OOPS!

Since I live in that great swing state of Ohio, I get more than my fair share of campaign this and that, on television during the day. I usually have the telly on while doing housework. Not watching, just halfway listening for anything important.

Well, there it was, BREAKING NEWS, John McCain and Sarah Palin are live, in Columbus, and John is addressing the rather rowdy crowd.

Papa Smurf began by saying wonderful things about his running mate and promising that she was going to win Thursday's debate against Joe Biden. Then he launched into a self congratulatory back pat about the bailout. Thanks to him, the economy was saved. And he did it without any help from Barack Obama and those damned Democrats;

I put my campaign on hold for a couple days last week to fight for a rescue plan that put you and your economic security first. I fought for a plan that protected taxpayers, homeowners, consumers and small business owners.

I went to Washington last week to make sure that the taxpayers of Ohio and across this great country were not left footing the bill for mistakes made on Wall Street and in Washington.

Some people have criticized my decision, but I will never, ever be a president who sits on the sidelines when this country faces a crisis. Some of you may have noticed, but it's not my style to simply "phone it in."

I am a Teddy Roosevelt Republican. I believe our leaders belong "in the Arena" when our country faces a challenge. I've never been afraid of stepping in to solve problems for the American people, and I'm not going to stop now.

Senator Obama took a very different approach to the crisis our country faced. At first he didn't want to get involved. Then he was "monitoring the situation." That's not leadership, that's watching from the
sidelines.

He got lots and lots of applause while flashing that creepy smile of his. Then, apparently the bottom fell out.

Because, less than an hour later, the bailout failed, by 12 votes.....12 republican votes.

The Democrats had promised 140 votes and they delivered...The GOP, led by John McCain if you believe the words coming out of his mouth, promised 60...But they didn’t get ‘em....hmmmmmmmm

So what does great leader do? Gets back on his straight talk express and sulks, until his minions craft together a statement, and lets them read it to reporters rather than deliver it himself.....and you guessed it.....blaming Obama for the bailout defeat...

"From the minute John McCain suspended his campaign and arrived in Washington to address this crisis, he was attacked by the Democratic leadership: Senators Obama and Reid, Speaker Pelosi and others," Holtz-Eakin said. "Their partisan attacks were an effort to gain political advantage during a national economic crisis. By doing so, they put at risk the homes, livelihoods and savings of millions of American families."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also got some blame for the defeat, after chastising President Bush's free market economic policies, for pushing Republicans away from the bill.

"Barack Obama failed to lead, phoned it in, attacked John McCain, and refused to even say if he supported the final bill," Holtz-Eakin said. "Just before the vote, when the outcome was still in doubt, Speaker Pelosi gave a strongly worded partisan speech and poisoned the outcome. This bill failed because Barack Obama and the Democrats put politics ahead of country."

The entire Arizona and Alaska House delegations voted against the bailout bill.

That’s some leadership, John....getting one upped by that uppity elitist junior senator from Illinois and you the 26 year maverick senior senator from Arizona...

While we’re at it...I may as well spread some blame around, too. Back in 1999, McCain voted for a bill that was authored by his old buddy Phil Gramm...you remember him...the guy who said all this financial meltdown was a figment of our imagination and that Americans were whiners...

That 1999 deregulation bill was the Commodity Futures Modernization Act - 265 pages of voodoo economics that accelerated this crisis on Wall Street..The crisis began with the election of Ronald Reagan, but we'll save that history lesson for another day.

This bill also included the Enron Loophole....Remember that one?

Gramm, by the way is McCain’s choice for Sec. of the Treasury, if he makes it to the White House.

As late as last week, McCain said the economy was sound and that deregulation was a good thing.