This is a what-Obama-must-do diary. I know what opinions are like--and that everybody's got one--but I've been in politics for a long time, have run a bunch of campaigns, and I've got a pretty good track record. So please, hear me out...and if you're with the Obama campaign, feed this to someone who can get to David Plouffe.
(More below the line)
The setup on this bailout thing is a complete loser for Obama (not to mention the country). The public hates it. If he goes along with it he has to reap the harvest of that resentment, and link himself to a major Bush initiative as well, decoupling McCain from the "third term" meme. McCain's ONLY play here is to vote "no"--his play is to make sure the deal is as unpopular with base conservatives as possible, and then vote against it. Doing that would save his candidacy and trainwreck Obama's message.
Obama, being an adult, a leader, and a man who genuinely wants to do what is best for the country, will be looking for the best policy solution. In doing that, he can sacrifice his Presidential aspirations, and thus, the future of the United States of America.
What he has to do here is be a candidate first and a Senator second. I hate to say it, but Obama's only play here, the only thing he can do, is this:
To ensure there is a roll call vote, and vote the same way McCain does, no matter which way that is.
A roll call vote is alphabetical. McCain comes before Obama--he will have to vote first.
Now, I don't believe the Bushies when they say the sky is falling. And I sure as hell don't see letting them suck up every available revenue dollar for Wall Street that Obama wants to use for health care and an energy initiative. But however the deal gets made, that's irrelevant now.
Obama has to be on the same side of this as McCain. If he is, he wins. If he's not, McCain will pillory him.
Please rec this up. This thing won't be seen until it gets some airtime, and it's really, really important.