How Do They Sleep At Night?

What a glorious week of unabashed obstruction for the GOP. Senate Republicans, through the use of the filibuster, blocked aid for struggling small businesses and campaign finance reform. House Republicans blocked medical help for 9/11 emergency responders, despite the fact that 900 have since died, and thousands more are sick. Mitch McConnell and John Boehner must be so proud of themselves. However, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) was having none of it. He wailed on Republicans on the floor of the House today in a fierce tirade, calling them out for voting against medical aid for the 9/11 heroes and hiding behind procedure. The vote took place under suspension rules, which require two-thirds vote for passage and did not allow Republicans to delay voting by adding endless poison-pills (amendments designed to make supporters of legislation seem like they support something that they don't during campaign season) to the bill.

Earlier today, I was watching The Ed Show on MSNBC, and a writer from The Nation pointed out that even when the nation was in arms about President Lyndon Johnson's plan to implement our Medicare program, 13 Republicans did the right thing and voted with Democrats to approve the measure in a bipartisan way. There didn't used to be so much obstruction coming from the Republican ranks, but I guess today's Republican Party just isn't what it used to be.

...unless you're listening to Phyllis Schlafly. In that case, nothing's changed.

Look it up.