Stunning Politico account of WH meeting: Obama just outflanked & outsmarted McCain.

[beachmom]

For the last day and a half, many people here have been handwringing that McCain was laying a trap for Obama with his campaign suspension and trip to Capitol Hill. That the unpopular bailout plan introduced by the Bush White House was going to be converted into the unpopular Democratic plan. Well, it ends up that everyone underestimated Democrats and their ability to outsmart their opponents. On a substantive basis, it would be immoral and insane to pass an unprecedented plan like this without a decent amount of Republican support. Something this enormous must be bipartisan. What happened yesterday was about Obama and the Democrats exposing upfront what Republicans in the House had in mind (with McCain meekly going along) the entire time: they would vote against the plan and then pin the whole thing on Democrats. Politico has the goods:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13918.html

Both McCain and his Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, would leave the White House without comment, and the meeting was described as among the wildest in memory. A beleaguered President Bush had to struggle to maintain order and reassert himself. And when Democrats left to caucus in the Roosevelt Room, Paulson pursued them, begging that they not “blow up” the legislation.

The former Goldman Sachs CEO even went down on one knee as if genuflecting, to which Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cal.) is said to have joked, “I didn’t know you were Catholic.”

It was McCain who had urged Bush to call the White House meeting but Democrats made sure Obama had a prominent part. And much as they complained later of being blindsided, the whole event turned out to be something of an ambush on their part—aimed at McCain and House Republicans.

“Speaking professionally,” said one Republican aide, “They did a very good job.”

When Bush yielded early to Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D- Nev.) to speak, they yielded to Obama to speak for the assembled Democrats. And it was Obama who raised the subject of the conservative alternative and pressed Paulson on what he thought of the idea.

House Republicans felt trapped—squeezed by Treasury, House Democrats and a bipartisan coalition in the Senate. And while McCain spoke surprisingly little after asking for the meeting, he conceded that it appeared there were not the votes for the core Paulson plan without major changes.

...

The wild White House meeting may have the effect of uniting Democrats more. And only hours before, Dodd, Frank and bipartisan set of prominent senators had reached a bipartisan agreement Thursday on the framework for legislation authorizing the massive government intervention.

But passing the Treasury plan is still an uphill climb, and Pelosi will be reluctant to expose her members if House Republicans are sitting out the process. And the whole sequence of events confirmed Treasury’s fears about the decision by Bush, at the urging of McCain, to allow presidential politics into what were already difficult negotiations.

I would call this nothing short of a brilliant move by Obama and the Democrats. They didn't create the chaos -- it was always there, and this meeting showed that the Republican party is in complete disarray. It also exposed McCain as a finger in the wind politician who can't even take a firm stand on this extremely vital issue. I mean, he sits there silently as Boehner kills the deal, by admitting his caucus won't vote for it (something that was always true, just not exposed until now), and at this hour, STILL won't say which direction he wants. Meanwhile, Obama has made it very clear what principles he stands for in the bailout deal and the fact that he will be there for the debate tonight. In short, Barack Obama is acting like a President and a leader, and a shrewd one at that. He's got Republicans literally on their knees, where they should be after the big giant mess they have created.

[medicswife]

1. Yay!!!!!!!!! You talked me down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been needing a swift kick in the ass all morning and you just gave it to me! Thanks!

:woohoo: :bounce: :woohoo:

[beachmom]

6. I just have one word for you: Chicago.

When I saw Obama at YearlyKos in 2007 held in Chicago, somebody asked him if he's got an "LBJ" side of him. Obama paused for a moment, and then said, "Welcome to Chicago. 20 years ago I came here without knowing a soul. And now I am a U.S. Senator running for President of the United States. Chicago ain't no beanbag." McCain just found out how shrewd a politician Obama is.

[hogwyld]

27. I love that quote

"Chicago ain't no beanbag" Check f'n mate...

[Cha]

87. LOL! that's one for the annuals of time..

"Chicago ain't no bean bag"!:rofl:

And, they thought all he had was a speech.

[No Elephants]

109. "Chicago ain't no beanbag?" What does that mean? (I get the gist, just not the literal meaning.)

[aquart]

113. Chicago politics are not for the timid or faint of heart.

It's hardball and wear a helmet.

[Teaser]

15. Fear is the mindkiller

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

[badgerpup]

29. Thank you...

Gotta remember that.
Reading that gave me the shivers. :hug:

[goclark]

35. That is awesome ~

Whose words are those?

[Teaser]

37. Frank Herbert

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litany_against_fear

[arikara]

85. From Dune

one of the greatest books / series of all time.

[Narkos]

63. Just make sure to take your right hand out of the box! n/t

[hootinholler]

72. Um, not if you desire life. n/t

[Teaser]

74. I don't fuck around with the gom jabbar, thanks

.

[graywarrior]

93. That is very cool. thanks.

[JDPriestly]

99. Teaser, wonderful poem.

[bjobotts]

105. And I will continue to lie to myselfjuntil the next time I must repeat this

[bjobotts]

106. Fear is a big motivator to action. Boehner and all of them have to go.

[bjobotts]

107. The silent republican is afraid to take their party back from the neocon christies

[BlooInBloo]

2. I love how the smartest motherfucker in the room....

Is so much smarter than the idiot ITSAROVIANTRICK!! DUers.

[cliffordu]

36. HE's probably a hell of a lot smarter than the rest of us too.....

I know he regularly kicks my ass.

[MindMatter]

39. Plus he maneuvered McCain into a position where he has to come to the debate

It can be exasperating listening to Obama operate because he is so very careful to use all the right words when we wish he would let out a "Motherf%$ker" once in awhile. But he is always thinking ten steps ahead of everyone else.

It is like watching a really poor checkers player go up against a grand master in 3-dimensional chess.

What is really comical is that McCain seems to keep thinking he is smart. The guy is a dumbass. He should have nominated Romney and made a real race out of this thing.

[Supersedeas]

82. what specifically has McGrumpy accomplished since marching on Washington!?!

[dmr]

84. "Um, I'll get back to you on that ..."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[ann_american2004]

88. it was a rovian trick.

[DemsUnited]

3. Wow. Eye opening. Thanks for posting!!! K&R.

[FreakinDJ]

4. CNN called Bush a "High Functioning Moron"

Yes the Dems have outsmarted the McSame campaign.

Now lets see if the rest of the Media actually reports the News

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. Smartest and Calmest Man in the Room and our next President

[gblady]

17. Amazing graphic!

Wow!

[rockymountaindem]

25. That is extremely creepy and bizarre n/t

[MindMatter]

40. Who is that? Is that Reggie Miller?

[faithfulcitizen]

55. lol. I agree with this and pics like this are creepy.

...sure doesn't help with the "messiah" meme. I do believe he is blessed with many gifts and talents that we need so desperately in a national leader. But I don't like all the hero worship stuff too much. I see him as one of us.

[Bette Noir]

98. Agreed.

And the backlighting makes his sticky-outie ears red. Not his best angle.

[TeeYiYi]

59. Creepy... nt

TYY

[MadrasT]

7. Thank you. A thousand thank yous.

I'm taking off my tinfoil and taking a nap now. I haven't slept all week.

K&R and bookmarked for later, when I need to be talked down again.

:kick:

[scheming daemons]

8. President Obama got Hank Paulson down on his knees begging....

Smartest Mofo in the room!


Mr. Prez-Elect.... tell hank to rollover, then play dead...


Obama effectively told Hank to "kiss my ring", and it worked.



Leader-fucking-ship.

[grantcart]

9. nice find and brilliant commentary

[beachmom]

10. I have to admit: this story made me smile. nt

[windbreeze]

67. Hell, it made me LOL...in a big way...go Obama!!

I have an virtual visual thing, when I read something descriptive enough I can actually see it...so to think about Bush trying to maintain order out of chaos...McCain sitting there quietly doing/saying nothing, trying to remain pertinent...Paulson on his knees begging Pelosi, the whole time Obama is in command...made one great picture...wb

[BumRushDaShow]

11. When one (McLame) stands in the middle of the road, then one will be run over.

He is being torn asunder by the 2 factions of his party - the "borrow and spend" group and the "deregulate and cut taxes" side. And even among his own campaign staff, there are 2 groups... and this results in his continual flip-flops, and underscores that what he allegedly stands for does not have enough support, no matter which way he leans.

It's like a reverse triangulation! :rofl:

[iceman66]

32. That and the fact that he has no clue about economics.

It's not like he has any real ideas of his own to bring to the table. I doubt that he even fully understands the nature of the problem.

He saw an opportunity for a 'game changing' moment and turned what should have been a serious discussion about a serious problem into political theater.

God, I hope this backfires on him in the end!

[Arkana]

12. Not so bad for a first-term senator with "no experience", eh?

[Kalyke]

24. Yep. For example, all Palin would do is intone, nasally, that we need to

"shake thing up."

:eyes:

[MadMaddie]

89. She would say, "Guys and Gals".....and then crickets

Welcome to DU!!

[nc4bo]

13. President Barack Obama. Sounds great to me. Smart, cool, calm and collected is what we need. nt

[noel711]

14. This from 'Politico'????

I've seen them as a republican-favoring site...

If this their their report, Obama must have been there
with guns blazing...

I gotta go there and read the whole thing myself..
I am stunned!

[beachmom]

18. Politico is an MSM site. I don't view it as "Republican"

but rather, well, MSM-y CW Establishment.

[No Elephants]

110. It leans Republican. Check its wiki and the wikis of its founders. nt

[nc4bo]

19. Keep reminding yourself they are "in it" for the views. Views = $$

They are no different the CorpMedia: Eyes=$$

[DemReadingDU]

16. So Obama is against this bill?

Surely, he won't vote for it.

I don't want my taxes to bail out the Republicans' reckless investments

[beachmom]

22. I hate to tell you, but this is not just about Wall Street anymore.

Those banks had a partnership in this disaster: borrowers who had no business taking their loans. The consequences go far deeper than Wall Street. So something will need to be done. Obama will support the bill IF it adheres to his principles, but he and the Democratic leadership are not going to drop a bill without at least half of the Republican caucus voting for it. In other words, either we're in this together or not at all.

[DemReadingDU]

31. ok, thanks

Still, I don't want it to pass with Paulson becoming King and transferring control of money from Congress to Paulson.

[iceman66]

33. Good!

That's the way it should be.

[loudsue]

43. Europe isn't bailing out their bad boys...they're letting them take their medicine.

If even 1/10 of that money was given to the people who actually need help (we, the people) or if it was given to jump-start jobs gearing up for a new energy policy, the money would be there to PAY THE HOUSE PAYMENTS, that would take these mortgages OUT of foreclosure.

What has screwed the pooch on wall street is the fact that these guys were playing with DERIVATIVES that they knew little/nothing about...they just knew they were making money coming & going. Now that they're NOT, and the actual bill has come due, they're shitting their pants. Every single one of them involved in this Ponzi scheme should have all of their assets seized and liquidated....that right there would provide BILLIONS in paybacks.

The paper money the republicans have been building on since Reagan has all been one big Ponzi scheme. A bunch of MBA's have used computers to make money on paper....downsizing companies where there are no employees to produce a product/service, and yet taking the money saved and putting it in investors' pockets, rather than hiring people who could BUY things and recirculate the money...not in more investment paper, but in goods and services.

How often do we go to a store and have to wait forever to have someone help us. On a whole floor in some department store, you can't find but maybe ONE employee. Who in the hell has time to go looking for someone. I just don't buy shit. I do without. And I know I'm not alone.

The republican model has finally come home to roost. It's like their faith based beliefs... there's no "there" there. It's all paper, and it won't work in the real world.

[beachmom]

44. There is no housing bubble in Europe and the people there have

a higher savings rate. Sorry, but our situation is not remotely like theirs. Most Germans do NOT own homes, and if they try to buy one they must put 20% down, and get a fixed rate mortgage.

[loudsue]

54. Many investors in Europe bought our debt. Many of them own U.S. gov't securities.

So, yes, they do own our housing bubble, just like China and Saudi Arabia, etc. But it's not really the housing bubble that is the problem. It's the DERIVATIVES that were played on the mortgage paper, and they were sold to wealthy Europeans just like they were sold to wealthy everybody-else. It's the DERIVATIVES that are breaking the banks, because they were playing with them.

And all of the Germans I know own their own homes. But Germany isn't the only country in Europe. All of us are connected financially, and our banks are also operating in other countries.

[beachmom]

57. A very low percentage of Germans own homes. My in laws

do not own a home, and never have. Only richer Germans who have savings for a down payment own homes. France is cheaper than Germany.

I am just saying that it's a fundamentally worse problem here than there. But agreed that a lot of Europeans bought the derivatives.

[donco6]

20. I think this is exactly right.

From everything else I'm hearing and reading, this is an accurate picture of what really happened. So many master strokes in this - Pelosi and Reid deferring to Obama certainly one. And the only reason they could do that is because Obama is one sharp guy who can pick up the reins of a debate and lay out the principles clearly, and who commands respect even from long-time Dems like Reid and Pelosi. That cannot be underestimated.

[DURHAM D]

21. Nothing there.

This is all sad political theater.

Not exactly what we need.

[beachmom]

23. McCain demanded political theater, and now he has to live with it.

Once the theater has left the building (IF that is at all possible), I think a deal can be reached given the dire circumstances if they don't.

[Barack_America]

26. I'm sorry, but I don't trust this account.

It is very different from other accounts we have heard of the meeting, namely that it was McCain who pressed the House Republicans' "plan". And I fail to see how it benefits Democrats, particularly Obama, to herald their political "victory" when they shouldn't have been playing politics to begin with.

I'm not one to declare things as "traps", but this is a trap. This is the GOP trying to deflect from the fact that McCain blew up the bailout agreement and place the blame on Obama instead. Don't be fooled by their use of praise in order to do so. Look at the sources for this article; Republicans and aides to McCain.

[beachmom]

38. Actually, what I think happened was that Boehner had already

spoken about his caucus's opposition, but when Obama spoke, he asked Paulson what his opinion was of the Republicans' ideas. So that is how the boxing in happened. More accounts show that McCain MET with Boehner earlier and did not express opposition to their bizarre ideas, like eliminating the capital gains tax. So I do trust this account, coupled with all the others. Frankly, I wish they would just have a transcript.

[Barack_America]

48. That's not how the Politico article attempts to frame it.

They frame it as Obama pulling that "plan" out of the ether to throw a wrench in the proceedings. I don't believe for a moment that this was the Democrats' doing. One look at how honestly exasperated Dodd and Frank were after that meeting tells the tale, IMO.

I believe the other accounts that McCain first brought up the House Republican "plan" (it's not a plan, it's an attempt at political cover) and that, once raised, Obama pressed them and Paulson on the details of such a plan.

The paper that represents the House Republicans' "plan" was being floated prior to the meeting. But I think it was discounted by all as merely political cover and not a genuine effort. But then McCain has to go and lend gravitas to it during the meeting (because he needed to create a crisis) and away we went.

[beachmom]

51. I agree, that you have to put all the accounts together. But did you just

see, that McCain BLINKED? He told the GOP caucus to make a deal, this morning at 9:30 AM? Everyone knows that the House GOP killed the deal. My point is that Obama made them admit it, and made Paulson admit that their plan was unworkable.

[FatDave]

62. I haven't read an account where McCain pressed the house republican bill.

But I've read several where he sat like a rock.

[iceman66]

28. Let's hope this is accurate.

I'd love to see this thing blow up in McCain's face!

[Curtland1015]

30. Hot DAMN! That is AWESOME!

Talk about turning shit into gold! You wanna force our hand you bastard? This is what you get!!!

[Barack_America]

34. No, it's not. It's the Republicans claiming that it was the Democrats who played politics.

Not them.

A bit curious that all of the sources for this were Republicans, no?

Make no mistake, it was McCain and the House Republicans who walked into the Cabinet room with the intention of destroying the agreement, for their own political gain.

[beachmom]

42. Actually, I think they were planning on just opposing it, and having

Democrats take a fall. But Obama & Dems basically saying they weren't going to play that game is how they outflanked them. They specifically pinned the failure of a deal on House Republicans. McCain's plan was to stay mum, and then go against it to score political points, while the plan passed on mostly Dem votes. That was the ideal situation for him: the plan passes (averting financial market meltdown) but he can say he voted against it. Now he does not have that option. Now daylight has been shed on them, and the pressure is completely on McCain and the conservative GOPers.

[Overseas]

52. Yes that was the Gingrich recommendation they seemed to be following.

Glad the Democrats out-maneuvered them.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/gingrich-mccain.html, and a clip:

If McCain were to come out against the bailout plan, Gingrich said that Republicans would rally to his side and it would become possible for the McCain-Palin ticket to style itself as "taking on the Bush-Obama establishment."

"Either McCain is going to go along" with Obama in supporting the plan, said Gingrich, "in which case the establishment will have the fix in . . . or you are going to see McCain decide, much in the way that he did in picking Palin, that, in fact, he is a genuine maverick, that he genuinely defends the taxpayers, and that this is a terrible bill."

"If the latter happens," Gingrich continued, "I think you will see the emergence overnight of a 'McCain Reform Wing of the Republican Party' and you'll see House and Senate members siding with McCain by overwhelming margins and then you'll be in a very different political environment. You'll have 'Bush-Obama ads' on the one side and 'taking on the Bush-Obama establishment' on the other side, and that will be, frankly, one of the more amazing elections."

[Barack_America]

53. Dem leaders were adamant from the get-go that if this wasn't a bipartisan effort...

It was a no-go.

They didn't blindside any one at the meeting with that. The only blindside, if one occurred, would be McCain bolstering the House Republican revolt by siding with them. It sounds to me that the Dems merely held their ground that if the House Republicans weren't on board, then the deal was dead. Paulson plead with them to bring this to a vote regardless, and Pelosi said "no".

I just don't see how it helps our cause to be promoting the idea that Dems walked into that room with the intention of playing politics. And that is certainly how the Politico article is trying to frame this.

[ProSense]

56. You seem to be missing the point that while the Dems said it had to be bipartisan,

the Republicans devised a strategy to create the impression that Democrats were obstructing the process. Their attempt failed.

[Barack_America]

61. You seem to be missing the point that this Politico article is an effort to do the same.

The Republicans cited in this article are trying to press the point that the Democrats, namely Obama, walked into that room with an interest in using the House Republican disagreement to deliberately torpedo the plan.

When the truth is that Democrats simply insisted that such an enormous bill have bipartisan support, as it should. McCain gave legitimacy to what the House Republicans were doing by appearing to support their position.

That is what killed the negotiations. The Dems had every intention of walking into that room and making progress. It was McCain and the House Republicans that decided otherwise.

[ProSense]

65. That's your interpretation

The Republicans cited in this article are trying to press the point that the Democrats, namely Obama, walked into that room with an interest in using the House Republican disagreement to deliberately torpedo the plan.

Strategy.

When the truth is that Democrats simply insisted that such an enormous bill have bipartisan support, as it should. McCain gave legitimacy to what the House Republicans were doing by appearing to support their position.

Why it failed.

You also overlook what happened between the time the GOP walked into the room and the end of the negotiations.

It's pretty clear from the article I linked to.

[Barack_America]

68. I think we're arguing the same point.

My problem with the Politico article is that it creates the impression that Obama and the Democrats were the first to raise the House Republican's plan and did so in order to foster disagreement.

IMO, this is the McCain campaign trying to minimize the negative effect his finagling had on the bailout negotiations.

I was making the point that all other accounts point to Boehner and McCain initiating the disagreement.

The article you posted supports that point.

I'm not saying that the Democrats didn't execute good strategy in the meeting, I just don't like the way Politico is trying to portray the negotiations.

[geiger]

41. It's not stunning at all. It's Barack Obama's calm problem solving approach...

... that this country needs.

[Tatiana]

45. To use a vernacular phrase, "We got this!"

No bailout plan without Republicans and Democrats supporting the measure.

It's as simple as that.

Republicans truly have met their match and it looks like the Dems are going to stand strong.

[babylonsister]

46. Hot stuff! That's our future president-cannot wait! nt

[ProSense]

47. The Repubs believe they are clever.

They still think this is the 2001 when people tried to work with them in good faith and they lied about everything.

When someone gives you the benefit of the doubt, that doesn't mean you're clever.

This time, no one is going to trust them so their political stunts are being exposed.

They are outmatched.





edited typo and to add link.

[beachmom]

50. Yep, and McCain just BLINKED, sending GOP House members

a message that they need to make a deal NOW. Ha, ha, ha. Or else he is in a clusterf**** as to whether to go to the debate or not.

[Essene]

49. Wow. Is there another source confirming this account yet?

[beachmom]

58. Well, you need to read ALL the accounts which create a bigger

picture. The point is Obama & the Dems knew what the GOP was up to and called them on it.

[GalleryGod]

60. Obie One Obama is an elegant and resourceful Jedi!

Or as my old platoon sgt. used to say,
"Da' Cat Knows what the f#$k he's doin' !"
:patriot:

[agentS]

64. About damn time America got a president with a brain!

Too bad we can't say the same about McBush...
But your sgt gave me an idea for a new campaign slogan
Obama/Biden 08: We know what the fu** we're doing.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

69. Agreed!

[tigereye]

66. personally, I think the McCain advisors wanted Boehner to sour the deal

they were afraid MCCain would look like he wanted to leave the taxpayers holding the bag from the bailout.


It's more wacky quick maneuvering from the McCain camp IMO.


I think Obama will be left looking much more sane overall.

[samuraiguppy]

70. I love Obama--

but we need to be giving some props to Reid too--
Reid pulled all Senate business tonight to make Mac look bad.
If he stayed he'd look bad as there is nothing really going on (that the media sees).

Reid forced Mac's hand!

[hootinholler]

71. Um, how can it be a democratic ambush when they didn't call the meeting?

This was effective defense in an ambush. They were called in to have the blame foisted upon them and successfully defended their turf.

Nice frame, Politico asshole!

-Hoot

[anigbrowl]

75. Please, get over yourself

Your partisanship is blinding you to reality if you think that's some sort of smear job.

[hootinholler]

81. LOL...

I'm not the one with the toxic avatar.

If you think that Politico isn't biased in their frame, then you need to wake up.

-Hoot

[msallied]

73. HUGE Kick! This post rocks all!

[politicasista]

76. Proud K & R!

:kick:

[TexasObserver]

77. Obama led Democrats. McCain was led by Republicans.

That says it all. Maverick? No. He's a tired old gelding.

[lonestarnot]

78. The two of them were interviewed on CNN by Andrea Mitchell, and I don't know

which one it was now, but one of them said when taking some quick questions for the debate re their "plan," something to this effect, "We don't intend to debate it here, because the last time I checked, you don't have a vote." I thought to myself you arrogant, ignorant son of a bitch! When was the last time Americans had a "real" vote in anything here anyway! Hubris on the Hill fuckwads! GOBAMA!

K & R!

[rateyes]

79. Every American should be proud to have a negotiator like Obama

in charge of foreign policy. He is one smart man.

[Ramius]

80. No wonder McCain was not only DUMB but DUMBFOUNDED

[northamericancitizen]

83. Interesting post. K & R

[Willo]

86. K&R

I read it on the way home and was proud of the party.

[onefreespiritedchick]

90. Wow, Amazing!

K&R!

[Joe Chi Minh]

91. "In short, Barack Obama is acting like a President and a leader,

and a shrewd one at that. He's got Republicans literally on their knees, where they should be after the big giant mess they have created."

".... big giant mess?" I don't know if that makes Barak, the Big Giant Head, from 3 Rocks from the Sun, but the Republicans sure make a good fist of their impression of the zany lad in the series, don't they.

[FrenchieCat]

92. Kick!

[graywarrior]

94. As if I didn't feel great already after that debate, now this.

Absolutely made my morning!

[bobd0]

95. This should rightly be the subject of ALL the Sunday morning shows!

If America takes the time to understand the details behind what happened last week there can and will be NO DOUBT in their minds that Barack Obama is so far ahead of McCain on so many levels that voting for McCain is simply UNTHINKABLE!

President Obama has such a nice ring to it. :)

[notaboutus]

101. NOT

The subject should be the "republican plan" calls for giving more tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations to buy the bad debt for almost nothing except that all of it is not bad but the way it is packaged you get roughly 80-20 so when the 80% good makes a profit they shouldn't have to pay taxes on that either. It also calls for less over sight and of course more de-regulation. The problem is we the tax payers are still getting screwed in their so called plan and paying for it but its through the back door and not the front. That is what I want the Sunday Shows to talk about the TRUTH and expose the problems with what the republican plan calls for and how it will still screw us the tax payer.

[Uncle Joe]

96. One little piece of advice, Democrats caucusing anywhere in the White House

and for that matter probably elsewhere should consider themselves being wiretapped by Cheney/Bush.

[No Elephants]

111. I had the same thought. We're both either smart or paranoid. I'd be cautious, though.

[kmac3]

97. K & R .... Go Obama

I do believe the House Republicans have met someone they cannot back down by fear or bullying and can out-wit them with his own intelligent strategy
:kick:

[jwirr]

100. K & R Also can anyone here give me Chris Dodd's email?

[bobd0]

104. Contacting Senator Dodd link

http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3130

[99 Percent Sure]

102. Thanks, beachmom, for confirming what I posted on Daily Kos ...

2 of the last 3 days, without having read Politico or any other political site recapping the meeting.

It is my contention that, from the time King Henry brought the proposal to them, the Dems were taking their lead from the Democratic party leader - Obama - and they got it exactly right this time; first by requiring a sizable repug backing before the bill would ever reach the floor. Next, by telling King Hank from the gitgo that there was no way they would approve a bail-out plan that gave total autonomy and absolutely no oversight to him and the Emperor Dim Son.

It was exciting to see how leader-less the repugs are - on Tuesday when Shrub sent Darth Cheney to the Hill to sell the program, the repugs effectively censured him by turning their backs and/or walking out. By the time McCaint had decided to pull his little stunt later in the week, Shelby was issuing a publicly denigration of the repug nominee - "he hasn't been involved in the process at all" while Dem leaders were all over the tube - even on Bloomberg TV - talking about Obama's involvement in talks from the start, including constant telephone conversations with King Henry and Prince Paul.

Congressional repugs have no leader and are in total confusion as a party; they hate their nominee with the burning passion of 10K suns. The Dems played them like a steel drum.

[jeffrey_X]

103. I don't see the quote you listed in the artile you linked?

I was going to use this on another message board, but the quote about:

"When Bush yielded early to Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D- Nev.) to speak, they yielded to Obama to speak for the assembled Democrats. And it was Obama who raised the subject of the conservative alternative and pressed Paulson on what he thought of the idea."

I clicked on the Politico link and didn't see this anywhere in the article.

Help?

[Dems to Win]

108. I disagree. The Bush+Democrats bailout plan is infuriating millions of taxpayers

Don't any Democrats in Washington know how to play this game?

When the Republican president and treasury secretary requested this outrageous bailout, to be passed immediately, Reid and Pelosi should have said:

The Democrats will consider providing the handful of votes needed to pass the Republican President's bailout with unanimous Republican votes for the plan in Congress, IF the following conditions are included in plan:
and then proceed to list the needed relief for the VICTIMS of Wall Street, including the proposal to allow bankruptcy judges to adjust the terms of usurious mortgages for homeowners.

The Republicans in the House are the ones standing up and saying "No! We cannot send hundreds of billions of taxpayers dollars to Wall Street." The Republicans are coming across as heroes to many infuriated Americans who don't listen closely to the bogus, laughable House Republican alternative.

Pelosi says she will bring the bill to the floor if 80-100 Repubs will vote for it. She should be demanding that all of them must vote Yes!

McCain looks dumb for his almost-no-show at the debate and self-important trip to Washington. But overall, this bailout is toxic for the Democrats at this point, imo.

[amborin]

112. McCain's stunt deflected focus away from the $15000 monthly going to his campain manager

from Freddie Mac

and his constant flip flopping

and his disasterous palin

so, in that regard, it was successful

i mean, HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGER'S FIRM WAS GETTING 15 GRAND A MONTH FROM FREDDIE MAC....AND TAXPAYERS ARE NOW BAILING FREDDIE OUT

AND---LIES work

McCain will SAY he brokered the deal....and studies show LIES WORK