Republicans fail again

This should give the base fits and starts.

As reported last night, moderate Republicans forced out the ANWR drilling provision from the latest budget bill. Today, the more extreme have spoken out and force the GOP leadership to scrap the bill for now:

Unable to ensure a majority for a contentious budget-cutting bill even after jettisoning a plan for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, House Republican leaders this afternoon pulled back from a floor debate.

Democrats and other House officials said they had been informed that the budget vote that had been promised repeatedly by the leadership would be postponed. The turmoil was the latest sign of Republican dissension and represented a major embarrassment for the Republican leadership, particularly Roy Blunt of Missouri, who is serving as temporary majority leader and would like the job on a full-time basis if legal troubles persist for Representative Tom DeLay.

Anything that reminds voters of the GOP's problems is alright with me.