September’s George Voinovich Award
September 13th, 2005 at 9:48 am by Preston Taylor Holmes(via Ankle Biters)
I wish I had time to sit on my ass and watch the Roberts hearings. The little bit I’ve seen has been hilarious. Yesterday’s proceedings are exactly what you’d expect from a bunch of self-absorbed Senators running off at the mouth, using the occasion as another opportunity to grandstand and bathe in the warming spotlight of the media as they vomit forth the usual political idiocy for which Senators are famous. Reading yesterday’s transcript is enough to make you lose your lunch.
One clip that I was fortunate enough to see was pants-shitting California Senator Dianne Feinstein, who lectured Roberts with a history lesson on women’s rights. It’s almost laughable to watch a dingbat like Feinstein provide a stern lecture to someone so clearly her intellectual superior, but I digress. I was particularly fascinated by this passage:
And I will be looking to understand your views on the constitutional provision for providing for the separation of church and state — once again, history.
For centuries, individuals have been persecuted for their religious beliefs.
During the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages, the Reformation, and even today, millions of innocent people have been killed or tortured because of their religion.
A week ago, I was walking up the Danube River in Budapest when I saw on the shore 60 pair of shoes covered in copper — women’s shoes, men’s shoes, small tiny children’s shoes. They lined the bank of the river.
During World War II, it turned out that Hungarian fascists and Nazi soldiers forced thousands of Jews, including men, women and children, to remove their shoes before shooting them and letting their bodies float down the Danube.
These shoes represent a powerful symbol of how religion has been used in catastrophic ways historically.
Putting aside the irrelevence of the comments, I’ll translate the last part for you.
Mister Roberts, since you are obviously a Nazi and part of the Religious Right, should we expect you to exterminate only the Jews or will you attempt to exterminate all non-Christians?
I know you California voters are so proud. Barbara Lee, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer. You’ve given us all so much.
On to the George Voinovich Award winner, GOP Senator from Oklahoma, Tom Coburn.
Ann Althouse describes the moment where Coburn wept as he lamented “partisanship and finger-pointing” (via Insty):
If I’d seen it I would have laughed a lot too, then I would have been depressed that my once-respectable GOP has been thoroughly Oprahcized. At this point, I’m not sure whether to give him the Voinovich award or the Rodney King award, but since Voinovich was moved to tears by John Bolton’s threatening moustache, the Voinovich award is probably more appropriate.
It’s this kind of weak-kneed, gutless Republican that has taken a dump on the party of Reagan. Thanks, GOP. At least you’re making it easier not to come crawling back to you.
You may want to order a few boxes of tissues to send to Tom Coburn’s office. George has probably gotten enough to hold him over for a while.
September 13th, 2005 at 11:14 am
Great post. I saw Diane’s comments, and aside from beign completely iditotic, this thought crossed my mind. The libs normally want big gov’t and more control over the “citizens” lives–except when it comes to abortion. With abortion, a person can control her own destiny. This seems a bit contrary to the rest of their views.
September 13th, 2005 at 11:25 am
Homely, they’re just waiting for that glorious day when they can be just like China and have government-mandated abortions. Then Dianne will weep with joy.
September 13th, 2005 at 3:51 pm
THE JOE AND ARLEN SHOW
Preston at Six Meat Buffet has an excellent post up about the Roberts hearing before the Judiciary Committee. I caught some of that hearing last night on replay and during lunch today as well. I totally agree with Preston. The