Loyalty is the Hallmark

Not of the Bush Administration and it's pet poodle Congress. $125million, part of the $20ish billion package announced by Bush for 'reconstructing' NYC, designated for medical treatment of first responders, has been yanked out of the health spending bill being turned into sausage by our elected charcutiers.

"It seems that despite our efforts the rescission will stand, very sadly, and that is something of a promise broken," said Rep. Vito Fossella (news, bio, voting record), R-N.Y. "We will try hard in the coming weeks, but ultimately Congress will have something of a black eye over this."

This is so typical of the Bushistas (well, of elected dishrags in general). In the hot light of the event, promise anything. When the lights have faded and the heat is off, renege left and right.

There are two things that strike me here. One is that this is our first responders we are screwing over. The ones Bush lionized and preened at Ground Zero dressed up as. So long and thanks for all the fish...... the other thing is that these guys regularly support the Repugs at election time, and when push comes to shove, they get screwed. It shows the economics of Washington; an endorsement is one thing, but cold hard cash rules the day. Maybe if cops and firepeople and EMTs started giving $20-50-100,000 a pop to the Repugs, they'd get more love?

If Bush does, as I believe, end up burning in Hell, I know who he shouldn't call for help.