McCain Comes To Destroy Compromise, Not To Save It

And so it all comes into focus. Per Marc Ambinder, it seems that chatter on the Hill is that John McCain will come back to DC to destroy any compromise on a Wall Street bailout, rather than save it:

My colleague Nora McAvalnah tells me that sources close to Senate Democratic leadership now fear that McCain's true motivation for calling off his campaign and coming back to DC is simply to cast a "no" vote against the bailout, despite his private statements to the contrary. And it's a smart maneuver: nothing says "maverick," like voting against Bush and standing with the American public, who remain very wary of the proposal.

If McCain votes no, that kills it. Republicans who wanted to vote no will feel they have the cover, and will bail out (pun intended).

What's that gain McCain? Well, besides him being able to be on the opposite side of George W. Bush (and lumping Obama in with the President), it keeps a deal from being reached, and thus a reason to weasel out of Friday night's debate. McCain, by destroying the deal, will be able to say they're now working on a timeline of hours, not days, and there's not a second to spare.

It puts Obama in a tough spot, because McCain, through his vote, will have put everything back to square one. Negotiations for this deal took about a week. Now, they'll have to craft a new deal before the weekend is done.

Country First or Running Like Hell From George Bush and Debates First?

Comments

[milo h minderbinder]

I suspected this, but now that Tucker Carlson is saying McCain deserves all the credit and that the debate will go on, sure looks like he's just going to vote yes on it and be done with it.

[tompoe]

Absolutely, McCain must vote against any bill that locks the Republican Party into its new name, Party of Corporate Welfare. This isn't a bailout. We had a bailout with the S&L crisis. This is corporate welfare, whether the Republicans use that term, or continue to frame it as a bailout, instead. Either way McCain votes, he has to convince Americans he does not tolerate corporate welfare, the new name of the Republican Party.

If he votes against Democratic changes in the bill, he's dead in the water. If he votes against money for corporate welfare, he's standing for the principle that no American will tolerate corporate welfare, i.e., the Republican Party. He's a Republican. He must renounce his Party of Corporate Welfare, as Lieberman renounced his Party of the People. Problem here is, McCain would have to declare his independence, and join Nader on the sidelines. It just won't happen, and for sure, McCain loses either way.

[milo h minderbinder]

Very interesting theory, I've suspected as much.

I can totally see him promising to support this in private, then all the GOP vote no on it - it passes, but the republicans bash it and blame the democrats. He gets to be against Bush and against big spending and the evil banking industry, but with the bill still passing and major crisis averted.

[PATina]

This man acts so erratic... I don't think anyone can truly predict what he will do. Personally, I think he was called back to get the 'rebellious' repubs in line. But you make a good point as well. We shall see.