We just saw something we haven't seen for a long while

[MadHound]

Populism, that space where liberal left and conservative right meet. It's where the two extremes meet and realize that they have common cause. That is what happened today, people on both sides were pissed at the bailout, and made their resentment known. Lo and behold, a month before these public servants get their quadrennial audit, we the people were listened to. Democracy at work, a miracle in this day and age.

This is Roosevelt type politics, both Teddy and Franklin D. This is the people finally recognizing a bad deal when they see one and saying we want something better. No, we don't want the system to collapse, and yes, we realize that the economy is in dire straits. But we also know that in this time, this space, this place, we the people can hold out for a something better than what began with an imperious three page memo and ended as a sad farce. This is the people holding strong. Isn't that what we've been wanting to see for awhile now? The people realizing when fear is being employed, when we need to stand up, when we demand a better deal? That's just what happened!

Yes, we're going to get to ride the roller coaster of the markets, the credit crunch, the fucked up economy perhaps being deliberately tanked in a mad fit of the petulance seen when you stand up to the bully, and being bullied is what will happen. But if we stand together, we will get a better deal. Don't panic and don't forget we're all in this together. Our ATM's and checks will still work tomorrow and next week. Yes, there will be inflation and gyration and a bit of chaos. But it won't be a Depression, it won't be Armageddon, but in the end it will be a better deal for all of us.

With an election on the line, our public servants are willing to listen. A better deal will be made, probably within a couple of weeks. On the real plus side, McCain's numbers have gone down further on this whole bailout debacle. People on both sides of this aisle recognize stupid when they see it. At this point it's Obama's to lose. Then perhaps we'll get some real change.

[ContinentalOp]

1. k&r

[kestrel91316]

2. Very insightful. I noted years ago that if you went far enough to the left,

you tended to meet up with the very far right in some ways. Didn't know it was where populism came from....

[MadHound]

6. Interesting part of the political spectrum

Interesting characters arise from it. Jackson, Huey Long, a weird political amalgamation. In many ways I think it's about that most uncommon of things in politics, Common Sense, finally coming into play. But it does make for strange political bedfellows. Kucinich and Hulshoff on the same side:shrug:

[Booster]

3. This stuff is just way over my head. I know the people didn't want

this bailout, as I did not want this bailout. I'm confused because the Dems voted for it, right? And the Reps voted against it, right? So did the Reps listen to the people, and the Dems not? That's why I'm confused. Good post.

[MadHound]

7. Don't forget, 95 Dems voted against it also

Kucinich included. Like I said, where left meets right and makes common cause for common sense.

[Greyhound]

15. There were thins the republiks didn't like and saw an opportunity to

turn an imperfect bill into a political coup. Now they're the heroes that stood up for their constituents and the Democrats, like Charlie Brown**, once again were surprised when Lucy yanked the ball away again.

For the record, I vehemently opposed this bill.



**(some body posted this comparison earlier, so I lifted it, thanks whoever you are)

[juno jones]

4. K&R!

In the words of Douglas Adams; "Don't Panic"

[MadHound]

16. LOL, I've been thinking of those two words for over a day now

Don't panic. Thankfully we didn't panic, at least not to the point where we went over the cliff.

[shanti]

5. everybody has to eat

that's pretty much what it boils down to. a person's anti-abortion stance isn't going to put food in their stomach. notice how it falls by the wayside when it affects their purses and wallets.

[sharesunited]

8. Who decides if your ATM card still works? Isn't it someone who can turn it off until you cave?

[MadHound]

10. In theory this credit crunch could freeze to the point where no money would move anywhere

That's not going to happen. What is going to happen is that banks, corporations and businesses are going to have to pay higher interest rates on their short term loans. The interest rates on credit cards will go up while the limits will go down. Borrowing money of any sort will cost more. But this has happened before and we've survived. But we will also get a better bailout deal, one that puts Main St., not Wall St. first. In the long run, it is the better option. In the short run, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

[sharesunited]

11. But if the defeated plan is the one preferred by the people who can switch off your card?

Don't they have the power to make you see things their way?

[MadHound]

12. Not without cutting their own nose to spite their face

Cut off plastic, cut off a major revenue stream. Not going to happen. The credit crunch isn't that bad, isn't going to get that bad despite the rhetoric currently being flung around.

[HamdenRice]

17. Local NBC affiliate news show was reporting reduced credit card limits

They did a segment that said that in the area, customers are being informed that their limits have been unilaterally lowered. Because this comes as a separate notice from the bill, many people miss it. With the lower limit not necessarily known to the customer, the customer exceeds it and pays a penalty.

[MadHound]

18. Didn't say that it wouldn't be rough, but if we hold strong, we can get a better deal

You in?

[HamdenRice]

24. But wait a minute. I thought you said that limits on personal credit wouldn't happen

Who should I believe now, you or WNBC?

[MadHound]

27. Never said that, in fact I said the opposite, check my post number 10 above

"The interest rates on credit cards will go up while the limits will go down." Hmmm, reading for snark rather than comprehension again?

So, back to my original question, are you in for holding out for and fighting for a better bill, one that will put people first, or are you going to sulk like a child who's had their favorite toy taken away. Sorry that your way, the DLC, centerist, corporatist way didn't work, but the fact of the matter is that the American public exhibited common sense for once and our reps actually heard and abided by our wishes. I realize that most of the time, the people don't count in the equation, but this close to the election, we the people hold the whip hand and intend to use it. So, are you in or not?

[HamdenRice]

28. "Cut off plastic, cut off a major revenue stream. Not going to happen. "

Please explain.

[MadHound]

29. What, you can't follow a simple exchange of posts that used mostly one syllable words?

The poster I was responding to was asking about the possibility of banks and CC companies shutting off credit and ATM's entirely. If you would read for comprehension instead of snark, you would have gotten that.

Now then, back to the question you refuse to answer, are you in with us on creating a new bill that puts people first instead of corporations? Or are you going to pout in a corner because your centerist, DLC, corporatist bailout bill for the rich didn't pass? Oh, and one more thing, what do you have against democracy? That's what happened yesterday, the majority of people opposed that travesty of a bill and Congress, for once listened.

[HamdenRice]

30. I generally don't respond to rude, irrational or bat shit crazy posts

When you write things like this, "pout in a corner because your centerist, DLC, corporatist bailout bill for the rich," I just tune out, as I'm sure most civil, rational readers do as well.

But if you like, you should be able to read my analysis of the defeated bill and how it should be revised at my new blogger blog, which should be up by this evening:

hamdenrice.blogspot.com

[MadHound]

31. Well, as the saying goes,

If you want respect, you need to give it. All I've gotten from you over the past week is condescension, rudeness and irrationality. Yet here you're saying that despite all of that I should treat you with kindess and light? Sorry, doesn't work that way. You got to give respect in order to get it:shrug:

[girl gone mad]

26. This has been a long time coming..

and the 700 billion will not be enough to stop it.

[mhatrw]

9. Exactly. It's called Democracy.

For once in the past 8 years, it actually worked!

[intheflow]

13. This is EXACTLY what happened!

Rep. Mark Udall, tree-hugging uber-liberal from Boulder, CO voted no with Marilyn Musgrave, homophobic fundie nutcase from conservative Weld County, CO! :wow: I never in a million years thought I'd see an issue that could unite them, but here it is, happening today. :crazy:

[Hardrada]

32. We in Iowa saw Steve King (R-Notorious) voting with our good

First District liberal Bruce Braley (D-Waterloo)

[Greyhound]

14. He has the capability and if he has the vision to use it to slice through

the Beltway, instead playing their game, he could end up on a mountain too.

[OneGrassRoot]

19. Thank you SO very much. Very insightful indeed. :) n/t

[TooRaLoo]

20. "With an election on the line, our public servants are willing to listen."

Rec'd

[a kennedy]

21. Mr. Jim Hightower........

now there's a populist.... http://www.jimhightower.com/ "The water won't clear up 'til we get the hogs out of the creek." -- Jim Hightower :hi: :patriot:

[MadHound]

22. I love Jim, had the chance to talk with him briefly

Wonderful, intelligent, funny down home guy.

[a kennedy]

23. He came to BobFest, a gathering in Wisconsin for "our" types....

just fantastic.....the crowd loved him and you are right, down home type of guy. :patriot: http://www.fightingbobfest.org/

[SammyWinstonJack]

25. K&R!