Has "The Moment" Arrived?

Centrist Republicans in the House successfully managed to keep ANWR drilling out of the budget reconciliation bill, as I noted last night. The WaPo adds this morning that the group even received "assurances that it would not return after House and Senate negotiators hash out a final measure" (although Ted Stevens will certainly have something to say about that). Sherry Boehlert, fast becoming a leader in the rebellion, said "I want something more than a feel-good press release that will be operable for no more than a few hours," demanding no ANWR provisions in the budget bill all the way through the process.

Other House moderates are planning to vote against the budget bill today because of plans for a $70 billion tax-cut extension bill the House plans to debate next week (which would more than offset the $54 billion ostensibly being cut by this budget). And in the Senate, Senator Olympia Snowe told Bill Frist yesterday she plans to oppose a $60 billion tax-cut extension bill in the Finance Committee - thereby scuttling the measure for the moment.

Snowe's not alone: Senator George Voinovich also announced his opposition to the tax cuts yesterday, saying in part "I do not know how anyone can say with a straight face that when we voted to cut spending last week to help achieve deficit reductions we can now then turn around two weeks later to provide tax cuts that exceed the reduction in spending. That is beyond me, and I am sure the American people."

The Times also covers these important developments today, linking the moderate uprising to Tuesday's election results. They quote Boehlert as saying "There is a clear message from the election results all over the country. The American people, by and large as a body politic, are looking for a more centrist approach."

It's time. No more caving in. No more giving up. Look at what we can do if we centrists stand up and be counted when it really counts. If this be treason, as Patrick Henry said, then let us make the most of it. The American people are hungry for sensible leadership, and if those in the middle will finally offer it, the public will rally to the cause.