Stop The Train, I Wanna Get Off

Sometimes you can come across a story so intellectually depressing, you feel a little part of your soul die. This is one such story. Just as their flag-burning ban amendment burned up (after defeats on gay marriage and stalls on immigration), the Republican party digs deeper into the bag of base-riling tricks in further efforts to hold onto their majority in Congress by... revealing how little actual work they do?

AP: House GOP to focus on abortion, guns

House Republicans intend to hold votes this summer and fall touching on abortion, guns, religion and other priority issues for social conservatives, part of an attempt to improve the party's prospects in the midterm elections.

The "American Values Agenda" also includes a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage — which already has failed in the Senate — a prohibition on human cloning and possibly votes on several popular tax cuts.

"Radical courts have attempted to gut our religious freedom and redefine the value system on which America was built. We hope to restore some of those basic values through passing this legislative agenda and renewing our country's commitment to faith, freedom and life," Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., said Tuesday...

Ugh.

Good to see they're focused on the important issues that affect our lives.

Less of that, please, and more of this-

Democrats maneuvered successfully last week for a Senate vote on raising the minimum wage. Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, the party's leader, said Tuesday they would "do everything within our power to stop a congressional pay raise from going through this year, and we're going to tie it to minimum wage."

On another issue, Democratic congressional leaders held a news conference during the day to unveil legislation calling for major changes in the new Medicare prescription drug program. "We will put seniors and people with disabilities first by bringing affordability, simplicity and reliability to the benefit," said Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the House Democratic leader.

The proposal would allow federal officials to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies on drug prices, and Democrats said the resulting savings would allow the government to eliminate a gap in coverage for many beneficiaries.

[sarcasm] Why the Democrats think focusing on the incomes and healthcare of millions of Americans rather than the potential outrage due to a small handful of constitutionally-protected flag burners makes for a great way to get elected by the American people is beyond me. [/sarcasm] (*)

[*The real sad thing is the Republicans' way may still end up winning out...]

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