The Good: Finally Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a thing of the past! The only bad thing about this is that only eight Republican Senators voted to repeal this nonsensical, discriminatory law. The others should be ashamed of themselves. As for Senators like John Kyl (R-Ariz), who warned that the repeal of this law would cost the lives of some soldiers -- what do you even say about this? Earth to Senator Kyl! Gay people have served in the military for eons, and they're serving in the military NOW. And guess what? I have yet to hear that anyone has been killed because the guy next to them in the foxhole was gay.
The Bad: Senator John McCain (R-Ariz). What is in the water in Arizona? This man is just imploding. From what I understand, he is so angry that Obama won the election instead of him that he won't look the President in the eye when they're in the same room. He's always been known as a hothead, but since the election he appears to only be trying to obstruct everything on Obama's agenda, and viciously so, whether it makes logical sense or not. According to reports (see the article by Dana Milbank at washingtonpost.com, for an example - I tried to copy the URL but it wouldn't let me), McCain's legendary temper is constantly in evidence now. He used to be a moderate who was famous for working across the aisle, despite his volatile temper, but I now believe that his defeat in 2008 has affected him to the point where he can no longer function as a United States Senator. He needs counseling, and I'm serious as a heart attack about that. For his own good, for the good of Arizona, and for the good of the country, John McCain should resign immediately and seek a good therapist. That kind of anger and irrational resentment has no place in the Senate.
The Ugly: Ugly is the only word to describe this insanity. After 9/11 there were numerous first responders who became ill, and some who have already died, from being in contact with the nasty chemicals, dust, and other toxins at Ground Zero. There is a bill before the Senate that would provide funding for medical monitoring of these first responders, help with treatment at centers specializing in such toxins, and extend the Victims Compensation Fund until 2031. This bill would cost $6.2 billion over ten years. You would think the Republicans would be all for this, but no! Why are they passing up the opportunity to wave the flag and invoke 9/11 as they so often do? Because this bill isn't paid for? No! It is paid for -- by closing a corporate tax loophole. Ahhhh, now we get to it! Big corporations (most of whom pay no taxes... that's right, zero) might actually have one of their many tax loopholes snipped, and of course the Republicans can't have that. Never mind the fact that we have now been in two wars that were never paid for. Never mind that they just passed a tax bill that they insisted had to keep in place tax cuts for people who make more money than I'll ever see in my lifetime -- all paid for by tacking it onto the national debt. For 9/11 first responders facing disability, and even death, the Republican response is that they just don't give a damn. How do they look at themselves in the mirror in the morning, I wonder? Update: This law was passed (!) on December 22nd. Hallejuah!
The Funny: I can't resist throwing this in. Speaker of the House-to be John Boehner is handing out the committee assignments for the new Congress that will be sworn in next month. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), never known to be the sharpest knife in anybody's drawer, the same Michele Bachman who has suggested that there should be an investigation into whether Democratic Congress members are anti-American and stating that gay marriage is the biggest issue impacting the nation (more than, say, unemployment?) -- has been given a seat on the House Intelligence Committee. Insert obvious joke here. You just can't make this stuff up.
