Missing The Point, Redefined

I'm at a loss for words to describe this.  Morony?  Idiocy?  Political autism?  Animal instinct?  A public relations tin ear the size of the Chrysler Building?

Read the lede and take a stab at it yourselves:

Despite calls from the presidential campaign trail for a Memorial Day-to-Labor Day tax freeze, lawmakers quickly concluded — with a prod from the construction industry — that having $9 billion less to spend on highways could create a pre-election specter of thousands of lost jobs.

Now, lawmakers quietly are talking about raising fuel taxes by a dime from the current 18.4 cents a gallon on gasoline and 24.3 cents on diesel fuel. …

Oberstar, D-MN, said his committee is working on the next long-term highway bill. He estimated it will take between $450 billion and $500 billion over six years to address safety and congestion issues with highways, bridges and transit systems.

“We’ll put all things on the table,” Oberstar said, but the gas tax “is the cornerstone. Nothing else will work without the underpinning of the higher user fee gas tax.” [emphases added]

Gentlebeings, I don't know whether to be dazzled or projectile nauseous.  This is an utterly STUNNING level of either audacity, obliviousness, or overconfidence.  At a time when the price of gasoline at the pump has tsunamied public opinion in to backing full-scale, unfettered oil drilling on the outer continental shelves by better than two to one margins and even a plurality for tapping ANWR, with similar levels of support to letting 'er rip on nuclear energy, when even silly gimmicks like John Sith McCain's summer gas tax "holiday" have gained PR traction, congressional Democrats continue to mindlessly obstruct ANY meaningful change in energy or environmental policy, now want to tack on another ten cents right on top of already spiraling gas prices?  And in pursuit of another avalanche of pork barrel transportation spending?

It harkens back to another old saying: "Whom gods destroy, they first make mad."  How can Democrats possibly be this obtuse and still expect to sweep every seat in Congress in November?  Doesn't this HAVE to redound to their profound disadvantage?  Can even today's GOP truly be incapable of taking this PR uzi they've been gifted and using it to regain the majorities they lost just two short years ago (for very similar reasons)?

Sorry, stupid question - of course they can.  But can Donk stupidity of this magnitude not carry the Republicans to upset victory in spite of themselves?  Won't they have to TRY to bleep this up in order to, well, bleep this up?

Now THAT's hope and change we can believe in.