Yep, Joe Barton Has Been Laundered (UPDATED)

Yesterday, I wondered if the half-life of a Republican scandal was so brief that BP apologist Joe Barton was already back in his party's good graces. Per Politico, the answer is an emphatic "yes":

House Republicans who condemned Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) and threatened to yank his position atop the Energy and Commerce Committee have backed off and will let Barton remain the party's top lawmaker on the panel.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), who rebuked Barton for his BP apology last week, told the House Republican Conference Wednesday morning in a closed door meeting that it's time to move on.

UPDATE: Per David Weigel at the Washington Post, Barton is now thumbing his nose at his critics. Who'll take bets on when he makes his first trip to Iowa?

SECOND UPDATE: Sean Brown, Barton's communications director, has honorably fallen on his sword, emailing to say that it is he--not Barton--who tweeted "Barton Was Right" story.