Congressional failure of leadership

Dear Congress:

Today you failed to pass the bail out plan, a terribly ill-spun layman's description of the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008." Maybe we should stop right there: Did you stop to clearly explain to the Americans who hate the thought of bailing out "fatcat Wall Street CEOs," to paraphrase our Marxist populist-fear-fanning-Democratic-presidential nominee, what it is this bill does? No.

And why would you? I mean, it's only the most important piece of legislation in 30 years. How about breaking in to the prime time Survivor slot with an explanation that this bill isn't bailing out anyone except everyone? That it's not 700 billion America will never see again unless property values go to zero. That making sure money keeps flowing is crucial, not just to Obama's Wall Street fatcats, but also to the average consumer. Fuckall, they did a better job of explaining banking in Mary Poppins than you all did before proposing this bill. Is Dick Van Dyke available to run for Senate? President?


Let's be crystal clear here Congress. I don't lay this blame on any one of you. I don't lay the blame for today's debacle on a party. I lay it at all of your doors. Simple as that. Knowing how dire this crisis is, how dare you propose a bill that won't pass? How dare Speaker Pelosi use the floor debate as a tool to bash the right and Bush at a time when we need a sense of teamwork?

"[W]hen was the last time someone asked you for $700bn? 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."

"Democrats believe in the free market, which can and does create jobs, wealth, and capital, but left to its own devices it has created chaos."

"Democrats insisted that legislation responding to this crisis must protect the American people and Main Street from the meltdown on Wall Street. The American people did not decide to dangerously weaken our regulatory and oversight policies. They did not make unwise and risky financial deals. They did not jeopardise the economic security of the nation. And they must not pay the cost of this emergency recovery and stabilisation bill."

Nancy, you stupid cunt, (guess I am calling out a few individuals after all), what the fuck is wrong with you? I guess the "I told you so" moment trumped the import of the occasion?

And how did our Congresscritter presidential candidates fare in this? McCain's photo-op retreat to Washington now looks like a failure because he didn't get the parties to work together, as he has so often brags is his strength. Obama's "don't forget me" Washington visit looks even more useless. Throughout the crisis, neither man has showed the balls to take a position on the bill, instead waiting to see how the political winds shifted before taking any stand on it.

So Congress, with all the world watching (make no mistake, Europe and Asia will take it in the ass tomorrow on the news of this failure), you showed no leadership and I will hold yo u accountable for it in November.

--John Adams

PS. And to you fellow voter: as you step into the booth in 5 weeks, remember this moment of colossal leadership failure as you stare down the ticket at your incumbent Congressperson. The "other guy," whoever it is, should look pretty inviting.

When you turn to cast the presidential vote, I hope you now feel a chill. These men were both spineless in crisis and undeserving of the leadership they aspire to. I wish I could offer a strong third party recommendation. At this point, I nominate the write-in vote for Dick Van Dyke.