I don't disagree at all, Gnu. It's just another example of partisan politics being more important than elected representatives actually doing "the work of the people".

What's aggravating, although difficult to really prove, is that the root cause of all this ugly polarity and partisanship is the members of our Congress scheming to do what they're paid to do by the special interest lobbyists. I don't believe for a minute that the Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats are against a "public option" because of firmly-held, high-minded ideological principles, any more than I believe that the Democrats refuse to consider tort reform in the proposed legislation because they are so firmly committed to protecting the rights of citizens to litigate. Nah, one group is paid off by the insurance and drug companies and the other by the trail lawyers.

In the meantime, we have important members of Congress still in office even though they're far too sick or incapacitated to participate in governing the country. Why wouldn't they resign or retire, you ask? Because the K Street crowd needs their votes to satisfy their clients. Simple.