How about someone from Obama's campaign checking and seeing how many GOP members versus Democrats voted against the bill.

Should it turn out that more GOP members killed the bill, them Obama holds a press conference and rips the McCain campaign a new asshole!

nah, that would mean being mean, and we know Obama doesn't want to do that! Actually no Democrats want to do that - except maybe Biden but he's crazy (I read it in the paper)

As far as the Republican reaction it doesn't matter what Senator Obama does; they'll lie about it.

John McCain is personally responsible for this bill's failure. 100%. Congress was close to agreement on a flawed, but best-available bill to get our financial systems back on track.

By riding in on his white horse, John McCain emboldened the "ideology at all costs" Republicans in the House and allowed them to block a deal, last week and this.

As a result, all of the fallout now is singly accountable to John McCain's theatrics, including any economic depression that follows.

And it is about time that we started holding this grandstander accountable for the mess that will likely ensue.

Should it turn out that more GOP members killed the bill...

That's exactly what did happen. Dems were about 60% ayes, but Repubs only got about 33% of their members to support it.

... in a direction that most (non-pundit, non-hugely-invested) people weren't interested in going.

Weep, weep.

I called to leave a message with the senator to congratulate him on the bang-up job on working out a compromise and bringing the House Republicans along.

McCain is pathetic. More Democrats voted for the bill than Republicans - sounds like the Democratic leadership did their job. The Republicans wanted the Democrats to pass the legislation so they could blame them when they go home to campaign.

Boehner didn't count right. Now the Republicans want to blame the speech Pelosi delivered blaming it on Bush and the House Republicans were offended? I thought they were blaming it on Bush, too. They were playing chicken with the Democrats and lost. What a bunch of candy-ass losers.

The fact that the House Republicans can't explain what is going on to their constituents isn't my problem. Simply put, the choice here was whether you would rather have the flu or cancer. I'll take my chances with the flu.

Let the Reps have their way and vote no bailout at all. When the economy comes crashing to its knees, it'll be all their fault.

Of course, this isn't really an option, but it sure would be nice to have the entire mess land in their laps.

I, for one, am pleased that Obama isn't being saddled with the burden of that one.

This bill failed for a very specific reason.

The Republicans in the house do not believe that McCain will be elected. As such he could offer no cover, nor place any threat on the House Republicans if they opted to go against this plan.

Now as it became clear that the House Republicans were breaking away, House Democrats broke out too to give themselves cover against republicans who would argue against them.

McCain has no position of Leadership with his party on this issue, but Obama does.

When Obama snaps his caucus in line, gives cover and promise of hand to hand campaigning for those in need, as well as the threat of ostracization by the party if they break ranks again, then a bill will get passed.

The Republicans have shot McCain in the head on this one. If they had gone along to get along, he might have at least been able to stop the bleeding on this, but the longer this issue goes forward, and the more prominant role that Obama takes, along with his Party, even to the point of cutting out Republicans, A Bill acceptable to Obama and his caucus, that sets down the controls he wants in place on Wall Street, will pass, and old man McCain will be stuck in the back of the room at the signing ceremony as Obama shows his metal as Comander in Chief in a way that McCain simply couldn't.

If Obama goes on T.V. today to urge calm and wisdom in this crisis this election is over but for the shouting.

McCain simply isn't in a position to show leadership on this issue, not with his party in disarray.

This has been a perfect storm of politics against McCain...just imagine if these crisies had occured a month or two later in the campaign?

Should it turn out that more GOP members killed the bill...

That's exactly what did happen. Dems were about 60% ayes, but Repubs only got about 33% of their members to support it.

I just read that myself on the AP report on the Salon.com homepage.

Of course, the fucking asshole GOP is crying that Nancy Pelosi's speech towards the end of the session, where she blamed Republican policies in general and Bush specifically is why it failed!

And funnier yet, that old queen Barney Frank told the GOP to suck it up and man up. That if her speech caused them to avoid doing what was best for the country they are a bunch of pansies and shouldn't be in the House to begin with.

Should be interesting to see how the MSM spins this. Right now Brian "asshole" Williams is on the tube talking as if aliens have just attacked and eaten live babies on the Whitehouse Lawn!

Oh Noes! run away ... run away ...

Took the focus off Cariboo Barbie din' it. That is unless she makes herself available for a comment so she can impart some of her great wisdom.

And how did Republican President George W. Bush do in delivering his party's votes?

Or does he get aother Free Pass?

Re: "And funnier yet, that old queen Barney Frank told the GOP to suck it up and man up. That if her speech caused them to avoid doing what was best for the country they are a bunch of pansies and shouldn't be in the House to begin with."

Senator Frank is one of the toughest, best (in the most positive sense of the word) politicians in Washington. I've watched him go toe-to-toe with the right-wing jerks (Bill O'Rielly) on FoxNews and hand their heads to them.

Now there's someone I would love to see as President. He's the real "straight talker" who could bash some heads and get things done.

I'd vote for him for President in a heartbeat.