2008, 1:02 am 1:02 am
It sounded like they had the deal wrapped before McCain stepped in it. I wonder how much ordinary people, known as “Main Street” Americans now (anybody have a main street anymore? I do) are going to lose tomorrow because of McCain’s posturing and hubris? Did he actually try to hitch a capital gains cut to this bill?
I hate this bailout – and I hate it that my kids are gonna have to pay for some idiots with trash bonds for years – but there is no other way out. At least both parties have worked together to remove some of the really scary measures in the original bill. Maybe there is hope yet – if somebody can keep McCain out of it.
Posted by: mara | September 26, 2008, 1:06 am 1:06 am
President Bush made a convincing case and successfully outlined reasons why this bill is necessary. We are in dire straits, and it is clear that something has to be done. What will happen to small business owners, college students and consumers in general when this country’s financial system go bust? This is not a game, and Congressional Republicans need to understand this.
Posted by: Dave | September 26, 2008, 1:08 am 1:08 am
Reid Seeks McCain Pledge
Senate majority leader tells White House it must serve up support from the Republican nominee if it hopes to win bipartisan bailout backing.
Roll Call Staff – Roll Call
September 24, 2008
Fearing a political backlash against Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has told the White House that it must serve up support from Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) if it hopes to ensure bipartisan backing for a massive economic bailout package by week’s end.
Reid made his position clear to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on Monday night, as well as to his Democratic caucus, which shares many of the GOP’s concerns that the $700 billion bailout has been drafted too hastily and is a risky remedy for an economy on the brink of crisis. Reid, according to Democratic Senate sources, also wants assurances from Senate Republican leaders that an evenly divided, bipartisan group of Senators will pass any legislative fix so his party isn’t left with the burden of doing an unpopular White House’s bidding — again.
McCain holds the key to such a bipartisan vote, according to Reid, because Republicans are likely to defer to his position on a bill that holds political peril.
As the current leaders of their respective parties I don’t think it unreasonable to expect them to both be there and take the lead in reaching a bipartisan deal. Obama should have looked at it as an opportunity but all he thought about was staying the course after he is the one that said it was the greatest crisis since the Depression.
Posted by: pennsylvaniavoter | September 26, 2008, 1:11 am 1:11 am
let it all fall down…..
chips fall where they may…
maybe the next country called America will end up a more just place than this one
we had 1 revolution over 200 years ago, maybe it’s time for another, and give the people back the country the way it was originally intended
Posted by: Patriot | September 26, 2008, 1:16 am 1:16 am
I thought the Republicans brought bad karma to McCain, now I know it is the other way around. They deserve each other.
Posted by: Leonard Peltier | September 26, 2008, 1:20 am 1:20 am
Be reminded that McCain initially said that the economy was sound before doing an about face. He is not putting this country first and his reckless behavior is putting us all at risk.
Both parties had nearly succeeded in hammering out a deal and then McCain showed up. He had said that he would work as long as necessary to make sure a deal was made; however, he left the Hill around 5:35. He was not around when the meeting was convened at 8 p.m. It is time for McCain to put country first and stop trying to use this bill to improve his polling numbers.
Posted by: Dave | September 26, 2008, 1:24 am 1:24 am
Free Market Terrorists, can afford to hide Tainted milk. Terrorists LOVE Deregulations. Remember 9/11. And now Capitol Terrorists, will take advantage of Deregulations. McTerror, Shelby, and Bush act as if ‘Oh Well’. Our Constuction companies can rebuild. Just like Iraq. Nothing gets done. But they can raise energy and gas prices. I bet we will be offering some other country help, for Black Gold. At least they gave us a boost on Wall Street.
hear what Palin says about Russian planes, on CNN and MSNBC. Its funny.
We Trade with them. Because Alaska is closer. Hee Hee. Rick Davis paid for her Silence.
Posted by: historyforgotten | September 26, 2008, 2:19 am 2:19 am
Phoney,Phoney,Phoney,Phoney,Phoney! OK, I am deprogrammed now! My President called our attention to a grave problem. Everybody responded in a more united than disunited way.In fact, I was feeling proud of the manner in which everybody, even in the election year climate, seemed to rise to action. Then Mr. Bush ushers in the combatants and suddenly sphincters either slammed shut or went completely slack. Either way there is a mess and I fear the situation is hopelessly distorted. Thank you George W. Bush ! And also I want to than Senator McCain for once again showing us how badly he wants to be our leader, although his methods seem to always show the obvious lack of sincerity, talent, temperment and judgement for the job.
Posted by: Curtis | September 26, 2008, 2:24 am 2:24 am
Has everybody gone insane? All along the House Republicans have indicated they didn’t like the proposals coming out of Paulson or the Committees. All along there’s been a question of whether there were enough Republican votes – not because the votes are needed in a Dem-majority Congress but because the Dems don’t want to be “exposed” as supporting the plan on their own. So:
1) who’s really playing politics with our financial futures? The Dems who have the votes, but won’t use them.
2) who’s been ignoring the obvious discontent on the Republican side? Well, Senate and House leadership (prim Democratic) for start. Readers here as well, apparently. How can you look at 2 facts (Repub members don’t like the program, Committee members say there’s a deal) and not see that they’re both true. Repubs don’t like the program, and the largely Democratic members of the Committees had a deal they could live with.To say the “deal collapsed” is ingenuous – it was never there.
3) Try to see through the “brilliant or bonehead” level of reporting, and understand that finding a way to get the Republicans behind a bill is why Bush went on tv and why McCain went back. Maybe it does mean includng something new in the “faux deal” and maybe it doesn’t (I have to admit I like the insurance program just as much as the deal terms).
4) There’s this incredible suspension of disbelief going on. Now, Barney Frank is channeling Paulson as the go to guy … but he’s one of the guys who let the country slide into this without any warning or preparation. Now the MSM is surprised that the conservative Republicans are not supporting a plan they said they didn’t support … were they not reading their own reporting? Now McCain’s trying to work out a plan with conservative Republicans … but he’s getting heat for that? Now, Obama is saying he can walk and chew gum at the same time … but he can’t get the Democratic members of Congress to pass a vote they say they support because it could hurt them politically. Nice all around.
Posted by: TPS | September 26, 2008, 5:33 am 5:33 am
Thank God for the Republicans; they’re the only ones looking out for the interests of the taxpayers.
The Dems want 750 billion carte blanche for Paulson. And the 750 is a farce – they’ve piled on credit card debt, money market account insurance, capital for low income housing and on and on and on.
The Reps want to open up less money (250 billion immediately; 100 billion to follow) for LOANS to struggling entities; if more money is needed they’ll have to get a vote from Congress.
Reps (and McCain) are winning this one hands down! Reid (who said just the other day “no one knows what to do”) and Pelosi think they can run the entire Congress like they run Obama.
Posted by: marylou | September 26, 2008, 5:41 am 5:41 am
Bob Scheiffer reports that Paulson put out an urgent call for McCain to step into the process when he found he only had 4 Republican votes in the House. This is America and while the Senate may pass this deal – it still has to go through the House. Those Republicans were not about to let this White Elephant go through with all its add-ons and giveaways. Paulson called Lindsey Graham; Graham called McCain; McCain called Bush to graciously include Obama in the process.
Pelosi and Reid rushed to say that a deal was done when a simple inquiry would have told them they were nowhere near. They want to run this country as a dictatorship. And if Obama is elected, they just might be able to. Think about it.
Posted by: marylou | September 26, 2008, 5:51 am 5:51 am
Dems add pork to bailout and then wonder why reps say no.
Posted by: WakeUpPeople | September 26, 2008, 10:45 am 10:45 am
Bailout is at least $2000 for every man woman and child in this country at the CURRENT price. Now, 40% dont pay any taxes, so that leaves 60% to pay the bill. Obviously, the rich pay more taxes already. So, Obamas tax increase is already being implemented as soon as this passes.
Posted by: WakeUpPeople | September 26, 2008, 10:54 am 10:54 am
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has the plenary power to bring a bill to the floor of the House, and no parliamentary procedure can help a minority to block a majority will to pass it. That’s one fact that has to be remembered while Pelosi and Barney Frank blame the House GOP over the collapse of the bailout bill:
If Pelosi has her entire caucus in line to support the Paulson plan, then she has the vote to pass it. Some estimates have as many as 50 Republicans ready to support the plan in defiance of Boehner. If that’s true, Pelosi could lose all of her Blue-Dog Democrats and still pass the bill.
So why not just call a vote? Pelosi doesn’t want to get married to George Bush, that’s why. She wants to spread the political risk and get consensus on a bailout plan so that the responsibility for any failure doesn’t rest solely on her shoulders, at least in the House. Both Pelosi and Harry Reid wanted John McCain to deliver both GOP caucuses to cover their own butts on the bailout bill, and McCain — at least thus far — hasn’t convinced Boehner to do so.
It appears that Reid has enough Republicans on board to survive a filibuster. George Bush will happily sign the bill as soon as he gets it from Capitol Hill. Pelosi could deliver that bill with plenty of votes to spare simply by scheduling a vote. She lacks the courage to do so. That’s not the fault of the House GOP.
Update (AP): All of this is true but it’s also why McCain’s going to take the blame if they can’t pass it. Pelosi doesn’t need votes, she needs political cover; Maverick can’t give her the former but, as the GOP’s nominee, he can singlehandedly give her the latter by endorsing the deal. If he doesn’t, the consequences will be laid at his feet.
Posted by: WakeUpPeople | September 26, 2008, 11:11 am 11:11 am
“Now, Barney Frank is channeling Paulson as the go to guy … but he’s one of the guys who let the country slide into this without any warning or preparation.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 26, 2008, 11:57 am 11:57 am
Email
Santorum: Money Will Not Defeat Obama, Ideas Will 
Rick Santorum's Full Speech at CPAC 2012
If there is a standoff right now it’s because McCain parachuted into the negotiations and sabatoged the deal for his political gain.
Dems and Reps had all agreed they had reached a deal as early as 1:00PM today…then McCain made the rounds.
McCain has to tell the American people what he did to convince his Rep. friends to back away from their first claim that a deal had been reached!!!!
THIS STINKS!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: TamaraP | September 25, 2008, 9:05 pm 9:05 pm
I’m still not convinced… it’s time they all stop playing politics and try to explain its necessity … very slowly and clearly without trying to point fingers. Rep Frank loves to say it’s so-n-so’s fault… just stop it and get back to work!
Posted by: Diamond Lou | September 25, 2008, 9:07 pm 9:07 pm
I blame McCain. He deliberately injected presidential politics into the delicate discussions on the Hill by asking Bush to invite him and Obama to the White House. I lay 95% of the blame on McCain. The man is a political sham.
Posted by: Mary | September 25, 2008, 9:08 pm 9:08 pm
Who’s to blame? John McCain. He’s the one who suddenly decided to inject the bipartisan efforts and hard work with presidential politics and egomania.
I lost ALL respect for McCain. Country first my *ss.
There’s enough drama in American politics as it is. Did John McCain have to invent new drama so he is the center of attention every 5 minutes?
Posted by: hiss | September 25, 2008, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
Of COURSE the bill shouldn’t pass.
And Frank and Dodd shouldn’t be involved in it at all. Reid and Pelosi, who last week didn’t “know what to do” and wanted to send Congress home, should butt out, pass the gavel, whatever it takes to get rid of this thing.
Having the BushCons and the Democrats in cahoots to establish corporatism/fascism doesn’t look so good. Looks like a deal for the election — maybe to avoid a Republican administration that can get the goods on Bush and the neo-cons …
Hurray for whoever stopped it.
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 25, 2008, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
The bill should NOT pass.
Listen to the urgency in their voices, the frantic screams of an outgoing administration determined to rape Americans of nearly a Trillion dollars before heading out of town with their loot securely in the hands of their wall street investment banker friends.
This bill is a crime. It is theft, lies, deception, and corruption all dressed up as the remedy to a crisis.
Where will the money go? How exactly will it help? Who will it help? (as of today, Ditech is still loaning money to any qualified borrower), What portion of it will end up lost and unnacounted for? Why should the very bozos who caused this crisis be given our trust to resolve it.
There is only one solution to this that makes sense. First, take a breath. Our economy is not failing as fast as they make it seem. Second, entrust the solution to the new president and the new congress, not to an outgoing administration seeking to pull off yet another hit-and-run.
If you email your senators and congressmen and tell them NO to this bill, it might just end up where it belongs, in the garbage can of history.
Posted by: clifton | September 25, 2008, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm
Why are we so much in a hurry to shell out $700 billion.
The question is a sham… if it passes Mac will be blaimed… if it does not Mac will be blaimed. At least he is sticking his neck out on this. Obama went back to preping for a debate rather than work on this.
Posted by: Diamond Lou | September 25, 2008, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm
“Rep Frank loves to say it’s so-n-so’s fault… just stop it and get back to work!”
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 25, 2008, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm
The bill should NOT pass.
Listen to the urgency in their voices, the frantic screams of an outgoing administration determined to rape Americans of nearly a Trillion dollars before heading out of town with their loot securely in the hands of their wall street investment banker friends.
This bill is a crime. It is theft, lies, deception, and corruption all dressed up as the remedy to a crisis.
Where will the money go? How exactly will it help? Who will it help? (as of today, Ditech is still loaning money to any qualified borrower), What portion of it will end up lost and unnacounted for? Why should the very bozos who caused this crisis be given our trust to resolve it.
There is only one solution to this that makes sense. First, take a breath. Our economy is not failing as fast as they make it seem. Second, entrust the solution to the new president and the new congress, not to an outgoing administration seeking to pull off yet another hit-and-run.
If you email your senators and congressmen and tell them NO to this bill, it might just end up where it belongs, in the garbage can of history.
Posted by: clifton | September 25, 2008, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm
McCain made a mockery out of the process. Congress was working diligently in a bi-partisan manner to help the American people and he showed up to see how he could help his campaign.
Posted by: Paige | September 25, 2008, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm
MCCAIN IS TO BLAME!
It rhymes; potery is beautiful; beauty is truth, truth beauty, so
I BLAME MCCAIN!
Posted by: slogan | September 25, 2008, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm
I blame McCain, until he made this big deal about coming to the rescue the deal was all but done.
Posted by: Danny | September 25, 2008, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm
Ugh, it looked like there was a deal worked out before this meeting, which was apparently called hastily by Bush to cover for McCain’s grandstanding on Wednesday. I hope our country doesn’t suffer for it.
Posted by: Pacific moderate | September 25, 2008, 9:15 pm 9:15 pm
Where’s Obama in all this? This man doesn’t know what the hell is going on. He’s a dud.
Posted by: Archer | September 25, 2008, 9:15 pm 9:15 pm
“Why are we so much in a hurry to shell out $700 billion.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 25, 2008, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
What do we know? Most top economists agree that the bill should pass to prevent an economic meltdown that would cost all of us even more.
Both McCain the drama queen and some clueless House Republicans screwed it up.
Posted by: greg | September 25, 2008, 9:18 pm 9:18 pm
It really doesn’t matter who’s to blame JUST FIX IT…..the house is on fire and it’s not a time to screw around….no “multi tasking”…Obama could never meet with McCain for 10 town halls AFTER REPEATED REQUESTS THROUGHOUT THE LAST THREE MONTHS. Obama can now wait a few days for his debate….UNLESS HE’S WORRIED HE WON’T REMEMBER THE STUFF HE’S CRAMMED IN THAT BRAIN OF HIS ON NATIONAL SECURITY.
McCAIN = COUNTRY FIRST, NOT EGO!
Posted by: Debra | September 25, 2008, 9:19 pm 9:19 pm
The bail out should pass, but with conditions. The money should be paid back, even over a long term. Guarantees the money will go to where it is needed the most.
Bailouts send the wrong message to business.
Posted by: Kottaras | September 25, 2008, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm
Of the two candidates, which one walked into that meeting, started floating ideas no one had heard before, with no details or substance, rallied his cronies, then left the room in a mess.
John McCain. The coming recession is John McCain’s fault. But for his political posturing, we could have rescued ourselves.
Posted by: PJ | September 25, 2008, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm
“Congress was working diligently in a bi-partisan manner to help the American people”
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 25, 2008, 9:21 pm 9:21 pm
There’s only a standoff so McCAIN WILL HAVE AN EXCUSE to not to debate.
Say GRANDSTANDING!
Posted by: Truth Hurts the GOP | September 25, 2008, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
Posted by StevePA — “Did Obama even show up to the meeting or was he having a separate meeting with Streisand and Speilberg?”
Yes, Steve, if you looked at the photos from McCain’s Circus today, you saw Obama seated 2 seats to the left of Presdint Bush. Listening respectfully to all the Bulls**T coming from the other side of the table. It’s in all the photos from today.
Meanwhile there is 100% concensus on both sides of the House and Senate that McCain’s grandstanding today was stupid and unproductive.
Posted by: clifton | September 25, 2008, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
“This bill is a crime. It is theft, lies, deception, and corruption all dressed up as the remedy to a crisis.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 25, 2008, 9:26 pm 9:26 pm
Just stop all the bickering and get something passed so the market doesn’t crash. WE TAX PAYERS ARE USED TO FOOTING THE BILL FOR ALL OF GOVERNMENT’S MISTAKES. WE TAKE IT IN THE ASS EVERYDAY WHY SHOULD NOW BE ANY DIFFERENT? HONESTLY WHAT WE NEED IN THIS COUNTRY IS FOR PEOPLE TO STOP BELIEVING IN THE SYSTEM AND OVERTHROW IT LIKE WE DID THE BRITISH IN 1776. BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS THE SAME BULL@#$! THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON AND REAL PATRIOTS FOUGHT AGAINST TO FORM THIS UNION. BUT I GUESS AMERICANS WENT AND GOT TOO DAMN COMFORTABLE AND REALLY DON’T CARE ANYMORE.
Posted by: fedup1977 | September 25, 2008, 9:28 pm 9:28 pm
“Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank must go!”
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 25, 2008, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm
McCain put his foot in it, with his usual vainglorious egotism, playing on Bush’s desperation to try to look presidential.
He also clearly double-dealt with Obama to try to get the drop on him. FAIL at that. OK, sure, double-dealing is part of all politics – and there are no refs in this game. I have no problem with the double-dealing part. Hell, Reagan and Roosevelt did it all the time. One thing I actually LIKE about Obama is that he knows that sometimes you have to play the angles, and he’s good at it. But, McCain did it badly and clumsily. Not only is he a vain, smarmy, lying double-dealer, he’s an incompetent one! Very unpresidential.
Regardless of what you think about the current bailout compromise, his injection of presidential politics has badly poisoned the process.
Posted by: Tungsten | September 25, 2008, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm
The republicans are stalling so John McCain doesn’t have to go to the debate. McCain wants the debate pushed to October 2nd so that will either bump the vp debate back or eliminate it all together. McCain does not want Sarah Palin to speak. McCain wants to run out the clock so he can walk right into the White House no questions asked.
Fellow Americans please don’t give John McCain a bailout. Tell him to stick with his responsiblities and go to the debate.
Posted by: McCainInsane | September 25, 2008, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
I like to consider myself a staunch capitalist and have an economics degree. As much as I despise the idea of a bailout, I look at someone like my father who is about to retire and has done everything right. He saved and invested for years.Now because of this bologna his 401K has lost huge $$$ in the last year. If we let these companies fail, it not only hurts the bigwigs but people likie my father may never get to retire even after doing everything right.
McCain needs to quit posturing and either help get this thing passed or get the hell out of the way!!
Posted by: Grant | September 25, 2008, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm
JAKE
If McCain misses the debate, someone should follow him around and let people know exactly what he is “accomplishing” during those two hours.
Neither McCain or Obama has added anything new to the legislation. There HAD been bipartisan cooperation until McCain made a political mockery of it.
So Washington apparently can’t run without the “maverick”? Who’s the one with the HUGE ego again? McCain hasn’t voted on anything since April, obviously they can survive without him for a couple hours.
Perhaps they might actually get something accomplished if he gets his microphones out of the way.
Posted by: John "Greenspan" McCain to the rescue | September 25, 2008, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm
Quick.
Get Sarah Palin to Washington.
There’s a crisis brewing.
Put her executive experience to use.
Solve the problem
And by Sunday we can watch the NFL games in peace, knowing that we are in good hands.
Posted by: doug | September 25, 2008, 9:32 pm 9:32 pm
How much Bank scandel actually follows McCain? Well, He was investigated and largely exonerated in a political influence scandal of the 1980s as a member of the ‘Keating Five’. His connection to Rick Davis, who imbezzeled money from Fannie Mae, as early as last Month. And one of McCains sons, who was a bank auditor, mysteriously left his job , two months before the bank went bankrupt. Even another Senator from an earlier speech, connected McCain to the scandel in the 1980′s. The ‘Keats five’. McCain has told us, he has been in contact with the Senate, but even the Senators said, they had not spoken to him. He just heard of the plan two days ago. McCain has lost Touch. Being touched by CORUPTION, must make him feel a little numb. If he can still feel at all.
I have a question, about any other organizations, he may be a part of.
Americans may be curious to know which one. I suggest transparency be implemented. At least that is McCains platform. It still is, Right?
And guess what, about Todd Palin?
:)
Of course, Sarah could not join. But she could speak at a group meeting. She’s a Female. Only Men join this group. Women join the OTHER ONE.
Who is Senator Richard Shelby…
Who wants the answers?
So McCain sides with FOREIGN CAPITOLIST NAZIS. The Far Right Republican have voiced their opinions, about America. The Do want it to fall. And the said IRAN was bad. CAPITOL TERRORISTS ARE ALREADY IN AMERICA. They are just waiting for Middle America, to kill eachother, trying to get to them.
A ‘CHEMICAL WEDDING’, is the story of Far Far Right Republicans.
Posted by: historyforgotten | September 25, 2008, 9:35 pm 9:35 pm
Wow Super McCain is on the way if this deal doesnt get done more americans will feel this was a stunt to better poll numbers for McCain it was important for him to get the house republicans on board he wasnt able to achieve that thats presidential for you or trying like a whore to become president.
Posted by: joe | September 25, 2008, 9:36 pm 9:36 pm
This financial crisis has proved once again that Obama is all talk and no action. McCain has been leading to put country first.
Posted by: young_voter | September 25, 2008, 9:36 pm 9:36 pm
Obama should debate Biden. They seem to be fighting a lot as of late.
Posted by: Rice | September 25, 2008, 9:37 pm 9:37 pm
house repubs are blowing this up not democrats
they are revolting against mccain
Posted by: bhrandon | September 25, 2008, 9:37 pm 9:37 pm
The bill was not done before the meeting. The democrats came out early trying to say a deal was done without considering that they had enough votes to pass the plan. Again they rushed to judgement. This current bailout plan is not the solution. It shouldn’t be done hastily just to meet partisan politics. Every Senator and Congressman should be working on it. This is the most important crisis facing our country at this time.
Posted by: Midwest voter | September 25, 2008, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm
Republicans why not you ask your darling Gov.Sarah Palin to get this deal done she has executive experience of 24 months and thru her smile she will be able to make the deal done certainly she made pakistani president horny.
Posted by: Joe | September 25, 2008, 9:40 pm 9:40 pm
McCain is going nowhere today without heavy make-up. He’s paid more than $5,500 to Tifanie White, the makeup artist who works on “American Idol,” for cosmetic services.
Should America see the REAL McCain, we’d be in another Great Depression already.
In the midst of this crisis, we got a zombie running for President. Much more dead than alive.
McCain: The American Idle.
Posted by: reed | September 25, 2008, 9:41 pm 9:41 pm
McCAIN: THE BRITNEY SPEARS OF POLITICS
Stunts McCain Has Pulled
* Selects VP with very little experience that he met once
* Cancels first day of Republican convention
* Makes sure President Bush is no where near the convention
* Says he’s against AIG bailout, four hours later says he is for it
* Says he will suspend his campaign but continues to run ads and have his surrogates speak on TV
* Declares he will fire SEC chairman Chris Cox, later says he’s a good guy
What will John McCain do next? Shave his head at a local barber shop?
Posted by: McCainSpears | September 25, 2008, 9:42 pm 9:42 pm
gracious, not sure what I said in my last post to get it deleted. To answer the question, well, we don’t really know what the compromise bill is, do we?
I think Bush’s initial $700B request is a joke and a travesty, typical of this Republican’s desire for power without accountability. Most progressives agree. But it’s clear that’s not what he’s going to get. The compromise will involve much less money, first off. Some sort of phased support with significant regulation, accountability, and an equity stake for the public is more like it.
I also think that the GOP is setting this up as a trap for the Dems. They know some kind of bailout is needed, but they’ll work to blame the Dems for it. Buncha degenerates.
Posted by: Tungsten | September 25, 2008, 9:43 pm 9:43 pm
By the way who’s acting like another third term of Bush… the Democtrat Congess seem all to happy to be on the President’s side on this one!
Dem Congress = GW Bush
Never thought I’d say it!
Posted by: Diamond Lou | September 25, 2008, 9:43 pm 9:43 pm
Posted by Steve — “Obama should be thrown in jail for his lack of leadership”
Gee, another stupid comment!
First of all, Steve, “lack of leadership” is not a crime. But sending 4,178 Americans to their deaths for a lie is a crime. I think it’s called Treason.
Second of all, Obama has shown more leadership on this issue than anyone else in our government. Obama stated clear requirements for any “bailout”, which he spoke publicly and posted on his website. Most of all, Obama’s leadership came from not jumping head first into following Bush’s war cry and McCain’s 3-ring circus. He politely accepted McCain’s challenge to appear in DC today, and is steadfastly on track for the national debate with McCain tomorrow night.
One candidate knows how to stay on course, and how to lead, and it ain’t McCain.
Posted by: clifton | September 25, 2008, 9:44 pm 9:44 pm
George Will was rite the conservative made this assertion day before McCain was suspend campaign go to washington [skipped voting 412 times last time voted april 8]get the deal done its looking more of a political stunt to better poll numbers and is about to land on his face Will was rite given crisis he reacts in a violent manner trying to change game here game over McSAme.
Posted by: Joe | September 25, 2008, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm
This is not a just a crisis. It is a mega crisis. In which case McCain made Obama look weak by doing the right thing. Obama would never have suspended his campaign.
That is the difference. McCain leads when the call is there. Obama follows.
Posted by: Kottaras | September 25, 2008, 9:48 pm 9:48 pm
Blame or credit does not go to Obama – he just wants to take the credit if it succeeds and say it was not his idea if it fails.
Smooth do-nothing politician.
Posted by: Diamond Lou | September 25, 2008, 9:48 pm 9:48 pm
Why can’t Paulson and/or Barnanke explain in straight English why this will melt down the banking system? Stop telling people that a melt down banking system will lead to a great depression – we all have heard that many times by now and are already, positively and definitely convinced of this causal relationship between banking and economy. Please tell us the details of how the lack of a bail out will cause the banking system to fail.
Why would someone like Warren Buffett put in $5 Billion if the ship is about to go down.
Posted by: Obama-Yah-Wright | September 25, 2008, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm
Why do people think someone taking charge and acting like a leader is a political stunt
—————–
Do you not get it? I’ll explain.
McCain isn’t “taking charge” of anything. The legislation was written without him and he had added nothing to it.
THAT’S why it’s a stunt. Because McCain wants people to believe he is a key player in writing this bailout plan and “leading the way” to get it passed. The fact is, he’s simply not.
There was cooperation before he showed up. And now there’s bickering. He should have stayed away and let those more knowledgable work it out. (Which is just about anyone based on what he has said recently.)
And McCain missing two hours for a debate will not have any impact on the outcome of the legislation – we all know that.
Politics Before Country
POW – Prisoner of Wallstreet
Posted by: Go Away McCain, Let People Work | September 25, 2008, 9:50 pm 9:50 pm
It’s official now.
“At today’s cabinet meeting, John McCain did not attack any proposal or endorse any plan,” according to a statement from the McCain campaign.
McCain is a poser, not a leader.
Posted by: wolfson | September 25, 2008, 10:01 pm 10:01 pm
McCain showed up because he knew things were not right with the bill as it was and he did not want the Democrats to rush it through and then have the entire Congress have to take the fall for it.
If any of you would listen to what Joe Average Citizen is saying, they are saying they DO NOT want this bail-out bill.
McCain knew this, and felt it was his duty to his constituents and to the country as a whole, to make sure nothing went through that the people di not approve of.
Think political posturing all you want, but I honestly believe this is why he did it.
Posted by: Lee | September 25, 2008, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm
This makes McCain experience and maverick attitude the more important than our massive undefined entertainer – McCain has lead in the most crucial financial crisis our country is about to face, whereas Obama has followed the way he followed Rezko and Wright, deciding whether a red or blue tie looks good for the debate.
Posted by: country voter | September 25, 2008, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm
McCain, both on the ABC clip referenced above and in his statement on CBS news, was grinning like a cat who swallowed a canary.
That was totally inappropriate considering the seriousness of the situation–a serious crisis that threatens all Americans.
Just based on his demeanor, it appears that John McCain is out for himself, and relishing the spotlight in a juvenile way.
Posted by: Danny | September 25, 2008, 10:11 pm 10:11 pm
Listen to Chris Dodd, who worked so hard on an bipartisan agreement:
“What happened here, basically, if you want an honest appraisal of the thing, we have been spending a lot of time and I am tired. I have spent almost seven straight days at this in trying to come out with a workout plan for our economy a rescue plan,”
“What this looked like to me was a rescue plan for John McCain for two hours and took us away from the work we are trying to do today. Serious people trying to do serious work to come up with an answer.”
Posted by: scandalous mcc | September 25, 2008, 10:18 pm 10:18 pm
I think EVERYONE agrees now that bringing the two presidential candidates to that White House meeting was a BAD idea.
It was McCain’s idea.
Posted by: trent | September 25, 2008, 10:20 pm 10:20 pm
To illustrate the chaos and panic in the McCain campaign:
Shortly before 2pm ET, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said on MSNBC that his boss deserves credit for the bipartisan bailout deal.
Bounds then apparently went way off message, indicating that McCain would attend tomorrow’s debate. “We’re going into a debate,” Bounds said, adding “I think we’re going there strong.”
And where are we know? Which deal? What credit did McCain deserve?
The whole campaign lost its bearings.
Theirs is no candidate to deal with a crisis.
Posted by: hassel | September 25, 2008, 10:29 pm 10:29 pm
You know, the thought of the 60 million a month raised by Obama for Obama for over 10 months, could have easily used to bail out the financial crisis, never cross Obama’s mind. The country is appproacing worst financial crisis our country has ever known and Obama is wastefully spending his money lavishly.
Posted by: young_voter | September 25, 2008, 10:49 pm 10:49 pm
“If any of you would listen to what Joe Average Citizen is saying, they are saying they DO NOT want this bail-out bill.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 25, 2008, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm
We should have known better that anything good would have come out of a meeting behind closed doors with Bush.
We would have been better off if everyone politely declined his invitation and just kept hammering it out until they had a vote today on the Hill! A moderate, middle of the road plan needs to be reached that everyone can begrudgingly get behind…if everyone’s a little unhappy with it, it’ll probably be the best piece of work Congress has done in ages!
Posted by: Amy T | September 25, 2008, 11:39 pm 11:39 pm
Lindsey Graham (R-Fla.) is reporting on Fox that this bill had a huge earmark for ACORN, the oft-maligned community group with a history of both corruption and Obama support. Jake, can you verify or disprove this story? What other earmarks are the Dems trying to push through in their rush to ostensibly bail out Wall Street. I heard the figure was $140 million. Is that true? The American people should be outraged if it is true.
Posted by: Jo Chgo | September 25, 2008, 11:51 pm 11:51 pm
The Democrats tried to put forward a bill without accounting for the views of the House Republicans.
Then, Pelosi realized that her party would be exposed and sought at least 100 House Republicans for cover.
The House Republicans put forth their concerns and principles for passage and the deal fell apart.
Keep in mind, the House Republicans represent a significant portion of Americans who are extremely distressed with the state of affairs. They deserve to be hear and factored into the solution.
Posted by: Captain America | September 26, 2008, 12:21 am 12:21 am
And how many more millions did McCain and RNC raise that could have bailed things out??
Please, pointing fingers only shows that you can, but not that you will do anything.
Obama/Biden ’08
Posted by: Bev | September 26, 2008, 1:02 am 1:02 am
It sounded like they had the deal wrapped before McCain stepped in it. I wonder how much ordinary people, known as “Main Street” Americans now (anybody have a main street anymore? I do) are going to lose tomorrow because of McCain’s posturing and hubris? Did he actually try to hitch a capital gains cut to this bill?
I hate this bailout – and I hate it that my kids are gonna have to pay for some idiots with trash bonds for years – but there is no other way out. At least both parties have worked together to remove some of the really scary measures in the original bill. Maybe there is hope yet – if somebody can keep McCain out of it.
Posted by: mara | September 26, 2008, 1:06 am 1:06 am
President Bush made a convincing case and successfully outlined reasons why this bill is necessary. We are in dire straits, and it is clear that something has to be done. What will happen to small business owners, college students and consumers in general when this country’s financial system go bust? This is not a game, and Congressional Republicans need to understand this.
Posted by: Dave | September 26, 2008, 1:08 am 1:08 am
Reid Seeks McCain Pledge
Senate majority leader tells White House it must serve up support from the Republican nominee if it hopes to win bipartisan bailout backing.
Roll Call Staff – Roll Call
September 24, 2008
Fearing a political backlash against Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has told the White House that it must serve up support from Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) if it hopes to ensure bipartisan backing for a massive economic bailout package by week’s end.
Reid made his position clear to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on Monday night, as well as to his Democratic caucus, which shares many of the GOP’s concerns that the $700 billion bailout has been drafted too hastily and is a risky remedy for an economy on the brink of crisis. Reid, according to Democratic Senate sources, also wants assurances from Senate Republican leaders that an evenly divided, bipartisan group of Senators will pass any legislative fix so his party isn’t left with the burden of doing an unpopular White House’s bidding — again.
McCain holds the key to such a bipartisan vote, according to Reid, because Republicans are likely to defer to his position on a bill that holds political peril.
As the current leaders of their respective parties I don’t think it unreasonable to expect them to both be there and take the lead in reaching a bipartisan deal. Obama should have looked at it as an opportunity but all he thought about was staying the course after he is the one that said it was the greatest crisis since the Depression.
Posted by: pennsylvaniavoter | September 26, 2008, 1:11 am 1:11 am
let it all fall down…..
chips fall where they may…
maybe the next country called America will end up a more just place than this one
we had 1 revolution over 200 years ago, maybe it’s time for another, and give the people back the country the way it was originally intended
Posted by: Patriot | September 26, 2008, 1:16 am 1:16 am
I thought the Republicans brought bad karma to McCain, now I know it is the other way around. They deserve each other.
Posted by: Leonard Peltier | September 26, 2008, 1:20 am 1:20 am
Be reminded that McCain initially said that the economy was sound before doing an about face. He is not putting this country first and his reckless behavior is putting us all at risk.
Both parties had nearly succeeded in hammering out a deal and then McCain showed up. He had said that he would work as long as necessary to make sure a deal was made; however, he left the Hill around 5:35. He was not around when the meeting was convened at 8 p.m. It is time for McCain to put country first and stop trying to use this bill to improve his polling numbers.
Posted by: Dave | September 26, 2008, 1:24 am 1:24 am
Free Market Terrorists, can afford to hide Tainted milk. Terrorists LOVE Deregulations. Remember 9/11. And now Capitol Terrorists, will take advantage of Deregulations. McTerror, Shelby, and Bush act as if ‘Oh Well’. Our Constuction companies can rebuild. Just like Iraq. Nothing gets done. But they can raise energy and gas prices. I bet we will be offering some other country help, for Black Gold. At least they gave us a boost on Wall Street.
hear what Palin says about Russian planes, on CNN and MSNBC. Its funny.
We Trade with them. Because Alaska is closer. Hee Hee. Rick Davis paid for her Silence.
Posted by: historyforgotten | September 26, 2008, 2:19 am 2:19 am
Phoney,Phoney,Phoney,Phoney,Phoney! OK, I am deprogrammed now! My President called our attention to a grave problem. Everybody responded in a more united than disunited way.In fact, I was feeling proud of the manner in which everybody, even in the election year climate, seemed to rise to action. Then Mr. Bush ushers in the combatants and suddenly sphincters either slammed shut or went completely slack. Either way there is a mess and I fear the situation is hopelessly distorted. Thank you George W. Bush ! And also I want to than Senator McCain for once again showing us how badly he wants to be our leader, although his methods seem to always show the obvious lack of sincerity, talent, temperment and judgement for the job.
Posted by: Curtis | September 26, 2008, 2:24 am 2:24 am
Has everybody gone insane? All along the House Republicans have indicated they didn’t like the proposals coming out of Paulson or the Committees. All along there’s been a question of whether there were enough Republican votes – not because the votes are needed in a Dem-majority Congress but because the Dems don’t want to be “exposed” as supporting the plan on their own. So:
1) who’s really playing politics with our financial futures? The Dems who have the votes, but won’t use them.
2) who’s been ignoring the obvious discontent on the Republican side? Well, Senate and House leadership (prim Democratic) for start. Readers here as well, apparently. How can you look at 2 facts (Repub members don’t like the program, Committee members say there’s a deal) and not see that they’re both true. Repubs don’t like the program, and the largely Democratic members of the Committees had a deal they could live with.To say the “deal collapsed” is ingenuous – it was never there.
3) Try to see through the “brilliant or bonehead” level of reporting, and understand that finding a way to get the Republicans behind a bill is why Bush went on tv and why McCain went back. Maybe it does mean includng something new in the “faux deal” and maybe it doesn’t (I have to admit I like the insurance program just as much as the deal terms).
4) There’s this incredible suspension of disbelief going on. Now, Barney Frank is channeling Paulson as the go to guy … but he’s one of the guys who let the country slide into this without any warning or preparation. Now the MSM is surprised that the conservative Republicans are not supporting a plan they said they didn’t support … were they not reading their own reporting? Now McCain’s trying to work out a plan with conservative Republicans … but he’s getting heat for that? Now, Obama is saying he can walk and chew gum at the same time … but he can’t get the Democratic members of Congress to pass a vote they say they support because it could hurt them politically. Nice all around.
Posted by: TPS | September 26, 2008, 5:33 am 5:33 am
Thank God for the Republicans; they’re the only ones looking out for the interests of the taxpayers.
The Dems want 750 billion carte blanche for Paulson. And the 750 is a farce – they’ve piled on credit card debt, money market account insurance, capital for low income housing and on and on and on.
The Reps want to open up less money (250 billion immediately; 100 billion to follow) for LOANS to struggling entities; if more money is needed they’ll have to get a vote from Congress.
Reps (and McCain) are winning this one hands down! Reid (who said just the other day “no one knows what to do”) and Pelosi think they can run the entire Congress like they run Obama.
Posted by: marylou | September 26, 2008, 5:41 am 5:41 am
Bob Scheiffer reports that Paulson put out an urgent call for McCain to step into the process when he found he only had 4 Republican votes in the House. This is America and while the Senate may pass this deal – it still has to go through the House. Those Republicans were not about to let this White Elephant go through with all its add-ons and giveaways. Paulson called Lindsey Graham; Graham called McCain; McCain called Bush to graciously include Obama in the process.
Pelosi and Reid rushed to say that a deal was done when a simple inquiry would have told them they were nowhere near. They want to run this country as a dictatorship. And if Obama is elected, they just might be able to. Think about it.
Posted by: marylou | September 26, 2008, 5:51 am 5:51 am
Dems add pork to bailout and then wonder why reps say no.
Posted by: WakeUpPeople | September 26, 2008, 10:45 am 10:45 am
Bailout is at least $2000 for every man woman and child in this country at the CURRENT price. Now, 40% dont pay any taxes, so that leaves 60% to pay the bill. Obviously, the rich pay more taxes already. So, Obamas tax increase is already being implemented as soon as this passes.
Posted by: WakeUpPeople | September 26, 2008, 10:54 am 10:54 am
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has the plenary power to bring a bill to the floor of the House, and no parliamentary procedure can help a minority to block a majority will to pass it. That’s one fact that has to be remembered while Pelosi and Barney Frank blame the House GOP over the collapse of the bailout bill:
If Pelosi has her entire caucus in line to support the Paulson plan, then she has the vote to pass it. Some estimates have as many as 50 Republicans ready to support the plan in defiance of Boehner. If that’s true, Pelosi could lose all of her Blue-Dog Democrats and still pass the bill.
So why not just call a vote? Pelosi doesn’t want to get married to George Bush, that’s why. She wants to spread the political risk and get consensus on a bailout plan so that the responsibility for any failure doesn’t rest solely on her shoulders, at least in the House. Both Pelosi and Harry Reid wanted John McCain to deliver both GOP caucuses to cover their own butts on the bailout bill, and McCain — at least thus far — hasn’t convinced Boehner to do so.
It appears that Reid has enough Republicans on board to survive a filibuster. George Bush will happily sign the bill as soon as he gets it from Capitol Hill. Pelosi could deliver that bill with plenty of votes to spare simply by scheduling a vote. She lacks the courage to do so. That’s not the fault of the House GOP.
Update (AP): All of this is true but it’s also why McCain’s going to take the blame if they can’t pass it. Pelosi doesn’t need votes, she needs political cover; Maverick can’t give her the former but, as the GOP’s nominee, he can singlehandedly give her the latter by endorsing the deal. If he doesn’t, the consequences will be laid at his feet.
Posted by: WakeUpPeople | September 26, 2008, 11:11 am 11:11 am
“Now, Barney Frank is channeling Paulson as the go to guy … but he’s one of the guys who let the country slide into this without any warning or preparation.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | September 26, 2008, 11:57 am 11:57 am