Hell No, We Won't Go!

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. The failure of the bailout vote yesterday was a failure of leadership. Not House leadership but White House leadership. Leadership is not simply leading the charge and attacking the problem. True leadership is solving the problem. The failure of this bill after such a dramatic send up, and even an interruption of the Presidential campaign makes the crisis much more severe.

When Secretary Paulson marched up to Capitol Hill and demanded unfettered authority over the nation's economy he overplayed his hand. This isn't 9/11 and the Patriot Act. Congress is in no mood to respond to a crisis that didn't exist a week earlier by trusting the White House. This is the fundamental difference between politics and governing. Politics is easy, you can paint in broad strokes, play off your opponent, rally your supporters and be absolutely resolute. Governing is difficult, you have to reach consensus by explaining, negotiating and respecting everyone involved.

The White House did none of this.

A few weeks ago we were in good shape; the trouble in the financial markets was a correction not a crisis. What changed in such a short time? Clearly the American people don't believe that the failure of AIG among others was a surprise attack on the economy and they weren't willing to write a blank check in response. The result is a mess. As much as the Bush administration failed in the buildup to the Iraq conflict, this is a failure of a different magnitude. This is the Iraq conflict with conscription, everyone has skin in the game, and without consensus there will be Hell to pay.

Welcome to Hell. The poor launching and preparation for the rebuilding of our economy cannot be redone. Whatever the result our economic strength will be diminished. This should be an object lesson for the future president, work with and respect the other branches of government; disrespect the balance of power at your peril. You don't have to agree with the other side, you don't even have to mean it, but you do have to get things done in a crisis. If not, the well will be so poisoned that a new well will be necessary which takes time and you may come up dry in the first few attempts. There's no easy solution to this mess, so start digging.