Why did the Repubs vote against the bailout today ??

[kentuck]

It was not that they were against Wall Street and were going to defend the citizens on Main Street at all costs. It was not that they were seriously concerned about spending $750 billion more dollars. Nor was it because they believed it was a terrible bill. Nor was it because they were angry with Nancy Pelosi.

The reason they voted against the bailout bill was purely political. They knew that the polls were showing the American people against the bailout by almost 50 to 1. They were looking to survive thru the November elections and this was the issue that would save them from extinction at the polls.

Unfortunately, they would screw up a one-car parade. Since over 140 Democrats voted for the bill, they could have mustered together 12 more votes and they could have still maintained their political argument. They could have accurately stated that the majority of Democrats voted for the bill while a good majority of Republicans voted against the bill. They would have still had the issue and the bailout would have passed anyway, which is what they really wanted. It was a major screw-up by the Republicans.

[BzaDem]

1. It wasn't purely political. It was ideology.

They don't want to bail out Wall Street now, because they don't want to admit the failures of deregulation. They think (and they are right) that once Government starts seriously intervening in the financial markets, they will continue to do so (which will hurt corporate profits in the future).

[napi21]

2. I understand they're very worried about their own reelections.

I'm pretty sure that was the real reason. I also think, after the drop of the DOW today and who knows what tomorrow will look like, and the RNC putting additional pressure on the holdouts, we'll see some bill pass on Thursday.

<AYBE it will actually be a better bill!!!

[spag68]

4. Steelers 23-20

[napi21]

5. YEAH! I know! I was watching the game on ESPN! So few

Steeler games are aired here in Ga. I was thrilled to be able to watch this one and THEY WON!!!!!!! As Rothelsburger said, it might not have been pretty, but it's a WIN!

[spin]

11. Yep, that was one hell of a game...

Politics resembles football. Pelosi is no Roethlisberger. We need a new quarterback in the House.

[spag68]

3. rethugs and the vote

IMHO they thought they were setting a trap for the Dems. who they thought would have enough votes to pass it with many less repub. votes . Then they could crucify those who voted to give those fat cats on
Wall ST. the money. If brains were gunpowder These guys could not blow their nose. By the way the Rethug out front leading the nays is a certain asshole from Virginia who covets Boner's minority leader position.

[That Guy 888]

6. Weren't they pushing for some sort of tax cuts in the bailout too?

Maybe it was just a poison pill, but I thought I heard about the House pubs wanting capitol gains tax cuts.

[Venceremos]

7. 40% of Democrats voted it down, too,

probably because their constituents were vehemently opposed to it. Interesting concept, politicians doing what the people who put them in office tell them to do.

And maybe their constituents so overwhelmingly opposed it because it's an incredibly bad bill, complete with granting a disturbing amount of power to the Treasury Secretary, the ability for foreign banks to get billions in handouts at US taxpayer expense, no meaningful oversight, and so on.

[Enthusiast]

8. Well, it is pretty obvious why

It's because they were abused by that mean Nancy Pelosi. Ever since she has been speaker she has been pushing the Republicans around. She is just out of control!

[TexasObserver]

9. Because they want to be reelected and their constituents are strongly against a bailout.

House members all run for reelection every two years. These guys are from REPUBLICAN districts. Until their constituents turn around, they're not voting for a bailout.

[TahitiNut]

10. Even Repubican Congresscritters have LIBERAL and PROGRESSIVE constituents.

Several left-wing activist organizations (e.g. MoveOn.org) were actively asking their members to contact their Congresscritters and ask them to vote "Nay." There were several online campaigns ... faxes, letters, emails calls.

While the Bircher right-wing is willing to deficit spend on the military (the "defense" sacred cow), they're typically against "tax AND spend" ... and the $1.5 TRILLION increase in the public debt ceiling was enough to gag even a reichtard maggot.

Please, STOP pretending that the vast majority of the public and various liberal interest groups weren't AGAINST this abomination!

Millions of people understand that there's a BIG economic and financial problem ... and it's been getting worse for 25-30 years. This one (the housing bubble and low wages leading to foreclosures) is something MANY of us have bee suffering under for MANY YEARS.

Throwing more of our children's indebtedness at it SOLVES NOTHING. The perveted notion that it "buys time" IGNORES the FACT that the time EXPIRED for MILLIONS of folks years ago!! Time for WHOM? The people who've had shit in their ears for years? Fuck em.

Interesting trivia: McLame/Palin "championed a 'yes' vote ... and there was not a single 'yes' vote from Alaska and Arizona!


Take a look-see at where the votes came from ...


http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2008-674

[LynnTheDem]

12. They bet the Dems would have the votes to pass iit; bUsh gets all he wants, the Dems get the

blame.