Hold That Vote! (Leadership That's Shirking)

This is embarrassing - the House can't pass this rescue plan?  As I type the House vote is being held in suspense (i.e., not accepted as final) with 207 in support and 226 opposed (down from 228).  Bush needs to call some Republicans and threaten to come and campaign for them unless they switch their vote and support this.

MORE:  OK, the bill failed.  What next?  Well, Paulson and Bernanke stayed with the ad hoc approach for months; looks like that will resume for a while.  The House is scheduled to leave town and come back to Washington in January.  Barring a major change, there won't be legislation.  Is "Stunning" a fair word?

3:07 PM:  After an unnecessarily partisan floor speech that alienated Republicans prior to the vote, Nancy Pelosi comes on television to blame Republicans and explain that this bill was too important to pass only with Democratic votes.  What a worthless "leader" she is.

NEXT:  Back in 1990 House Republicans revolted against a Bush budget plan that included a tax hike.  Bush eventually signed an all-Dem bill with even more tax hikes.

The same game is being played today.  With this compromise dead, Pelosi will vote out the full Democratic fantasy bill with public floggings and stocks for financial services execs and giveaways to favored Dem backers.  Bush will be told to take it or leave it, and like his dad, will take it.  What will the Senate do?  Well, the Dem majority may well pass the Dem fantasy bill there, too - are Senate Republicans going to filibuster it?

Great tactical maneuvering by the House Republicans - kill a compromise so Dems can get their dream bill.  I guess the House Reps will try to tar the Dems with an unpopular bail-out, but the Dem fantasy bill will have plenty of ammo for liberal demagogues and won't be unpopular with the left.

And embarrassing McCain is a bonus for Pelosi et al.

Groan.  I hope the country can endure this political dance.

I AM SUNSHINE AND LOLLIPOPS compared to Ross Douthat, who foresees doom or gloom.  Bill Kristol sees McCain riding to the rescue.  Geez, can we survive another McCain rescue?  Note to Mr. Kristol: Democrats won't pass a bill for which McCain can claim credit, OK?  Embarrassing him, embarrassing Bush, winning the White House - it's all good, and Dems will end the recession in Jan 2009.  Heck, Roosevelt took over years after the stock market crash of 1929 (don't tell Joe); we are only talking months now.  Yes, I understand that Roosevelt's New Deal didn't end the depression, but neither Nancy nor Barack know that.

Comments

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Breakdown:

Dems 141 Yea 94 Nay

Repub 66 Yea 132 Nay

Market: -441

[clarice]

HEH!!!

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Oy, vote still the same. Market now -489 after going over -500 for a second or two.

[bio mom]

Nonsense. This is a crappy bill and should not be passed. Let's do it right. If we are going to have an Obama presidency as everyone keeps saying in the MSM then why have that plus a crappy bill that saddles us with all this bad debt and won't end up making the markets happy anyway if that is what it is supposed to do. I have losing money too. But capitalists always find a way to survive if they have to and that means so will the banks. If the government is always the easy solution, then why not try that first which is what they are doing. Making such huge decisions in the crisis atmosphere is bound to end up with a lousy bill.

[glasater]

This is the real vote against Zero.

[PDinDetroit]

Wow! 94 dems actually were against the Rescue Plan.

What is this world coming to?

Sara - do you have a link to see who voted which way?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Vote closed. Failed.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

No link, just watching the totals on the screen. Watch Malkin, she'll have it sooner or later, I'm sure.

[Jane]

This is the real vote against Zero.

Too bad none of the people voting for him don't know that.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Market: -565

[MayBee]

Ha!

Well, yesterday Obama took credit for this bill. And Pelosi is an idiot.

They'll pass something, I have faith. But if Democrats don't create a serious anti-Pelosi movement, I will lose all respect for them.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Now I don't know exactly what they are doing. There is a new vote going on "Motion to suspend the rules and pass." Pass what? I don't know.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Must not have been important, they've moved on.

[perc]

Democrats can't possibly be serious: Andy McCarthy has a post at the Corner: "The Bailout Follies: Taxpayers Will Be Forced to Buy the Bad Debt of LOCAL GOVERNMENTS". Scroll down to 9:53 am.

[glasater]

Too bad none of the people voting for him don't know that.

Amen, Jane.

[clarice]

Apparently something else- Sara.

I must say Rush is on a roll today..He sees this as a harbinger of a major Dem loss at the polls. Hope he's right.
Where's TCO?

He must be veryyyyyyyyyyy happy.

[clarice]

perc that factoid turned up last night. Amazing huh?

[viva ron paul]

Rush is back on the oxycontin then.

Most people in the country blame Bush for this mess.

Bush. Remember him? He's hardly ever mentioned here anymore. Where'd the love go?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Barney Frank says: will assess reaction BEFORE DECIDING next move. Are they in shock that it went down?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Most people lay the blame right where it belongs, at the door of Congress, most especially the dem Congress and you should know that, Viva, as your idol, Ron Paul, has been saying it all morning.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

White House: "very disappointed bill didn't pass."

[Rick Ballard]

Clarice,

It's a Dem failure. The NewD irection is straight into the toilet on the basis of the majority's failure to lead.

Rush has a point - the electorate knows who holds the majority.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Let me get that corrected.

"White House very disappointed at House rejection of bailout."

[viva ron paul]

Sara-let's see: last time I was here I was saying that McCain "suspending" his campaign was stupid.

I'm right again on this.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I'm sure everyone here is bombarded with those offers for credit cards where they tell you "you are pre-approved." I usually throw them in the trash. But last night I was going thru a stack of old mail and found two offers from the same source, one from last month and one from a few days ago. In looking at the fine print, I noticed that the 1x cost on the month old offer was $69 + $20 a year. The newer one has that cost at $119 + $50 a year.

[Jane]

I'm right again on this.

What do you think that gets you?

[viva ron paul]

Hello? Most people were opposed to this bailout plan. That's why it failed!!!

How you people think this is going to hurt the Dems is beyond me.

Bush going on TV is what killed this thing.

People. Hate. Bush.

That's why all analysis on this site is so bassackward. Bush hatred is never factored in.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

McCain was great at the Columbus rally this morning. Best I've ever heard him. What are you talking about? The crowd was wildly enthusiastic.

[Gmax]

Did you see the parliamentarian question at the end? That was Rep Joe Barton, who wanted more time to see what could be done. The parliamentarian was no help so he withdrew his motion.

I still think something passes, even if there is stuff added to make folks say yea.

Watch and see.

[Barney Frank]

Well guess we'll go the real RTC route.
Instead of buying the stuff from the banks we'll wait until they fail and get it for free.

Hopefully our next mortgages won't be some beads and furs for a cave.
Interesting times.

[viva ron paul]

"McCain was great at the Columbus rally this morning."

Wasn't he supposed to suspend the campauign until agreement was reached?

Back to D.C. for him, right?

[Enlightened]

"People. Hate. Bush."

Eight.Years.Later.And.You.Dipshits.Are.Still.Deranged.

[Verner]

I said this on the other thread, but I just have to repeat myself.

The Republican minority has just given Mme. Pelosi a major F-U. If she wants to get it passed, talk to those 94 bluedogs.

In all honesty, I know that the next year might be really rough, and my 401k might drop way down. But I'm in this for the longterm.

I supported the bailout. But maybe it would be better to suffer through this for a while, get the nasty stuff and the fraud out of the market, and let the capitalist system do what it does best.

Now, the republicans are blaming democrats for calling them unpatriotic etc. I agree--FU Pelosi. Go tlk to the bluedogs if you want it passed.

[viva ron paul]

Hey Enlightened:

Bush pleaded with Congress to pass it THIS morning, and House REPUBLICANS killed it.

That really tells you all you need to know about Bush's status on the love thing.

[viva ron paul]

"The Republican minority has just given Mme. Pelosi a major F-U."

It was Bush, not Pelosi who got the F-U.

Thanks for proving my point, verner.

[Jane]

Eric Canter on TV wailing against Pelosi saying her speech if the reason it did not pass.

WEll good.

[Fisher]

viva ron paul,

Bush is about as relevent in this as a fire hydrant.

The Democratic leadership in this Congress is utterly incompetant. I have a strong feeling that Boehner pulled a fast one on Pelosi.

[Enlightened]

"Back to D.C. for him, right?"

Is that you Harry? You and Nancy need some adult supervision? You got a load in your Depends that Barney Frank and Chris Dodd didn't sanitize?

[Pagar]

"Go tlk to the bluedogs if you want it passed."

I've been saying this since Friday. Pelosi never had the Democrats under control. If she had the bill would have passed.

[Jane]

Viva,

I see you couldn't answer my question. You are as much of an empty suit as your candidate.

[viva ron paul]

"Bush is about as relevent in this as a fire hydrant."

The guy is President for another 4 months!

But if you're saying he should resign, I agree.

[Verner]

Bush pleaded with Congress to pass it THIS morning, and House REPUBLICANS killed it.

Republicans didn't kill anything dumbshit. Those 94 democrats did. Viva Pelosi!

Worst.Speaker.Ever.

[Ranger]

Well, first think McCain should do is ask where Obama was last night to help bring the house Dems along? The failure of Dem house members to vote for this is a direct failure of Obama as a leader in a time of crisis.

[perc]

perc that factoid turned up last night. Amazing huh?

Yes, and I can't understand why the Republicans aren't hammering points like this home at every opportunity.

[DebinNC]

Dodd and Franks' stewardship was repudiated by their own party. If The dems had any sense, they'd replace Pelosi and move Frank and Dodd far, far away from any financial committee. They are and will remain albatrosses.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Jane, it wasn't just Cantor who said that. I heard another Congressman say that the last "speech" she gave to "her folks" was what created the nay votes, even from the dem side.

[Verner]

The guy is President for another 4 months!

But if you're saying he should resign, I agree.

PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY!!!!!

Like the sound of that!

[Jane]

Dodd and Franks' stewardship was repudiated by their own party. If The dems had any sense, they'd replace Pelosi and move Frank and Dodd far, far away from any financial committee. They are and will remain albatrosses.

I'd make that a condition of any bill passing.

[viva ron paul]

Sorry, Jane. I thought it was more a dig than a ?, but if yur ? was "What do you think that gets you?"

It gets me nothing except the slight psychic income that I'm smarter than the idiots running the country.

(And note that statement says nothing about my own idiocy or lack thereof)

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Viva claims he is for Ron Paul. You can't be for Ron Paul and Barack Obama, their positions are eons apart.

[Enlightened]

"It was Bush, not Pelosi who got the F-U."

This really is so sad. A lame duck president and you STILL are deranged.

What's the matter, adults taking charge of the asylum bothers you that much?

[viva ron paul]

"Republicans didn't kill anything dumbshit."

If Republicans had not voted, the bill would have passed. And you're calling me a dumshit?

[viva ron paul]

Where did I say I was for Obama. Ever?

[Enlightened]

"If Republicans had not voted, the bill would have passed. And you're calling me a dumshit?"

Uh, yeah - dumbshit. This statement pretty much makes your case.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

If Republicans had not voted, the bill would have passed. And you're calling me a dumshit?

Oh? How is that? They needed 217 to pass. Only 141 dems voted for it, out of 235 dems in the House. Dumshit.

[DrJ]

Manzi's comment at NRO:

...if I were a senior Democrat right now, I'd introduce a Democratic alternative tomorrow and pass it on a party line vote.

Comments?

[Paul Zrimsek]

What you really can't do if you're for Ron Paul is indulge in the Bandwagon Fallacy.

[Gabriel Sutherland]

Daily Kos is taking today's vote as an opportunity to raise funds for Democrats that are opposed to the bailout.

They should be addressing Speaker Pelosi.

[glenda waggoner]

Jane, you are so right. She doesn't know when to shut up and let things happen(thank goodness) It's just like Obama, their egos get in the way of realism and growth, everytime. Where are the RNC commercials @ the failed congress under Pelosi? Put that deer in the headlights on film and play in the background "What Kind of Fool Am I?" with scrolls of her insipid words straight from a Lenin/Ayers/ playbook!

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Where did I say I was for Obama. Ever?

Well I don't hear you touting conspiracy nut Chuck Baldwin, who Ron Paul endorsed, yet you hate Bush, hate McCain, hate Sarah Palin. And nary a word against Bambi.

[BOATBUILDER]

Viva--are you "for" anything? Or just a gadfly?

[Verner]

94 bluedogs sitting in a tree--trying to cover their political asses!!!!

Scew you! You put Pelosi and Frank in power.

Now, pay for it.

No Party Discipline. Worst.Speaker.Ever.

[Enlightened]

"If Republicans had not voted, the bill would have passed."

You might want to google your facts son.

95 DEMOCRATS did not support Madame Speaker.

That is a very clear middle finger salute to the Madame.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

The last I looked, Ron Paul is still a Republican, BTW, and he is against the bailout.

[Sue]

94 democrats voted against the bill. This looks like a bipartisan F-U to Pelosi. The democrats, Pelosi, Dodd, Frank, made this partisan by blaming republicans when it was not republicans who caused this. If democrats were serious about this, they would have had Frank and Dodd recuse themselves, and kept their damned opinions to themselves. Politics were inserted by democrats. Your MSM won't tell you this so those of you inclined to blame Bush will continue to blame Bush 25 years from now.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

The Nay votes for dems has changed from 94 to 97.

[BOATBUILDER]

Are there any "senior"--as in "grownup"--Democrats? If they were able to pass a bill they would have to take responsibility for it. Hence, no bill.

[Gmax]

Boehner just had a press conference with Blunt and said Pelosi caused them to lose 12 votes they thought they had ( Republicans ). That would have been enough, and may still be enough but I think now Pelosi is going to have to come up with some insurance Democrats too. This has to pass by 10 or 15 votes or forget bringing it up until you know you have them.

[DebinNC]

Politico: "With the vote at 226 to 207 against, Pelosi and her leadership team are huddled over a sheet of paper, presumably the whip count -- with the goal of flipping the needed 10 votes....Pelosi and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn seem to be focusing on members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including John Lewis."

So, did the Black Caucus vote against the plan en masse? That would seem to make it kinda hard to blame Reps.

[Enlightened]

Hey - maybe the Dems that voted "Nay" were as offended by the Democratic earmarks as John Q public was.

In any case - the Republicans voted their conscience, and so did 94 Democrats.

I'm with Verner - I'll take my licks until we get a working bill that benefits the taxpayers and not ACORN asswipes end their ilk.

[M. Simon]

Jews earn like Episcopalians and vote like Puerto Ricans.

[Verner]

Note to Bluedogs---get rid of the stupid hatefulb%$#h. She is ruining this country.

Dump the socialists in your party, follow Bill Clinton's lead and support McCain--and maybe we can save America in a bi-partisan way.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Market: -571

[BOATBUILDER]

Uh oh. Despite the fact that 97 Dems voted nay, this will be portrayed by the press as a Newt Gingrich type temper tantrum/betrayal of their word by the GOP. Just wait. It will be all the Republican's fault.

[M. Simon]

Democrats can't possibly be serious: Andy McCarthy has a post at the Corner: "The Bailout Follies: Taxpayers Will Be Forced to Buy the Bad Debt of LOCAL GOVERNMENTS". Scroll down to 9:53 am.

I had something on that from AT yesterday. No one commented.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Final tally was 205 Yea 228 Nay

[PeterUK]

Mr Ballard,
"It's a Dem failure. The NewD irection is straight into the toilet on the basis of the majority's failure to lead."

Not so,depressions usually see a huge transfer of wealth from the poor and middle classes to the rich.Little rich girl Nancy is simply looking after her class interests.

What were they saying when the Democrats took Congress,"Now you'll see some oversight". Giving Madame de Botox the benefit of the doubt,perhaps letting your econmy go down the tubes is merely an oversight?

[Amused bystander]

Well many of the Dem votes against the bill are not from Blue Dogs. Many of them did not like the Acorn exclusion.

Most likely the Dems will go back and make a worse bill and pass it on their own (and own it).

Perhaps that is the way it should be.

The ball is in Mccain's court now.

[Sue]

It was going to be republicans' fault no matter which way the vote went. The democrats, and their compliant press, were making sure of that.

[Verner]

Anybody have a link to the rollcall? I want to know which democrats voted NAY.

[matt]

this is going to kill the Congress if they don't get their heads out fast. Failure to enact a simple, transparent, and focused bill will cause carnage like you've never seen before. It is happening as we speak. Why can't these fools understand that they are risking the entire country's pensions, ESOP's, 401K's, stiock portfolios, and insurance policies by reckless and irresponsible behavior.

[michaelt]

A "worse" bill still has to get through the Senate.

[Lori]

I found a roll call on the main New York Times site. In small print on the left side of the page.

[Enlightened]

"It will be all the Republican's fault."

Why is anyone to be faulted? Shouldn't the message be that we are still working on the best plan for everyone? This phony deadline of Monday, or the market goes bust - who give's a rats ass? Get the RIGHT plan, get the right VOTES and get the PUBLIC on board.

It's so typical that unhappy people on every side are going to BLAME someone, anyone but themselves.

What the GOP should be doing right now is a presser that says "Don't panic, this is just a stage of the planning process and we will be back at the table and pounding out a tighter plan post haste. What we can not and will not tolerate is the stark raving partisanship exhibited today by the Speaker of the House."

Go git 'r done - stop bitching about who is to blame fercrissakes.

[BarbaraS]

Let no one ever again say the democrats don't do anything for minorities. They have sold out the country for the votes of these people. And of course, enriching themselves and their friends.

[M. Simon]

"Chicago Reader" files for bankruptcy.

Alternative weekly.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Malkin has the vote breakdown by Member, long list.

[Amused bystander]

True Michael.

[DebinNC]

Pelosi's speech before the vote

I can't hear it, so maybe someone else will report on what she said.

[Lori]

roll call
LUN

[viva ron paul]

"Oh? How is that? They needed 217 to pass."

Negative. They needed more yes votes than no votes. (It's 218 anyway if all members vote).

Anyway, the spin that Repubs didn't kill it is ludicrous.

Hell, I opposed it. Be proud they killed it!

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I see that my Congressman voted against.

[Lori]

Sorry I don't think that link is correct but its the one I got from NYT.

[DebinNC]

Mine too, Sara.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Hey - maybe the Dems that voted "Nay" were as offended by the Democratic earmarks as John Q public was.

That would almost make sense.

If the earmarks were in the bill.

Which they're not.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Negative. They needed more yes votes than no votes. (It's 218 anyway if all members vote).

Tubbs died and hasn't yet been replaced, so they needed 217. 50%.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

This phony deadline of Monday, or the market goes bust - who give's a rats ass?

Only people who know what will happen if the credit market doesn't unfreeze and care about hunger and suffering.

[Verner]

Boo Hooo. Nancy looks like she's about to cry.

Do it you witch. Suffer.

[SWarren]

....Pelosi and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn seem to be focusing on members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including John Lewis."

Oy...Is the Black Caucus lobbying to have ACORN back in the Bill?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Market: -610