Candidates likely ‘no-shows’ in bailout vote

So I don’t usually blog much politics, because I don’t follow the news that closely.  But this, wow.  Even I am not this out of touch.   We have two *senators* running for president, both on a platform of reform and change. Both talking about the great things they’re going to do for the economy.  And they might not even show up to *vote* on the #1 biggest economic issue we are facing today?

Take a look at their campaign websites ( http://www.johnmccain.com/ and http://www.barackobama.com/index.php ).  Not a word (as of this writing) about the mortgage loan crisis.  Or if it’s there, it is mighty hidden.

Where’s the leadership, gentlemen?  You say that as president you can work with Congress to get things done?  Prove it.   You say you care about the ordinary taxpayer and you mean to change business-as-usual in Washington?  Show us.  Have you not noticed that both your proposed economic plans will be completely sunk if this bailout goes through?  What’s your *new* plan?  How are you gonna lower taxes, Mr. McCain, with this kind of bill on the rolls?  Where, exactly, are the funds for big economic plans going to come from, Mr. Obama, if we are busy sending all our spare pennies to big investment firms?

If you were president, I would expect you to be busting your tail to get the *right* legislation through Congress.  Instead you tell me you are ‘monitoring the situation’, and that you’ll show up if the party really needs you?   Is it because you know, campaigning is just so much more taxing than actually running the country?  Because you’ll have so much more free time to take charge and take action once you are actually president?

I expect when it comes down to it, both candidates are cowards.  They know that one or the other is going to win the election, and that presidency is, in a close race, theirs to lose.  They know that if they take a stand now, make a bold move now, they might lose votes.   So they won’t.  They will both quietly pretend that nothing is really happening, and go shake hands and kiss babies and listen sympathetically to flood victims and working class voters tell their sorry tales.  (Why do I say this? Go look at their campaign sites.  This is the ‘news’ they have for us.)  It’s almost got the feel of a gentlemen’s agreement — they both are *equally capable* of using their position as senator to take some initiative . . . and they both do nothing.

One way or another, a month before the election, we get to see what these guys are made of.  We get to see the kind of leadership and decisive thinking they have to offer our nation in a moment of crisis.  And there it is: nothing.