i just don't get it...is it a bluff? can the Dems just say "fine...fuck it, no plan"?

[bevoette]

i just don't think i understand :shrug:

are things really that bad?

if so...how can the republicans/McCain NOT be part of the solution?

if not...what if the Dems call their bluff?

ugh

it makes my head hurt

[msallied]

1. Believe me, you're not the only one.

Trying to figure out the political motivations behind John McCain's stupidity has been the order of the day. And to no avail, it would seem.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. Republican slogans are always directly opposite; e.g. "Country First"

[elocs]

3. Simple: vote for the bail-out and take the heat from the American public.

Not a smart move Democrats. Didn't you learn anything from the bum's rush on Iraq? I hope you all bother to read this one.

[BlooInBloo]

4. Don't fall for the OMGWEHAVETODOSOMETHING NOWNOWNOW!!!...

If you recall, it was from that lie that things like the Patriot Act and the Iraq war came.

[beachmom]

7. Well, I hate to tell you but this crisis is very real. Anyone who

watched the strange behavior of the markets the last two weeks would know something very scary is happening. I think Dodd is on the right track.

[BlooInBloo]

8. Kindly point me to the person who said that the crisis isn't real? kkthxbai!

[ContinentalOp]

11. Yeah, and the threat of terrorism is "real" but that doesn't mean that the...

"mushroom cloud over NY" was real. It was just fearmongering B.S. kind of like this "we will be in the great depression by Monday if we don't have a $700 billion taxpayer funded giveaway to wall street with no oversight and no regulations" B.S.

[anonymous171]

5. That's exactly what they should do.

[Raine]

6. I'm wondering too...

at first I thought there really was a big problem. I'm not so sure now it isn't all a scam on the American public.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

9. No, this stuff isn't like Iraq intelligence

Everyone knew independently there was a problem.

If Paulson hadn't spoken up Dems would have been working on emergency legislation of their own.

If it was just Paulson I'd wonder but if Ben Bernanke says it's that bad you know it isn't a total illusion. Maybe more or less bad, but serious.

[ContinentalOp]

12. Sure it's "bad" but that doesn't mean we have to rush through a bad bill by the weekend,

or else the entire world economy will collapse.

[calmblueocean]

10. You and me both. The more I read, the less I know.

I do know one thing, the Republicans want to stick the Dems with the blame for this fiasco.

I can't see McCain ultimately voting for the bailout. If both he and Obama vote for it, there's no political advantage for McCain, and quite a lot of disadvantage, since he'll lose at least some of his Republican base voters who will be so angry with him that they will vote for a third party or not vote at all.

I think McCain's ideal solution here is to promote a package that he knows is too risky or ineffective to be acceptable. Then the Dems and few Repubs who still respond to Bush's armtwisting will end up passing Dodd's plan, and McCain will shout to the heavens about how he tried to save the country, but the big-spending Dems wouldn't do it, and spent $700 billion of the taxpayers' dollars instead.

Frankly, I think the Dems are getting bamboozled by the Republicans on both sides, and that includes Obama.

I think if Obama stood up and said, "This economic brinksmanship must end. We will not be threatened, bullied, or blackmailed by Wall Street -- not today, not ever," he'd find an enormous groundswell of support. I think there are other ways through this mess besides a big fat cash injection to Paulson's cronies for ruining the economy.

But the markets smell blood in the water. They sense the weakness of Congress, and know that big swings of the Dow make a bailout just that much more likely. In my heart, I want Obama to stand up to these greedy bastards, even though that's risky. Obama is not going to take that risk, and frankly, neither will any responsible Senator or Representative. They won't take that risk, they'll vote for the bailout, and McCain will ultimately savage them for it, and the American people will resent them for it, even if it does save the economy.

Which it probably won't.

Anyway, that's my prediction. We'll see over the next few days and weeks whether it comes true.

[samuraiguppy]

13. yeah--we don't NEED the repugs--

we have majorities in both houses. We should just pass whatever we want and say "FUCK EM".

Isn't that the point of having majorities in both houses? We should have control over what gets done?

Democrats need to take off the pink tutus.

Just watch--tomorrow McPOW will come up with a "republican" bill and we will pass it for him. We must be fucking doormats.

[TexasObserver]

14. The Winning Strategem: Announce hearings on the GOP counter plan.

The GOP House and McCain sabotaged the current deal, and now want to advance their "free market" plan. Instead of simply voting through the Bush Paulson plan for the bailout, Democrats should announce early Friday they intend to start hearings immediately on the GOP House plan, and allow its advocates, like John McCain, a chance to testify for it. Set the hearings for Monday, and then let the markets respond as they will respond.

Force Bush to go on TV and beg HIS party to support his proposal. Make Bush lean on the GOP, and let the GOP hang itself with its alternative plan. Make McCain step up and defend this new plan he just discovered TODAY.

[Solomon]

15. I like this. McCain did say that everyone needed to be

heard. LOL Well let's hear it John. Oh, but wait, he hasn't read his own proposal yet, so literally, he doesn't know what the fuck he's talking about.

[TexasObserver]

16. The Senate members should invite McCain to testify on behalf of the plan he backs.

Obama set out his principles, and apparently, the administration acceded to his requirements.

Now, let McCain step up to speak in hearing for the alternative plan he's backing. This guy couldn't explain how to capitalize a lemonade stand.