Bob Schieffer on the Early Show this morning:
BOB SCHIEFFER: I am told, Maggie, that the way McCain got involved in this in the first place, the Treasury Secretary was briefing Republicans in the House yesterday, the Republican conference, asked how many were ready to support the bailout plan. Only four of them held up their hands. Paulson then called, according to my sources, called Senator Lindsey Graham, who is very close to John McCain, and told him: you've got to get the people in the McCain campaign, you've got to convince John McCain to give these Republicans some political cover. If you don't do that, this whole bailout plan is going to fail. So that's how, McCain, apparently, became involved.
SCHIEFFER: He has gotten what he wants, he's going to have this
meeting, kind of a summit today with the president and Barack Obama.
I'm told that the leaders of both parties are getting close to having
some kind of a bill. The question, though, is whether rank-and-file Republicans, especially, are going to vote for this.
Re: Paulson requested McCain get involved
Yesterday, I was saying the same thing, but no one paid attention.
McCain is willing to take the heat and has a long history of breaching differences. Country first over politics.
He is already being blamed for the deal falling apart when there was no deal.
The Dems do not need the Republicans in order to pass this bill. Just how do the Repubs have all this power now?
Sheer politics. The Dems do not want to be left with the responsibility (blame) for this bill when the sh*t hits the fan.
Where is the Dem leadership? Why should we have a Dem majority when they will not act when the country is in crisis? Much less act with the best interest of its citizens in the forefront.
You're right. I would like this person! I tried to say something in some other post, not so much about McCain's moves but his motivation in this maneuver- to look like he's the leader in this debacle and then show that he can debate like a champ after working tirelessly in Washington. I think her description of his plan is probably accurate, but we won't ever know.
I don't know if this plan was hatched when Paulson called or if McCain dreamed it up himself, but what yeah4me described could have happened either way. By getting this "Paulson called me" info out there he makes this less like a political maneuver. I don't believe it but it's interesting to consider.
You said it. They know the public is cringing at the thought of bailing out wall street. They're not about to go into November with the country blaming them for digging the deficit another $1Trillion hole.
Awwwhhhhh
Can we invite her here? I think she should get more out of a board than playing devil's advocate.
I love yeah4me. I would be happy to have her over here.
I also really like is_it_over_yet, who is another moderate conservative.