The Audacity of "Nope"

Ah, pity our poor Republican brethren. Seems like even when they actually do something in the hallowed halls of government it ends up being the wrong thing. From reporter Jason Linkins in today's HuffPo:

Well, as it turns out, volcano monitoring wasn't the only worthwhile public safety program that was deemed extravagant in the stimulus package; funding for pandemic preparation was axed as well.

Now, I know the GOP couldn't actually foresee the current swine-flu scare when they were stripping $870 million in "pandemic preparedness" from the stimulus bill. But someone could - and did - recognize the good, common horse-sense in funding a program that just might keep us healthy and productive in the event of such a crisis.

And once again it wasn't someone with an "R" after his or her name.

Our national wellness is an integral, inter-connected part of our ability to sustain economic recovery. I would expect our elected officials, regardless of party stripe, to understand that as a matter of course. Sadly, it would seem that once again key conservative leaders just didn't get the memo.