This is an interesting angle on the bailout failure from Salon:
"All of which sets up a great moment for Obama: He now faces a key opportunity when he could, though not quite suspend his campaign, redirect his energies toward Washington and actually saving the situation. The GOP is not going to help. But there are many freshmen Democrats worried about Obama's coattails and their own re-election prospects this fall who voted 'nay.' There are many minority members who also voted 'nay.' What a great opportunity for Obama to work behind the scenes (in case he fails) and then come forward with two-dozen new Democrats lined up behind him to push the bill over the top. And emerge as the hero of the moment, the markets...and the election."
This could be pretty hard to pull off, though. Nate Silver looked at the roll call and found that members with tight races voted against it. The whole package has been awfully unpopular with the public. Although, a couple may bank failings might turn that around a tad.
If he could pull this off, it would be pretty dope. Sure, it would be somewhat crassly political to come forward with these folks, but it would certainly make him look like a more effective leader than McCain.
1 comment:
you'd think the dow plunging nearly 800 pts would be enough to make something (the right something) happen. at any rate, this mess feels like a political time bomb, so unless barack knows something we don't (and chances are, he does) i'd say he should stay the hell away from it. i do, however, like the back-room maneuvering idea. to be honest, though, i think this bill will have political implications beyond the election--many of them probably not good. so if obama can keep his hands clean while appearing to be supportive of the process, that's good enough for me. and should be good enough for him to win the election. mccain is in the middle of the fray now, and looking like the nut case we all know him to be.
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