The Senate has voted to confirm Timothy Geithner, who didn’t pay his income taxes for years and lied and cheated on them when he finally did, as treasury secretary.

What can I say?

It’s just the most honest and ethical administration ever. Change we can believe in.

But this disgusting affirmation and acceptance of behavior that would be unacceptable among anyone else was unfortunately bipartisan.

Ten Republicans voted for Geithner.

The normally squishy Susan Collins of Maine was not among them, nor was the sometimes squishy Dick Lugar or the often squishy Arlen Specter.

(Read more after the leap)

Three Democrats and the Socialist Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders, voted against rolling over for tax evasion and fraud. The Socialist! And such notable liberals as Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Tom Harkin of Iowa, and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin opposed Geithner as well.

What does this mean?

Ultimately, were it not for certain Republicans caving, Geithner’s nomination could have been defeated by a filibuster, and the United States could have a treasury secretary that respects its tax laws. The American people would know that no one man is indispensable and that no one is above the law (a point Democrats have been screaming about for years when it came to Republicans caught in far less cut-and-dried situations).

And given the opposition of various prominent Democrats to Geithner’s nomination, its defeat would have been bipartisan.

Name and shame. Here are the ten Republicans that made this travesty possible:

Bob Corker (Republican of Tennessee)
John Cornyn (Republican of Texas)
Mike Crapo (Republican of Idaho)
John Ensign (Republican of Nevada)
Lindsey Graham (Republican of South Carolina)
Judd Gregg (Republican of New Hampshire)
Orrin Hatch (Republican of Utah)
Richard Shelby (Republican of Alabama)
Olympia Snowe (Republican of Maine)
George Voinovich (Republican of Ohio)

Kit Bond (Republican of Missouri) was not present, but would have voted against Geithner had he not missed his plane to get to the vote.

John Cornyn is the head of the Republican Senatorial Committee. So much for him getting any money from me this cycle. If the head of the GOP’s Senate campaign arm can’t stand up against a Democrat who is cheating on his taxes, then what will he stand up for?

Jim Inhofe says it all: