Quote of the Day

"Perhaps the alleged misconduct of Rangel and Waters is so deplorable that they must be punished. Let the evidence be set forth for their colleagues to evaluate. But if the House punishes any wrongdoing, that will happen because Pelosi’s reforms were real and the majority has enforced them. The only thing more foolish than blaming the Democrats for the alleged misconduct of Rangel or Waters would be to believe that the Republicans would enforce ethical standards with any semblance of rigor. They certainly never did so when they were in power."

~ Joe Conason

Sen. Byrd: "Listen! Hear Me!"

89 year old Sen. Robert Byrd (D -W. Va) made an empassioned plea on the Senate floor today opposing the Gregg Amendment that would allow line item vetos in the Ethics Reform Bill that is under debate in the Senate. This would give the president authority to single out individual spending items in legislation for elimination.

As was reported on January 17th, "Democrats failed to clear a crucial legislative hurdle when the Senate voted 51-46 to proceed with the bill that would have reduced the influence of lobbyists in shaping legislation and forced lawmakers to be more open about the pet projects they slip into legislation. Sixty votes were needed to advance the legislation."

Sen. Byrd: "I will stand here until my bones crumble under me... until I have no further breath, if necessary, to let such a proposal become law."

Here is the video in two parts:

Part One:

Part Two: