Bush famously laughed off his first years in office (recession, war, terrorist disaster) with the line "I hit the trifecta." Now, McCain is working on his own trifecta.
Here's the background: last year, a majority of both Houses voted to roll back subsidies for Big Oil and extend and increase them for efficiency, solar, wind and other renewables. However, the Senate fell one vote short of ending a filibuster. McCain missed the vote-- the only one to do so-- and never announced how he would have voted.
Earlier this year, the Dems tried again as part of the fiscal stimulus plan. Again, despite majorities in both Houses the Senate fell one vote short of ending a filibuster. Again, McCain was the only one to miss the vote. Again, he never announced how he would have voted.
He was in a ticklish position: alienate his base by voting against oil subsidies, or most of the nation by voting against renewables?
The Dems are now trying for a third time. Subsidizing solar, wind and efficiency (instead of oil) remains a no-brainer. But its difficult not to also wonder whether McCain will miss the trifecta.
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