Thanks, free...
You know, it just occurred to me today that the sudden call for fiscal responsibility only happened in the wake of Katrina, where we're suddenly handed a $200 billion bill to repair the damage.
Two things on this:
1. Obviously, no one planned for a disaster that would swamp Louisiana, so the money is not available in the short term. The big wind over responsibility has more to do with republicans protecting their pork than it does any actual desire to implement restraint. It will now be tougher to get pork into the budget with this hanging over the country's head.
2. In the wake of Katrina, someone must have realized that 200 billion is going to a state that wouldn't elect a republican if you offered free hookers at the voting booth. That's 200 billion in the hands of the democratic machine of Louisiana without a republican to look over anyone's shoulder (Senator Vitter, btw, does not give me confidence).
This is tantamount to handing the democrats a blank check and it frightens most republicans.
These are excellent also.
You're on a roll : )