McCain rode in on a white horse last week, put his campaign on hold, asked to delay the Presidential debate, and accomplished ... bupkis.
The bailout failed to pass the House. Introduced by the Republican administration, supported and improved by Democrats in the House and Senate and Republicans in the Senate, supported by Obama and McCain (who unilaterally suspended his campaign last week to "help" with the bailout's passage) - but ultimately defeated by Republicans in the House, who said they were offended by Nancy Pelosi's partisan speech earlier today.
What impact will this have on the Presidential election?
The Republican explanation for why they didn't vote is laughable. As Democratic Representative Barney Frank said, are we to believe that these Republicans sacrificed the good of nation because Pelosi hurt their feelings? Once again, Republicans show contempt for the common sense of the American people. (I'd have a little more respect for the Republicans who voted against the bailout if they explained their ideological objections, rather than blaming Pelosi.)
But I think McCain will be the biggest loser in this - so much so that, who knows, as my wife suggested, maybe Nancy Pelosi deliberately tried to rile up some Republicans so the bailout would be defeated .... She was only kidding about that (I think). But what's not a laughing matter is McCain looking ineffectual, floundering, having ridden into town to save the day and not getting enough of his Republican party members to save it. Clearly the House Republicans like neither Bush nor McCain. It's good to know I at least have that in common with them.
As for the country, the election of Obama will be the best thing that could happen to it. Not that he has all the answers - no one does - but he and the Democrats appeal to a sense of reason, of dedication to doing the right thing for the country, that the Republicans seemed to lack today in the House of Representatives.
I hope, for the good of the country, that some kind of legislation is passed in the next week to help with this crisis. I therefore hope that no Republicans who may be voting on whatever new bill comes along read this - I wouldn't want them to get angry.
3 comments:
its not just the repubs fault. it was crap legislation that had no balance. Way to empowering. I think I mentioned it in the email I sent you a few days ago- I may have forgotten to.
there is a democrat majority anyway- and there was not near enough time for a filibuster to kill this. I think it just had a bit too much bad stuff in it and really needed to be reworked.
95 democrats voted no on this- 133 republicans voted no as well. 65 repubs voted yes and 140 dems also voted yes.
it looks like the democratic party is more splintered on this than the repubs having influence.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080929/ap_on_bi_ge/financial_meltdown
thats the reference for the voting record.
how are the new classes?
I don't know if the Dems are more splintered, Mike - but I take your point that, obviously, progressive Deomocrats (like Kucinich) also voted against the bailout.
Speaking of which: I wasn't too thrilled with the bill, either. Kucinich and progressive Dems believe that the government's (our) money might be better spent on direct aid to struggling homeowners.
By the point of my blog still stands - McCain has made a complete fool of himself - which I take as a benefit of the bill being beaten, whatever the other pros and cons.
McCain has been on a downward trajectory for the past 2 weeks. To paraphrase Johnnie Mac: the fundamentals of his campaign are not going well of late. The suspending the campaign gimmick to concentrate on the Bailout was the latest ploy to gain serious traction. It failed miserably.
Expect John to raise the GOP freak flag soon and begin to really rev up the Republican Slime Machine.
/jimy_max
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