McCain had a chance to seperate himself when the bailout did not pass the first time.

He could have come out and said that he was not sastisfied that the taxpayer was going to be protected enough, and did not think we should be on the hook to bail out Wall Street.

He then could have voted no on the revised bill based on the added pork.

Then stated that whatever happens, happens. "Thats capitalism, My Friends."

It would have been a gamble, but a shrewd move. The bill passed and the market is tanking anyway. It could have been the perfect "I told ya so" moment.

I'm not convinced that McCain is really all that smart.