From The Ledger:
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., delivered a blistering, 20-minute speech that included the revelation of a political talking points memo from a Republican strategist that was virtually verbatim to the criticism voiced Tuesday by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
McConnell had accused Dodd of drafting partisan legislation, even though the Banking Committee chairman has worked for roughly half a year with key Senate Republicans and incorporated many of their ideas into his bill. McConnell also said the bill continues controversial bank bailouts, but it doesn't.
It was refreshing watching Anderson Cooper last night - and God Bless Paul Begala.
In discussion of the Finance Bill, they weighed the back and forth between McConnell and Dodd to decipher who's correct and who isn't.
Cutting through the bullshit and the politeness, Paul Begala did what you don't see many media or political operatives do these days. He called Mitch McConnell's framing of the Finance bill an outright LIE.
It was. McConnell, in following a leaked sheet of talking points from the right, has shown his hand. It's the same one every republican has. Complete and total allegiance to Wall Street at your detriment. What's worse is he wasn't even trying to be vague.
He was lying. Begala called it like it is. Most people don't. They try desperately to find some word that is kinder than "lie." I've never understood this. Why is it un-polite to call a liar a liar?
Good for you, Paul. It's too bad the actual politicians are lacking the balls to do just the same. The conversation might get interesting.
NOTE: The cascade of criticism (hopefully) begins. It looks like McConnell's homestate paper is just as angry at his position and courting of the Banks:
McConnell's statements are perfectly calibrated to inflame the public. He insists the bill would "allow endless taxpayer-funded bailouts for big Wall Street banks."
Their resemblance to the truth is another matter.
McConnell, it should be remembered, voted for the bailout of the big investment banks in the fall of 2008, when it was the only alternative to global economic meltdown.
We have read that the Republicans have a plan for financial reform, but McConnell isn't talking up any solutions, just trashing the other side's ideas with no respect for the truth.
While the intricacies of financial regulation are complicated, McConnell's calculus is pretty obvious.