This afternoon in the Oval Office, it will be 2 against 1. Two "free market Republicans" (whatever that means these days) who have enabled the unregulated market they now seek to bail out, after its obscene profiteering over the past several years. Against a Democrat who appears to be gaining in stature as the most trustworthy leader to handle America's first 21st century free market madness moment. The link between the White House meeting and McCain's unilateral campaign pullout announcement is obvious. Here's Mark Silva in The Swamp, the Chicago Tribune's Washington bureau blog:
As Silva points out, it was McCain who requested the meeting, and Bush who graciously acceded to his fellow Republican - anything to move the bill forward. But neither McCain nor Obama are critical to the vetting of the bailout bill, upon which, Silva notes, negotiators are "close to agreement already." And Senator Obama is in the unenviable position of having to accept. What could he say: "sorry, I'm busy campaigning?"
I'm not sure whose campaign will suffer more from a photo op with George W. Bush, who appears to be disliked almost as much in the Republican camp as among Democrats these days.
But let's remember whose "team" was supposed to be in charge here. Here's what Bush said in 2005 as he nominated former Republican Congressman Chris Cox - who McCain now wants to fire (though he favored his confirmation) - as SEC Chairman:
Not.
A thoughtful reader had this to say about qualifying for the bailout:
That is what has to remain paramount in Senator Obama's mind as he sits with the friends of the rich today. Barack Obama has to represent those who don't qualify for this bailout.
The Bush-McCain "base" - "This is an impressive crowd - the haves and the have-mores. Some people call you the elites; I call you my base" - qualifies for Bush's no-fault default. American taxpayers should not expect to see their $700 billion again. Like the trillions for Bush's wars-of-choice, they are for future generations to deal with. And for working Americans, the opportunity cost of trillions borrowed from China in their name for war and Wall Street is this: no money for crumbling infrastructure, no money for health care, no money for investments whose "return" is for the whole population - not just for the Bush-McCain "base."
Do turn up today on Pennsylvania Avenue, Senator Obama. But bring your own beverage - a thermos might strike the right note - and be sure not to imbibe of Republican Kool-Aid. Yes, the US economy - and that of the rest of the world that is tied to it - must be saved. But it must not be another golden parachute for people who have already gotten more than their fair share.