Joe's Pipe Dreams

Joe the plumber is worried that Obama is going to tax his dreams.  Joe doesn't make the $250,000 plus a year where Obama's tax increase would kick in, and he doesn't own the plumbing business he's trying to buy that allegedly has a taxable net of $250k plus a year.  He doesn't even have a plumbers license nor is the plumbing business he aspires to buy licensed.  Yet he's worrying about a 3% tax increase on money he isn't making from a business he doesn't own.  If he's smart, he'll save the extra money he gets from Obama's tax break on his actual income now and use it towards a down payment on his dream business.    

Johnny Come Lately

John McCain adds nothing to the bailout negotiations.  The Keating Five affair is reflective of his judgment in financial affairs and crises.   And his alleged campaign pause to return to Washington to save the day is a cynical move that has disrupted the deal at hand.  If the Republicans cut a deal before he shows up, he will look irrelevant.  Thus they're stalling the deal until McCain can play his role.