The Democrats in Congress can come out looking like heroes if they frame this wrangle properly.
That is, if they tell the actual truth.
more below...
What we have here are three sections of the same party butting heads and shamelessly grandstanding. Bush is trying to give his country club pals one last gift of $700 billion--"We wanted a big number"-- because otherwise no one's going to invite him and Laura to any high-toned social events once he's no longer "The Decider." (It can be lonely, sitting by yourself in a big house in Dallas.)
The Republicans in Congress have suddenly decided that they need to become anti-Wall Street populists, or their bacon is burnt come November.
And McCain? People are finding out that Palin is long on charm and zilch on substance, the folks in Wasilla are "Top Tenning" on Letterman, a black man who's Muslim (really, he is, we have pictures of him wearing a turban!) is within three points of taking the lead in Florida and the campaign can't find the key to the "more donations" vault. (Oh, wait, they said months ago that they didn't need that filthy lucre, didn't they?)
So...while the Repulicans act like children, the Dems need to frame all this for exactly what it is....a political party that can't do anything because all of its members are too busy fighting each other.
Reid: "We can't get the Republicans to talk to each other."
Pelosi: "McCain won't negotiate with the president, and the Congressional Republicans refuse to talk to Paulson."
Dodd: "It's like watching a bunch of fifth graders in a schoolyard brawl."
Obama: "Who is now leading the Republican Party? These are the people who created this situation and now all they can do is argue with each other?"
Reid: "I feel like a referee. We can't get these people to the table."
Pelosi: "We need all the factions in the Republican Party to stop fighting each other and start negotiating in good faith."
Obama: "I don't care who gets the credit for solving this problem. My concern is for the American people, who are waiting and worrying about what could happen to their jobs, their homes and their families if this battle between the Republicans doesn't stop immediately. I and my fellow Democrats call for everyone to put aside their political concerns and work together to create a fair and honest plan....now!"
To win this argument, the Democrats just have tell the American people....the truth.