McCain and Obama are, for now, the titular heads of their respective parties. That's given me an idea.
If (big if) the Republicans could agree on a good plan--insurance rather than bailouts, for example--McCain could announce the following: this is not what we want to do, but it is the best plan for our nation. Any Republican who votes against it will be removed from committee seats, and will not receive any help from the DNC in the upcoming elections.
It would definitely put him in the leadership position. Something other than an earmark-laden bailout would be more palatable to the public. And such a strong position would put the Democrats on the defensive.
Where am I wrong on this? (After all, I must be, or someone would have thought of it).
Money. It is always about the money.
Some big GOP donor will get ticked-off that his pet representative is not getting help from the GOP during reelection, so the big donor will withhold his money to the GOP. All the GOP wants, same with the RNC, is to keep their people in office. Constitution, liberty, responsibility, leadership... those are just marketing words.
