If At First You Don't Succeed, Run for the Hills

Both Roll Call and PoliticusUSA are reporting that House Republicans, frustrated at the farm bill debacle, have decided to waive the white flag, as it were. They have dropped the food stamps provision of the bill and instead will permit an up and down vote on just the farm-only portion. The food stamp provision, according to a GOP leadership aide, "would be dealt with later."

Yeah, much later.

This clusterfuck was brought about when GOP leadership introduced the Southerland amendment, which would've meant drastic cuts in nutrition and food stamps. House Democrats balked at the amendment, which prompted House Republicans to accuse them of reneging on their promise to deliver enough votes for passage.

But the real reason the bill went up in flames is that 61 Republicans who voted for the amendment, ended up voting against the bill, thus ensuring its defeat, a fact Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi drove home rather cleverly.

Reportedly, Eric Cantor, in a closed-door meeting, ripped his colleagues a new one. I would've loved to have been a fly on a wall in that room. Between John Boehner's horrendous lack of leadership and the inmates now running the asylum, things are starting to fall apart in GOP land.

If you thought this performance an embarrassment, just wait till the GOP puts forth its immigration bill. I hear "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" museum will be sending a representative to Washington when that turkey comes up for a vote. That is assuming it even makes it out of committee.

This would be hysterical if it weren't so sad.


Link: http://www.politicususa.com/2013/07/09/humiliated-house-republicans-drop-food-stamps-cuts-farm-bill.html