There's been a lot of evidence that the Republican party, despite paying lip service to bipartisan politics in the interregnum between president Obama's election and his taking office in January. Since then there have been precious few signs that Republicans have interest in anything other than obstructing the social progress that will highlight the irresponsibility of the Bush administration.

So it was fascinating to come across this list of contradictions in Republican thought. I would never claim that Democrats have a monopoly on rational thought, but at present the Republican senators and congressmen need to hear from their constituencies that it's time to stop the doublespeak and start to consider the needs of those who voted them into power.

On a day when America finally learns that it will join all other Western democracies in providing universal health care, it would be nice to see some cooperation in government. Maybe next we can start to send fewer people to prison than China.