I'm thinking of starting a new blog on this issue alone. First, and foremost, our representatives, and I use that term loosely, in the House are at work trying to fix what they fucked up in the first place and provide low-income families with tax rebate checks. But they're not going to let it go at that.

I want to become George Bailey and walk into every one of the 224 offices in the HOBs and give that great speech he gives to Potter. You know the one - "this rabble you're talking about. Well, they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to ask to have them work and pay and live and die in a few decent rooms and a bath? Well, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him. To you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well, in my book, he died a much richer man than you'll ever be." To which Potter says something like "I'm not interested in your book." I always thought it was a great little piece of dialogue but I digress.

How could they not include a provision about notifying parents? It's astounding. Maybe I'll have to start astound.com because this is too putrid to include with my usual minutia-level outrages.

I loved NY Rep. Charles Rangel's quote - "This is one of the most cynical and hypocritical moves I have ever seen" - and after 17 terms, he's probably seen his share.