Sensenbrenner still wrong, heartless

Patrick McIlheran, the Journal Sentinel's rabid rightwing columnist (local variety), thinks F. Jim Sensenbrenner has been vindicated for his vote against aiding Katrina victims:

How unfortunate that U.S. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. was right.

Suburban Milwaukee's Mr. Mean in Congress voted in September against providing $52 billion in quickie relief to people left homeless when Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans. He said the program, which was on top of $10 billion in relief that hadn't yet been exhausted, was an invitation to fraud.

"Heartless," the Democratic Party said at the time. "A pig," said one of the stalks of the progressive grass roots posting in November at The Daily Kos, rubber room of the American left; another described Sensenbrenner as "a cheap piece of crap who doesn't care much for black folks."

That is: How dare Sensenbrenner suggest Congress, having already sent enough aid to amount to $6,400 per household in the hurricane zone, try putting some safeguards on the next $33,000 per household? These are victims, after all, not criminals.

Now, it's: How dare Sensenbrenner have been right?

One small problem with that analysis. Sensenbrenner said no such thing. He didn't offer any amendments or suggest any safeguards or oversight. He just voted no, knowing the bill would pass, and hoping he would be proven "right."

He is as reponsible as anyone for allowing the Bush administration to prove its incompetency.

If a majority of Congress had joined Sensenbrenner in voting "no," would things be better today in New Orelans? Or would misery and suffering have increased tenfold?

"Right" my ass.

I believe I was the first one to call Sensenbrenner heartless, along with uncaring and unfeeling. And I am still right.

Charlie Sykes keeps asking where Sensenbrenner should go to get his apology. I've got his apology. He should come and get it.