Deal or No Deal

McCain's decision has truly over-politicized a process that while political, was nearing at least some tentative foundation for an eventual agreement. Now, it seems that the GOP has more incentive to slow it down in order to help McCain save face and not debate tomorrow (and for McCain to prevent Governor Palin from speaking in public on October 2nd). But hasn't this "deal" been relentlessly pushed by a Republican President who spoke last night of "once in a century crisis"?

After 8 years of George W. Bush, the term "crisis" doesn't really mean what it used to.

Americans are suspicious of any rushed deal and rightfully so. But Democrats seem inclined to see the disaster as real and the need for a solution urgent. And so I trust Chris Dodd more than Bush on this point. Sensibly, Obama seems to trust in the Democrats back in town, too.

In today's New York Times Gail Collins calls McCain too "hot" and Obama too "cool" when it comes to the financial implosion on the Street.

Oh, please. Restraint and thoughtfulness are not "cool" --they are simply "smart" for a President of the free world. Let's stop playing games while Rome burns.

While McCain rushes back to the District to take control of something he knows absolutely nothing about, and something that is already nearly decided, I am reminded of the end of a great Bob Dylan song:

Thunder on the mountain heavy as can be
Mean old twister bearing down on me

All the ladies in Washington scrambling to get out of town

Looks like something bad is going to happen, better roll your airplane down

Everybody going and I want to go too

Don't wanna take a chance with somebody new

I did all I could, I did it right there and then

I've already confessed, no need to confess again

Gonna make a lot of money, gonna go up North

I'll plant and I'll harvest what the earth brings forth

The hammer's on the table, the pitchfork's on the shelf

For the love of God, you ought to take pity on yourself.

Update: So obvious it hurts. Boehner acting like no deal is on the way.