Wednesday, December 21, 2005
A Stocking Full of Coal?
A Gloomy Looking '06 for the GOP
As the Senate attempts to finish up business and get the heck out of dodge, the end of the first session of the 109th Congress is ending in a way that is somewhat evocative of the Empire Strikes Back. No, I don't mean that the GOP majority is parading around in dark capes on some space destroyer, what I'm thinking is more like they are headed home like a whimpering, one-armed Luke Skywalker.
For the leadership, things don't look too good in 06. Tom Delay is still pending trail on his money laundering indictment. The House, so kindly has voted to return in February to give Mr. Delay time to clear up these 'clearly false' charges...so that he can return and be voted back as majority leader. Don't count on it.
On the Senate side you've got good old Dr. Frist, embroiled in a Martha-like stock scandal and now perhaps an AIDS Charity scandal too...The moderates (God Luv 'Em) are in full rebellion on the Patriot Act as well. Alito's nomination is not yet secure.
And Bush...ughh...so much to talk about here. Spying, FISA, the 4th Amendment, Plame, etc. The political Capital he crowed about in January of this year is more than spent...he's in debt up to his eyeballs. The fates are truly fickle.
But fear not, 2006 is an election year, and perhaps the GOP can distract from their pathetic record by rolling out those evergreen issues. Remember the Federal Marriage Amendment? It'll be back in '06 after the attack on marriage seemed to have taken a honey moon in '05. God knows what else they have in store...but it will likely be laughable as the continue to move away from being the libertarian friendly, pro-business, strong on defense party...if they ever were to begin with.
At least we'll have something to talk about.
As the Senate attempts to finish up business and get the heck out of dodge, the end of the first session of the 109th Congress is ending in a way that is somewhat evocative of the Empire Strikes Back. No, I don't mean that the GOP majority is parading around in dark capes on some space destroyer, what I'm thinking is more like they are headed home like a whimpering, one-armed Luke Skywalker.
For the leadership, things don't look too good in 06. Tom Delay is still pending trail on his money laundering indictment. The House, so kindly has voted to return in February to give Mr. Delay time to clear up these 'clearly false' charges...so that he can return and be voted back as majority leader. Don't count on it.
On the Senate side you've got good old Dr. Frist, embroiled in a Martha-like stock scandal and now perhaps an AIDS Charity scandal too...The moderates (God Luv 'Em) are in full rebellion on the Patriot Act as well. Alito's nomination is not yet secure.
And Bush...ughh...so much to talk about here. Spying, FISA, the 4th Amendment, Plame, etc. The political Capital he crowed about in January of this year is more than spent...he's in debt up to his eyeballs. The fates are truly fickle.
But fear not, 2006 is an election year, and perhaps the GOP can distract from their pathetic record by rolling out those evergreen issues. Remember the Federal Marriage Amendment? It'll be back in '06 after the attack on marriage seemed to have taken a honey moon in '05. God knows what else they have in store...but it will likely be laughable as the continue to move away from being the libertarian friendly, pro-business, strong on defense party...if they ever were to begin with.
At least we'll have something to talk about.
