Merry Christmas!
It’s not a bailout so much as a Christmas tree, festooned with all kinds of baubles. Tax breaks all around, which is fine. Hang on, tax breaks for kiddie arrows and Exxon Valdez litigants? Gimme a break. Still looking for my break … looking … it’s gotta be in there somewhere. Looks like maybe I don’t get taxed more, yet. Heavily laden $700 billion squeeze-play passes the Senate 74-25, goes back to the House. Roundup:
NYT: Backers optimistic, John McCain grumpy.
WASHINGTON — The Senate strongly endorsed the $700 billion economic bailout plan Wednesday, leaving backers optimistic that the easy approval, coupled with an array of popular additions, would lead to House acceptance by Friday and end the legislative uncertainty that has rocked the markets.
In stark contrast to the House rejection of the plan on Monday, a bipartisan coalition of senators — including both presidential candidates — showed no hesitation in backing a proposal that had drawn public scorn, though the outpouring eased somewhat after a market plunge followed the House defeat. The Senate margin was 74 to 25 in favor of the White House initiative to buy troubled securities in an effort to avoid an economic catastrophe.
Only Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who is being treated for brain cancer, did not vote.
The presence in the Senate of both presidential candidates in the final weeks of the campaign gave weight to the moment. The political tension was clear as Senator Barack Obama walked to the Republican side of the aisle to greet John McCain, who offered a chilly look and a brief return handshake.
Wouldn’t mind seeing the chilly look. Maybe he just didn’t think a grin or a high-five was suitable to the occasion.
Mr. McCain did not make remarks on the legislation. Mr. Obama, in his speech, said the bailout plan was regrettable but necessary and he referred to the stock market drop after the House vote. “While that decline was devastating, the consequences of the credit crisis that caused it will be even worse if we do not act now,” he said.
Actually, I thought the decline was more disgusting than devastating.
Gateway could have sworn he just heard Harry Reid call it tax relief for the middle class.
Malkin’s liveblogging the crap sandwich.
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 9:41 pm Comments (2) on Wednesday, October 1, 2008
2 Responses to “Merry Christmas!”
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October 2nd, 2008 at 12:38 am
So. The Congressthieves win again.
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:32 pm
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the – Web Reconnaissance for 10/02/2008 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often.