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I am curious to watch the media obeying, but so far, Politico tells us
RENO, Nev.— Barack Obama on Tuesday stepped up his advocacy for the Bush Administration’s endangered $700 billion bailout plan by making a round of calls to rank-and-file Democrats in the House and casting congressional inaction in dire, real-world terms. He also massaged his pitch, no longer using the word “bailout” to describe the bill.
Hmm, let’s see how the massage will travel through his surrogate media
But after the House defeated the bill with Democratic help, including a majority of the Congressional Black Caucus, the pressure began rising for Obama to make more direct appeals to his party.
So, what should we call it now? Crap sandwitch was used by the House republicans, but as Obama praises it,
it should be “transformational measure” or “fresh as a summer’s day bill”.
Whatever it is, I shall always connect it to Obama, no matter what.
And any suggestions for “massaging the pitch” – welcome
Update
reading MSNBC swooning at it – the winner is “RESCUE PLAN”
RENO, Nev. — In a sweeping speech in battleground state Nevada, Obama made a direct appeal to the American people and to members of Congress to support the $700 billion rescue plan that failed to pass in the House of Representatives yesterday.
that was the editorializing, this is the Obama massaging
Obama said this was no longer just a Wall Street crisis, but an American crisis and that failure to pass a rescue plan could mean thousands of businesses could close around the country, millions of jobs could be lost and a long and painful recession could follow.
So, there. see? It’s our rescue now, you have to want it, cuz Obama ses so. In the bestest speech ever. And it befits a Savior. He’ll save us all.. or rescue us. The new emerging meme.
And the meme is launched: Obama campaign surrogate Thomas Friedman uses it twice in his headline
Rescue the Rescue
Watch Gergen on CNN using the new meme
Yesterday’s stunning rejection by the House of Representatives of the financial rescue plan represents one of the clearest signs yet of the deepening leadership problem we are facing as a people.
and CNN using it in a news story headline – at least as served in memeorandum
See? Forget crap sandwitch. Forget bailout. You shall love this.
Only one obstinate Real Clear Politics editorial calls it a bailout today
Bailout Would Impose Needless Economic Damage
This is the exception. They will be drowned in “Rescue” – just watch.
Soon, only old geezers like me will remember the times when we called this a bailout. And we knew it was government and Bush/Obama cronies feasting on our tax dollars.
Update October second
Krugman uses “bailout rescue”!
On Olbermann a few minutes ago (that basement classroom with the heavy paper over the windows and camera sure has come in handy lately!) a phrase popped out of my mouth: “Stockholm Syndrome”, with regard to the
bailoutrescue.
How he feels about it? here’s a description:
And then it failed in the House, so the Senate has larded it up, with stuff like SEC. 503. EXEMPTION FROM EXCISE TAX FOR CERTAIN WOODEN ARROWS DESIGNED FOR USE BY CHILDREN.
and a more direct statement:
So am I for the bill? Yuk, phooey, I guess so. And I’m very angry at Paulson for putting us in this position.
Which pretty sums up the new Krugman – a campaign surrogate these days – with flares of honesty
We know this is hardly a first - The RBC meeting, later the Unity NH travesty told us the same story…
In the growing saga of “ways Obama is just like Bush” – a new chapter:
Stundents wonder
Why is the University of Mary Washington inhibiting free speech at today’s Obama-Biden rally?
Mr. Obama, the Democratic nominee for president, is scheduled to speak at a rally at the university today. The public is invited to this forum, on property it, the public, owns. However, signs and banners will not be allowed, according to the organizers and compliant campus officials. Suddenly, UMW is a First Amendment-Free, or at least a First Amendment-Crippled, Zone, subject to the self-serving preferences of politicos. Why does an Obama rally–or a McCain rally or a Nader rally–justify taking a little off the top of Americans’ most fundamental rights?
At least Bush waited to be installed in the White House before he started creating a bubble.
And in another startling similarity; security is cited as a reason
A UMW spokeswoman says that the Obama campaign required the sign-and-banner ban. That campaign tells us that the ban is for “security” reasons. But a spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting presidential candidates, says that the service has no objection to signs at rallies, provided that no “part of the sign could be used as a weapon”–e.g., a heavy metal pole or a sharpened stick. Finally, the McCain campaign tells us, “We encourage people to make signs at our events.”
I suppose being a Constitutional Law Professor means never to have to say “I am sorry”
We stood up to the creeping Police State tactics of the Obama Movement and FORCED A RETRACTION. They BACKED OFF! This is what it’s all about Folks! Nicely done.
and they said
“The only action they would take would be to provide truthful information to the public so they can make up their minds,” said spokesperson Susan Ryan. “Neither (Joyce) nor anybody involved in this has any intention of prosecuting anybody.” (only making them believe you would – my note)
those of us having dealt with the “truth Squads” on the internet know how just how true this sounds.
The Governor isn’t buying it
“That’s not how they announced it,” objected Gov. Blount in an interview on Fox TV’s “America’s Newsroom” talk show. “They rolled it out as prosecutors willing to take actions as prosecutors.”
Question is – if the “misunderstanding” came from the flashing of the badge – shouldn’t this actually be prosecuted as abuse of power?
a rhetorical question asked by Politico
I didn’t know the remarks were ad-libbed
The transcript seemed relatively tame — with only relatively mild shots at the Republicans in the text.
But a review of the video of Pelosi’s comments shows the speaker deviated substantially from her prepared remarks when she stepped into the well of the House at about 12:20 p.m. Monday afternoon – delivering a series of ad-libbed jabs at President Bush and his party.
Still, forgetting that there was a C-Span and a you tube
Pelosi’s office continued to distribute the as-prepared version of her remarks as late as 1:24 p.m. — an hour after she had delivered the more incendiary version of her speech on the House floor.
I posted the video and real transcript
And here’s a really interesting comment to her tantrum
When was the last time someone asked you for $700 billion?” Pelosi asked in a floor speech shortly before the vote. “It is a number that is staggering, but tells us only the costs of the Bush administration’s failed economic policies — policies built on budgetary recklessness, on an anything goes mentality, with no regulation, no supervision and no discipline in the system.”
Senate Sends $634 Billion Spending Bill to Bush for signing
Well that happened on Saturday. That’s what?? Two freaking days ago!
As to the answer to the headline question: I don’t know. It certainly didn’t help. Chances are that she knew the count when the bill was put to vote and was just trying to make sure she was not lumped with Bush for supporting his bill. On the other hand, I coud lay some blame just because of her statement on this
Pelosi’s office says any claim that the speaker’s remarks caused GOP members to turn against the bill is “ridiculous.”
I guess she learned how to ask for votes from Obama
Whom she made look even more craven than usual when he lashed at McCain
“This is a moment of national crisis, and today’s inaction in Congress as well as the angry and hyper-partisan statement released by the McCain campaign are exactly why the American people are disgusted with Washington.
Coming from a Senator, one who did nothing but campaign, and also said this makes one want to offer him a mirror. But then he might miss the point too. Especially when he pretends he is not connected with Nancy
When Obama, the party’s new leader, learned of the plan’s rejection, he spoke about Washington almost as if he weren’t a member of Congress.
“Democrats and Republicans in Washington have a responsibility to make sure that an emergency rescue package is put forward that can at least stop the immediate problems we have so we can begin to plan for the future,” he said.
He didn’t say how he might lead or what role he’d play. “Step up to the plate,” he told Congress. “Get it done.”
For additional perspective on this, myiq2xu
The way she set things up, it was “Heads I win, tails you lose”: vote for the deal and I’ll paint you as heartless reactionaries bailing out your fat cat friends.
Being in power means that you get to give your party special favors on many occasions–but it also means that you, yes you, have the ultimate responsibility for getting things done. She didn’t particularly try to bring her party in line, and so of course as soon as a few Republicans defected, hers stampeded. The ultimate blame for this failure has to be laid at her feet.
And audio of Rove highlighting how this crisis has been used as a political football
(takes one to know one)
Real Clear Politics has an analysis
Looking over the numbers
Currently, the race stands roughly where it did in June, though McCain is in a slightly better position.
It stands to reason that the financial situation has been a campaign “moment” that has favored Barack Obama. So far, its effect is similar to him winning the nomination in June or heading to Europe in July.
Then they look at other factors
First, the number of undecided voters has increased in the last three weeks, from a low of 6.3% of the electorate on 9/8 to 8.8% last night.
Then the polls are volatile and there are the undecideds who make their minds in October
They conclude that
Rather, McCain needs this issue to become less immediate, less salient. Nothing else is getting through right now. McCain needs this to drop off the front page as a first step to recover the ground he has lost in the last 20 days.
Which explains Nancy’s tantrum before the vote i the house. But there is a possibility that
But it might also be the case that this is just another turn on a very windy road – something that, like the trip to Europe, loses much of its effect after it drops from the news.
Personally, I am extremely skeptical about the role of the voters in this one – it seems way more set up than the previous too. As to what makes headlines, Bush and his color terrorist alert taught us that headlines can be manipulated. And then the media decides which candidate is favored – by , well,… everything.
Still, the fact that the number of undecided voters went up remains interesting
Democracy Now transcript of interview
AMY GOODMAN: You were told that Barack Obama did not want this in the bill?
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH: That he didn’t want the bankruptcy provisions in the bill. Now, you know, that’s what we were told. And I don’t understand why he would say that, if he did say that. And I think that there is a—the fact that we didn’t put bankruptcy provisions in, that actually we removed any hope for judges to do any loan modifications or any forbearance. There’s no moratorium on mortgage foreclosures in here. So, who’s getting—who’s really getting helped by this bill? This is a bailout, pure and simple, of Wall Street interests who have been involved in speculation. ”
I guess it wasn’t something that was helpful to…Obama.
I guess the idea was for Acorn to trickle down on the homeoners
Foreclosures were not even considered in the bailout
Update October 11
It seems he already flip-flopped on this
Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama has unveiled his proposal to change bankruptcy laws. And his plan includes doing something Congress declined to do earlier this year: allow bankruptcy courts to renegotiate the terms of mortgages.
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. 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.
“Barack Obama failed to lead, phoned it in, attacked John McCain, and refused to even say if he supported the final bill.
“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.”
and if one takes a look at Pelosi’s speech before the vote, he is right
and the transcript
Speaker Pelosi’s Partisan Speech From The Well Of The House Of Representatives Attacking Republicans Turned Off Potential Republican Votes. “Opponents said part of the reason for the opposition from Republicans was what they termed a partisan speech by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said one GOP source. ‘Pelosi’s partisan speech has caused our members to go berserk and may cost us any remaining chance to pass the bill,‘
And Barney Frank who should be hiding under a stone retorted
But House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., took umbrage with that claim.
“Because somebody hurt their feelings they decide to punish the country. … I mean, that’s hardly plausible<” said Frank. noting that the number of Republicans insulted was the same needed to pass the legislation. “I’ll make an offer. Give me those 12 people’s names and I will go talk uncharacteristically nicely to them.”
Guess what, Barney? According to the roll call, 95 of the ones who wanted to “hurt the country” were in your own party.
And of course, Obama blames McCain
“This is a moment of national crisis, and today’s inaction in Congress as well as the angry and hyper-partisan statement released by the McCain campaign are exactly why the American people are disgusted with Washington.
I wonder if he knows about Nancy’s speech…it’s OK. the media will keep mum on it and only air Obama’s gripes
And GOP-ers shall ride on this populist revolt now
this tidbit was discovered by some blogger who thinks McCain is the media darling
The company may have been more pleasant than that of McCain aides, who have barred Dowd from the candidate’s plane.
I am old enough to remember when MoDo was reviled by democrats after the jobs she pulled on Kerry and Gore. But her crush on Darcy makes her ‘the bastion of the First Amendment. And the implication that MoDo would be a reporter – priceless!
If the Obama campaign banned a FoxNews Reporter from the plane, I’m sure it would be the greatest crime against the first amendment ever committed
Question is: why isn’t she with Darcy?
She tries according to Kurtz
Outside, on a summerlike evening, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs held forth for the likes of NBC’s Chuck Todd and New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, who was wearing an Elvis T-shirt. (The company may have been more pleasant than that of McCain aides, who have barred Dowd from the candidate’s plane
Elvis? Not Darcy?
Bailout didn’t help the market today, but it surely making everyone angry.
Ironically, from Fortune
A populist backlash is changing America’s political climate. Inflamed by the financial crisis and bailouts, a form of class warfare could haunt business leaders for years to come.
aparently
Washington hath no fury like Middle America scorned – and there’s reason to think it will only get uglier. The government’s massive new financial commitments will severely tie the next President’s hands in addressing middle-class concerns.
“The next President will have to temper expectations a lot,” says Middlebury College economist David Colander, “far beyond what either of the candidates has been willing to talk about.”
and how is this reflecting on the race?
If that means Republican John McCain gives up on letting the upper middle class keep the Bush tax cuts, it also means that Democrats will have to stop promising ambitious spending programs. Barack Obama rightly says it would be “irresponsible” not to review his spending menu – which includes making health care universal – in light of this new fiscal reality. As for problems like Medicare and Social Security? They’ll have to wait.
Oh, please Obama is way ahead of you here. Not that the media does let the voters know the promises they were made are already canceled.
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