And Conservatives Vote For This Clown?

The JG's Sylvia Smith has a story about the game of chicken the Republicans are playing with the Alternative Minimum Tax. I wrote about this a few days ago and let readers know that the Republicans don't want to pay for the AMT relief this year - they simply want to add it to the debt. Now I'm sure this doesn't surprise many conservatives as they've watched this group spend like drunken sailors for years. In fact I rarely find anybody that even makes the "Republicans are fiscal conservatives" argument anymore.

But for those of you that still (for whatever reason) think Congressman Mark Souder is a fiscal conservative I give you the latest example of his irresponsible behavior:

Over the years, Souder has supported legislation to increase the AMT exemptions, but he voted against the Democrats’ version this year because of the bill’s tax increases on the high-income groups. He said a better option would be to approve the one-year patch and add the cost to the deficit.

“Raising taxes is a greater threat than small extensions of raising the debt,” he said.

Did you get that? Souder would rather add more money to the deficit than pay for middle class tax cuts! And small extension? It's going to cost $50 BILLION for this year alone you jackass. But hey, what's $50 Billion among out-of-touch Beltway bureaucrats? Are there any fiscal conservatives out there willing to defend Souder's position? It's his mentality that's caused nearly all of our current financial problems.

Will the 3rd District please wake up and send this clown packing...

The BEST Mike Pence Article Yet

I'm sure everyone has heard about Indiana Congressman Mike Pence comparing the Baghdad market he visited to a normal Indiana market. The LA Times has the best column about this yet.

Here's a snippet but seriously, just read it.

MY WIFE came into the living room wearing a Kevlar vest, helmet and night-vision goggles.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Have you completely forgotten, silly head? We're going to the market."

I placed my hand at my head. I'd been so caught up in stitching a minor wound I'd received earlier in the day after going to an outdoor fruit stand that I had completely forgotten.

"I'm a dope, aren't I?" I said, chuckling, slowly shaking my head back and forth. She chuckled too, also shaking her head. We both chuckled. Then I winced from where a stitch popped.

Carol helped the boys get ready, putting on their sneakers and body armor. I phoned the Indiana National Guard so that they could radio the 434th Special Air Wing at Grissom Air Force Base, which in turn scrambled two F-14 Tomcats. Then we hopped in the wagon.

Carol and I moved to Muncie from Detroit. Frankly, we were tired of the noise, the dirt and the crime. Here, you feel so safe, as long as you move very quickly through the market, keep your head down and have appropriate air cover.