Congress Lays an Egg

Slithering down several branches on the evolutionary tree, the House of Representatives passed the Terry Schiavo bill last night, while pResident Bush, in an even rarer breach of protocol, actually cut short his latest vacation to imprint his "X" on the document.

To anyone watching C-Span last night, here's hoping you had a reasonably strong constitution--no pun intended--or had thoroughly digested an early dinner...or at least had the benefit of strong drink. Goddamn--after listening to the braying Rethuglican clowns last night, I wouldn't trust them to decide on an oil change for a car. NOT ONE of them has ANY familiarity with the particulars of the case, yet they insert themselves into a private family decision as if it's their fucking birthright. And, to further the insult, any number of these morons proffered gratuitous swipes at Michael Schiavo, darkly hinting that he's at fault, because...he got on with his life. (these same folks don't have a problem with Newt Gingrich pushing his first wife for a divorce WHILE she was in the hospital fighting cancer).

By the way--how can you tell when Tom DeLay's lying? Simple--when he opens his mouth:

ABC News obtained talking points circulated among Senate Republicans explaining why they should vote to intervene in the Schiavo case. Among them, that it is an important moral issue and the "pro-life base will be excited," and that it is a "great political issue -- this is a tough issue for Democrats."

When asked about these talking points on "Good Morning America," DeLay said, "I don't know where those talking points come from, and I think they're disgusting."

Bullshit.

The hypocrisy of the GOP is so thick you could use it to pave highways. America Blog notes that, even as Terry Schiavo is suddenly a cause celebre, 44 million people without ANY health insurance don't even count (in fact, with cuts to Medicare under consideration, they're LESS than zero to those who call themselves "pro-life"). Aravosis also notes that Bush himself could barely be bothered with offering emergency assistance to the tsunami victims--yet will race back to DC to pander...

And Billmon has a couple of first rate posts up, as usual, on the matter--one, an interesting comparison between the Hammer and a rabid dog, the other noting a remarkable similarity between the visages of Jebster and Il Duce. Definitely worth a look.

Atrios speculates on an interesting situation in Texas--despite a law that authorizes hospitals to withhold care to patients who are terminally ill (signed into law by George W. Bush), a terminally ill patient was recently moved to a nursing home, where a feeding tube and ventilator will keep his vitals signs functioning (at least until Delay tells them the coast is clear and they can cut the machines off).

This entire matter has gone beyond embarrassing. And I hope the public wakes up and realizes that DeLay and the rest of the clown posse are responsible...for this and a hell of a lot more over the last four years.