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Norm Coleman: What Were You Thinking?

Written by Nancy LaRoche on 06 February 2008.

I happened by Michelle Malkin tonight and found some encouraging news followed closely with a depressing chaser.

It’s one of those rare moments when I can bring you a bit of good news from the Beltway. Senate Republicans banded together to block the Democrats from larding up the already bloated stimulus package. They successfully put hapless Harry Reid on the spot and beat back the Dem attempt to pin $44 billion more onto the stimulus donkey.

The stimulus-palooza is still a bad deal, but the small, fleeting victory here is worth savoring. Gotta take ‘em where you can find ‘em:

The fate of $600-$1,200 rebate checks for more than 100 million Americans is in limbo after Senate Democrats failed Wednesday to add $44 billion in help for the elderly, disabled veterans, the unemployed and big business to the House-passed economic aid package.

Republicans banded together to block the $205 billion plan from advancing Wednesday, leaving Democrats with a difficult choice either to quickly accept a House bill they have said is inadequate or risk being blamed for delaying a measure designed as a swift shot in the arm for the lagging economy.

The tally was 58-41 to end debate on the Senate measure, just short of the 60 votes Democrats would have needed to scale procedural hurdles and move the bill to a final vote.

Now for the bad news:

The not-so-good news, but not-so-surprising news? Eight Republicans, half of whom are up for re-election this year, jumped ship and sided with the Dems:

In a suspenseful showdown vote that capped days of partisan infighting and procedural jockeying, eight Republicans - four of them up for re-election this year - joined Democrats to back the plan, bucking GOP leaders and President Bush, who objected to the costly add-ons. Supporters actually had 59 votes in favor of the Democratic proposal, but Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada switched his vote to ‘no’ at the last moment, a parliamentary move that allows him to bring the measure up for a revote.

Just to underscore:

The Republicans who caved: Coleman, Collins, Dole, Domenici, Grassley, Smith, Snowe, Specter.

Not voting: John McCain

*Sigh* What's that saying about judging a person by the company they keep?

Last night's Minnesota GOP caucus message seems to have been lost on Senator Coleman. Sadly, he may have to get used to the word "lost" this November if he keeps this up.