"You have nothing to fear but fear itself." Hearing those words from Franklin Delano Roosevelt quoted again today, they rang true in a whole new way. The fear is out there. Of course it's there -- when the Dow Jones drops a spooky 777 points in a day -- that fear's inevitable -- and the hurt's real enough -- in people's pensions and their pocket books.

But bail-out supporter or not, there are lots of reasons to celebrate the vote that so many powerful people are wringing their hands about today. There's a lot of arm-twisting going on right now, and a new package may be put up for a vote as soon as Friday, but what happened Monday is a game changer moment and it's worth taking note: calls into Congress came in 9 to 1 against the bailout. Even after every powerful opinion pusher in the land preached the urgency of the bailout. The politics of pure panic failed. Chicken Little croaked.

People in this country have been told to fear so much for so long -- from terrorism, Islam, abortion, gay marriage, Iraq, deficits, trade, no-trade; layoffs, no layoffs, environmental regulations -- you name it -- that finally, they just didn't buy it.

What they did buy was some time for someone to come up with a better, more democratic package. The question is, who? It's not hard to notice there's a vacuum at the top. When it comes to popular legitimacy, our political leaders have none. John McCain and the Republicans flailed and lied last week. Nancy Pelosi was unable to rally the votes she thought she could Monday in Congress and no one knows now whether she'll seek those votes from right or left.

People are fed up, but it's also worth noting how little they seem to be blaming Barack Obama for his support for the bailout. Generally up in the polls, the Democratic candidate is clearly riding the reputation for change he built up early on.

Now Obama's got to drop the baggage the voters seem to have dropped: the Fear baggage. Your ideas can't soar like your rhetoric, Senator Obama, if you're carrying around so much weight. And they need to. It's long past time for some leadership and some transformational thought.

Laura Flanders is the host of RadioNation and GRITtv. Watch GRITtv on Free Speech TV (Dish Network Ch. 9415) or 8 pm ET on Channel 67 in Manhattan. OR on a cable station near you, or online at GRITtv.org. And become a subscriber.

Comments (37)

1. Hey, has anyone seen that video of the Obamajugend singing praises for the Dear Leader? It's really inspiring! Makes me want to goosestep!

   Posted by pontificus at 09/30/2008 @ 9:04pm

2. Given McCain, Obama, and the Congressional Leadership are all clamoring for SOME kind of bill...

   I still think we'll see something come out by the weekend.

   Been wrong before, but I just don't see this ending up with NOTHING going into the Thanksgiving break.

   Posted by Maskdelta at 09/30/2008 @ 9:07pm

3. Okay, quiz of the day. Can anyone tell me whether this song was penned for:

   a) children to sing the greater glory of Kim Jong Il b) children to sing the greater glory of Obama

   "Sing for Change":

   Now's the moment, lift each voice to sing Sing with all your heart! For our children, for our families, Nations all joined as one. Sing for joy and sing abundant peace, Courage, justice, hope! Sing together, hold each precious hand, Lifting each other up; Sing for vision, sing for unity, Lifting our hearts to Sing!

   Posted by pontificus at 09/30/2008 @ 9:11pm

4. Been wrong before, but I just don't see this ending up with NOTHING going into the Thanksgiving break.

   Posted by Maskdelta at 09/30/2008 @ 9:07pm

   of course.

   the market calmed down because they "know" (heheh) the package is coming now that the grandstanding is now (mostly) over.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 09/30/2008 @ 9:42pm

5. "the Democratic candidate is clearly riding the reputation for change he built up early on."

   mr. obama et al. certainly have seared their sizzling brand into the rump of america.

   october begins in just a little bit now.

   cross your toes.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 09/30/2008 @ 9:44pm

6. scratch, ponti, scratch.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 09/30/2008 @ 9:47pm

7. Now's the moment, lower each head to cower, Cower in all your fear! For our children, for our families, Nations all in fear of each other. Cower in fear and sing of being afraid, Fear, Terror, Death! Hide together, hold each precious gun, Shooting each other down; Scream in silence, Scream at night, Lower your head in fear!

   Posted by frosty zoom at 09/30/2008 @ 9:51pm

8. What's the matter MASK? Getting shy again? Here, I'll sing it for you. And just to think, these words were thought up by little 5 year old progressives, all by themselves! Such precocious little buggers! These words couldn't have been indoctrinated into them, why that would make it...creepy. Wouldn't it?

   Now's the moment, lift each voice to sing Sing with all your heart! For our children, for our families, Nations all joined as one. Sing for joy and sing abundant peace, Courage, justice, hope! Sing together, hold each precious hand, Lifting each other up; Sing for vision, sing for unity, Lifting our hearts to Sing!

   Posted by pontificus at 09/30/2008 @ 9:51pm

9. scratch, ponti, scratch.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 09/30/2008 @ 9:52pm

10. Posted by frosty zoom at 09/30/2008 @ 9:52pm

    It's his Drudge talking point of the day.....MUCH better than discussing McCain's polling numbers or how Palin will do in the debate!

    LOL

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/30/2008 @ 9:55pm

11. ``This is unheard of, the money markets should be the engine driving the financial system but they have broken down,'' said Kornelius Purps, a fixed-income strategist in Munich for UniCredit Markets and Investment Banking, a unit of Italy's largest lender. ``Any institution that hasn't completed its 2008 funding needs by now is going to be in very serious trouble. More banks are going to need to be bailed out.''

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/30/2008 @ 10:19pm

12. pontificus: that song has nothing to do with this column. what is wrong with you?

    Posted by Tree_Fitz at 09/30/2008 @ 10:20pm

13. "U.S. securities firms and lenders alone have a record $871 billion of bonds maturing through 2009, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co."

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/30/2008 @ 10:20pm

14. *Apparently the sky-high LIBOR number today is much more frightening than the near-800 point DJIA drop which was more than half recovered the next day.

    Posted by Zero at 09/30/2008 @ 10:10pm*

    To be honest that scares me more than any derivative losses do. And I don't know the dynamics of how to change that. And honestly I don't think anyone does.

    Posted by yutsano at 09/30/2008 @ 10:21pm

15. *pontificus: that song has nothing to do with this column. what is wrong with you?

    Posted by Tree_Fitz at 09/30/2008 @ 10:20pm*

    I've seen more and more non-sequiturs from our local righties lately. My guess is they know they're about to get their shirts handed to them so they're descending into hysteria.

    Posted by yutsano at 09/30/2008 @ 10:22pm

16. *pontificus: that song has nothing to do with this column. what is wrong with you?

    Posted by Tree_Fitz at 09/30/2008 @ 10:20pm*

    I've seen more and more non-sequiturs from our local righties lately. My guess is they know they're about to get their shirts handed to them so they're descending into hysteria.

    Posted by yutsano at 09/30/2008 @ 10:22pm

17. Posted by Maskdelta at 09/30/2008 @ 9:55pm

    "It's his Drudge talking point of the day.....MUCH better than discussing McCain's polling numbers or how Palin will do in the debate!"

    Actually, I came across the video while trying to become informed on the Obama-Biden official campaign website. You DID know it was posted there, and they're quite proud of it...didn't you? Would you like to see the lyrics of the song these 5-year olds were singing?

    Posted by pontificus at 09/30/2008 @ 10:29pm

18. Dexia got a 6.4 billion-euro ($9.2 billion) state-backed rescue, Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme said today. Yesterday, the U.K. Treasury seized Bradford & Bingley Plc, Britain's biggest lender to landlords, while governments in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg extended a lifeline to Fortis, Belgium's largest financial-services firm. Elsewhere, Hypo Real Estate Holding AG received a loan guarantee from Germany, and Iceland agreed to rescue Glitnir Bank hf.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/30/2008 @ 10:40pm

19. Posted by frosty zoom at 09/30/2008 @ 10:40pm

    It's nice to know we're not alone Frosty. Should I be worried about RBC?

    Posted by yutsano at 09/30/2008 @ 10:43pm

20. Posted by pontificus at 09/30/2008 @ 9:51pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    hey! thats a great song!

    see? everything's gonna be alright.

    Posted by dexter666 at 09/30/2008 @ 10:43pm

21. To be honest that scares me more than any derivative losses do. And I don't know the dynamics of how to change that. And honestly I don't think anyone does.

    Posted by yutsano at 09/30/2008 @ 10:21pm

    fire up the presses!

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/30/2008 @ 10:44pm

22. Now's the moment, lift each voice to sing Sing with all your heart! For our children, for our families, Nations all joined as one. Sing for joy and sing abundant peace, Courage, justice, hope! Sing together, hold each precious hand, Lifting each other up; Sing for vision, sing for unity, Lifting our hearts to Sing!

    Posted by pontificus at 09/30/2008 @ 9:51pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    i suppose you are against all the above?

    nice person, ponty!!!

    Posted by dexter666 at 09/30/2008 @ 10:49pm

23. Royal holds steady in turbulent market, Desjardins analyst says

    http://network.nation

    alpost.com/np/blogs/tradingdesk/archive/2008/09/29/roy

    al-holds-steady-in-turbulent-market-desjardins-analyst-says.aspx

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/30/2008 @ 10:54pm

24. ponty is against...

    our children

    our families

    nations joined as one

    joy

    abundant peace

    courage

    justice

    hope

    he does not want us to sing together, nor is he in favor of holding precious hands, lifting each other up, vision, unity, nor lifting of hearts...

    jeez ponty! what a miserable world in which you controlls live!!!!

    lol ;)

    Posted by dexter666 at 09/30/2008 @ 10:55pm

25. Maybe Pontificus doesn't like that song because unlike our national anthem, it does not mention bombs.

    Posted by onthehelm at 09/30/2008 @ 11:54pm

26. tax dollars at work:

    Do Taxpayers Need Marriage Workshops?

    NEWS: Rabbi Stephen Baars is here from the government to help your love life.

    If Democrats had proposed spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a social program whose only measure of success was whether its beneficiaries were happy in love, they would have been laughed out of town. But Republicans have stuck by Healthy Marriage, for better or for worse. "It's only $100 million a year," says Ron Haskins, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and the former senior adviser for welfare policy at the Bush White House.

    http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2008/09/exit-

    strategy-10-ways-to-satisfy-your-president.html

    priceless.......

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/01/2008 @ 01:33am

27. The sun on the meadow is summery warm. The stag in the forest runs free. But gather together to greet the storm. Tomorrow belongs to me.

    The branch of the linden is leafy and Green, The Rhine gives its gold to the sea. But somewhere a glory awaits unseen. Tomorrow belongs to me.

    The babe in his cradle is closing his eyes The blossom embraces the bee. But soon, says a whisper; "Arise, arise, Tomorrow belongs to me"

    Oh Fatherland, Fatherland, Show us the sign Your children have waited to see. The morning will come When the world is mine. Tomorrow belongs to me!

    Posted by feinfein at 10/01/2008 @ 01:55am

28. i live in the past of the future.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/01/2008 @ 02:05am

29. Die Fahne hoch die Reihen fest geschlossen S. A. marschiert mit ruhig festem Schritt Kam'raden die Rotfront und Reaktion erschossen Marschier'n im Geist in unsern Reihen mit

    Die Strasse frei den braunen Batallionen Die Strasse frei dem Sturmabteilungsmann Es schau'n auf's Hackenkreuz voll Hoffung schon Millionen Der Tag fur Freiheit und fur Brot bricht an

    Zum letzen Mal wird nun Appell geblasen Zum Kampfe steh'n wir alle schon bereit Bald flattern Hitler-fahnen Uber allen Strassen Die Knechtschaft dauert nur mehr kurze Zeit

    Die Fahne hoch die Reihen fest geschlossen S. A. marschiert mit ruhig festem Schritt Kam'raden die Rotfront und Reaktion erschossen Marschier'n im Geist in unsern Reihen mit

    Posted by feinfein at 10/01/2008 @ 02:06am

30. Salve o popolo di eroi, salve o Patria immortale, son rinati i figli tuoi con la fe' nell'ideale. Il valor dei tuoi guerrieri, la virtù dei pionieri, la vision dell'Alighieri, oggi brilla in tutti i cuor.

    Giovinezza, Giovinezza, Primavera di bellezza, della vita nell'asprezza il tuo canto squilla e va! Per Benito Mussolini, Eja eja alalà. Per la nostra Patria bella, Eja eja alalà.

    Nell'Italia nei confini, son rifatti gli Italiani, li ha rifatti Mussolini per la guerra di domani. Per la gloria del lavoro, per la pace e per l'alloro, per la gogna di coloro che la Patria rinnegar.

    Giovinezza, Giovinezza, Primavera di bellezza, della vita nell'asprezza il tuo canto squilla e va! Per Benito Mussolini, Eja eja alalà. Per la nostra Patria bella, Eja eja alalà.

    I poeti e gli artigiani, i signori e i contadini, con orgoglio d'Italiani giuran fede a Mussolini. Non v'è povero quartiere, che non mandi le sue schiere, che non spieghi le bandiere del Fascismo redentor.

    Posted by feinfein at 10/01/2008 @ 02:13am

31. Oh,give me a home where the buffalo roam, Where the deer and the antelope play; Where seldom is heard a discouraging word, And the skies are not cloudy all day.

    Oh, give me a land where the bright diamond sand Flows leisurely down the stream; Where the graceful white swan goes gliding along Like a maid in a heavenly dream.

    Home, home on the range, Where the deer and the antelope play; Where seldom is heard a discouraging word, And the skies are not cloudy all day.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/01/2008 @ 03:16am

32. People are fed up, but it's also worth noting how little they seem to be blaming Barack Obama for his support for the bailout. Laura Flanders on 09/30/2008

    Good point Laura. Why aren't people blaming Obama? It seems to me that there is a fine line that separates Obama from McCain on many issues. And in general a fine line that separates Democrats from Republicans on many issues. So how does that translate into anything the Democrats will do if Obama is elected that represents real change?

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/01/2008 @ 08:45am

33. Posted by chaoszen at 10/01/2008 @ 08:45am

    i'll take 50.1 over 49.9 any day.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/01/2008 @ 09:46am

34. PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the--it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.

    impressive, huh????

    please tell me name of beauty contestant who rambled on last year and was on youtube, I wanted to compare level of incomprehensive...palin too was a beauty contestant....now it all makes sense...

    Posted by jrs112 at 10/01/2008 @ 09:47am

35. Posted by frosty zoom at 10/01/2008 @ 09:46am

    I can't argue with you there. I play the ponies on YouBet.com. But whether or no my horse wins or loses does not effect the future of my children and grandchildren.

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/01/2008 @ 10:02am

36. Obama is an establishment politician parading around as a populist. He has already told us to forget his progressive agenda once Wall Street gets their money....and he is pushing for rapid passage of the bailout with the amendment of raising the FDIC insurance level to $250,000. Did he mention who is going to pay for the increased premiums?

    Posted by OneVote at 10/01/2008 @ 11:34am

37. Posted by jrs112 at 10/01/2008 @ 09:47am

    OMG...I thought that was TINA FEY's lines from the parody...

    that was the REAL interview?!?!?!?!

    It's worse than I thought!

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/01/2008 @ 12:36pm