I diaried this last night on Kos, and generated 100+ comments, mostly saying it couldn't be true. I see that a few diarists have the same idea today. I thought it would be interesting to bring it up again and watch how it all happens.
Here's the original diary, outlining the Republican plot as I see it:
- Propose a plan that is so preposterous that over 70% of Americans will be against it; i.e., Paulson's "Bailout Plan."
- Scare the bejesus out of the Dems by telling them that financial armageddon will come down if some form of this plan isn't passed, and that they will be blamed for it.
- Allow the Dems and the neocon cadre of the Repubs to spend days hammering out a slightly less smelly version of this horrible plan, which Americans will still oppose. Meanwhile, old-style Republicans have been saying all along, "No way, no how," which incidentally makes them the ONLY folks showing any balls in this.
- At the last moment, McCain rides in on his white horse, aligns himself with the ballsy Repubs, and they hammer out a totally different plan that is much more acceptable to the American people (almost any plan would be).
- This all takes just enough time so that both the Pres and VP debates are cancelled. But once the people get a whiff of the new plan, which they will like much better than the original plan, they'll be more than willing to see the debates cancelled. If Obama dares to complain, HE will look like he's putting politics first.
- The Pres, Paulson, and the neocon cadre joyfully flip to McCain's wonderful new plan, praising him for his leadership.
- At this point, the Dems and Obama will have two choices: Follow McCain's wonderful leadership in supporting the new plan (which the American people want); or oppose it. Either way, they lose.
To know if this is true, we'll need to see the "McCain Plan," but honestly, it doesn't need to be great; it only needs to be better than the original Bailout Plan, and that won't be difficult. The only thing I've heard is that it involves some kind of "insurance" and that sounds a helluva lot better than a "bailout."
Look, this plan stunk to high heaven from the get-go; I knew it, you knew it, and most Americans knew it. It was obscene. So why, oh why, didn't the Dems do the right thing from the start and completely and totally oppose it in any form? And come up with their own plan? Not just some watered down version of the bailout.
Dam it, you need to stand for some kind of principles. Not just play politics. Because you'll never beat the Repubs on playing politics. They are the masters.
UPDATE: So apparently the McCain plain involves more deregulation and tax cuts. Still a bad plan; won't work. But that's not the point.
"Deregulation and tax cuts" will sound better to most Americans than "bailout for Wall Street crooks."
Again, it all depends on McCain's plan. If more Americans approve of the McCain plan than the Paulson plan, McCain wins. Big. And given that over 70% of Americans oppose the Paulson plan, that won't be hard.
The McCain Plan: Okay, so now we've heard something about the McCain plan, which involves "insurance and loan guarantees"; a helluva lot better than the "Bailout for Wall Street Crooks Plan" which thanks to the Repubs cleverness, is now the "Bush/Repub/Democrat Plan."
Is McCain's plan a good plan? No! Tax cuts are the last thing we need, but remember there are a lot of Americans who still believe in that trickle-down BS. Bottom line is, the McCain plan will sound wonderful compared with the obscene Paulson plan. Did he create this plan? Hell no. But it will still be his plan, and he'll get the credit. Did McCain engineer this trick? Of course not! Better brains than his are at work.
Today's Action:
Chimpy came out today and gave a short statement. He couldn't even begin to hide his smirk.
McCain is being described on CNN by the newsbabes as the "dealmaker" on this new proposal.
Reid and Dodd are now giving a news briefing. Ohhhhh no, Reid just gave it all away. Whining that their compromise plan has been torpedoed by McCain. Pleading to know where McCain stands. Dodd, more whining. Defending the changes they made to the stinky plan, which are good changes, true. But it's still a stinky plan. They just fell into the trap completely, by totally "owning" their version of the Paulson plan.
Next step: Signs that #5 (above) is getting ready to happen. Now seriously, do you really think Bush won't come out for McCain's plan? He'll have the House Repubs behind it, obviously; the neocon Repubs that were working on the Paulson plan will flip for it, because they do what they're told. Neocon Tres. Dept. will go for it, obviously. The American people will go for it, because it's better than the Paulson plan. Leaving the Dems standing alone with their pants down.
UPDATE: As far as #4, the debates, if the "flip" to McCain's plan happens before tonight, then McCain can sail into the debate as a hero and talk about his wonderful plan, and how he rescued the country from the horrible Paulson plan.