Sen. Allen is a lazy, thieving bastard

So we knew that Senator George Felix Allen, (R)acist from Virginia, was prone to confederate-flag hugging and minority-bashing, but coming quick on the heels of his "macaca moment" he decides to steal an amendment from Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Minority Whip and APIA supporter. From the Raising Kaine blog:

[It was] a Department of Defense appropriations amendment written, printed and prepared by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill), and then announced the amendment as his own, moments before Durbin was prepared to introduce the amendment on the Senate floor. . .

--Already on the docket was Senator Dick Durbin, who was scheduled to introduce an amendment to the bill providing $19 million in additional funding for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center program, which provides treatment care and research for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries. That meant that Durbin’s amendment had already been written, printed and prepared for introduction by Durbin.

--Yet, before Durbin could take the floor to introduce his amendment, George Allen entered the Senate Chamber and asked for permission to speak before Durbin. When permission was granted ahead of Durbin, lo and behold, Allen introduced an amendment to the DOD appropriations bill that, how could this be, was identical in language to Durbin’s bill with the exception of one word – the word “will” was changed in Allen’s amendment and replaced with the word “shall.” Other than that, the amendments were identical – Durbin’s amendment had been printed and set to be formally introduced, Allen’s bill had not been written or been placed on the docket to be introduced.

When asked by Senators Stevens and Durbin if his amendment was the same as Senator Durbin’s, George Allen agreed the bills were identical.

So, what are the odds that George Allen had the exact same idea as Durbin, the exact same dollar figure as Durbin, the exact same language as Durbin (save one word)? And why did Allen seek special permission to speak before Durbin unless Allen was seeking to take credit for an amendment to which Durbin had already prepared and written?

This is just about the most lazy and stupid (and hilarious) thing I have ever seen a sitting senator do. It's one thing to go into conference and change all the language behind the scenes (which is underhanded enough), but quite another to deliberately steal floor time right before a fellow senator is scheduled to present a piece of legislation, and use that time to present AN IDENTICAL AMENDMENT. It looks as though the cheating virus is going around the GOP. No, wait. It's an epidemic that is endemic to republicanus amoralus!

Did Allen think that 3 weeks of bad press wasn't enough, was he sick of having his name repudiated in the papers for being a racist? Does he somehow think that this stunt will win him points with the Republican base? (Well maybe - they did elect an idiot CEO who ran all his companies into the ground...) Today's mistake could have been easily avoided, and now it will probably cost him the election. Because no one likes being represented by a cheating, racist thief. Our job is to help tip him over that edge of no return and kill any presidential ambitions (his ranking already dropped due to macaca.)

Tactically, this was also the dumbest move Allen could have made. By copying the entire Durbin amendment, he not only demonstrates his lazy, cheating ass, he de facto acknowledges that he has no ideas on security/defense, and not only that, but the Democrats do have a vision, and that we DO IT BETTER. Looks like that "security voters" are slipping away here, I know that "security moms" already are leaving the GOP in droves.

This guy obviously isn't willing to work hard for the people of Virginia or put any thought into the legislative process. Virginians, you deserve better - elect a man who can think for himself, who will represent you with honor - ELECT JIM WEBB.

It looks as though Dick Wadhams reins on the campaign are slipping. Hey, all the Elephants are in freefall now that Rove doesn't call all the shots anymore.