Much Earlier Than I Thought

In Loss for G.O.P., House Rejects Spending Plan

House Republican leaders were dealt a rare defeat Thursday as Democrats and 22 Republicans teamed up to kill a major health and education spending measure. The 224-to-209 rejection of the $142.5 billion in spending on an array of social programs was the first time since the early days of the Republican takeover of the House a decade ago that the majority had come out on the losing end of such a vote. The struggle on the spending measure underlined the divide over spending policy confounding House Republicans as they struggle to provide relief for hurricane victims while placating party members alarmed about growth in federal spending. It also focused attention once again on the difficulties of a leadership team that has been somewhat off balance since September. when Representative Tom DeLay was forced to step aside as majority leader after he was indicted in Texas.

This is certainly all happening much sooner than I thought it would happen. Even the House Republicans, well, 22 of them, are already wimping out and distancing themselves from their losing agenda. It's a start and chipping away at the Republican assault on America is good for America.