The GOP (assisted by the DBM, ironically) is doing a great job of painting the bailout as a big taxpayer payoff to Wall St. fat cats (which, in truth, it is). They are using the class warfare card against the Democrats, who are champing at the bit to pass this bill.
The people are getting this and that's why opposition to the bailout is so fierce.
If Democrats can be painted as being all in favor of this bailout in its original form (payoff to fat cats) and then oppose an alternative which is more favorable to the little guy, then I like those odds for the GOP. GOP talking points:
"Democrats were all in favor of this bill when the taxpayer money was going to their fat cat friends on Wall St. and to their left wing interest groups like ACORN and La Raza, but they're opposed to a plan that would impose stricter regulations on the industry and not cost the taxpayers a dime."
I'm starting to think that there will be a bill, but it won't be the Bush/Paulson version or even a semblance of it. And it won't be passed today, or maybe even next week. But the longer the delay, the better the bill will be, IMO.
I’m wondering if the free market won’t begin to sort this thing out while they’re debating.