Smokin' The Grassley

Now, I've documented the silliness of Iowa GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley several times before, but this time the Chuckster has completely gone bye-bye, as Steve Benen notes.

This week, Grassley appears to have completely lost it, offering at least tacit support for radical "Tenther" theories that insist that health care reform may be unconstitutional.

"I'm not a lawyer, but let me tell you, I've listened to some lawyers speak on this. And you know, it's a relatively new issue. I don't think we've ever had this issue before of having to buy something. And a lot of constitutional lawyers, saying it is unconstitutional or at least in violation of the 10th Amendment. Now maybe states can do this, but can the federal government? So, I have my doubts."

This was specifically responding to a question about individual mandates -- a measure he's already endorsed as a good idea that he supports.

Obvious inconsistencies notwithstanding, the notion that health care reform is "in violation of the 10th Amendment" is demonstrably ridiculous. The idea that "a lot constitutional lawyers" see health care reform as unconstitutional is absurd.

But the fact that Grassley is even talking like this suggests the reform fight has really pushed him over the edge. He's up for re-election next year -- in a state Barack Obama won by about 10 points -- and there are reports Grassley may face a very credible Democratic challenger.

Embracing fringe, right-wing legal theories may excite the base a bit, but in general, Grassley's bizarre turn to the far-right is not only painful to watch, it's a risky political strategy that may cost him his job.

The overwhelming irony is that since a United States Senator is basically saying that the United States Congress has no right to actually pass laws that apply to the United States Of America and that as a member of a legislative body that Grassley's basically arguing should be null and void, I'd have to ask him when he was resigning from that most august body in protest. Somehow, I don't think he's going to resign that Senate seat.

But then again, it looks like keeping that seat isn't up to him, now is it? Chuck Grassley's basically running on the notion that the Senate is doing too much work. Try selling that hog's bona fides at the Iowa State Fair.

PS, why are we trying to make these guys happy again?