Maybe this is just tinfoil hat talk, maybe not.

McCain has totally botched the bailout plan politics, but can come out ahead by the following sneaky, underhanded, duplicitous strategy ...

After blowing his chance to simultaneously reinforce his '<i>maverick</i>' meme and vigilant-foe-of-earmarks by voting for the bailout in the Senate, he can now torpedo any House adoption of the bailout.  This would be behind the scenes and off the record (or maybe even not if they give him the fig leaf of adding more wooden-arrows pork.)

This throws resolution of the 'crisis' back to square one and he can then play the populist and pork opponent on a new bill by railing against "rewarding the corrupt practices of Wall Street" and insisting on hearings and a bill that actually explores the problem and examines various new solutions. 

This will play enormously well with the populace and in the press.  It will be the story for a week or more, sucking all the oxygen from the room.  The public is so fed up with this bailout that they are hungry for anybody to stand up and say no.

McCain is a gambler and an opportunist and this is a gamble and an opportunity.  You might say he will never defy his corporate masters, but remember - he'll do anything to be president, including biting the hand that has fed him.  He's also desperate for a way to turn his campaign around.

Watch for this, McCain's reincarnation as the warrior of the people, standing up against the Wall Street fat cats when no one else would.

It's a nightmare for a confirmed Obama voter like me, but at least it will stop this horrible bailout and perhaps allows Obama an opening to join the fray against the bailout as well.  He could position himself as the thoughtful, pragmatic candidate, who now insists on a thorough examination and evaluation of solutions.

So you tell me ... is it tinfoil????