Three Up; Three Down

By The News Virginian Staff

Published: September 27, 2008

THREE UP

Not to be confused with the legendary sportswriter Roy Blount Jr., Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., emerged as the lead bailout negotiator for the GOP as conservatives battled to hold back leftists’ socialist push. He rightly pointed out that Democrats were free to pass the Treasury Department’s proposed $700 billion bailout sans Republicans. Dems responded with a thoughtful punt.

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the rev. Franklin graham, heir apparent to his father’s evangelist legacy and brother of Waynesboro’s own Ruth Graham, joins the gang today at Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church in Fishersville, celebrating a rich spiritual history spanning some 150 years. Welcome home, reverend.

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For more than a year, a lone voice, that of Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, has been sounding the alarm on Wall Street. Dismissed for his lack of TV presence, Paul’s admonitions went unheeded. We all hear you now, congressman.

THREE DOWN

Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, the man of the hour in Washington, will be a man of rare power if Congress acquiesces to his bailout wishes. With his hands on billions of taxpayer dollars, Paulson advises those who dare wonder over the details to simply trust him and sign the checks. Haven’t we trusted the government a little too much already, Mr. Secretary?

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Republican presidential nominee John McCain’s running mate and onetime conservative darling Sarah Palin surfaced from the campaign recesses to flail at questions posed by Katie Couric, whose interviewing skills hardly intimidate. Russia may be visible from Palin’s house, but that post-convention bounce seems a million miles away.

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Barney Fife would be better suited to negotiate a mortgage bailout than the Dems’ leading man, Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. Turns out, the House Financial Services Committee chairman, who has shielded Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from scrutiny, picked up $30,500 in campaign money from PACs tied to the mortgage giants. Surprise, surprise.