In an unflattering imitation of the political situation in South Carolina, it was members of the president’s own party who effectively squashed negotiations on the $700 billion bailout.

Talks were to continue on Friday, but at this writing, there is still enough disagreement, with the insertion of an alternative plan by some Republicans, to make a final settlement unlikely in the next few days.

Of course, there is no way to tell what will happen until it happens. That’s politics. And that’s unfortunate at a time when 78 percent of Americans favor the bailout, according to a new USA Today/Gallup Poll.

The poll, taken Wednesday night after President Bush’s address to the nation regarding the bailout proposal that Bush maintains would “ease the current credit crisis” and avoid a nationwide panic, also revealed that 40 percent of those responding said the current situation was “the biggest crisis in their lifetime,” according to USA Today on Friday. People are concerned. And they are paying attention.

Eighty percent said they are following the news about Wall Street fairly closely.

Americans also agree with Democrats who pushed for revisions that included limiting the pay of executives of companies that would benefit from the plan. And in a move that at least in part proves we do still care about the other guy, nearly half say it is important to include a provision that helps homeowners who are stretched beyond their capacity to pay their mortgages.

What those polled don’t want is for lawmakers to do nothing.

Seventy-four percent believe the economy would only worsen if action isn’t taken and sooner rather than later, although there are still concerns that moving too quickly without substantial safeguards would be risky.

On the local front, the economy isn’t looking much better. The state Board of Economic Advisors planned to meet Friday to discuss declining sales tax revenues, increasing gas prices that continue to stress consumers and an unemployment rate at a 15 percent high, according to The Associated Press.

If revenue projections are reduced by the board, the Legislature could be compelled to return to Columbia in a special session to deal with the budget yet again.

Previously, the state Budget and Control Board mandated an across-the-board cut for all state agencies, a move that did not find favor with Gov. Mark Sanford, who prefers targeted cuts. In our view, both are necessary.

Meanwhile, the meeting on Thursday at the White House that involved Bush, presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama and congressional leaders degenerated into a semi-brawl, according to comments from some in attendance.

At one point, according to an AP report, “(Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson) dropped to one knee begging Democratic participants not to disclose how badly the meeting had gone.” It was said his move was “in a teasing way” to make his point, according to witnesses.

But when Paulson tried to gather support for a nighttime meeting on Thursday for talks to continue, the House’s top Republican “refused to send a negotiator,” the AP report stated.

There have been some glimmers of nonpartisanship. The White House agreed to Democrats’ revisions regarding oversight and protection of taxpayers, as well as limits on executive income and golden parachute payments for leaders of failing companies.

But these are still political animals, and maintaining influence and power will, unfortunately, always control Washington, many times to Anytown, U.S.A.’s detriment.

This could be one of those times.