The Grownups Have Left the Building
Well, I suppose this would be one reason why you will never hear the word "compassion" used in the same sentence with the word "Republican":
AUSTIN, Texas – Call them – irresponsible ... Call them – unreliable ... Throw in – undependable, too ... Yes, it's undeniably true – the Congress of the United States makes Bart Simpson look like Averell Harriman.
The grownups have left the building. Good grief, what a horror show.
Thanks to David Chen of The New York Times for catching one little horror that might have gone unnoticed. "Senate Rejects Plea for Extra Year of Filing for 9-11 Awards." Only 60 percent of the families who suffered losses on 9-11 have so far filed for compensation, presumably because of the notorious confusion and difficulty surrounding the process, with massive amounts of paperwork required. The deadline is Dec. 22, and administrators of the Victim Compensation Fund have been scrambling for weeks to encourage families to apply – language difficulties and in some cases lack of citizenship make it even more complicated and frightening for some.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey tried a classic tactic just before adjournment – going to the Senate floor and asking for unanimous consent. Couldn't get it. Republican leaders opposed.
Here's an immortal quote from F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., R-Wisc., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee: "The chairman views the extension as unnecessary and has concerns that it would provide a disincentive for people to file." Uh-huh....
It has been apparent for some time that much of the corporate elite in this country is blinded by greed, not just to long-term interests, but to simple honesty. I think the same thing is starting to happen to our political leaders.
OK, so let's make it difficult and, in some cases, well-nigh impossible to file for compensation, and then we'll put a deadline on it so that we can deny people access to the funds. After all, Congressional Republicans need to find the money for their pay raises somewhere, eh??
Indeed. Honesty and compassion...two quantities the Republican leadership will never be accused of possessing an over-abundance of.
