Curious

With the economy going into the tank and businesses laying off workers by the hundreds of thousands, the Democrats' response so far has been curious, to say the least:

- Jack up regulations on business, tightening fuel economy standards and making it easier for women to sue for discrimination;

- Include liberal agenda items in this jobs-light package, such as funding for ACORN and "family planning" in the $819 billion "stimulus bill" (the latter item was removed after it came to light);

- Demonize Rush Limbaugh and those who respect him in an obvious divide-and-conquer strategy against conservatives;

- Double-cross erstwhile Republican allies and make it easier for aliens to get health insurance;

- Fulminate about "shameful" Wall Street bonuses while bringing your personal chef to the White House;

- Call for austerity and toughness from others while cranking up the White House thermostat.

It's no wonder House Republicans rejected the Obama plan. If the president truly wants to reach across the aisle, first he'll need to mend some fences.