Dear John -- Here's what you should have done...

Look, nobody really loves this bill. Some view it as a necessary evil while others view as just plain evil. It was a tough vote to make one way or another, and I've never seen a political situation quite like it. It's the sort of thing that will warrant study in political science classes for years and years to come.

But here's where you screwed the pooch, John. Sure, your opponent voted for the bill as well. It was also expected (at least to me) that you too would vote for it. After all, you suspended your campaign and agreed that something needed to be done. You had your hand forced in a way that I think a lot of Senators can relate to. But you refused, REFUSED to be honest with and speak directly to the American people and your colleagues (whom you are supposed to be leading right now) in a clear, concise manner as to why you were voting for this bill and why you thought it was important for the American people.

You did not do what Barack Obama did today. You did not own your vote. At a point in your campaign where you could have shown even a sliver of credibility and leadership, you fell flat on your face. Your only recourse now is to play the role of pariah. Perhaps you can retreat to one of your six houses now, content that your assets are protected thanks in some part to the vote you cast tonight, and just ride out the next month in high, drunken form. Besides, you really don't want to take on this job, do you? Admit it. You've given up. The sooner that happens, the sooner the rest of the country an just stop living the pretense that we actually are in the midst of a real race here and we can fix the country you helped screw up.

:hi: