In today's Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jeff Schapiro has a hilarious-because-it's-so-true column entitled, "Fee flap sends GOP swerving." Read the whole thing, you'll enjoy it. In the meantime, here are a few choice quotes:*"The scene these days at the Republican-controlled state Capitol recalls an enduring summer tableau: cockroaches scurrying for cover when you turn on the light."
*"Groucho Marx, as wacky dictator Rufus T. Firefly in the comedy film 'Duck Soup,' had an easier time of it ruling fictional Freedonia than Bill Howell and Walter Stosch have running the House and Senate GOP caucuses."
*"...Republicans -- retreating on those fees because they're seen as an unfair, clever-by-half breach of their no-new-taxes pledge -- are living by one of Marx's great maxims: 'Those are my principles, and if you don't like them . . . well, I have others.'"
*"Others, holding away their handiwork as if it were a wailing baby in a smelly diaper, want a special session to repeal the fees."
Great stuff, Jeff Schapiro is in rare form today. And he concludes with the perfect quote to describe this entire fiasco over "abuser fees": "Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, misdiagnosing it and then misapplying the wrong remedies." And blogging is the art of making fun of 'em for it! ;)