Another sign of

Even Democrats? It's a miracle

With a difficult election cycle already underway, Senate Democrats are increasingly embracing tough proposals to bring down the debt and deficit.

Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., on Tuesday became the first Democrat to sign onto a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, a measure sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and introduced the same day by Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.

Democrats embraced a number of costly spending measures over the past two years in an attempt to stabilize a faltering economy. But the provisions, like the $814 billion stimulus bill, have largely proved unpopular with the electorate, particularly with independents. The moves also sparked a growing conservative outrage, including the Tea Party movement. Now, with twice as many Democrats as Republicans facing reelection in the Senate next year and spending still high on the list of voter concerns, some swing state Democrats like Udall are eager to show their fiscal restraint.

Nothing like the outrage of the people you're bankrupting to focus your attention a little. Reminds me of that joke. "How do you want to die?" "I'd like to go peacefully in my sleep, like my father, instead of crying and screaming like the passengers on the bus he was driving."