Ace doesn’t believe that a deal was ever reached and neither do I. It was mostly Democrats claiming a deal while House Republicans said there was no such thing. What motivation would there be to be dishonest? So they could say, to quote Ace, this

“McCain’s leadership meant nothing, his stunt had no effect, we’d already reached a deal before he landed in DC.”

They quickly claimed a deal when McCain arrived so his trip looked pointless and presumptuous. Have to cover for Obama, now don’t we?

Anyway, Boehner’s calling this a “non-starter”, Carl Cameron is calling it “all but dead”, and Paulson is terribly worried. Obama, meanwhile, is blaming the collapse of the alleged deal on McCain’s arrival. Heh.

Suggested injecting presidential politics into the bailout deal made things less constructive. Added economy will likely be part of debate Friday since “we can’t be strong abroad if we’re not strong at home.”

Also speaks on CNN: Says both sides appeared ready to strike a deal before he and McCain landed in Washington, but “something happened in the intervening hours.”

Translation: The collapse of the “deal” that no one seemed to notify the GOP about is all McCain’s fault for coming to Washington. McCain’s very presence must’ve altered the room temperature, causing tempers to flare and the deal to collapse.