Senate Republicans: The Health of 9/11 Responders Ain't Worth the Price:
In honor of the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, Senator Mike Enzi, Republican of Wyoming, said, "We remember the fireman, police and rescue squads who responded to the sites of the attacks and performed with great bravery. The concern they showed for others and the sacrifices they made to try to save anyone they could will never be forgotten."

In honor of the sixth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, Senator Mike Enzi, Republican of Wyoming, said, "Heroes were made on September 11, 2001 and heroes were lost. We will not forget them."

Enzi, who made statements just about every year between 2002 and 2008, did not offer memorials or condolences or support for troops on the anniversary of 9/11 in 2009 or 2010. Perhaps he forgot, despite a pledge to never do so.

Senator Enzi signed a letter last week saying that Republicans in the Senate would consider no legislation unless tax cuts for wealthy Americans, totaling about $100 billion a year, were agreed to by the Congress and the President.

Which makes it odd, to say the least, and disgustingly hypocritical, for Senator Enzi, so mournful about the date and so into honoring the memory of the victims, not to mention so into giving tens of billions of dollars away to rich people, to not only oppose the Zadroga 9/11 Victim Health and Compensation Act, but to circulate a letter to other Republicans that the $7.6 billion bill would lead to massive fraud and "job-killing taxes." By the way, the cost of the Zadroga Act, which is pretty much explained in the full name, has already been covered by closing a couple of tax loopholes on foreign corporations. Apparently, the definition of "job-killing" has been dumbed down.

The motion for cloture on debate on the bill will be voted on today, but its fate is up in the air as only 59 senators have agreed to it.

You can bet, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you could go through the websites of every Senate Republican and find canonization after glorification of the mighty 9/11 first responders. Especially the dead ones, because, you know, they don't require any medical care and the living ones are such a nuisance with their "needs" and "illnesses." Compassion is so much easier when you don't have to act. Ask Mike Enzi. Maybe, just maybe, he was too goddamned ashamed to issue proclamations about 9/11 and heroes and soldiers. Or maybe it's just that they were only worthy of attention when they were led by a Republican. Or maybe he's just an asshole.

One final note: Imagine, just imagine, if this whole hostage thing had been taken seriously by the Democrats and the White House. Just imagine the President appearing with sick firefighters and unemployed mothers to hold the line on tax cuts. Imagine that battle. Sadly, it will remain only a fading illusion.