For the last few weeks Republicans have been ranting about the Democrat raid of the U. S. Treasury. They were using the financial crisis like the Reichstag Fire, we were told, as an excuse to consolidate their power, paying off political constituencies and pushing through spending bills that are loaded with extras totally unrelated to any resolution of the crisis. Even moderates have been alarmed.

To be sure, there is still good will toward our new President Barack Obama. Everyone is too pleased with the idea of an African American president to blame him for anything. The tomatoes are usually tossed at Nancy Pelosi and her partisan gang in the House. Surely the president who firmly promised he would end ear marks and examine each spending bill, line by line, has not lied to us already, this early into his term in office?

But now it turns out that the whiney Republican Party’s own leaders are right in the thick of it all. Six of the top ten pork barrel spenders in the U. S. Senate are in the GOP. Here is that inglorious list.

1. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.: $474 million

2. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.: $391 million

3. Mary Landrieu, D-La.: $332 million

4. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa: $292 million

5. David Vitter, R-La.: $249 million

6. Christopher Bond, R-Mo.: $248 million

7. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.: $235 million

8. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii: $225 million

9. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.: $219 million

10. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa: $199 million

(Source http://fray.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2557139.aspx)

Just making the cut, you’ll notice, is Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa who was upset last summer at Pentecostal-Charismatic television preachers, calling for an investigation, because evangelists like Joyce Meyers, who earns $250,000 a year, are too extravagant with donations. At a time when America is on the verge of the Second Great Depression and unemployment is mounting, he bagged almost $200 million in pork barrel goodies for his buddies back home. At least the people who give to Joyce Meyers’ ministry do so voluntarily.

(By the way, maybe we should have the government run the Churches too, that would make a clean sweep of things. Banks, Insurance, Autos and Churches, as well. Hmmm.)

Is there anyone who can save us from this insanity?

There is really only one option left. Ron Paul. It is a long shot, but if the madness goes far enough and the reaction sets in, the Paulistas just might stage a takeover of the Grand Old Party and Ron Paul would offer America a real choice. It’s a long shot. But four more years of this and America may actually be ready.

Note: Here is the link of Doug Wead appearing on FOX NEWS talking about the Stimulus package.