Heady Times

"...My salad days, / When I was green in judgment, cold in blood..."
Shakespeare - Antony and Cleopatra - 1606


These have to be glorious salad days for Republicans and conservatives in America. Thanks to this morning's vote, gays will still not be allowed to be open about their sexual preferences in the military. 9/11 rescuers who got sick from exposure will be denied health care thanks to another defeated bill this morning. The supposedly liberal president is signing on to keep Bush era tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% of the country.

Senator David Vitter has blocked the nomination of Dr. Scott Doney for chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration because he is upset at the offshore drilling moratorium. Rep. Ralph Hall, the new head of the House Science and Technology Committee, killed a House bill which would have increased funding for scientific research and math and science education by forcing Democrats to vote in favor of federal employees viewing pornography. Congressional Repubs are introducing bills to both repeal the 14th amendment and  reintroduce the concept of state nullification.

Republicans have filibustered and placed secret holds on twenty percent of the federal judgeships in America, an unprecedented number. They have signaled their intent to both neuter the new Consumer Protection Agency and repeal the new Health Care Reform legislation. The Start talks have been derailed by Senator Kyl, over the objections of many including the first President Bush and Colin Powell. The Supreme Court is now allowing unlimited anonymous corporate contributions. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has cut off state money for medical transplants.

Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) — a frontrunner for the Energy and Commerce post — has vowed to take aim at “job-killing” EPA regulations. He said this month that he would drag EPA officials in front of the panel so often that “we will give them their own parking place in the horseshoe of the Rayburn building.”The strategy involves invoking the rarely used Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to essentially veto newly drafted regulations without obtaining the difficult 60-vote approval usually needed for Senate action. The House, now controlled by Republicans, is expected to support GOP senators.

Does it get any better than this?