England for Obama

Keith Olbermann looks at what happened yesterday with the scuppered bailout bill - including McCain and Obama’s responses, and what exactly Nancy Pelosi said to offend all those right-wing Republicans:

According to Today on Radio 4, the discussions in Washington about the economic bailout turned into “a shouting match” yesterday. And according to HuffPo, John McCain “sat quiet through most of the meeting, [and] never offered specifics”. Probably because he doesn’t know much about the economy, eh? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I don’t know much about the economy, either. But then, I didn’t just fly to Washington saying that I was going to help. Although I’m perfectly happy to make tea for everyone if they need me.

Meanwhile, back in Oxford, Mississippi, preparations are taking place for tonight’s televised debate. Or rather: would-be televised debate, as according to news sources, it is still ‘in limbo’*.  John McCain has said all along that he won’t take part until and unless a deal has been reached in Washington - and, well, it doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen today, Johnny boy.

So will he really balk? Will Barack Obama be standing there tonight opposite an empty lectern? I somehow doubt it. If McCain doesn’t show up tonight, he will have thrown away the election. Instantly. Of course, if he still turns up before any deal has been agreed, he will look like he’s going back on his word - but in the big scheme of things, that would be far less damaging and I’m sure the GOP could spin it, as they spin everything else.

More on the goings-on in Washington yesterday here and here - and here’s our man Obama giving his sensible take on the whole affair:

I have to say, I find it both remarkable and quite, quite hand-rubbingly brilliant that it’s the right wing of the Republican party that’s scuppering Bush’s bailout plan - because, to their minds, this is “socialism” and the free market should be left to, well, run free (oh, and by the way: John McCain is in their ranks). The Republicans didn’t squirm when Hurricane Katrina happened and millions of people needed aid. They don’t squirm when they need health care, because they can afford it. But they’re squirming now.

I keep thinking of a great quote I heard from a commentator the other day: “Profits are privatised, but debt is socialised”.

And so it seems. In the Republicans’ America, at least.
*I love that headline: Debate Remains In Limbo. Is that ‘Limbo, Ohio’? I wouldn’t put it past my American friends and their crazy place names…