Not Getting It

The House yesterday passed a series of bills to keep people facing foreclosure in their homes, refine the mortgage system so that future foreclosures can be avoided, and help homeowners who are seeing their communities become blighted and their properties devalued, by allowing communities to buy up foreclosed homes and care for them.

Only 11 Republicans joined Democrats on the buyback proposal, and not many more for the other provisions. Some of the biggest problem areas in the mortgage crisis are exurbs currently held by Republicans. Not for long, if they continue to bury their heads in the sand and refuse to offer assistance to their constituents in this hour of need.

Bush, for his part, is threatening vetoes on at least the buyback. He prefers a "let them eat cake" strategy.