Dean Barkley, the candidate that some in the media thought came out of nowhere when his name on Senate polls changed from “Other,” just flipped his position on the bailout. From the Star Tribune, less than 48 hours ago:
Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley, who practiced real estate law and once owned a mortgage brokerage firm, said that he would hold his nose and reluctantly vote for the bailout. “I just hope it doesn’t become a Christmas tree,” he said.
Wow. Before you could start singing O Tannenbaum or come up with a better analogy his decision to vote for something that might become a $700 Gazillion Balsam Fir changed:
Barkley Says ‘No’ to Immediate Action on Bail-Out Bill
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PLYMOUTH, Minn.—Dean Barkley, the Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, said today that Congress should not vote on a bail-out package before adjourning at the end of the month.
So why the reversal? Figured he could work with Bachmann on this one? Or maybe he’s seeing he can cater to Ron Paul supporters? Or is this just part of his flailing-arms “look, I’m even more different than those two are different because I truly have no idea what’s going on here” strategy?
Addendum: So who do you want as a Senator in a time of tragedy? Someone who understands the situation inside and out and is clear where he stands, someone who can’t talk to anyone for two days until he gets his White House talking points or someone that still is figuring out where he stands?
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What about the war against Christmas now?
Meanwhile Al Franken has had a couple days to relize the sky isn’t falling (of course in his world Gas prices are approaching $5.00 not the $3.37 they actually are) and Al Franken still fully supports bailouts.
To call coming to the conclusion that $2,500 from every man women and child will destroy the economy more then anything else some sort of flip flop shows you still haven’t gotten past the fact that this issue is bigger then politics. The Obama/Bush bailout policy has eeryone on board simply because Obama/Bush are two very powerful political forces, but mainstreet America relizes that you shouldn’t believe everything Obama/Bush tell you.
Mike-
What the FUCK are you yammering about?
So Aaron, what was the problem with Barkley’s position? Or is this post simply more partisan arm flailing. Is your problem that during a fluid situation a person running for office has changed their position? Or is a post on Barkley just an admission of the fundamental negatives of both candidates. Given the bipartisan nature of the bailout, not to mention the last couple decades worth of irresponsible policies by both parties that led to this current economic situation, it might be that having a senator not loyal to a party line would be the best option.
We might have reached the point where the smoke and mirror policies of both parties won’t work anymore. I remember being a kid in the late seventies, early eighties and economists being concerned about debt of all types. National, business, personal, liabilities on things like Social Security and Medicare. We have been living on borrowed time for a long while because it benefited both political parties to do so. Republicans and Democrats have both supported policies that primarily were cost shifting measure. They failed to act responsibly and we can all now see the result.
What am I talking about (I see Al Franken’s immaturity has rubbed off on you)?
I’m talking about talking about the 700 billion that George Bush Al Franken and Barack Obama want to take from the responsible and give to the irresponsible, and take from the responsible. Watch the news and if you can’t controll your language refrain from posting comments.
Unfortunately, the “bail out” bill is more and more becoming a necessity in this current environment. Yes, we are bailing out the idiots who created it in the first place but it is needed. Non-partisan after non partisan economists agree that doing nothing would be much worse then this bailout plan so, unfortunately, we DO need this bail out plan to pass.
So as much as it makes me sick (and Mr. Barkley too) remember that just because you are voting with the mass does not always make you wrong . Also, remember that an independent candidate does not mean that he/she will disagree with everything the GOP/DEMs want. It means that he/she will consider all options no matter who brings the idea to the table and evaluate it regardless of originating party. This is what I want in congress now. No more pro-Bush Coleman or Anti everything GOP Franken. I want a thinker and not a party lackey.