The GOP has once again aligned themselves against the victims of the Republican Recession.

In a 56-40 vote, the cloture vote on extending jobless benefits, FMAP state funding, and tax extensions failed. Ben Nelson and Lieberman joined Republicans , Byrd did not vote, and Reid voted yes, without changing his vote, signaling that this iteration of the bill is indeed dead.

Reid followed the vote by attempting to pass the emergency provisions of the bill, the "doc fix," unemployment benefits extension, and FMAP as well as the homebuyer tax credit, as separate bills under unanimous consent. McConnell objected to each, so we’re stuck in further limbo.

All afternoon, Republican Senators stood up and said that the American people were demanding that the deficit be cut, that the Congress stop spending. Republican Senators, and the moderate Dems who enable them, are full of shit. Gallup says so:

Among four pieces of legislation Congress could consider this year, Americans are most supportive of authorizing more economic stimulus spending. Specifically, according to a June 11-13 USA Today/Gallup poll, 60% of Americans say they would favor "additional government spending to create jobs and stimulate the economy."

… [emphasis added]