It's time to change the rules.
The power of the purse is the ability of one group to manipulate and control the actions of another group by withholding funding, or putting stipulations on the use of funds. The power of the purse can be used positively (e.g. awarding extra funding to programs that reach certain benchmarks) or negatively (e.g. removing funding for a department or program, effectively eliminating it). The power of the purse is most often utilized by forces within a government that do not have direct executive power but have control over budgets and taxation. Wikipedia
Rule #1 - NO DEAL on bailing out Wall Street unless and until all outstanding subpoenas by Congressional committees are honored. If Bush wants $900B, I want Alberto Gonzalez under oath.
Rule #2 - NO DEAL on bailing out Wall Street unless and until the State Secrets defense is dialed back from its current status as a Get Out Of Jail free card.
Rule #3 - NO DEAL on bailing out Wall Street unless and until regulatory oversight is fully restored to our financial systems.
Rule #4 - NO DEAL on bailing out Wall Street unless and until a super majority of Republican representatives agree to vote YES. We must NOT be gamed into honorably losing this election and future elections. If its serious, then EVERYONE better take the heat, not just Democrats.
Point being, it's time to play hardball, and insist that if the Executive wants Congress to clean up the mess left by decades long criminal neglect and stupidity, lets at least get something besides some (perhaps worthless) mortgage securities. Plus, the fall out from learning the rest of the crimes of this administration will at least keep us entertained while we huddle around the campfires.
Add your own Rules in the comments.