The problem is...

They're the only ones who understand the mess they've made. Like one of those movies where the cops have to hire the retired bank robber to understand the mind of the bank robber they're trying to catch.

The difference in this case being that the bank robbers cozying up to the cops are the same ones who have car trunks full of bank bags.

"Gee, Mr. Officer, the bank will be a lot better off if you refill its vaults by grabbing money from everybody on the streets outside. Here, I'll even help. Just give me the money, because I know how it should be stored in the vaults. Don't worry about the missing vault door, we can deal with that after things calm down."

Damn, you beat me to it.

The legislation passed in 2000, so that makes it one of Clinton's contributions to this current digrace.

Yup. Of course, he had some help ...

Senate:

Yea: 52 (8 Dems, 44 Repubs)

Nay: 43 (33 Dems, 10 Repubs)

House:

Yea: 217 (3 Dems, 213 Repubs, 1 Indep)

Nay: 214 (206 Dems, 7 Repubs, 1 Indep)

We live in a blaming society

Fixing something is so much less important than hanging it on someone. That's why.

It looks like Bush/McCain/et al think that it's much more important to be seen doing something than making sure the right thing gets done. Part of making sure the right thing gets done is trying to understand what went wrong. If that means the incompetence and/or dishonesty of some of the folks who fucked this up is exposed, well ... I'm not going to need my handkerchief if that happens. Would you like to borrow it?

Someone's asking the US taxpayers for $700,000,000,000. That's the equivalent of over $2,000 being borrowed in the name of every person in the country. I, for one, would like some assurance that it'll actually help.

As I noted in the other story...

This is STANDARD campaign practice. I guarantee you that in some parts of the country, the Obama people are doing it, too.

Feel free to post a link to reliable coverage of this.

I've volunteered for the Obama campaign, and I've been encouraged to write LTEs, but I've never been asked to "ghost-write" letters. For most people, there's a distinction between relating one's own story and making shit up.

Reuters: "FBI said to probe Fannie, Freddie, Lehman, AIG"

WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The FBI is investigating Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc and insurer American International Group Inc, expanding its probe of potential corporate fraud, law enforcement officials said on Wednesday.

They said the probe of the four high-profile companies at the center of the current financial crisis that has triggered the Bush administration's proposed $700 billion bailout was in the preliminary stage and no criminal charges were imminent.

Link via my name.

McCain, on Monday: "I'll be glad to have his record examined by anybody who wants to look at it."

McCain, today: "You idiots, I wasn't serious!"

Because, of course, the Bush Administration would rather manage consequences than actually deal with them. And if they can "manage consequences" with the military, so much the better.

The timing is pretty interesting, given that it's now slightly less than six weeks until the election ...

FREE SARAH PALIN!

No He will not. There is not one single Republican in the United States who will vote for Barak Obama over John McCain. Republicans are 100% loyal to The Party over The Country. In every election, every time, every where.

You so funny.

I'm guessing you probably justify this hilarious stance by saying that if a Republican says they're going to vote for Obama, then they're not a "real Republican". (Just like if someone disagrees with Dear Leader, they're not a "real American".)

Ironically, the fact that President Bush is going to address the nation at 9 p.m. EST tonight to push for the bailout fills me with even more foreboding. Is there anyone this country trusts less than the current President? Let's wait and see how his sage words move the TED spread.

Would you buy a no-conditions-no-oversight $700+ billion bailout from this man? I sure as hell wouldn't.

Prediction: He'll say it shouldn't be a partisan issue or a "blame-game". (Not surprising, given that the blame may be bi-artisan but leans very heavily towards Repubs.)

Huh?

Link to CNN story via my name.

(My inner cynic's response is that -- all things considered -- it's no wonder McCain wants to suspend the campaign. His campaign desperately needs to stop the bleeding.)

The McCain campaign needs some time to staunch the bleeding.

They've also suggested that both campaigns pull political television advertisements, which -- given Obama's advantage in both financing and truth -- would also benefit McCain.

It's more like calling a time-out because your quarterback is exhausted and has fucked up the last three plays.

Obama's idea was for a joint statement on the crisis. The McCain campaign is the one suggesting a campaign timeout.

Official statement should praise McCain's willingness to work together on the crisis ... and use the context to emphasize how important this election is.

Bingo.

"My pit bull ate my debate notes."

He has an obligation to fulfill his current job responsibilites idiot. Just because he's running for president doesn't mean he gets to take a year off from representing Arizona.

This rings pretty hollow, given McCain's poor vote attendance this year.

Fixed that for you, Elephantman.

I can almost smell McCain's flop-sweat from here.

I'm guessing that as news of this goes out, the number of people planning to watch the debate Friday night will go up significantly.

It's not realistic at this point, but it's fun to think about the Obama campaign offering to change this debate to focus on domestic policy.

Actually, the fun part is thinking about what the private reaction of McCain and his staff would be.

Dems aren't all blameless by any means, but most of the blame for those that deserve it is for their complicity with Repubs.

Deregulation has been a Republican mantra for a long time.