Senate Republicans Defeat Hapless Senate Dems on Stimulus Package

Despite both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton breaking off their neck-and-neck campaign to return to the U.S. Senate to vote in favor of the Democratic economic stimulus package that would have extended cash rebates to disabled veterans and stretched out unemployment benefits, the Republican hard-heartedness and will-to-back-Bush once again won the day.

Reportedly, the Dems telegraphed their confusing signals to Republicans, leading Tennessee Republican Lamar Alexander to exclaim:

I’m confused about the Democratic strategy, and I imagine many Americans are .... I don’t think it’s likely to improve the Senate’s reputation.

His party sidekick Bob Corker told the NYTimes that the bipartisan measure (supported by more moderate Republicans as well as Dems) was an attempt "to win public favor in an election year," something Senator Corker could obviously never be accused of.