How Republicans killed the omnibus spending bill

McCaskill had a difficult time trying to appear both outraged and delighted at the same time. As the most outspoken Democrat against the omnibus bill (who also happens to be up for re-election in 2012, in a swing state), McCaskill said she respected the Republicans who decided to change their votes, but dismissed the notion that the outcome was a win for the GOP. “It’s not a basketball game,” she said. “This isn’t about winning and losing.” She accused McConnell of playing dirty politics. “I think we need to get away from treating the work of the Senate as if it was a sporting event,” she said.

She was also referring to the remarks of freshman Sen. Mark Kirk (R., Ill.), who committed what some might call a “rookie mistake” in the aftermath of Reid’s announcement, by sarcastically inquiring, “Did we just win?” and continuing to egg on a fervid John McCain. Kirk’s rhetorical dig was rather poorly received on the other side of the aisle, to say the least. Kirk’s fellow freshman, Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.), was not impressed. “I hope he wishes he hadn’t done that,” Manchin said. “I wouldn’t have done that.”