No alternative?

It looks like Congress is going to pass up the opportunity to substitute the current bailout bill with a genuinely progressive one and instead patch it to gain the few votes needed to pass it. Alternatives have been offered but not taken seriously that I can see. (See The Trickle-Up Bailout.) Too bad. Obama is avoiding progressive alternatives, perhaps because he's in the lead now and doesn't want to be labeled a "socialist" at the last minute. It looks like a poor bill is going to pass in this atmosphere of fear and panic. Maybe O can amend it later if in office.