Isn’t funny how life plays out sometimes. Yesterday the Senate passed the Financial Reform bill. The bill was passed with the aid of four Republicans. Olympia Snow and Susan Collins, naturally went along with the madness. Chuck Grassley and Scott Brown were the other two. Brown threw in his hat for a little bit of crony capitalism:
Brown's vote was secured partly through the help of Frank, his Massachusetts colleague. In an interview, Frank said Brown called him Wednesday evening as Frank was working out on the elliptical machine in the House gym. Brown wanted assurances that Frank would fight in conference to preserve provisions in the House bill that protect large and solvent Massachusetts institutions, such as State Street and Fidelity, from "unnecessary intrusion" by government regulators. Over the next 24 hours, Frank sent Senate leaders two letters stating his position, and Brown indicated that "on that basis, he could vote for cloture," Frank said.
I hope this quells any more foolish talk of Brown 2012. He was the panic button to stop ObamaCare. Since that failed, there is little need to continue to support this guy the next time around.
After the Senate voted to end debate (again with Brown’s help) Obama came out to the Rose Garden to laud the bill and push for its passage. As Obama droned on about things the bill is suppose to do, but clearly won’t, a rat scurried past the podium:
Obama had just begun an afternoon statement to reporters lauding the end of a Senate filibuster on his financial overhaul plan when some kind of rodent — opinions differ on which — dashed out of the bushes to his right, just outside the Oval Office.
There is something very fitting about that rat showing up. The Financial Reform bill that is supposed to have addressed the causes of the financial meltdown, does not address two of the biggest causes, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac or using bailouts for companies “too big to fail”.
Perhaps the Associated Press was trying to say that in an underhanded kind of way:
Moreover, rodents of all kinds are pretty common in Washington…
Yes, they are pretty common, and come November 2nd the voters get to play exterminator.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: The Washington Post
Via: Associated Press
Via: Politico