Frail and in a wheelchair, former Sen. Bob Dole was a startling presence on the Senate floor as lawmakers voted on a treaty on disabilities. The 89-year-old Republican was in the well of the Senate on the GOP side of the chamber, his wife Elizabeth nearby. Dole recently had been hospitalized but came to the Senate to push for the treaty. Sen. John Kerry acknowledged Dole's presence said the former Kansas lawmaker and World War II veteran was in the Senate to advocate for the treaty and ensure that disabled American veterans are treated with dignity and respect.The treaty (signed by George W. Bush AND then Barack Obama) failed to achieve the required 67 votes, obtaining only 61, all 38 nays were Republican -- as their former leader a decorated and disabled veteran sat before them in a wheelchair. At least they didn't push him down the stairs. [cross-posted at Firedoglake]
Hearts as big as their grasp of reality
John Boehner may be able to purge some arch-conservatives from some committees, but he cannot purge the evangelical strain of faith before facts from the caucus he leads as a whole. Hell, the Republicans in the Senate do not even have any rationality or conscience.