Between NY Rep. Peter King and now New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Republicans in Congress, and particularly House Speaker John Boehner, have endured a bludgeoning.  Over what?  Over their failure to consider this Sandy-sham bill.  Christie said that there is only one group to blame: The House Majority and John Boehner. He says, “It was disappointing and disgusting to watch. Shame on you, shame on Congress.”  Christie’s never one to mince words, and just because he’s a Republican doesn’t mean he isn’t going to give it to members of his own party when he feels he deserves it.  However, did they deserve it?

Well let’s see … if the Sandy relief bill had actually been for hurricane relief efforts, then a frustrated drubbing from Christie and others would be understandable.  But the Sandy bill wasn’t just for hurricane relief efforts.  It was just another pathetic, pork-laden bill disguised as legislation for a worthy cause.  If someone can definitively prove how the following expenditures in the bill are related to Superstorm Sandy relief, then maybe the Republicans should reconsider their opposition:

* $150 million for Alaskan fisheries.

* $8 million for cars for the Homeland Security and Justice departments.

* $2 million for the Smithsonian to repair roofs damaged before Sandy.

* $336 million in Amtrak expenses 

Yeah, I didn’t think so.  It’s clear that these people in Washington are never going to learn when it comes to these pet projects, and it is also clear that we Americans are never really willing or capable of holding their feet to the fire on the issue.  But back to Chris Christie, perhaps his frustration should have been directed at those who chose to use this bill as a vehicle for pork projects and thus render it unpassable (is that a word?).  It sucked.  Is that better?

Anyway, it looks like Boehner will allow a House vote for some of the aid funding as soon as tomorrow.