Democrats are for Wall Street - Republicans are for Main Street.

[kentuck]

Primarily, the Republicans are to blame for this mess, with their march for de-regulation and their lack of oversight. However, the perception is that the Democrats are more inclined to bail out Wall Street than are the Republicans and perception is reality. Nancy Pelosi says that she will not push this through unless she gets some Republican support. What!!?? Let the Republicans lead on this in the Congress. This is a terrible lack of leadership and political smarts by the Democrats, in my opinion.

[Indenturedebtor]

1. I agree - Pelosi and Reid just do not know how to play the game

They get outfoxed every single time. It's pitiful.

[Democrats_win]

2. Because Republicans are so disingenuous. They really should take more responsibility.

Of course I understand your main point, we don't want these incompetent conservative fools anywhere near this. Can't you envision conservatives using this in local elections: "ultra-liberal Mark Udall (Colorado's Senate Candidate) voted to support wall street bankers." The truth will be that Udall was concerned about Americans and voted for it while some conservative put his ideology first. It's sad that it could end up this way. This mess is entirely the fault of conservative ideologues.

[Caliman73]

3. Unfortunately, you are correct

Another example of the Dem leadership snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. We always seem to allow the Republicans to frame the argument so that whatever we do is negative and what they do is the right thing. Barack Obama is playing this well and doing a good job, but DAMN!! give him some freakin help people!!!

[rucky]

4. The mixed messages coming from both sides

do not sit well.

I'd like to think that it's a given that the Paulsen plan - as it stands - has no chance. But I'm not getting any specifics from anyone other than Obama, Frank & Dodd on what our proposal is.

[Beetwasher]

5. Huh? That Flies In The Face Of Every Single Data Point Out There

Dems and Obama are overwhelmingly trusted by the electorate to do a better job on this than Repubs. By large margins the public blames Bush AND Repubs for the mess.

[kentuck]

6. We'll how many Dems and how many Repubs vote for it?

The Democrats should not lead in this mess. Let George W Bush do his arm-twisting with his own Party. It's their mess.