Sen. Obama, like nearly every economist in this country, insisted that the bill include provisions to STOP foreclosures, which is at the heart of this economic crisis - but the Republicans insisted that provision be watered down so badly as to be rendered useless. Only those mortgages that the government acquired were protected, so Main Street America was left out of the protections, and Congress heard the screams of backlash from their constituency. Had they listened to a wise leader (Obama), it might have passed.

This bailout can't work unless it gets to the root of the problem: the foreclosure crisis. Even if we pass the $700 billion, foreclosures will keep happening, and we'll need another, much larger bailout in a few months.

Sen. Obama didn't need to be standing in Washington, injecting himself in this process. As nearly everyone in Congress agreed, that only muddled things worse. He made his position clear, then he removed himself. That was a responsible thing to do.

Sad when ANY politican bets the future of his country on winning an election. That alone is grounds for an ouster.

Here are few dozen veterans with opposing viewpoints:
http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier/testimony

The biggest difference that I see between the Democrats and Republicans when "attacking positions" is that we Democrats stick to the facts - not fabrications. McCain's latest ad, for instance, claims that Obama supported comprehensive sex ed for kindergarteners (false), that he says Iran is tiny and doesn't pose a serious threat (taken out of context, entirely not what he meant), that he voted against our troops ... when McCain has voted ten times against increased health care and body armor, as well as voting against the GI bill. There are other discrepancies in the ad. This is just one ad, and it's only a minute long, I believe.

When Obama does "strike back" - and he will, I have heard - his message will be fact-based. It will be aimed at his opponent's positions and platform, not personal. What the media does is anybody's guess.

(Patricia, great point.)