GOP Tries New, Mature Approach: Biting Their Nose To Spite Their Face

Oops, Reality Must Have Caught Mitch Off Guard Again!

Wah Wah! No fair! She hit me first! He pulled my hair! Wah Wah!

Like everything else they handle so impressively well, the Republicans' uncanny ability to face facts and accept defeat like mature, responsible adults elected by the people to represent the people, was in full effect this afternoon, when they very reasonably decided to shut down all Senate committee hearings because the meany Democrats went ahead and gave the poors health insurance without even caring about what they wanted to do (kill 'em?)!

Well two can play that game, my friends!

And if there's anyone who loves playing fun little games with America's democratic process and Americans' lives, it is the Grand Old Party of homophobes, Born Agains, racist old white men, and of course, Michael Steele's off-the-hook, hip hop youths straight out the streets, yo. Holla!

But what arcane, obscure Senate rule that shouldn't exist but does, did the Republicans pull out of Mitch McConnell's tortoise shell this time? You know, to show the DEMONcrats just what happens when you try to bullsh*t the very Party that invented the darn thing in the first place!

Oh yeah, the one that prevents all Senate proceedings from going past 2 p.m. without unanimous consent of all committee members because that's what you do when you don't get your way, and you're an old Republican whose nap time comes right about then: make life impossible for everyone else. Works wonders!

Because this is what respected middle-aged elected officials do when they don't like the Democrats passing bills helping the American people every other day, and are forced to resort to acting like grown children who govern out of anger and spite.

Yes, thanks to abnormally large egos and abnormally little brains, the Republicans have decided that it is much better to cancel all sorts of very important meetings on very important subjects because their Grand Old Pride and smug self-satisfaction is infinitely more important than some dumb hearing on contractor oversight in Afghanistan or homeless veterans. Please, like it was even a question!

Leave it to the loser Democrats to get all hot 'n bothered that the only people hurt by the Republicans' brilliant strategy(?) of no worky past lunchy, are the very ones who need their help most.

Like Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), who was less than pleased to learn that her oversight hearing on police training contracts in Afghanistan, would have to be canceled because the Republicans' feelings were hurt.

"So what do I find out this morning? The Republican Party is not going to let us have the hearing? What in the world?"

"Why in the world are we not able to work this afternoon," McCaskill asked the Senate floor.

"The idea that I called to call these witnesses and say go home because the Republicans won't let us have a hearing? Somebody has got to explain this to me."

Ummm, when you don't have principles or a conscience, you can pretty much do whatever you like?

"The Senate was sent to Washington to work, and Republicans should feel free to vote "No" on the bill, but "let us work! I implore you, let us work."

What!?! To help your re-election chances and move this country even closer to Socialism, Nazism, Communism, Totalitarianism and every other bad thing that ends in ism?

Obstructionism, not included, of course.

"For months, Senate Republicans have resisted efforts to enact important reforms to our health insurance system," Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy (D-VT) said.

"But when the dust settles and the emotions are calmed, history will show that President Obama and this Congress responded to a pressing national issue, and proved once again that we can act with the purpose of advancing an important national interest. Sadly, actions like today's objections from Senate Republicans to the consideration of a highly qualified, historic nominee will be viewed as little more than petty, partisan politics."

Ha ha, not if the new, improved Texas history textbooks have anything to say about it...

Good thing Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) does.

"The Senate should be a place for debate, but I cannot imagine how shutting down a hearing on helping homeless veterans has any part of the debate on the health insurance reform," he said. "I am deeply disappointed that my colleagues chose to hinder our common work to help end veteran homelessness."

Don't be silly, they are dealing with something far more important and much dearer to their hearts: Republican seatlessness come 2010.