Lawmakers voted 263-171 to pass the bill. It was the second time this week the House voted. On Monday, it rejected an earlier version, but accepted changes after the Senate added sweeteners and supported it on Wednesday.
President Bush will now sign the bill into law.
Before the vote, member after member went to the well of the chamber to voice discomfort and displeasure with many aspects of the bailout legislation. But they also said they would vote for it anyway. And nearly 30 members who voted against it on Monday said beforehand that they had changed their minds.
They "voice[d] discomfort and displeasure," yet they voted it in anyway. They let themselves be panicked, and rushed forward with an ill-conceived and pork-filled bill that American taxpayers will be paying for for the next century.
Spineless, feeble, cowardly fools! It's been a long time - an extremely long time - since I've seen Congress as a whole act honorably to preserve and uphold the Constitution and our freedom.
However, there are some bright spots one of which was that the majority of the House Republicans, including my congressman, Virgil Goode, voted against this bill (by almost a three two-to-one margin! [*grf!* I need my eyes checked!]) So, perhaps there's hope for the Republicans, at least those in the House. And, sixty-three courageous and freedom-loving Democrats crossed the aisle and tried to vote against socialism as well. Bravo for them.
The Senate, however, has more than a few RINOs who ought to be horsewhipped and stockaded in the public square to face well-deserved scorn (that the DemonRATS deserve the same ought to go without saying).
I'm beginning to see what Shakespeare meant when he said, "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers." (King Henry VI, Part 2, Act 4 scene II), although I'm beginning to wonder if he was prescient and really meant our Congress...
UPDATE: Other Virginians' reactions:
Leslie Carbone, with a quote: "I shall rise and fight again."
Crystal Clear Conservative: "It seems that Congress does not believe in the hard work of Americans, who put in endless hours to make ends meet. They would rather bail out their friends on Wall Street without considering that the American people will be footing this $700 Billion bill. Talk about an infringement of your liberties, Ladies and Gentlemen."
Bearing Drift: Commenting on our Representatives from Virginia says, "Pretty much a NoVA / RoVA split again…regardless of party."
Right Wing Liberal: "The bailout won 58 more votes this time, a sad commentary on the depth of the panic that gripped Washington since Monday." [And I wouldn't say that I'm "beside myself," DJ - but I am royally ticked off!]
Virginia Virtucon has a simple "Thanks for nothing!"
UPDATE 2.0: Oh, and note this lovely little tidbit:
The Dow gave back all of a 300-point rally Friday after the House of Representatives signed off on the controversial $700 billion financial rescue plan
Brilliant. Can't wait until Monday...
