Bad, Bad Republicans

The Beer: An amber ale called "Leftoverture" is in the fermenter. Punk IPA Clone is to be brewed tomorrow by request.

The Bicycle: It was a beautiful 20 miler with my neighbor this morning. Tomorrow, a short ride with my lovely bride and Sunday should be a 50-miler with the boyz in the neighborhood.

The VRWC: For about 18 months here, the Democrats have been in the majority...the Super Majority, actually (I suppose not unlike Wile-E-Coyote, Super-Genius). Insurmountable until the death of Ted Kennedy and now, with the passing of Robert Byrd and until his replacement, a near Super Majority. Apparently, Bob Schrum has forgotten that little fact.

Democrats in the House will respond that they've done their job; the Senate is the roadblock. Democrats in the Senate will plead that they're not the problem; a willful GOP minority is blocking progress not just out of spite, but calculation. Republicans figure that a slow recovery and the lingering oil slick will drive a protest vote for them in November.

The Democratic arguments are right, but largely irrelevant and generally ignored by a fearful and frustrated electorate.

Really? In what way are Republicans "blocking progress"? Filibuster? That's really the only avenue open to them. I don't see any. Hmmm. Fearful elecctorate? Yeah, I suppose so. Fearful that the Constitution is being ignored and our individual liberties are going the way of the Edsel. We are frustrated and angry at the ineptitude and arrogance of an administration (and overall government) that claims to be full of the "Smart People".

Baghdad Bob Gibbs says the same thing. Republicans are blocking "Comprehensive Immigration Reform". Read that, "Amnesty for Illegal Aliens".

Republicans are in no position to block anything. Now, Republicans ARE in a position to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. This is their election to lose, but they have yet to put forth a combined, coherent message. Yes, individual candidates are stressing fiscal responsibility, lower taxes and greater Liberty, but the party itself is rudderless. Unless the GOP gets their message straight (and disavows guys like Lindsey Graham and Michael Steele), stuff from Schrum and Baghdad Bob Gibbs will start to stick.