56-44, That's Our Number

We have been lampooning Senator Stevens as the Grinch lately, but apparently the Alaska Republican fancies himself more the muscular superhero than the puny-hearted villain: Stevens has been wearing his Incredible Hulk tie on the Senate floor. In either case, he gives green a bad name.

No matter. The great good news is that, even in Hulk guise, Senator Stevens was unable to throw enough weight around to get the 60 votes he needed to keep Arctic drilling in the defense spending bill, where even pro-drilling advocates knew it didn't belong. In the face of a threatened filibuster, the provision was finally dropped. For now, at least, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is safe.

So, let there be much rejoicing in Who-ville! Who knows? Maybe, just maybe, the Senator's heart will treble in size.