Harrop a predictable barometer

It always gladdens my heart when Froma Harrop takes exception to something Republicans are doing, because it’s a surefire indicator they are behaving the way they should. In her column, “Moderates Missing in GOP” (Dec. 23), she vilifies Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine for being “so-called moderates” who voted against the sacred Senate health care bill and are therefore “less than useless.”

In Froma’s world, Republicans’ usefulness ends when they insist on principles that conflict with the Democratic agenda. The trillion-dollar-plus health care bill – unloved by two-thirds of the country, unread by most of our representatives, and pushed for immediate passage – falls into this category.

She bemoans the demise of “bridge-building” Republicans that enabled Democrats to cross that bridge to push their agenda. She magnanimously admits even voting for them occasionally when they do. How bipartisan of her.

Wake-up call to Froma: You are witnessing a re-awakening of common sense among Republicans, brought on by a socialistic-minded president without an inkling or even care about our economy and people. Hopefully November 2010 won’t be too late to undo the damage he continues to wreak on this country.

Anita Perry

Sandpoint