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- The president's budget passed in the House today, garnering zero Republican votes and 17 Democratic defections. It is expected to pass in the Senate though it will be interesting to see how the much-vaunted Democratic "filibuster-proof" majority holds together. One piece of (tentative) good news: the conference committee version of the budget stripped the Mike Johanns amendment that would have prevented the reconciliation process from being used on climate change legislation.
- The GOP, other than Olympia Snowe, is really having a hard time coming to grips with their loss of Arlen Specter. Judd Gregg, for example, thinks Specter's voluntary switch has something to do with upsetting "checks and balances." But James Inhofe sees a silver lining, arguing that Specter's decision is "visable evidence" that Democratic overreach is laying the groundwork for a GOP comeback in 2010. I tried repeatedly to understand Inhofe's logic but I decided that life's too short to care.
- I'm just speculating here, but perhaps Michael Steele's casting of Specter as Benedict Arnold and himself as George Washington clarifies the RNC's proposed resolution that would strip Mikey of his allowance. See also, Steele's First Hundred Days.
- Sens. Jay Rockefeller and Sherrod Brown have drafted a letter to Sens. Baucus and Kennedy making the case for including a public option in health care reform. Sixteen Democratic Senators have cosigned.
- Quote of the Day, David Frum edition: "For years, many in the conservative world have wished for an ideologically purer GOP. Their wish has been granted. Happy?"
- Remainders: Leahy wants to chat with Bybee; a collapsing economy hasn't prevented the bank lobby from twisting Congress' arm with minimal effort; Charles Grassley has concerns about a USDA nominee he knows nothing about; and the people of MN-06 who didn't vote for a wingnut to represent them at least deserve someone with a semblance of historical literacy.
--Mori Dinauer
