Pelosi, The Scapegoat

A few questions for the 12 House GOP members that supposedly voted against the bailout bill due to a partisan speech by Speaker Nancy Pelosi:

• Were you voting for this bill because you believed that the country was facing a financial crisis and that urgent measures were needed to correct the situation?
• If so, why did you allow a partisan speech to change your vote?
• Do you think that the (supposed) rancor caused by Pelosi's speech is enough of a reason to subject your constituents and the country to whatever repercussions may result from Congress' inaction on this urgent crisis?
• Or If you didn't believe that the crisis is urgent or that the steps prescribed by the bill were needed, why were you inclined to vote for it in the first place?

The Republicans' decision to blame Pelosi for the failure of the bailout really stretches reason and credibility to the extreme. If you are still not convinced that this is a transparent political ploy and a cheap stunt, read this damning article from The Hill.

According to the article, the Republicans did not put much pressure on rank-and-file members. The leadership apparently did not try too hard to sell the plan to GOP members either, with the Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) calling the bill a "crap sandwich" at one point.

Conference politics are also to blame for the hardline posturing from some members who are preparing for leadership races in the next Congress.

Of course, I've saved the best for last.

Leadership officials blasted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for the failure of the bill, claiming her floor address was filled with partisan barbs and forced some Republicans to vote no.

But other Republicans disagreed strongly with that assertion, which was mocked by Democrats as false and petty.

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) said the GOP leadership comments were untrue, asserting that House Republicans voted against the bill because of its contents.

“We’re not babies who suck our thumbs,” Bachmann said at a press conference after the vote. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (Texas), the chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee who has triggered speculation that he will mount a leadership bid, was one of the first members to publicly reject the revised rescue plan...

The reality is that the bill is extremely unpopular and that Blunt and Boehner never had the votes needed to pass the bill. The bill's failure is embarrassing for Bush, the GOP leadership in the House, and especially for McCain who was claiming credit for helping pass the bill (before it passed). Pelosi just happened to be the closest scapegoat.