Status quo 1, Change 0

Senate old bulls late last night successfully blocked a reform measure that would have banned earmarks for a year. The vote was a setback for reformers and more importantly the American people.

By blocking the ban, the Senate's powerful old guard scored a victory for the status quo. Those who have desired change in the way the Senate conducts business lost.

Still, all is not entirely gloomy. The fact that the measure drew the support of all three Presidential contenders is a good sign. It is a signal that the issue has arrived with the public. Of course the Senate is always the last to realize these things, so it makes sense that reformers will have to continue pushing the issue to get it through the thick skulls of senators that America wants change.

The "cooling saucer" still works in that the Senate remains the most insulated. But sometimes as in this case, it is a real pain in the rear.

The Republicans who voted "no" on this measure read off as a who's who of the Senate porkers:

Bennett, Utah; Bond, Mo.; Brownback, Kan.; Bunning, Ky.; Cochran, Miss.; Coleman, Minn.; Collins, Maine; Craig, Idaho; Crapo, Idaho; Domenici, N.M.; Gregg, N.H.; Hagel, Neb.; Hatch, Utah; Hutchison, Texas; Lugar, Ind.; Murkowski, Alaska; Roberts, Kan.; Shelby, Ala.; Smith, Ore.; Snowe, Maine; Specter, Pa.; Stevens, Alaska; Vitter, La.; Voinovich, Ohio; Warner, Va.; Wicker, Miss.

It was nice to see GOP Leader and long time appropriator Mitch McConnell vote with the reform caucus for once. But some actual leadership would be nice as well, considering the man did not say one word in favor of the measure leading up to the vote. As our hero Braveheart says, "men don't follow titles, they follow courage." But then again, this is the Senate, not the fields of Falkirk. Baby steps I guess...

(Editor's note: The picture top right depicts Reid, Durbin and Schumer. They got top billing because they were the most vocal opponents. But the GOP had plenty of their own who hated the measure as you see in the roll call above. They were just more quiet about their position leading up to the vote. Their silence was mostly because this issue -- while it has bipartisan appeal -- is more important to a vocal section of the conservative base than it is to the liberal base. GOP anti-reformers were scared to be vocal about this so they waited in the shadows, cast their vote "nay" and then slunk away. Lame. Cowardly.)