Posted on 09/29/2008 12:13:30 PM PDT by Red Steel
CONGRESS: Legislation to bail out the stressed financial industry was defeated in the House of Representatives by a vote of 228-205
The House of Representatives killed the bill to authorize a $700 billion bailout of the economy by a vote of 228-205, after impassioned pleas on both sides.
Plenty of members from both parties were unhappy about the unpopular legislation, especially on the eve of elections. One congressman offered an all-too-vivid image.
"This is a huge cow patty with a marshmallow stuck in the middle of it," said Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.).
But congressional members supporting the bill expressed their distaste for the bailout too, torn by their constituents' disapproval.
House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio, who called the bill a "crap sandwich" at one point and initially said he wouldn't vote for the legislation, spoke in support of it today.
"Nobody wants to vote for this. I don't blame you. We have an imperfect product, a product that may work," he said. "I believe we have to vote for this bill to keep ourselves from the brink of an economic disaster."
To score a few points, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took the opportunity to lay the blame for the financial meltdown entirely on the Bush administration's economic policies.
"They claim to be free market, when it's really an 'anything goes' mentality," she said. Pelosi urged the House to pass the bill.
Democratic leader on the discussion, Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, chairman of the Financial Services Committee, avoided political commentary to point to the severity of the situation.
"If we repudiate George Bush's secretary of the Treasury and the chairman of the Reserve, and we say, 'Naah, calm down, we'll get over it,' I believe the consequences will be severe."
"I wish I could have included more of my priorities," said Frank. "I wish I could eat more and not gain weight. ... Please don't throw it out because you're unhappy with some of the provisions."
But they did. Now Congress, expected to go to recess today, may be in session the rest of the week to discuss other options to solve the crisis.
I'd tell Frank to bite me, but he'd probably jump at the chance.
L
He blamed the non-passage of the bill on Republican members who were allegedly personally offended by nacy Pelosi's shrill speech.
Barney Frank just clowned Boehnert by saying that he would personally apologize to, and give all kinds of compliments to, any twelve Republicans who would agree to vote for the bill.
Boehnert basically said: "The bill failed not because we still have principled opposition to its provisions, but because some of us are little crybabies."
Boehnert should simply have said taht the bill was a raw deal.
The bailout: brought to you by the same people who (almost) passed the amnesty bill.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Bohener vote for the bill today? If so, is this his ‘I didn’t inhale’ moment.
Time to walk the walk not just talk the talk. That’s why this problem occured.
Term limits.
he was more of a fool for voting for it and that probably is the reason why *he* couldn’t say it was a bad deal.
Its called a salad you fat pig! Stop eating Caviar by the gallon! IT AINT YOUR MONEY!
You are most likely correct. Boehner supported the bill after the changes but I think his first thoughts about this bill are still right that it’s crap.
Democrats wanted us to eat a crap sandwich, but without the bread.
“John Boehner:It’s a Crap Sandwich”
It’s sad that Boehner is not only eating the “crap sandwich”, but he is using his power to force others to eat it also. He needs to be voted out.
And hopefully your constituents will make you eat it, Boehner...
LOL! Cue the Slim Whitman!
Look, people decided that the Republicans needed to be taught a lesson so they handed Nancy and company the keys to the House. The Republicans fought off a number of attempts to pork the bill and hand money over to ACORN. With the failure of the bill's passage the stock market tanks again and need I remind you of how many average Americans own stocks? Need I remind you of the panic that ensues when people think their bank is failing, they are losing their savings, homes, etc? They have to do something while working as the minority party.
What really killed the bill was the voters. House members were afraid for their political life. Keep up the good work Americans.
Boner is an impotent leader.
The majority of Republicans followed Mike Pence.
It is time for Boner to step aside as Minority Leader, and Mike Pence to take his place.
Boehner is a moron. He basically just killed his party’s chances and probabthe Bill’s chances with that statement.
The House GOP has AGAIN stood up and been counted, so I hope that the attacks on the GOP will finally stop as being the 'go along Party'.
It was they who stopped the Amnesty Bill and now killed this monster as well.
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