I Knew It.
I've said before that I believe members of congress are being intimidated if they don't vote the way the GOP wants or rewarded if they do. To my mind, it's the most likely explanation for the Great Democrat Crap Out we've seen since the 2000 election. But maybe I'm in denial. Maybe they're really all just corrupt phonies who promise their constituents one thing, then do whatever they want when they get to DC, just like the Republicans. But the staggering amount of spinelessness is what makes me suspect that somebody is maniuplating somebody.
Rep. David Obey (D-Wisc.), the senior Democrat on the Committee on Appropriations writes a letter explaining how members of congress are being manipulated. It's worse than I thought. Visit TomPaine.com (a great web site, by the way) for the entire letter. Here's an excerpt:
What this proposal really translates into is not simply the diversion of money needed to more adequately fund critical national priorities such as reading improvement, but the use of those funds for the creation of a slush fund to intimidate members into voting against adequate funds for programs that they believe are important for the American people. The clear message is that if you support the Republican cuts in education, health research and assistance to seniors, you will get projects to help with your reelection. If you vote your conscience and support more funding for education and health you will get stiffed. This is nothing more than systematic bribery with public funds to enforce the "Robin Hood in reverse" policies of your party.
9:36:25 PM 
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