"Feingold and the Lucys"

Josh Marshall: Lucy and Too True:




Feingold reasons: None of these amendments were included in the final bill, which is why it failed Feingold’s test for real reform. Amendments Feingold cosponsored included:


The bill is Glass-Steagall for our times.



Senator Brown's statement and Krugman on too big to fail



The bill includes Lincoln's derivatives provision, which is very strong.



Senator Merkley's statement

Convince people in DC that we have a problem. The rest of the country understands this. There's too much on the line to be cavalier.

Feingold may want to pretend that there is nothing in this bill because he isn't getting his way, but doing nothing gets you nothing.

for what we're dealing with.

There is no idealism in DC.

I live in the real world. Half of them just want to be on tv.

and then say, "I live in the real world" in the same post.

The 60 votes being needed to avoid the filibuster drives most of us nuts. Of course, even if it disappeared, would most Senators still vote for the strongest legislation? I doubt it. This club is persuaded mostly by reelection efforts and the money involved in that, and what cushy jobs comes later when they retire. I appreciate Feingold's efforts, but he may wait the rest of his life. Anyone think the Senate will ever get better then it is now, with Citizens United and that impact? Tell me who can be convinced to make the legislation stronger and what votes will we not lose in the process?

"Fight what interests?" Wall Street banks and financial lobbyists, of course. It isn't some nebulous haze of some money pushing this Senator this direction and some money pulling this Senator this way. It's an all out blitz by Wall Street to ensure one thing, that there is no structural change. And they will succeed with this bill.

We need leadership to call Senators out, by name, even fellow Dems God forbid. It's time to take that step. And tell the American people what is at stake here if they don't already know. Tell them the truth, that this economy is still very fragile and if these Senators don't get their act together, we'll be looking at another multi trillion dollar taxpayer bailout. And tell them why the Senators are compelled to do the wrong thing. Spill the Gad damned beans on the source of our country's ills ffs! Do it repeatedly. What's wrong with that?

You rail at the Senators not standing strong for principle and yet you go after one of the few (Russ) that actually does.

street be restored.

IWR and Patriot Act. So he got an A+ on the liberal progressive litmus test! :sarcasm:

not achievable when 58 egos clash.

This is a matter of problem solving- and the fact is:

This legislation will not stop Wall Street speculation in derivatives, the financial system will still be dominated by a few "too big to fail" banks doing just that, the ratings agencies will still operate with inherent conflicts of interests and CEO's and executives will still get exorbitant pay and bonus incentives to take high stakes, systemic risks.

Four major problems to solve- all four left unresolved.

Not to mention the Consumer Protection agency- which, LOL -was given to the Fed an agency who's mission is to protect the banks, NOT consumers and one that's repeatedly gotten it wrong with lax regulation.

That's like suggesting that we put environmental regulation under the auspices of the MMS... of wait, we already did.

(Not to mention that the sleaziest of all loan originators and packagers- the auto industry gets a blanket pass!).

doing nothing solves the problem?

Do the right thing- stand up to Wall Street- and fight for effective public policy. If it doesn't pass- use it as a campaign issue to beat Republicans over the head with.

See- that wasn't so hard.

to do nothing

Make it an election issue.

Should have done that with the public option instead of grovelling to the likes of Lieberman. Now you're stuck holding the bag as premiums continue their double digits rises.

Yeah, like the unemployment bill?

and not only on Republicans- but by implication on Republicrats.

Do you think people should continue to suffer just to "pin" it on Republicans?

Not sure where that came from-

:shrug:

This is ersatz reform, designed to win political points, not prevent another crisis.

was worse than the status quo.

Congratulations.

Do you even care what's in these bills, or is it just all about Obama?

Do you?

Shame on Feingold.

I used to like and respect Feingold a lot. Now he is turning into the Senate's Kucinich and I do not mean that as a compliment.

are all voting for the bill.

McCain isn't. Cantwell is still deciding.

Is the protection of the status quo.

No to the Consumer Protection Authority

No to regulating hedge funds

No to derivatives transparency

Yes to the status quo.

Now if Feingold wants to introduce new Senate Rules at the begining of the next session then he is my hero.

90% of a good thing is better than 0% of a great thing