THE DAY AFTER

Lots of stories about the bankruptcy bill in newspapers and around the blogosphere today.

The New York Times looks beyond the phony rhetoric of “personal responsibility” to what is really driving this bill toward passage:

The main lobbying forces for the bill - a coalition that included Visa, MasterCard, the American Bankers Association, MBNA America, Capital One, Citicorp, the Ford Motor Credit Company and the General Motors Acceptance Corporation - spent more than $40 million in political fund-raising efforts and many millions more on lobbying efforts since 1989…

The LA Times says the Senate battle highlighted the strategic importance of the four seats Republicans gained in the last election. It also has Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) crowing over the victory:

“It's quite exciting,” said Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). “It's been a very good day.”

Let’s hope Kentucky voters remember that quote when creditors start squeezing working-class families.

My favorite is from that paragon of objectivity, the Washington Times. The story focuses almost entirely on the defeat of Schumer’s amendment which would have banned violent anti-abortion protesters from declaring bankruptcy to avoid paying court-ordered fines. Best quote:

“Senator Schumer's amendment was a blatant attempt to criminalize pro-life advocates who peacefully protest outside abortion clinics — with full legal protection — by insinuating that their intent is to commit violent acts,” said Lanier Swann, director of government relations for Concerned Women for America.

First of all, the amendment had nothing to do with peaceful protesters: it prevented violent protesters from escaping fines for violent protesting.

And maybe I’m missing something, but if a court has ordered a protester to pay fines, then haven’t their actions already been declared unlawful?

Meanwhile, conservative blogger Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit still refuses to believe the hype; he knows this is a bad bill.

More to come...