Friday Morning roundup

I keep hearing about bi-partisanship, but am increasingly convinced that most Republicans don't want it unless it is a complete capitulation. Any victory for Obama is unwanted, period, even if that means denying good policy or good governance. And this morning, a few examples:

Report: Shelby Blocks All Obama Nominations In The Senate Over AL Earmarks | TPMDC. Shelby is using something other say is rarely used this boldly to block Obama nominees. And why? Because he is protesting that some of his earmarked projects have not been authorized. Because I am sure he lambastes Obama on fiscal responsibility, but doesn't want that coming from his own state, and is willing to hold everything up to get what he wants.

Michael Tomasky notes that my own senator (Coburn, who is, sadly, the smartest one we have) is planning on sabotaging every spending bill he can.

Coburn 'believes it's important to stay on offense, so he wants to have a Pattonesque approach to amendments,' a veteran Senate GOP operative said.

This operative said that in the wake of Sen.-elect Scott Brown's (R-Mass.) win in last month's special election, Republicans believe it is critical that they try to make Democrats appear out of step with the public. They believe amendments on guns and spending in particular will help GOP Senators achieve that goal."

Not better policy. No, just to achieve political victory. One of those amendments, according to Tomasky?

spectacle of an education bill including an amendment allowing veterans deemed "mentally defective" to carry firearms, which is among Coburn's proposals.

The GOP is run by thugs and liars. Sorry, but that is true. The DNC may be run by liberal pansies, hell, I don't care. But we have not declared war on the opposition party. Jesus.

And while the Republican leadership boasts of defeating Obama and gloats of stopping liberalism, our health crisis continues. This link is to Pelosi's blog, but the documents in it suggest that we are already spending more as a country on healthcare than any other country, and that will continue to go up. This last year's increase was the biggest one year jump since the 60s, and it is projected to account for 20% of every dollar spent in the country by the end of this decade.

Meanwhile the Republicans say that our healthcare is the best in the world and gloat about killing reform efforts.