If Partisan Hacks Can Save The Day...

If partisan hacks can save the day, our nation is in good hands with Senators Reid and Dodd.

I just watched their press conference and learned that, contra Jennifer Rubin, a bill is not bipartisan if it is only supported by a Republican President, the Republican-appointed Treasury Secretary, the Republican-appointed Fed Chairman, and a majority of Republican Senators.  Nope, without House Republicans this rescue can't move forward.

Let's see - I also learned that the breakdown in negotiations is all McCain's fault, and that this whole crisis should be blamed on Republicans.  Hmm, no mention of the Bush and McCain efforts to reform Fannie and Freddie that were blocked by Dodd and Frank?

These clowns have a majority in both houses - they simply are not ready or willing to lead. 

FROM THE INSTAPUNDIT:

EVEN MORE:  Reader Nathan Branch writes:

So I'm sitting here watching Harry Reid on CNBC, and he slams "the interjection of Presidential politics into this process," saying that it has been "harmful rather than helpful" and then goes on to say that they are moving forward with Senator Obama's proposal in that it's the best proposal, and one that keeps in mind the troubles on Main Street and not just Wall Street.

I'm watching this with my mouth just agape . . . if I were a Republican senator, I would walk away from the negotiation table. right. now.

THIS TOO SHALL PASS: Also from Glenn - "Well, the people on the Titanic who stayed calm probably did better in the end, anyway."

Well, those who remained calm are mostly in about the same place as those who panicked.

Comments

[Nancy Pelosi]

Look!

Halley's Comet!!

-

[Enlightened]

I watched - I am utterly amazed that these two abject morons can lie with such abandon - and Main Street just sucks it up.

The debate is on per Fox News - McCain better dust the floor with Obama or he is toast.

[excited to be alive]

"These clowns have a majority in both houses - they simply are not ready or willing to lead."

A Super-Majority will be necessary to beat back the Barbarian Hordes.

Tally-Ho

[matt]

if what I'm reading about Limbaugh, Malkin, and the conservative republicans is true, they are going to own this crisis. markets are funny things, and without confidence they will drop like a rock. We have seen WaMu, Freddy, Fannie, Lehman, Merrill, Countrywide etc fail. The largest series of failures by dollar value in history, and these idiots want to completely redirect efforts towards a solution that has already been discredited. What a bunch of morons. They will take us all down with their misguided policies.

[Sue]

They will take us all down with their misguided policies.

Funny how Limbaugh, et al are blamed when they have the same amount of votes you and I do. One each. Congress has the votes right now. If, as you and everyone else claims, the sky is indeed falling, democrats should save us from ourselves. We will be forever grateful to them, I'm sure.

[JBean]

if what I'm reading about Limbaugh, Malkin, and the conservative republicans is true, they are going to own this crisis.

When did those folks get elected to Congress?

[boris]

The dimorats can vote this through on their own. If they do the current dimorat version by themselves then the Repubs can slaughter them in the election. If the Repubs sign on to the dimorat version then the Repubs get slaughtered in the election by their own base.

The current dimorat version is unacceptable to Repub voters.

[DebinNC]

if what I'm reading about Limbaugh, Malkin, and the conservative republicans is true, they are going to own this crisis.

Matt, if "they" are the Dems, you're right. And if "these idiots" who "want to completely redirect efforts towards a solution that has already been discredited" are the Dems, you're right again.

[LindaK]

Dodd was on Imus this am spewing this same rubbish -- Bush is to blame, McCain undid the agreement, and I, magnificent Chris Dodd am angry at them because I've attended so many meetings and got so little sleep. Meantime, another bank, Wachovia, is getting nailed; it's down 30% to under $10. There aren't enough BACs and JPMs to buy up these perhaps failing banks.

[Mike @ Naught Relevant]

I watched this press conference and had similar thoughts. Dodd is a doddering fool (like the word play, if in fact doddering is a word).

But just for the record, the Dems say they have been predicting this for years. Haven't they been the majority party in Congress, in seesion, for nearly 2 years? What have they passed and sent to the President to avert this crisis?

I have always felt Congress should show some nuggets and pass the bills and let the President, whoever it is veto it. But because of rank partisonship they can't do that. It would hold one or the other responsible.

By the way, wasn't the financial world supposed to end last Monday if this did not pass then?

[matt]

McLuhan pointed out that perception is reality. First, the conservative talkosphere is full of baloney. They are a bunch of Speaker's Corner kooks larger megaphones.

Second, the Republican plan I read about is opaque, misguided, and poorly reasoned.

Third, the media is in the bag for the Democrats. How do you think they will play the crisis? You have Dodd, Frank, Pelosi, and Reid all over the news blaming the republicans with little rebuttal.

If the Republican plan is seen as bad and the dems make hay, the perception will be that the Republicans own the problem. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck and is perceived as a duck....

[JM Hanes]

I wouldn't dismiss matt's observation too quickly. When did the culprits who actually do the voting start getting tarred with the results?

[Thomas Jackson]

Matt:

Stop braying, you give a remarkable imitation of an ass. Refer to your own comment for details.