Breaking With Bush: The Pigs Fly Edition

For a long time I have thought that Wisconsin Republicans in Congress will never deviate from the radical course set by Bush and other GOP bosses. I have had good reason to think this due to their lockstep voting, even when it harms Wisconsinites. Perhaps it is because we are in an election year, or maybe they have even had a crisis of conscience, but they are starting to deviate.

In Bush’s recent budget proposals he plans on increasing taxes on dairy producers. Not a very popular idea in the Dairy State is it? Perhaps that is what finally gave Congressman Mark Green the courage to disagree with Bush on something . Green put out a short press release earlier this week saying that the Bush plan was a “terrible idea” and that he would do everything he could to “defeat it.” Now all we need is for Green to take a stand against the Bush attacks on Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and student loans. Or is that asking for too much?

Now we have also found out that F. Jim Sensenbrenner sent a 14 page letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. F. Jim, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, sent over 50 questions in the letter regarding the administration’s eavesdropping on American citizens without warrants. F. Jim has been rather sheepish about the entire ordeal but apparently has been forced into action by a very vocal and bipartisan outrage. Many have pointed to the Senate Judiciary Committee and their hearings on the matter only to hear crickets on the House side. Today’s Journal Sentinel says that F. Jim is often dismissive of arguments against the eavesdropping in his letter. At the same time he asks Gonzales to respond to the questions by early next month. Could this actually be the first time we are seeing what appears to be oversight by F. Jim? Amazing!

There has been nothing but lockstep voting and lack of oversight with these Republicans. Why the sudden trend to question or even “defeat” Bush proposals and plans? Is it because they are facing elections this year? Is it because Bush’s approval ratings are pretty low? Are even these textbook loyalists becoming uncomfortable with the extreme Bush agenda? Whatever their true reasoning, we should all be happy that critical thinking MAY be replacing blind loyalty. That can only be good for all of us.