Blame the Republicans
Right now, it appears the primary narrative is that the Republicans are to blame for the blowup in Washington, and that, to some lesser degree, McCain's decision to interject himself has also led to the failure.
In theory, the Republican position was sort of strong because of the vast popular anger about the bailout plan, but, I'm not sure it plays out that way going forward.
The real question is whether you believe this is all some grand kabuki for McCain to save the day. To me, the level of chaos would seem to indicate it's not. (Or if it was, they've kind of lost control of the storyline.)
And, even if it is a stunt, Republicans eventually caving to the mainstream plan will not give them strength. (Because that capital gains alternative isn't going to pass.)
WaMu spectacularly collapsing, the increasingly dire predictions that are everywhere, and the potential stock market slide puts all the pressure against their position.
At this point, I just don't see a way McCain turns the narrative around and comes out of this riding a white horse.
Later: Bush make a very short statement trying to exculpate Congressional Republicans and shape the narrative blaming the "legislative process" for the breakdown.
In theory, the Republican position was sort of strong because of the vast popular anger about the bailout plan, but, I'm not sure it plays out that way going forward.
The real question is whether you believe this is all some grand kabuki for McCain to save the day. To me, the level of chaos would seem to indicate it's not. (Or if it was, they've kind of lost control of the storyline.)
And, even if it is a stunt, Republicans eventually caving to the mainstream plan will not give them strength. (Because that capital gains alternative isn't going to pass.)
WaMu spectacularly collapsing, the increasingly dire predictions that are everywhere, and the potential stock market slide puts all the pressure against their position.
At this point, I just don't see a way McCain turns the narrative around and comes out of this riding a white horse.
Later: Bush make a very short statement trying to exculpate Congressional Republicans and shape the narrative blaming the "legislative process" for the breakdown.
posted by mikevotes at
8:08 AM
9 Comments:
At the very least, there seems to be a consensus that McCain was not helpful to the process. At worst he engineered the chaos himself as a political stunt, but I don't think the media are giving that angle any play.
So we begin Thursday with an agreement in principal among the leadership of both parties in both houses. Then McCain comes in for his photo op....
a) chaos ensues
b) McCain offers no plan and is mostly a "listener"
c) leadership of of both houses/parties (of which McCain is not one) go back to the drawing board.
To me it seems untenable for McCain to skip the debate. He's not part of the negotiations -- the nitty gritty. He's an outlier lobbing unwanted "advice". Without the ability to demonstrate the absolute necessity for his absence, it just looks like he's ducking the debates.
By
-epm, at 8:48 AM
I think McCain saw it as a chance to tap into popular sentiment, distance himself from Bush and keep hardcore Republicans happy all at the same time. Full marks for gambling.
By
Anonymous, at 10:15 AM
He went in with the expectation of looking like a hero, but did he came out looking like a spoiler?
By
-epm, at 10:42 AM
Depends. If they come up with something hardcore Republicans can agree with then McCain will try to take the credit.
By
Anonymous, at 10:52 AM
EPM, yes. He thought he could play this the way he did the immigration thing awhile back, dropping in on the last day of the negotiations to claim all the credit. (Remember him telling my Senator Cornyn to fuck off?)
...
Anon, that position to tap into public sentiment was, and to some degree still is, there, but to hit it either requires him to be against the likely bill which is pretty politically dangerous after the developments of the last 24 hours, or to magically come up with something that the White House and Democrats accept, which seems incredibly unlikely.
He could try to champion a losing bill, but standing in opposition to the one that passes would be pretty damn perilous.
By
mikevotes, at 10:56 AM
If McCain does win the White House, how much bad blood did he just create in the legislative branch and how will that come back to bite him?
He may fool the low-information voter, but I think the legislators -- aside from the Blunts and Boners -- don't really trust him. It's not like he was highly respected by his colleagues to begin with...
By
-epm, at 11:13 AM
I don't think Boehner trusts him.
By
mikevotes, at 11:31 AM
He will end looking like a spoiler. Rather than provide 'leadership' or 'consensus', he will instead rail against whatever ultimately passes, unless it is the House Republican vague non-plan that is DOA.
He could try to champion a losing bill, but standing in opposition to the one that passes would be pretty damn perilous.
I think this is what he will end up doing, though. He will frame it as a brave "maverick" fight against an expensive bailout, completely at odds with his earlier position favouring increased regulation (which was at odds with his previous record) and hoping everyone forgets about the "leadership" and "saving the country" stuff he floated this week.
Really, we are at the point where the Republicans stand for very little any more. They are nothing more than "anti-Democrats" who have formed an alliance of convenience with the Evangelicals.
By
Todd Dugdale , at 4:00 PM
That's my hunch as of right now. It's a little softer as of this afternoon than this morning, but that does seem to be the congealing CW.
As for voting against, he kinda may have to. My first thought was no, but he's painted himself into such a corner that he may have to do something like that to salvage the episode, at least wioth a chunk of his base.
By
mikevotes, at 5:48 PM
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