Turning the Screw / What an Endorsement

From the Times: Congressional Democrats escalated a confrontation with President Bush over federal spending on Tuesday as the House overrode Mr. Bush’s veto of a popular water projects measure and approved a $215 billion bill to pay for health, education, labor and veterans programs despite a veto threat.

The vote on the water measure was 361 to 54, far more than needed to reject the veto. If the Senate follows suit, it will be the first time Mr. Bush has had a veto overturned.

UPDATE: The Senate did their part. Veto Overridden.

It's about time!! Let the most fiscally irresponsible White House in history start talking about fiscal responsibility now. Hear the nation groan. Find the angle for Executive Privilege and challenge it aggressively. Show the nation the scales on the snake.

While the Tucson election yesterday featured three Democratic wins to one Republican, the results of the Virgina House and Senate races carry substantially more indicative weight. Democrats kicked serious butt in the Senate, taking it over with a four (and perhaps five) seat gain, also picking up slots in the House. At the minimum, the results suggest the mood regarding the GOP has not changed since last year's elections.

On the Presidential election front, Senator Brownback has endorsed John McCain for President, not particular surprising or eventful. The far more significant development is religious right figurehead Pat Robertson's endorsement of (ready?), Rudy Giuliani. What?

That has to cause some head scratching. Meanwhile, as noted everywhere, Ron Paul continues to flex some foreheads. $4.2 M in a single day. I think Paul's message resonates with resentment flowing from two fundamental factors:

1. Sheer outrage about the war and the deception that got us into it.
2. Increasing disgust and distrust of government, in particular the spiraling deficit and the perceived impending demise of social security exacerbated by the corporate pension betrayal and an aging population with evaporating health support.

The question is not whether Ron Paul will win the GOP nomination. He won't. The question is what he does after Rudy becomes the GOP candidate. Does he support Rudy?

Not according to my tea leaves.