The middle was missing? You must be on drugs. There is only one party you can possibly blame for any of this - the Republicans. They had control of both houses until 2006 and didn't need the Democrats for anything. They are not a party, they're a criminal gang and of course they don't want regulation. Then they would actually be held accountable for their actions over the last eight years. It is the behaviour of the Republicans that created this debacle and trying to tar the Democrats with the same brush just won't wash. Sixty percent of Democrats voted for the bailout and sixty six percent of Republicans voted against it, Nothing could be clearer: talking about 'the middle' is just more 'bi-partisan' hogwash. The voters need to remember that 'revenge is a dish best served cold'. They need to keep their heads and see that without the bailout everything that underpins their society is at risk -education, infrastructure etc. Not to mention what it will do to the global economy. Defeating the bailout is not the good news story some fools are trying to pretend it is. It's just more amoral and irresponsible behaviour from the Republicans, who have elevated such behaviour to an art form. Election day is the day for revenge. But before that the bailout has to happen or there will be nothing left to govern but a smoking ruin.