When the Stimulus Package reached the Senate this week, Democratic Senators increased the package from 1 million to 6 million to cover the elderly, disabled, veterans, unemployed and a tax deduction on renewable energy companies. 41 Republican Senators voted against helping the elderly, the disabled, the veterans, the unemployed and renewable energy companies. The bill now is tabled because it lacks the 60 votes needed to override a Presidential veto. George W. Bush would of course vote against helping the elderly, the disabled, the veterans, the unemployed and renewable energy companies. Both Democratic Presidential contenders went to Washington to vote aye. John McCain did not make the trip.
The politics are obvious. The Democrats – knowing full well what would happen – wanted to remind American voters the nature of the foul orthodoxy of the Republican party. The Republicans understood fully and could care less. Once again comes to mind that old American Indian story of the Scorpion and the Frog.
The Frog and The Scorpion
One day a frog was sitting by the bank of the river enjoying the
warm sun and cool breeze. It so happened that a scorpion approached him
rather quickly as to inquire about crossing the river. "Frog", said the
scorpion, "I am in need of passage across the river upon your back. I
am prepared to pay you with this mealworm that I have not eaten."
The frog thought about it for a moment, then replied "Scorpion, I
know that if I grant you a ride across the river upon my back, you will
poison me on the other side. For that alone I shall say ‘no thanks’."
"Frog", again said the scorpion, "Please, I have no wish to harm
you, treasure chestI promise. I just need to go across the river to
find more food. There is nothing left on this side for me to eat."
The frog thought about it again for a moment and then agreed to help the scorpion get across the river.
Half way across, the frog felt a rather sharp, stinging sensation
in his back. The scorpion had stuck him with his venom. "SCORPION!",
cried the frog, "You have killed me and you as well. Why have you done
this?"
"Because I am a scorpion…and that is my nature."
Update: A day after this was posted the stimulus package was passed after Republicans managed to get Democrats to remove the amendments giving anything at all to those unemployed more than one year, giving tax breaks to renewable energy companies and adding a new amendment to insure no payments to illegal immigrants who are responsible for every ill this nation suffers. The GOP has done one hellova job redirecting all the problems their idealogy has caused onto the backs of the lowest of the low. Nothing new there hey. Had it not been an election year they would have also stuck it to the veterans and elderly. Which is about all the do well.