Hey hey, ho ho...Bailout draws protest at White House

Inside it was all business: President Bush was meeting with the congressional leaders, Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama about the nation's financial crisis.

Outside, it was business as usual.

The chant was the all-purpose rhythm-and-rhyme that on any given day since the Vietnam War might be heard outside the White House.

But rarely is it applied to ... financial markets.

Nevertheless, while the meeting was taking place in the Cabinet Room, along Pennsylvania Avenue the $700-billion bailout for Wall Street was a magnet for complaint.

About 50 people marched in a circle, their umbrellas an array of color against a rainy sky and the early dusk as they shouted over and over:

Hey hey, ho ho
Bush bailout's got to go.

--Johanna Neuman and James Gerstenzang

Comments

[barb]

I am proud of McCain. He is postponing the foreing policy debate and trying to get this economic crisis in tow. Obama wants to debate instead of trying to help. I want to know why Obama filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit against him in Pa? Why don't he just show his legal documents showing he is a natural citizen? There are 2 birth certificates for him. One in Kenya and one in Hawaii. If he is not a natural citizen he cannot run for President. Why isn't this being investigated by the main stream?? Oh I forgot is Obama alias Barry Soetoro!!!! Why the alias?????

[veritas]

McCain is only concerned about winning the Presidency at this point. This is his last shot since he's 72 years old. He is grandstanding in Washington and wants to steal the economic thunder to turn the polls around. He's also worried about the Palin/Biden debate and would like to get that postponed as much as possible. Let's see if McCain actually shows at the debates. He's behaving in such an impetuous and impulsive manner, I'm concerned about his leadership qualities.

[ohplease]

McCain is not helping. He's not part of the committee hashing this thing out. Neither is Obama, but at least Obama has been on the phone with Paulson every day since the bailout was announced. No one ever heard from McCain. Now all of a sudden McCain gets the cute idea of suspending his campaign for political opportunism. Never mind that he proceeded to do an interview with Couric and stopped by Clinton's Global Initiative to make a prepared statement. Both candidates' presence at this meeting was merely a forced bipartisan photo-op.

[Whatever]

Veritas? Interesting.

Here's some truth for you: BOTH candidates are doing whatever it takes to win this. That's just what politicians do.

Obama? McCain? Bush? Cheney? Pelosi?

Different faces, same idea.

[Lars]

Barb's comments about Obama is pure nonsense. A pack of blatant lies that have been repeatedly disproven. The only reason she brings them here is as a smokescreen for McCain, who is only succeeding in fooling fools like barb.

[Andrew]

Both McCain and Obama are in Washington, with equal involvement in the bailout process, and neither has a major role. If Obama can work in the debate, so can McCain. There is no valid reason why McCain can't make the debate.

[rich]

there is no point trying to argue with republican consevatives. their ability to twist around facts and live in denial never ceases to amaze me. your party has been in power for almost a decade and now is overwhelmingly recognized as the worst presidency in history.if you voted for bush in the past election you shouldn't be allowed to vote again.

[Scott]

If John McCain can save us from this unnecessary bailout bill then he will once again be an American Hero. Per last nights evening news: voter sentiment is against the bailout 100 - 1. Of course Obama would embrace this socialist solution. Take from those who work and give to those who watch Oprah. The masses exist to support the elite. What's 700 Billion maybe a Trillion? Right Comrads?

[Trevor]

McCain Sucks. HOCKEY MOMS BELONG IN CANADA! GO OBAMA!!!!

[Cooper]

McCain is only concerned about winning the Presidency at this point.

Obama is only concerned about winning the Presidency at this point.

WHEN WILL YOU PARTISAN MUFFIN HEADS FIGURE OUT THAT YOU'RE *ALL* RIGHT? THE POLITICIANS ARE SIMPLY PLAYING POLITICS AT THIS POINT, ALL THE WHILE OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM IS READY TO COLLAPSE.

BIN LADEN IS MIGHTY PLEASED TONIGHT, MIGHTY PLEASED INDEED!

[John]

John McCain is a true patriot and loyal American; he loves his country and has proven this by putting his life on the line. He is not playing politics; that is what Obama does ...... his World Tour, the rock groups he hires to play at his rallies even in Berlin, his presidential seal, his airplane with his logo minus the U.S. flag which he had taken off, etc. etc.

Russia is giving Chavez $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for military weapons, so we will not only have Cuba but now Venezuela with Soviet influence. This is a very real danger as are the terrorists who are just waiting to blow up another U.S. city. We need a president and commander in chief who is experienced in foreign affairs, knows the military and is concerned enough about our economic crisis to meet with top financial wizards and put off his campaign for a few days. What is wrong with putting off a debate for a few days also? What is more important: one debate or the financial security of every man, woman and child in this country? Labor unions which are Democrats are going to have protest re the bailout talked about today as are other groups across the country. This crisis needs fixing or the stock market will bomb next Monday with everyone's retirement, children's education funds, etc. It is not just the fat cats on Wall Street, folks. It is our country's stability. This has occurred because of failure from our government, Congress in particular, to act and pass laws. We should not now be blaming this and that; that will not fix our vast problem. Quit finger pointing everyone and come together as one nation, under God. And it would not hurt for everyone to ask for help from above.

[Francis]

How is it possible for one man to unilaterally cancel an election debate? Is he above everyone else? Did he get counsel, advice, support for this decision? This is the same logic Bush used when ignoring the rest of the world, including political, moral, spiritual and other leaders, in deciding on his own to lead an invasion into Iraq. It is precisely this kind of attitude the country cannot afford, and neither can the world. It is dangerous behaviour. What next? Will we see the cancellation of an election? Seems far fetched, but I wouldn't be surprised. There always seems to be some kind of "crisis" that can be used to justify almost any action.

[John O'Brien]

wonderful photo opp for Bush and mcCain I heard a piece from a bush stump speech in 2002 where he told freddie mac and fanny may to do away with the regulations and give people with bad credit and people that could afford "good houses" loans...The subprime nightmare.. I wonder if Obama wanted to see what the boys were up to.

[Paul]

It's noew official; HILLARY is backing McCain!!!!!! Just announced a few minutes ago..

[joel]

Mcian is so obvously trying anything that he can to get around this debate. after all the cenators that are involved have said that they have not even heard from Mcian during this whole bialout procedure and Obama has been envolved the whole time. i am a republican that is ashamed of where the party has done to our country and at the way mcian is running his campian. I could go on for pages about the awfull way Mcian is behaving

[jimmythe gent]

McCain's latest maneuvers really stink of Rove, and it's his biggest mistake. Up until this campaign I had a lot of respect for John McCain. I still do, for what is now history. But he now takes on a soccer mom who is nothing more than eye candy and a sop to the wing-nuts, he bails on the electoral process when he would be more respected for taking a public stand in debate with his opponent, he says he's his own man but turns over on his stomach for every special special. Rather sad.

[MAKAI]

COUNTRY FIRST MORONS

[Ella Gura]

Uh, What happen to McCains little charade with the bank loan on his campaign. First he signed on for the funds available to anyone to campaign when he was nearly busted and considered a long shot, then he snagged a loan for campaigning with no collateral, and withdrew from the goverment loan that was capped. All this contrary to the campaign finace laws he once crusaded for. Has anyone here heard of Ron Paul? Check out his ignored CPAC speech. Very intertaining in light of todays enviroment. Oh yeah, least we forget, CNN's Andersons wonderful balanced debate. Check them out. Let this failed monetary system reform itself. No bailout please.

[Foreigner McCain]

Hey Barb, do you even know where McCain was born? The Panama Canal Zone! He shouldn't even be running for president. Why isn't that being investigated by the mainstream media?

[Mister 10000]

After watching last nights debate -- I think that Obama has this election in the bag -- I personally feel more comfortable with Obama in charge then the old guy - As for the VP Debate with all this attention on Palin -- Why doesn't she just run for president -- the campaign should be renamed Palin/McCain. Could you people actually think about who your voting for -- just look at the past 8 years -- WHAT A COMPLETE AND UTTER JOKE. I haven't seen so much hatred towards the American as we do now