Canaries in the Mineshaft

Miners long ago learned the usefulness of canaries. By keeling over, those hapless caged birds would warn miners of toxic gasses or of too little oxygen before humans could detect (or be harmed by) their presence or lack.

In politics, canaries abound. No matter what political action is pursued, there are some who attempt to warn against it, some who "squawk" their warnings to all. It doesn't matter what political objective is pursued, there are some who attempt to warn the rest of us that the proposed governmental action is detrimental to the nation.

But, political animals are particular beasts -- they only hear the squawking of like-minded canaries and are genetically incapable of hearing the warnings of any canary who isn't politically in tune with them. Thus, it isn't until liberals begin to hear the squawks of liberal canaries that their ears perk up and they begin to take notice, if not heed, of the warnings. (Of course, the same is true of conservatives and conservative canaries. This makes perfect sense as that which is deadly to a conservative is the natural environment of liberals and vice versa...)

Some liberals are squawking, signaling to the rest of the more politically obtuse liberals that the Obama mineshaft is entering territory which may be deadly to liberals.

Robert Byrd, that self-styled defender of the U.S. Constitution, squawks of the dangers Obama's many Czars pose to that beloved document.

When they saw the price tag individual states would have to pay when the federal government stopped paying the bill for the expanded Medicaid under Obama's health care plan, Governors Phil Bredesen of Tennessee, Christine Gregoire of Washington, and Bill Richardson of New Mexico (Liberals all) squawked their shrill cries of warning, perhaps understanding for the first time the dangers of unfunded mandates.

Forty-four liberal canaries squawked (albeit faintly and safely) about cap and tax. Eight Republicans decided that the air in the liberal mineshaft was more to their liking. It remains to be seen whether they will survive their choice.

Mrs. Boxer (who, according to her, is and should be called "Senator" if you happen to be in the military) accidentally became a canary while questioning a witness. Seeing that the witness was black, she mistook the air they shared to be liberal air and sucked in several lungfuls of conservative air. It is likely that she will survive this mistake if she is able to make it back to her natural habitat where the rarified liberal air is likely to revive her.

Even Congressman Grayson, a particularly liberal liberal, is squawking, wanting to know where the money went.

Now, admittedly, these are slight warning to committed liberals, but the number and intensity of warnings is growing. And, while the political class can almost always survive in an environment which would render the ordinary human senseless, the warnings seem to have been sufficient to steer some liberals away from the mineshaft Obama is intent upon leading them into.