THE GOP KAMIKAZES – We warned earlier this morning that the GOP remains unpopular, and must be more than an opposition party to become triumphant.  Now comes evidence that the Republican kamikazes are at work, trying to make the party as unattractive as possible.  At this they are expert.  From The Hill:

House Republicans in line to chair important committees want less-stringent earmark spending rules next year, when they hope to be in control of the chamber.

Senior Republicans are pushing for a policy that would allow earmarks, the provisions lawmakers insert in spending bills to fund projects in their districts, but would make the process more transparent. House GOP leaders imposed a temporary moratorium on all earmarks in March in a bid to demonstrate fiscal discipline in an election year.

That moratorium ends at the end of the year, when a new policy will be put in place, said Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), ranking member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
“It is just a moratorium, it’s not a total ban,” he said.

COMMENT:  You can be sure that the Democratic National Committee is on this story already, and is poised to portray the GOp as the party of special interests and pork barrel spending. 

Fellas, can't you wait 'til after the election to go back to hackery? 

This is why a new "contract with America" is needed, and one that will clearly place the GOP on the side of congressional reform, not the side of "business as usual."  Anyone listening?

May 20, 2010