"calls AGAINST the bailout were pouring in at the rate of several hundred to every one supporting it

[BigBearJohn]

September 30, 2008
News Analysis
In Bailout Vote, a Leadership Breakdown
By JACKIE CALMES

While there were lawmakers who opposed the package on the merits, with Election Day just five weeks away, substantial numbers decided that to favor the bill would be to imperil their own political futures. And once the vote was under way and so few Republicans were voting aye, Democrats were disinclined to force more of their members to help pass the unpopular plan.

As a study in his prospective leadership, the role of Mr. McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, has done him no political good. After suspending his campaign last week and vowing to work with Republicans until a resolution was in hand, Mr. McCain was campaigning in Ohio on Monday with his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, as the House vote commenced. There he implicitly took credit for the compromise bailout that Congressional leaders had negotiated over the weekend, even as it was going down to defeat.

Mr. Putnam, who lobbied colleagues opposed to the plan, said they were reporting that calls against the bailout were pouring in at the rate of several hundred to every one supporting it.

“I don’t think this was a failure of leadership so much as a failure of followership,” said Thomas Mann, a scholar on Congress at the Brookings Institution. “This is a function of a group of House Republicans who are philosophically opposed to doing anything like this bailout and are prepared to take the risk.”

MORE: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/business/30assess.html?hp=&pagewanted=print

[Robbien]

1. Dems are saying calls against are "running hundreds to ZERO"

Voters in favor of the bill aren't bothering to take the time to call. Why should they? The Chamber of Commerce types already have that position covered.

[intheflow]

2. K&R n/t

[SalmonChantedEvening]

3. K&R!

:hi: :pals:

[Smart Guy 4 Freedom]

4. The Republicons are afraid of losing their seats if they vote

against the voters. It's the voters the bush needs to convince, and the voters don't trust the bush anymore.

If the voters hadn't been calling against the bailout, would anyone had hesitated to vote in favor of it?

The incumbent Republicon here in East Tennessee has recently lost in the primaries. Many Democratic voters crossed the aisle and voted against him in the primaries, because he always voted the way the bush wanted him to vote. He is now a lame duck Rep, and I honestly think that the other Reps are in fear of becoming lame ducks too.

It is interesting that both Democratic and Republicon voters are calling against the Wall Street Bailout. It seems the people don't want it.

[MadHound]

5. Wow, democracy worked! Amazing isn't it?

The majority of people were against this bill and damn, our reps actually listened to us. Democracy worked.

Yet people around here seem pissed that democracy worked. Look, we realize that the economy needs help, but we also know that with a month left before the election, we can get a better deal.

As Douglas Adams put it "Don't Panic"

[annabanana]

6. "a failure of followership"

That's rich.. I mean really really rich.

[sendero]

7. I think he means...

.. a success of followership. He just misspoke.

[BigBearJohn]

8. UPDATE: CNN just reported that citizens have JAMMED the email servers in Washington!

[OakCliffDem]

9. Kick

No bailout for the rich