WillowTree
Diamond Member
- Sep 15, 2008
- 84,532
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"It's not me blowing this up, it's the Republicans." So said Nancy Pelosi this week to Hank Paulson, who was reportedly on bended knee soliciting for his bailout plan.
There's been a lot of theater, but what's really going on is that Ms. Pelosi is trying to make sure that any bailout only passes with conservative Republicans and John McCain fully on board to share the rap. But Democrats have all the votes they need to pass the Paulson plan. If Ms. Pelosi and the White House really believe the financial markets will fall apart Monday morning without a bill, they can deliver one -- as President Bush hinted in his own nonpanicked remarks Friday morning.
Straight from a meeting with John McCain on Thursday, one of the central villains in Ms. Pelosi's melodrama, Rep. Eric Cantor, gave us an update. Mr. Cantor, a rising GOP star from Virginia, also happens to be his party's chief deputy House whip responsible for rounding up votes on key pieces of legislation. Though Democrats control the House, he explains, conservative Republicans for the moment are able to drive policy on this issue because "the Speaker has pledged that there will be no bill without a majority of Republican support."
The Bailout Passion Play - WSJ.com
There's been a lot of theater, but what's really going on is that Ms. Pelosi is trying to make sure that any bailout only passes with conservative Republicans and John McCain fully on board to share the rap. But Democrats have all the votes they need to pass the Paulson plan. If Ms. Pelosi and the White House really believe the financial markets will fall apart Monday morning without a bill, they can deliver one -- as President Bush hinted in his own nonpanicked remarks Friday morning.
Straight from a meeting with John McCain on Thursday, one of the central villains in Ms. Pelosi's melodrama, Rep. Eric Cantor, gave us an update. Mr. Cantor, a rising GOP star from Virginia, also happens to be his party's chief deputy House whip responsible for rounding up votes on key pieces of legislation. Though Democrats control the House, he explains, conservative Republicans for the moment are able to drive policy on this issue because "the Speaker has pledged that there will be no bill without a majority of Republican support."
The Bailout Passion Play - WSJ.com
