Light bulb wars and Big Green's dim bulbs

By now, most of us know that the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a measure last week to block the ban on ordinary incandescent light bulbs that’s scheduled to begin next year. Odd that a common, inexpensive household item could start a white hot political war, but tea did that once, and last week’s vote has become a symbol of American freedom of choice — and a big election-year issue.

Last month, presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., told the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans that “President Bachmann will allow you to buy any light bulb you want.”