Lame Duck Session

. . . or what has the Tea Party wrought. There's a nice summary at the Atlantic about this year's lame duck session of Congress. I think that it is going well from a conservative/libertarian point of view. My own round up:

• Defeating Omnibus. This sets us up for some big budget battles, but with a Republican House of Representatives. Two bits of great news, Republicans learned that business as usual wasn't going to fly. Second, no spending to kick off the numerous panels and boards of Obamacare.
• Bush tax cuts extended. Mostly good, but the real issue is that the tax code has become a monstrosity of complexity, sucking the life force out of the economy by distorting investment and spending decisions. I also like the fact that it sets up a fight over the issue when Obama runs for re-election in 2010, where his own words can be used against him.
  
• Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal. Don't care. CDRSalamander had one thought of note.
  
• Food Safety Bill (warning, Orwellian Titling). Republicans seemed to have stopped this perverse expansion of FDA power (whose goal is to kill us with "kindness") into heretofore unregulated areas of food safety, like your garden. They managed to let it get passed.
  
• START Treaty. This seems to be losing momentum. I am honestly not sure if this is good or bad, but since the White House wants to rush, I have to assume it's not good.
• DREAM Act Killed. More backdoor measures promoting amnesty. No deals until we secure the borders. Then there might even be some provisions in the DREAM act we could support, until then NO DEALS.

Overall, the Republicans have played the end game of their very minority status pretty well. It is our job to keep them on the straight and narrow path come January.