So the motion to close debate on a watered down stimulus package passed the senate by 61 to 36 which is just barely enough and the national Republican party looks like it is taking lessons from the California Republican Party. This inspired group having used their ownership of slightly more than one third of the legislature here to block a state budget for a year, wrecking the state's credit rating and crippling public services. For further see here.

Note to the rest of the nation: You really do not want to be in a position where one third of the legislature can block all needed action. This is particularly scary when the one third that is doing the blocking sees itself as a revolutionary force, a sort of free market Trotskyist group.

Note to the Republicans: You are always going on about how the war in Iraq brought the blessings of majority rule to the Shiites of Iraq. How about a little democracy here?

Note to the Democrats: Time to seat Al Franken.

Note to the president: Where was Judd Gregg?

Nuclear option anyone?