$1.1 trillion spending bill collapses - thank you GOP

Senate Democrats have given up on their plan to pass a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill in the face of unified Republican opposition. ∴ The bill’s collapse will take with it more than 6,000 earmarks as well as more than $1 billion in funding for implementation of healthcare reform. Read more at THE HILL... Read More......

WSJ: Tea Party Wins GOP Vow to Ban Earmarks

In a swift victory for tea-party activists, the Senate's top Republican, Mitch McConnell, agreed to a plan to ban GOP members from proposing earmarks for spending bills. Read more at Wall Street Journal... Read More......

Dana Milbank: Agape with Wrath

WASHINGTON POST, WASHINGTON SKETCH 3/3/2009 by Dana Milbank (H/t: John Detweiler) - Apparently John McCain was operating under a 120-day cooling-off period. In the four months since the presidential race, the former Republican nominee has been, for the most part, a graceful loser, returning to the Senate to lead the loyal opposition with dignity. But yesterday, he exploded. "I hope the American people will rise up -- rise up!" he exhorted on the Senate floor, chopping the lectern with his hand. He growled. He roared. He flushed. He sputtered. He glared at colleagues. He hurled angry words, words such as "slap in the face" and "outrageous insult" and "disgraceful" and "theft" and "corruption." "If it sounds like I'm angry," the senator from Arizona explained, "it's because I am." Read entire article at WaPo... Read More......