Thirty-three Democrats who opposed the measure on Monday changed their vote on Friday – Washington state Rep. Jim McDermott went the other way, switching from “yes” to “no.” They were joined by 25 Republicans – and retiring Illinois Rep. Jerry Weller, who wasn’t in town for the earlier vote.
And there was also this….
The biggest single constituency to reverse course on Friday was the Congressional Black Caucus. Thirteen CBC members changed from a “no” to a “yes,” and many of them had heard from Obama over the past few days.
Who would have thought that the black caucus would vote to give Bush sweeping powers on the advice of Obama? Who would have thought that supposedly free market Republicans would join with Democrats to enable the government to enter the market in a big way?
I am not surprised the measure passed. But the measure has sure made for strange bedfellows.