The Zong

When it’s a spineless majority of assholes masquerading as public servants.

The Democrats’ yearlong fight to boost federal spending on children’s health insurance ended with a whimper Tuesday.

After coming up short in their efforts to enact a $35 billion expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) — enduring two presidential vetoes along the way — congressional Democrats signed off on Republican demands to extend the program until 2009.

So that’s it then. While approximately 10 million children live (or die) without health insurance in this country, our representatives in congress can’t seem to stop tripping over their dicks. I mean, if you thought Democrats couldn’t get anything done when they were in the minority in both houses, take a look at their track record since taking over. From the NSA’s illegal wiretapping to putting a timetable on bringing our troops home to a funding ban on family planning organizations abroad that perform abortions, our newly-minted majority can always be counted on to run from a good fight.

House Democrats are not walking away from SCHIP, said a spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). For a start, the House will vote on Jan. 23 to attempt to override President Bush’s second SCHIP veto.

Moreover, the enactment of the extension does not mean Congress cannot do more, the spokesman said. “It does not preclude us from bringing up a strong, bipartisan bill,” he said. “The goal here is to cover 10 million children. That’s why discussions will continue. … If there is an opportunity to have a vote on this legislation, absolutely we will have one,” he said.

I suppose it’s time to start asking Madame Speaker’s spokesman, if not the speaker herself, some questions like: “What the fuck are the uninsured children supposed to do while you wait for the opportunity to have a vote?” Or even: “What happens if the GOP stays in the White House next year?” I guess the kids will have to figure that shit out for themselves.

- M.G.