A shift in the body politic

I've been working so much lately that I'm barely able to keep up with the breaking news, so this comes as a delightful surprise this afternoon. In the wake of an off-year warning from the voters in Tuesday's elections, it seems the true moderate conservatives in the GOP have found their conscience and perhaps a couple of other vital body parts and joined the Democrats in blocking the amendment that would have allowed Bush and Co. to sully our last pristine wilderness in Alaska beyond repair. ANWR is dead in the water, as the mods forced the fringenuts to back off by threatening to block a budget bill.

This is of course is another body blow to the Bush agenda since the administration had made destruction by oil rig a cornerstone of their "energy reform" plan. This is good. Not so good is the bill the amendment was attached to is the inhumane budget slashing measure that protects tax cuts for the rich by taking food out of the mouths of hungry children. This now seems destined to pass over the Democrats objections and despite the fact "several moderate Republicans have said they still would oppose the bill, which would allow states to impose new costs on Medicaid recipients, cut funds for student loans and child support enforcement, trim farm supports, and restrict access to food stamps."

Still perhaps all sanity is not lost on those who value their seats. The budget cuts are not a clear winner yet and the extension of Bush's tax cuts for the rich are facing unexpectedly stiff opposition.

In the Senate, a similar showdown will occur today, as the Finance Committee moves on a five-year, $60 billion bill that would extend expiring tax cuts from President Bush's first term. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) told Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) she would oppose the measure as fiscally unwise and an unfair boost to the affluent as Congress cuts programs for the poor.

Snowe's opposition would sink the bill. Even if she changes her position, the measure faces an uncertain future on the floor. Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio) announced his opposition Tuesday.

"I do not know how anyone can say with a straight face that when we voted to cut spending last week to help achieve deficit reductions we can now then turn around two weeks later to provide tax cuts that exceed the reduction in spending," he said. "That is beyond me, and I am sure the American people."

You can say that again Senator.