Oh dear. Negotiations are apparently not going well on the bail-out, and it’s the Republicans who are leading the charge. (Or not)
But according to Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Alabama, who attended the meeting, “we will not have a deal.”
Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Connecticut, who also attended the meeting, said Thursday that the meeting was contentious and blasted what he calls McCain’s inaction.
“I’m not quite sure what John McCain said at the meeting. He said something. … He had no indication he was for any particular plans. I don’t know where he is on all of this,” Dodd said.
House Republicans say they have significant leverage on the revamped bailout package, claiming that Democrats will scramble for votes unless they make changes to it.
Republicans in the lower chamber are balking at the bailout package, saying that Democrats will be solely responsible for the ramifications of what they see as a flawed compromise.
So…. we have (some of) the Republicans, digging in their heels and throwing “leverage” around. And ohmygoodness Look! There on his white horse! It’s Mavericky John, come to save the day.
Subtle like a brick, this is.
Democrats fear that McCain will take credit for bringing reluctant Republicans around to agreeing with a bailout plan in order to bolster his argument that he would be a better leader in crises than Obama.
“The Democrats, of course, are very afraid that McCain is going to swoop into these delicate negotiations on Capitol Hill at the last minute and when they reach an agreement, he’s going to claim credit for having brought those negotiations to a successful conclusion,” CNN senior political researcher Alan Silverleib said.
My goodness, why would anyone be cynical about McCain’s motives?
(sigh…)
Ya know, there are plenty of reasons to question the bail-out — not just as it was originally proposed, but its necessity (or wisdom) in the first place. But I’m finding some of this just a tad too politically convenient.