Bailing out on America

So, the House of Representatives failed to get the job done Monday. And now its time to engage in the great American sport of finger-pointing.
Make no mistake. It wasn't a party-line vote. Democrats and Republicans alike bailed on the plan. But it's always fun to watch the hysteria after something like this. And, as usual, you can trust Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., to inject some humor into it all.
In remarks before the vote Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi blamed the economic policies of the Bush administration for the mess. Some Republicans said it was that partisan blast - Imagine! Partisan broadsides during an election year! - that prompted some to vote against the plan.
With his sharp wit, Frank burst that bubble.
"Somebody hurt my feelings so I'll punish the country," Frank said in a derisive blast at those Republicans.
Just as bad, many lawmakers fearing a voter backlash in an election year - Democrats and Republicans alike - ran for cover. Not exactly profiles in courage.
And then there's John McCain. Feeling his presidential chances slip sliding away, the Republican nominee was quick to blame the "partisan attacks" of Barrack Obama and his Democratic colleagues in Congress.
Never mind that it was run-and-gun McCain who tried to hijack the issue into the presidential race when he "suspended" his campaign to work on the deal. Turned out to be one of those bad "tactics" - or was that a bad strategy? Anyway the Pander Bear tried to play white knight by calling for the presidential confab on the bailout plan, which, according to reports, was extremely and unusually divisive. Then he tried to rally fellow Republicans around the bailout - another bad tactic apparently.
And when all this fails and it looks like McCain is going to take another political hit, he rushes to blame Obama, who, unlike his Republican opponent, has maintained a measured approach to the issue.
I don't like the idea that we all have to help clean up the mess left behind by the Needy Greedy Dirt Band, but the mess has got to be cleaned up. Once it is then we can go after those that caused it. But the economy is tanking and, before it gets out of control, it's got to be stabilized. The credit market is already feeling the pinch and Joe Sixpack will feel it soon enough if he can't get a home or car loan or a home equity loan or the interest rates on those loans go through the roof.
If you find out your child has driven your car on to the edge of a cliff and it's teetering, about ready to plunge over, it's probably better to rescue the car first and then sort out the blame later.