The Capitol Hill Insults of the Week: 'I'm Getting Tired of Saving Obama's Can'

Maybe it was Washington's cold and rainy weather. Maybe it was the Saturday work sessions (one down, one to go tomorrow). But for whatever reason, leaders in Washington have been in one foul mood all week, with the result being an unusually ugly round of bipartisan barbs flying across Capitol Hill.

But rather than lament the lack of civility, the Capitolist presents you with our first-ever awards for the top insults hurled between and about lawmakers in Washington.

-- The Them's Fightin' Words Award goes to Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) who delivered a Texas-sized insult for Attorney General Eric Holder after Holder's decision to hold 9/11 terror trials in New York City. Cornyn told Politics Daily, "With all due respect, the Attorney General does not have a clue."

-- The Most Unappetizing Insult Award goes to House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, who said Thursday of the Democrats' plans for health care reform, "I told you several months ago how popular it was. It's as popular as a garlic milkshake."

-- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gets our Velvet Glove Insult Award after insulting the Senate on Thursday with so much finesse we almost didn't catch it. Greeting reporters at her weekly press conference, Pelosi said with a smile, "The last time I saw you, you were asking me when we were going to bring the vote to the floor...How nice not to have that pressure, at least on the House side."

-- Our Friendly Fire Award is for Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) who had some unfriendly observations for President Obama on Bill Press' radio show Thursday. "I'm getting tired of saving Obama's can in the White House," Conyers said, calling the health care bill "nothing to write home about." Asked if Obama is showing enough leadership in the White House, Conyers said, "Of course not. Of course not."

-- And finally, the Oh, No,You Didn't Say That Award is for a remark lobbed recently by California Senate hopeful Carly Fiorina. She jumped into her Senate race for Barbara Boxer's seat with guns blazing and cancer comparisons flying, telling an audience, "I have to say, after chemotherapy, Barbara Boxer just isn't that scary anymore." Fiorina speaks from experience, having just recovered from breast cancer.

With Thanksgiving on the calendar next week, we can only hope lawmakers, and the people who want their jobs, get a little rest and spend more time giving thanks than giving each other grief. But if that's not the case, we'll be back with more awards.