Republicans are the same all over...

...whether in DC or AZ.

When all is said and done, whether the issue is defense or immigration or 'law and order' or whatever, they're nothing but hypocrites.

In rhetoric, they call themselves the 'party of fiscal responsibility'; in reality, they have absolutely no interest in acting in a fiscally responsible manner.

...Here in sunny, and dusty, Arizona, House Speaker Jim Weiers (R-Loan Shark) is so adamant that he get his draconian budget passed that budget negotiations with the Senate and Governor have all but ground to a halt. The State Senate has even adjourned until Thursday because they don't think anything is going to get done this week. Not too sure about next week, either.

Did I mention that the fiscal year ends in 2 1/2 weeks? State government shuts down in 19 days; that may make Ron Gould happy, but most sane people (yes, even the sane Republicans) realize that isn't a good thing for the people of Arizona.

...In cloudy and humid DC, during consideration of HR2638, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2008, the Congressional Republicans are using the dilatory tactic of repeatedly moving that 'the committee rise', ending consideration of the bill today. They are allegedly protesting the earmark process associated with the bill.

They are forcing the House to stop functioning until they get their way.

One of the frequent points that the Reps have raised during the debate is how open their own earmark process was in last year's budget.

What they haven't said, however, is that they didn't actually pass a budget last year. It took a series of continuing resolutions (CRs) passed earlier this year by the new Democratic majority, to actually keep things like DHS (and DoD, and the rest of the government) funded for this fiscal year.

As with last year, while they are loudly beating their own chests, proclaiming themselves to be the 'fiscally responsible' ones, they are quietly acting in a manner to undermine fiscal prudence.

Much like their Arizona brethren, scoring partisan points is more important to them than actually doing their jobs.