Is watching everyone rush off to read Chris Dodd’s proposal, and rather than read it and judge it on the merits of the proposal, read it and compare it to the ridiculous opener from Paulson. Instead of reading the Dodd proposal and saying “this is a good idea” or “this sucks hard,” we will be treated to a few days of “well, it was better than what Paulson suggested.” Which, no doubt, will be true, because what Paulson asked for was completely ridiculous- “Give me a trillion dollars and then piss off.”
And then I will scream, because it is clear that this nation and our leadership have bargaining skills that are less sophisticated than your average seven year old:
Mom, can I have the soccer team over for a sleep-over on Friday?
No.
How about just Jimmy and Mike and Timmy and Scott?
I think that would be ok, but let me check with your father.
And while I would gladly have voted for Dodd in the primaries, is it wrong for me to mention that one of the real and fair knocks against Dodd is that he is wholly in bed with the banking and insurance industries? But somehow, because we are a nation of morons, we will judge giving 700 billion to someone with no strings unacceptable, but giving 700 billion to someone with a few caveats about CEO pay is somehow teh awesome. And who will be the white knight to bring us this reform? The guy in the Democratic party most in bed with the people who screwed up.
I will wait until I hear what Barney Frank has to say on the House side, thank you very much.
*** Update ***
I would bet any amount of money this is what happens if the Democrats pass the bailout.