GOP “At The Behest of a Fringe Group That Has Taken Over Party” (Video)
hotairpundit ^ | 3/20/10 | HAP
Yeah, those people waving an American flag demanding that elected leaders adhere to the Constitution are a real fringe group…CBS released this clip of the 60 minutes interview that will air Sunday night (Video)
(Excerpt) Read more at hotairpundit.blogspot.com …
What’s on my mind is all those who have been ELECTED by people who have put them into power: and have sworn to ‘protect and defend’ the USA constitution, but are breaking it or not following it have usurped their duty and should be removed from ‘power’ at whatever level they are.
There are days, Xana. I currently am working towards two licenses in health care, my EMT-B and RN, and even the career (Union) staff in my county detest this thing. The Medics and EMS Supervisors are all grumbling about how much they already have to cover their asses, and anticipate this’ll make things worse.
Haven’t worked in nursing since pregnant with my second child, but I won’t ever forget being a student. Highest unit load per major at my university (nothing like finding that out halfway through. LOL).
I saw my first Impeach Obama bumper sticker in Los Angeles County today.
It’s probably the only one of it’s kind and will cause Obots in their Prius’s to call 911 reporting a drive by racial attack which will then cause a police chase and next thing you know, Al Sharpton and Rep. Maxine Waters call a press conference about highway RAACISM.
Sweet. There are many Impeach Obama bumper stickers in Texas, usually outnumbered by variations of OBAMA (Oh what a Big A@@ Mistake for America; Obama is a…, you get the idea). Glad to hear the sentiment is shared by at least one person in LA County.
I’ve been trying to order an IMPEACH CONGRESS and IMPEACH OBAMA bumper sticker and they are COMPLETELY back-ordered right now. I’m getting some custom made. I talked to a guy who sells these things and he said he is so overwhelmed with requests right now he can’t make them fast enough.
On my mind… That I need sleep soon, and I need to pray. Pray for our country’s freedom. Pray that we will be heard this weekend…
Sometimes, I’m almost afraid to pray for this, wondering what it’ll be like if my prayers go unanswered…
But “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he gives his beloved sleep.” I’ve got to stop worrying for now.
Our bed is 10 years old, and it is due for renewal. We are upgrading to a king size bed, and instead of mattress and base we are getting a slat bed with ends….
Our current bedhead is more than 30 years old. This year we will be married 34 years so do the Math :)
Of course this meant new sheet sets, new doona… new doona cover………….
Aussie, congrats on your lovely new bed.
I am a firm believer in ‘indulging’ oneself when it comes to our bed, our haven, the place where we spend so much time. So, good for you for going ‘all out’.
The bed I now have used to be in my guest room, but since moving into a smaller house, I put it in my room and it’s the best bed I’ve ever had.
Antique white iron frame and the mattress and box spring make it very high.
I made an awesome canopy for it, which is suspended from the ceiling and makes it extremely cozy.
I hope you enjoy many restful hours in your new bed. Hang the expense! You’re worth it.
I do not know what tomorrow and Sunday will bring. I feel like we’ve played this scenario over and over again (mainly because we have) each time to be let down. I pray that is not the case this time.
There’s a thunderstorm brewing here tonight. I’m not sure if I believe in omens, but it does seem ominous.
I will continue to pray for the safety of everyone in Washington, DC this weekend. There’s also going to be a rally for communists and socialists there this weekend, which sounds like a riot waiting to happen. I pray for the preservation and restoration of this great nation.
Last night I was trying to wrap my head around what’s going on, and what a world without the United States would look like. I was saying a prayer then too, and told the Lord that I simply couldn’t process the thought of the US collapsing because I’ve never seen what that would look like. Before I even finished the thought, I remembered when we drove through El Paso. On our left was the United States; on the right, across the border, was a shantytown. I remembered the recent riots in Greece, at the G20, in France; the footage I’ve seen of Tienanmen Square. I remembered the footage Glenn Beck showed recently of Madison Square Garden full of people at a Nazi rally back in the 30′s and the Hitler Youth parade that was held in the Hamptons.
The point being made was obvious: I have seen it, we all have, and we need to disabuse ourselves of this notion that we’re somehow immune from it here. There is no magic freedom force field on the borders of the United States. The balance of power is in reality precarious, and these clowns are trying to tip the scales in their favor.
I’m feeling unusually somber tonight. The thunderstorm is now overhead, and my son is asleep on my arm. I know we’re safe from the elements outside, but I worry if I can shelter him from the storm brewing over the country. I’ve come to the conclusion that all I can do is what I’ve been doing already, though perhaps more of it. You guys here really keep me going; while I’m here I want to say thank you, to everyone, and whatever happens this weekend, I am proud to continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with all of you and continue our fight against those who would try to destroy the greatest nation this world has ever known. May we make the Greatest Generation proud.
But fear not. Even if health care passes on Sunday, the fight is far from over.
Orrin Hatch has said there will be amendments proposed that will have to send it back to the floor at least two more times for votes.
Many states are going to immediately sue if it eventually becomes law.
The mandate will be challenged and I’m fairly certain it will be struck down.
2010 is going to bring enormous changes, like ’93 or even greater. Worst case scenario, the Republicans succeed in hamstringing this thing before it ever really gets started.
All we have to do is CONTINUE to fight, continue to speak out, and continue to get our friends and family involved and seeing things our way.
I hope and pray that if it passes it won’t be virtually impossible to ever reverse it as is generally the case. The courts have become so liberal and no telling if they will even “consider” this “rules” issue, even though it directly violates the Constitution.
Not True. It will be easy to repeal because most of the things we object to don’t even go into effect until 2013. Don’t drink the Koolaid from the left that is saying that.
Our constitution was written SPECIFICALLY so that no legislation is permanent. SPECIFICALLY…no party can deem it unchangable. They did that because they were smart. NO CONGRESS can pass legislation that cannot be reversed.
Don’t let the liberals convince you otherwise. I am seeing A LOT of comments being repeated that are talking points of the LEFT. We CAN’T. We won’t be able to…We LOST. That’s BALONEY!!!!!
Fiscally responsible conservatives know how to fix this and we WILL WIN this fight. Piglosi can gloat all day long…In November she is back to the pig pen.
Dee, if Demonpass is overturned by SCOTUS it will be as if it never existed. At least that is my understanding of it. Mark Levin’s site probably has better info.
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!
Rays of hope and change are all around….real hope and change.
For instance, it wasn’t long ago when Beck first told us about the ACORN office down in New Orleans and all their ties, I recall feeling so overwhelmed and hopeless.
NOW:
“After the activists’ videos came to light and swiftly became fodder for 24-hour cable news coverage, private donations from foundations to Acorn all but evaporated and the federal government quickly distanced itself from the group.
The Census Bureau ended its partnership with the organization for this year’s census, the Internal Revenue Service dropped Acorn from its Voluntary Income Tax Assistance program, and Congress voted to cut off all grants to the group.”
EXACTLY!!! The fight has just started. Obama has created a HUGE, HUGE mess for himself. It’s not like this is going to pass and all the sudden the country forgets. Taxes go up. Premiums go up. People will get laid off. Obama has a huge basket of issues he’s got to deal with…and an entire country who thinks he is a marxist socialist trying to destroy the economy. The Democrats don’t have a prayer next November.
The majority of this bill will not come to pass and don’t let the liberals convince you otherwise.
Keep in mind that, according to Hussein’s own words, we are indeed going to be fired up.
We “lose”? FIRED UP! ANGRY! FOCUSED! FIGHTING MAD!!!
We “win”? It’s just the first quarter of the game….we score….and then. Then. THEN…we take it to them. We start running up the score like they have never faced. We will be FIRED UP! ANGRY! FOCUSED! FIGHTING MAD!!
No matter what happens–we WILL BE fired up. And we.will.win.
Many years ago, a Christian friend had been dealing with horrible and tragic circumstances that seemed to have no end. It was finally “over” and she had survived, but (she felt like)..just barely. She said that as she prayed, asking for strength, she really felt like the Lord whispered to her heart, “You haven’t lost. You won. You don’t know what you were up against.”
So no matter, fellow patriots, WE WIN. We are already winning! Do you think that in their worst dreams they thought that 12 months after he ascended the throne of their making that they would facing THIS right now, in March of 2010?? No way.
Done, my friends. I called Bachmann’s offices two weeks ago — I wrote a post to you about it under the “Contact” thread (#175). Check it out — it was a very positive experience.
I argued for the need for the GOP to adopt a strong federalism plank, so the party can represent a broad coalition of conservative Americans… which is what you are, HillBuzz
Boyz! You right-wingers, you! :)
I believe Sarah (and I suspect Michelle) already is well aware of you. You must know that there is a link to Hillbuzz at conservatives4palin.
Sarah is a master strategist. You have not heard from her up to now, but I suspect you will hear from her when her plan is complete.
Meanwhile, you are doing your part, organizing “your peeps.”
Think about this. Many of us who label ourselves Christian conservatives came to a gay Democratic website via Rush Limbaugh. Remember that old saying that the pen is mightier than the sword? Well, by virtue of the gift of writing that God has given you, you have managed to persuade many of us to come here daily to read and ponder what you have to write. As you have been willing to share your lives with us, we in turn, have shared our lives with you and in so doing, have found common ground in our love for our country. By your pen, you have knit together unique individuals to the point that when you suggest we do something, we take action.
Sarah is watching this. Now, I’m not saying that she wakes up every morning and reads every post of yours and every response to your posts. But, there are probably others around her who are monitoring your site and are well aware of what is happening.
I am only guessing here, but I suspect that there is no need at this point, in her mind, to make an official contact. What is happening here is like a garden that is being prepared for seed. One must dig up the ground. Another must pull out the weeds and stones. One must level the ground and add fertilizer. Another must plant the seed and water it. In order for a plant to grow, the seed must die. I feel like that is where we are. No matter what our political or religious persuasion prior to coming to Hillbuzz, we are dying to some of our preconceived ideas. It has even happened with you Boyz, when you went to that little Catholic church the other night. When the plant has grown and is ready to be used, Sarah will use you (and us).
On another front, I really hope that Netanyahu has taken the advice of e.g. Melanie Phillips and Caroline Glick to heart and uses his days in the States to reach out to the American people directly — not only to the political people in Washington who oppose this Administration’s Israel policy.
In the movie, there is an evil corporation called “The Union”.
I wasn’t sure if the name of the company was an intentional jab at unions, or just a coincidence.
Though they never really mention the topic, throughout the movie, I kept thinking to myself, there is absolutely no way that a company this evil could exist without the willful blessing of the government.
My money is on the government chasing some “socialist utopia”. It sure seems that way based on the setting.
I also kept thinking how nice it would be for us all to become “Constitutional Repo Men” (and women). I have a fantasy of 200 million Americans marching on Washington, barging into a Congressional session and saying something like
“We’re here to take back our country, mother******s”
Wonder how or where we find out when Reid and the others dems birthdays are? I would love to send them a card telling them I have honored their birthday by contributing to their opponents compaign.
I’m not living in a fantasy land. I know there is very little hope for an impeachment when the democrats control congress, but it can’t hurt for this word to be mentioned and cause people to start thinking about it.
Personally, the words I would rather see are ‘treason’ and ‘hanging’.
I wonder, WHEN the Repubs take back the House & Senate this year, the remaining Dems sure better vote to impeach Obama if they want any hope of preserving the Dem party.
I’m good with treason as well, at least failing to uphold the Constitution. Obama may win the battle over health care reform but lose the legal war with the states. He is assured a place in history, just not the one he desires.
I would just love to see a huge Conservative majority take congress and proceed to embarrass the hell out of Obummer for 3 more years. Relegate him to impotence and take his “historic election” to infamy.
Funny you say that, because I’ve been saying since the moment I first heard of the “Slaughter Rule” that if this bill is signed into law, I would work to see that she [Slaughter] and Pelosi would swing for treason.
Of course, I don’t have any pull whatsoever, nor do I work in an industry where I could do anything about this. But I will throw everything I have behind someone who can do this and pursues it…
Hold our reps to the fire to make sure they take action against the traitors, don’t let business go back to usual. I don’t give a rats if they all play poker and golf with each other after they leave the congress. You comport with criminals, you’ll go down with them.
I just heard that Stupak has scheduled a press conference for 11:00 AM (ET).
I don’t know if I’m disappointed, angry, depressed, surprised, or what. I just know the emotions twirling around inside me are making me feel ill.
He is going to upset a lot of people. I was actually feeling sympathy for the man when he told of the harrassment he and his wife have been going through.
What could nancy have threatened him with? Or what could she have promised him to make him turn?
Promised him, cross her heart and hope to die, that he could re-write abortion funding out of the bill at the same time they pass the bill tomorrow (or, if he’s caved by now, today)?
I always feared they might be willing to dispose of the abortion funding in the bill at the last minute to get pro-life votes, if only for the reason that the federal gov’t already gives so much money to Planned Parenthood and other “charities” offering abortion services. Pelosi knows that there are indirect ways for the gov’t to fund abortion, too.
Oh no!!! I am so thoroughly disgusted with this whole process. I expected a government takeover from this crew…what has shocked me(why, I don’t know..hope springs eternal, I guess) is the blatant corruption and the Democrats shrugging it off as “oh well, that’s how Washington works”!!! Why has he not been taken to task for his promise to put it all on CSpan so we can see how the deals went down? The promised “no mandates”? The “must have public option”?
I don’t want this plan, but what upsets me more is watching Obama just skate through with no accountability and with continued adoration. It’s terrifying.
I prayed yesterday for our country. I prayed that if these pass this POS bill, it will not defeat freedom loving people across the spectrum, it will only unite us.
We are repubs, dems, indies on this board, we have many disgareements, but we all want freedom, we all want free will, we all want choices on how to live our lives.
And that is why we are ALL pissed off.
People… remember, the fight is only begun. Everytime I hear that idiot Juan Williams on Fox News go “people will forget about this by november 2010″, and “its an anti-incumbuncy feeling, against repubs AND dems”
IT IS NOT!
my fellow hillary peeps have NOT forgotten what happened 2 years ago on May 31th, 2008, why the hell would we forget this $hit that is only about 6 months away from movember 2010??
AND HEY TROLLS…. A REMINDER… I AM A DEMOCRAT/INDEPENDENT.. I AM MORE PISSED OFF AND DISGUSTED AT THE RADICAL LUNATICS/DIMOCRATS THAN I EVER WAS AT BUSH.
Let me give you a hint, the anti-incumbancy feeling… ITS AGAINST THE FREAKING DIMOCRATS MAINLY!.
I have voted for every dimocrat my entire voting life, at the local, state and federal level, didn’t matter if I knew who they were so long as they had a “D” after there name.
I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR A DIMOCRAT EVER IN MY LIFE AGAIN! EVER!
This country was built on freedom, THERE IS NO OTHER COUNTRY LIKE AMERICA. THere is only ONE!!!
IF they ram thru this $hit, remember, the fight will continue, will we tire, will we complain? oh yes.
But it is nothing compared to what the founding fathers and soldiers went thru. THey gave up their lands, they cushy lifelstyle, THEIR OWN LIVES.
AND it did not come overnight, it took close to 10 years for the British to completely concede defeat.
And yes WHY did the American patriots revolt?
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
“
and the list of greviances against their govt(part of it)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence:
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
sound familiar??
PLEASE remember, this fight is NOT over on Sunday, THE fight has just begun. All of us have never seen anything like this in our lives, WE HAVE A CHOICE NOW.
We can accept it or fight back.
I have never been politically active, like a rubber band now stretched, I cannot go back to living in oblivion. Do I get scared at what is being forced down our throats? Not anymore, I firmly believe we have brought to this point so we cannot just bury our heads in the sand and hope it all goes away.
This is no longer dems vs repubs, its totalrians-dimocrats vs the American people.
We will all stand together and defeat this. Have faith. This country has survived a lot more this Marxist Messaih, and will survive this, grow stronger and more uniter and we will defeat this.
Our eyes have now been opened, its all been building up to this for years now, we have stand up and hold firm and fight back.
//thanks for letting me share my views, my love for this country. I want you all to take 4 minutes to watch this, this is who we are. this is why we will prevail. this is why we as Americans across the political spectrum will unite even stronger, survive and grow stronger and defeat the nonsense that has now taken over the WH and Congress.
We’re two peas in a pod on this. I can’t see myself voting Democrat ever again at his time. I think the Democratic party has done irreparable harm to its brand, and it just might slither off and die an ignominious death.
Yep; I said it before, it’s like the story in the Old Testament, with Moses leading the Jews out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. He climbed Mt. Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments but was gone so long, his people got scared. Not surprisingly, they reverted back to the familiar, resuming their idol-worshiping ways. They melted down all of their gold to fashion a golden calf, and began praying to the idol for deliverance. Moses returned and, seeing what they had done, threw down the tablets. Then God spoke to Moses and commanded, lead these people through the desert another 40 years before taking them to Canaan, the promised land. That way, all generations which have known slavery will have perished.
For me too — once a Democrat, in the aftermath of 9/11 an Independent — I shall never vote for someone with a D after his or her name again. In those — probably rare — cases where that person is nonetheless deserving of election, I shall vote for him or her but as a write-in candidate only, or, as happens sometimes in New York, as the candidate of another party that has placed him or her concurrently on the ballot.
For the sake of our political system, two strong parties are needed, but it may be that an entirely new one will have to replace the Democrats.
Yes, the “third party” may end up being some re-creation of Independent Democrats who simply will not return to the “democrat” label. Hmmmmm….that’s interesting. We do need two parties…
I’ve always been an independent, and now I know I’ve always been a Libertarian (fiscally conservative, socially moderate). I’ve voted accordingly.
Now I know that’s not enough. I have to vote for people who LOVE this country as I do. And even more than that, I have to be fully involved, even if I choose not to pursue a political office myself.
Honey, I’m a registered Republican, but have always voted for the individual, and that means that I’ve pretty much voted for every party that there has ever been. Rep, Dem, Ind, heck even Green.
Not anymore. Not again. A barrier has been crossed by the Democrats. A boundary of civility, respect and responsibility that has been transgressed. Risks being taken with our nation that are so frightening that I cannot pretend any longer that this party loves America and that we just have different ideas as to how to do things.
I have always been a patriot but when I see the absolute possibility of losing everything that had ever been fought for…when I see the liberties and freedoms that so many died for taken for granted and either being given up or forcefully taken away by those who have no respect for their fellow citiizens, only the greedy infantile need for power at all costs…
Then it’s time to take a stand and I’m taking mine. No more.
We are in a war. Right now we like soldiers when the enemy is on the assault. We have to try to hold our position and make their endeavor as hard and bitter as possible – inflict losses, obstruct, rain fire on them, make it hard.
The thing about being a soldier is – that it is an internal thing too. Under assault, we are challenged by despair, bleakness, a feeling of being weak and vulnerable. To overcome this we need to strongly be in fortitude, a set and dogged will to adhere to our goals, and the bloodyminded dedication to make their every effort as hard as f**cking possible for the enemy.
Right now we hold hard under an assault. Fact is it’s their game right now, they’ve got the ball and they might be able to ram this pig through.
But after that it’s our turn and we must assault with a WILL. In every state in every neighborhood in every vote in every place at every level of community and government online and IRL. Recalls and ballot initiatives, local and state and national fundraising, communicating with people, rallying.
Whenever you have expectations like longing for winning or longing for the fight to end, we have to try to LET GO of expectations. Just be the fight. Be in the fight. Expectations can trip you up and make you weak or lose your head when what we need is clear headedness and clear vision to watch the enemy and pursue our own course clearly.
We are defending our country, our families and everything we love so we must to everything possible to cultivate our every strength and minimize our every weakness.
It is our own personal attributes and abilities. Look at hillbuzz – they know the enemy the best. They also know fundraising, politics and they way it all operates, and how to read the tea leaves. They also communicate far and wide.
Look into yourself and into your life so far and find what your natural weapons are. They will be different for everybody. Is it your knowledge of socialism in other countries? Is it your wide network of friends and families? Is it your knowledge of the government or of the law? Is it your ability to inspire and encourage others? To comfort them? That you have free time in which to organize rally or make calls. Do you have media connections?
Someone posted on the ‘gut feeling’ thread below that we are in a battle of truth and our weapons are ourselves, that Gandhi called this satyagraha. This is my take on what that poster was saying.
We need to raise our fellow warriors too. For example in Virginia we elected Cuccinelli to the AG, and he’s going to file suit if this pig is passed. Thank you god for sending us a warrior like him right now. We need them to fight at every level because they want to control us at every level – look at this business of turning on the water (after all these months!) in California to get 2 votes on obamacare – so wrong in leaders who never listened to the needs of the suffering people but used them for their own gain. GRR.
We have an army to raise, at the local, state and national level. This is an election year. We will need to raise them, train them and ourselves, and provision (fund) them.
Last night I dreamed I was in a large audience and an emcee announced Tina Fey who came onto the stage and in the dream I stood up and started BOOing (or is it boohing?). And then the rest of the audience began to boo as well.
Me, too. Somehow that information needs to be as famous as “I can see Alaska from my house.” How can we do that? The water issue indicts the whole corrupt system.
Perries, you are a very articulate leader – yes, leader. Would you consider running for office yourself? You can start small. I’ll do what I can from Richmond to help you.
Other weapons: KEEPING CALM and KEEPING OUR SENSE OF HUMOR.
They’re trying to frighten us and provoke us. As tempting as it is to fall into Eeyore-despair or spitting incoherent View-like fury — if we do that, we lose.
We choose our own reactions. My Congressman will probably ignore the fax I sent him yesterday (took half an hour to get through, btw), but I choose my own reaction. Will I sink into gloom and doom? Will I do something foolish and violent? Or will I shake my head, trust in God, and move on? (And maybe draw a cartoon ridiculing the guy to post on the Internet?)
“The devil, that proud spirit, cannot bear to be mocked.” –Thomas More
I fear that people will be pushed to the breaking point and things will overflow into violence. Then they will have the excuse to (1) label us as violent, crazies, and (2) impose martial law. None of that would be good, obviously.
I’m so thankful to have a GREAT diversion from the mess in DC today. Going to see Nora Ephron’s “Love, Loss, and What I Wore” in NYC with 2 of my faves..Fran Drescher and Carol Kane. I’ll laugh, I’ll cry, I’ll love on my friends..then come home and puke of this bill.
She wrote a book called “Cancer, Shmancer” and started a non-profit to help other women with cancer, to help them fight and advocate for their health needs. She’s a real dynamo.
JT… congratulations on nursing school, best of luck to you! hang in there!! When you need a break for schoolwork, take it, the rest of us have your back.
If they ram this thing through I believe our Country will fall silent. I’ve lived through several hurricanes; the silence will be like the eye of the storm. Woe be to those who plot our destruction from within. They have not begun to see the power of the American Patriot when the eye passes over and the winds begin to blow.
But, they will see a CAT 6 coming straight at them.
They don’t make me sick, they’re just young and incredibly stupid. Doing a happy dance that someone else is going to pay their bills…until they realize that THEY are the ‘rich’ and then the whining, screaming and gnashing of teeth will be deafening.
And I won’t shake my fist at them, I’ll just LMAO and tell them that they got what they voted for.
I’m Asian, I read AsianTimes regualrly, they are just aceelerating so much over in China and Asia in general.
No cap n tax shit, no healthcare mandates, no capital gains taxes on investments.
theere is not as much uncertainty in China as in the US for businesses.
I am so scared for my country, these asshoels in DC and congress are trueling gutting our country.
Don’t be afraid. We are about to witness history. We will make history and we will make a future for our children.
There are ways to starve the Beast. I am closing my bank accounts, stocking up on non-perishables, water, batteries, candles, sterno, a generator and breaking out my food sealer so that we can store meats and vegetables in a chest freezer.
Just doing some “pre-hurricane” season prep. I’ll be prepared to help my neighbors when the 2nd shoe falls.
If these idiots think that they can outsmart us, they’ve got another thing coming. I’m withdrawing my financial support for the Federal Government because they do not represent me.
We will get through this, sister. Trust me. We can do anything.
Thank you. These people have not outsmarted us; they only had a head start before we got up to speed. We will fix this undemocratic mess, and next time, prevent this from happening. (There are still no regulations in place that would prevent another too-big-to-fail multi-billion dollar bailout of the financial services industry.)
I was on a conference call this week going over trading volumes for global exchanges. While the US shrank, there are huge amounts of capital being focused on Asia, and to a lesser extent South America.
The US was the financial capital of the world becuase every investor knew that we would keep their money safe.
I am doing what I can today in my own little corner…
Tonight is our county Republican Central Committee’s Lincoln/Reagan Dinner. I will be there – as will my husband, who hasn’t attended in five years because of his medical situation, because it’s one way to show we are active participants in this fight against the takeover of our country by the subversive forces within.
I have volunteered to run the campaign of one of the new generation of candidates who is willing to step up for the first time and work through the system for a better future for our state. So I will be hauling my butt out of bed here to go get balloons to stamp with “Vote Phoebe” and tie with bright ribbons to decorate the room with. At 10, I will meet with my son – who is contributing his time and talents too – to complete the initial work on her campaign website. And I will be printing out cards and envelopes requesting donations and support for her election.
Will this do anything to stop Obamacare this weekend? No. Not really. But if we can flip this one legislative seat from Democrat to Republican, then Montana will be able to stand stronger against a federal mandate that we cannot afford and do not support.
The point of this rant – Even if you can’t change the vote of your Congress critter for this bill – you can get involved and you can begin to effect a change that will have long-lasting impacts on the direction this country will go in the future. Get in the trenches!!!!
By the way – there is one other little thing you can do when you file your income taxes: Don’t check the box to donate $ to the federal presidential election fund. This would be mostly symbolic – but symbols are effective.
me? I trying to figure out the details on how to get a ballot intitiative in VA that puts the Fed. mandate on the November 2010 ballot.
If that is struck down, the entire thing dissolves.
my guess is a ballot intiative require a certain number of signatures, if it does, I will start working the VA tea Party to see how to get that started.
ssmith, AG Cuccinelli could ‘out’ BO right now, if he just launched an investigation into charges filed with his office that Nancy Pelosi committed election fraud in VA by swearing to the Board of Elections, BO is a NBC so they would print his name on the ballot; without ascertaining beforehand whether he was Constitutionally eligible for the job. (The VA citizen complaint is in the sidebar on the blog, http://jbjd.wordpress.com )
from what I understand, if they change the Senate bill, then if it is passed, then it cannot go for a signature, it still has to go back to the Senate for their approval.
They are trying some little used procedure, but the parlimetarian said, this is what that procedure was used for.
I suspect that the GOP will be blocking this.
Fear not. If they ram this thru, so be it. they have now abused the American people so much, we have no choice but to fight back.
I’m a member of my county’s Republican Central Committee – got elected to that spot simply because they needed someone from my precinct to do it and they asked – it was that simple. I am now PUMPED to WORK, WORK, WORK to throw out the bum that just caved yesterday to Mistress Nancy’s pressure to vote for this unconstitutional mess. I have done the door-to-door and phone bank thing before on the Presidential level but have never before been so engaged on the down-ticket races. My view is now that ANY candidate that is willing to have a D next to their name has claimed the Obama/Pelosi/Reid values as their own and are proclaimimng it with their party affiliation. They all need to go – LIKE THE SNAKES FROM IRELAND… Hey, can you guys make up a Hillbuzz tee shirt with your cute little bee and just have that phrase on there? We’ll all know what it means! Just asking.
OhioDee – do we share the same rotten scoundral as a supposed “representative”? I called Boccieri MANY times opposing this thing and told him he was sworn to uphold the Constitution, not skirt around it. He only voted “no” the last time because Nancy let him. Out he goes!
His approval/disapproval numbers match those for the health-care “reform” — which may be a mere coincidence, but could mean more than that.
Note that this coming week Rasmussen will be offering more detailed polling information about him and presumably other politicians: “On Monday, Rasmussen Reports will begin rolling out new features for measuring the performance of the President and other politicians. Also, next week, we will launch new features that will help track information on a state by state basis.” That could mean we’ll have something other than slanted polls to gauge a two-way race between O and Palin.
43% huh? I’d guess that all blacks are approving of him, all the liberals, and some who voted for him but can’t yet admit the mistake they made. If he were white he’d likely be in the high 20′s approval.
I’ve been reading a little bit about the coup de ‘etat in Chile in 1973 and the similarities are striking to Obama. Obama is like Salavatore Allende, the marxist dictator elected in 1970. Once he was elected he went about radically changing the system from the inside. The people revolted, that’s why General Augusto Pinochet overthrew the gov’t. Not the typical lefty lie that Allende was democratically elected, and the mean old conservative military wanted to stop a Marxist Paradise because they were in the pockets of the rich.
The similarities to Honduras just last year is striking too. Same old lefty lies. A democratically elected government of Zelaya was trying to help the poor…..blah, blah, blah.
With the recent earthquake in Chile, Geraldo made a quick passing remark about the history of Chile, “The overthrow of the DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED gov’t in 1973″
Why the hell do these lefties always use that old line “The democratically elected government was overthrown”.
These dicators get elected, then they radically, unconsitutionally and illegally change the gov’t, build up fascist power centers and dare anyone to stop them.
History repeats again.
I bet if Obama gets thrown out or overthrown you’ll hear the same thing. The DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED gov’t of Barack Obama was overthrown by the mean old Rich republicans.
I had the strangest thought just now — from the news reports it seems that among the group of pro-choice Democrats in the House who are threatening to vote against the Reid bill if it is amended as Stupak wants, is Louise Slaughter! Wouldn’t it just cap off this whole outrageous process were the thing to pass somehow and she, with her allies, did a complete turn and joined the court case against this “law” deemed passed by her own strategem?
Seriously, though, I’m waiting for Stupak’s press conference and the reaction from that fraction of Democrats. On the one hand it could all just be a stage-managed counterfeit battle before they all unite to deem the thing done; but on the other hand it could well be an intra-party war.
The further warnings from the ‘Pubs in the Senate to the House are very welcome.
What aren’t people aren’t understanding is that Hatch and everyone talking about amendments and such are all talking about the Reconciliation Bill. It’s the Reconciliation Bill they are passing tomorrow (or trying to). Within that bill is the language that “deems” the Senate HCR bill passed. Once the Rec bill is passed, Pelosi will “separate out” the Senate bill that was just deemed passed, and send it to Reid for his rubber stamp and then it is put on Obama’s desk. The Reconciliation Bill still has to go to the Senate for approval and that is what all the threats are about. Yes – it will be a slug-fest over the Rec Bill – but that matter nought. The Senate HCR bill will be signed into law within 15 minutes of the House Passing the Rec Bill.
I know it’s confusing – but the Rec Bill is what Pelosi et al have been using to promise all the crap to get Yes votes. The stupid, idiotic representatives (and what the Senate Republicans have been trying to tell them.) have a snow-ball’s chance in hell of the Senate passing their Reconciliation, or at least it will take a very long time.
But Dr. U, Piglosi and Rabid Reid just know that by tomorrow night we will most likely have a health crime law that launches the first major battle on their question to make us Venezuela.
And since I just let myself slip into depression with this post – I had to go back and read what another poster gave us yesterday. Please read it – it will give you hope.
This where Levin comes in. He says that if they use this method to pass both the Senate bill and reconcilliation (amendments) combined, then break out the Senate bill to send to Obama – this is unconstitutional because they did not pass and sign the exact same bills in all phases. It will be illegitimate and unenforceable.
Goodness knows that I am no lawyer, so I don’t understand all this either. However, it was my understanding that the deem and pass thing was part of the rule for the reconciliation bill and not part of the bill itself. In which case, it would not be a different bill in the Senate, just a different rule. Can someone with a better understanding of how all this works clear this up for me? If it is part of the rule to deem the Senate health care bill as being passed when the reconciliation bill passes, does that mean the Senate health care bill is part of the reconciliation bill too? If that is the case, then it would make it two different reconciliation bills being voted on in the Senate and House.
Upcoming Rally with Governor Palin and Congresswoman Bachmann
Woodbury – Congresswoman Michele Bachmann t announced an upcoming rally with former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. The free rally, which is open to all, will take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center on April 7, 2010 and begins at 2:00pm. Hosted by the Republican Party of Minnesota, the event will surely be a memorable occasion.
“We are delighted to welcome Governor Sarah Palin, to our beautiful state of Minnesota. Governor Palin represents so many Americans that are tired of business as usual in Washington. I encourage everyone to join us at the upcoming rally, and send a powerful message to Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the liberals in Congress,” stated Congresswoman Bachmann.
Tickets are being distributed on a first come, first served basis. To acquire your free tickets please visit rally.mngop.com or call 651-222-0022.
Governor Sarah Palin will also be hosting a reception and dinner fundraiser for Congresswoman Michele Bachmann for more details please click HERE.
The only reason I’m looking at firedog is because it IS liberal- they’re going to (if anything) post it from what the left is seeing. That way it can’t be any worse than what they say there. This is the latest from firedog; and they ARE confused: http://news.firedoglake.com/
*****************
The Stupak Amendment Is Back: What’s an Enrollment Corrections Bill?
By: David Dayen Friday March 19, 2010 7:38 pm
Jane has gone over this, but what Bart Stupak hinted at today has apparently come true. Stupak’s four-page “enrollment corrections” bill will get some sort of vote in the House as part of the overall health care bill. You can look at the scans of the four-page document here. It’s essentially the Stupak amendment.
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
On page 2, you can see clearly that it says “Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require any health plan to provide coverage of abortion services or to allow the secretary or any other person or entity implementing this Act (or amendment) to require coverage of such services,” and then later, “None of the funds appropriated by this Act… shall be expended for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion, except in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed…. or unless the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.”
This is the Stupak amendment, right down to the language on Page 3 about a separate abortion rider (which is not currently offered in any state where private coverage is banned). And it’s added as a “concurring resolution” to this bill.
Now, can that work? What about reconciliation? Don’t the changes have to be budget-related? What’s the deal with this “enrollment corrections”?
A concurrent resolution doesn’t have to be signed by the President, just adopted by the House and Senate. Enrollment corrections are typically reserved for technical changes to a bill happening in between passage and signage – before “enrollment” of the bill.
The question here seems to come down to how this is presented. Does this enrollment correction get tucked into the reconciliation bill and then “deemed” (there’s that word again) passed by the Senate? Would it have to be a stand-alone measure? What about the Byrd rule?
I asked Sarah Binder, a parliamentary expert and a professor at George Washington University, about all this. She doesn’t quite think it’s possible. Specifically, she says that “any enrollment corrections resolution considered to be more than a technical correction would need unanimous consent (in the Senate) to be adopted.” Failing that, it could possibly run through a cloture vote, basically 60 votes in the Senate. But if it’s inside the reconciliation process, then one Senator merely can challenge the language of one line of the bill and get the concurrent resolution ordered out of the sidecar.
It seems it may come down to WHEN the vote happens. If it occurs before the final vote, Congress might be able to get away with having it included in the total bill. But that doesn’t seem like it would work, for reasons that David Waldman explains here:
It seems to me that if the Senate parliamentarian is indeed insisting that the reconciliation bill address “current law,” then that means the Senate bill must be not only enrolled, but signed by the President before reconciliation can be considered, at least in the Senate. I assume the House parliamentarian has no such objection to the House beginning its work (which is curious in itself), since he’s apparently allowing the House to consider and pass reconciliation before the Senate bill is enrolled.
Will the Senate parliamentarian insist that the bill be signed before permitting the Senate to begin its reconciliation work on the floor? He may have no say over what the House parliamentarian approves with respect to when the House passes reconciliation, but he can prevent the Senate from beginning until the Senate bill becomes “current law.”
Nobody really knows if Stupak can pull this off; there’s very little precedent.
If the vote occurs after the vote on the final bill, it would have to go through a very dicey reconciliation process. And as a concurrent resolution, it might have to exist as a standalone measure entirely, meaning it’s eligible for a filibuster.
Now, we don’t know what assurances are being made on the Senate side to keep this in. Remember, if anything from the House reconciliation sidecar gets changed, the sidecar has to go BACK to the House for another vote. At which point we’re in exactly the same boat that we’re in right now. Democratic Senate leaders have already said they would whip to make no changes whatsoever to the sidecar. So there could end up being a “conspiracy of silence,” where nobody says anything about the abortion language (though presumably a Republican might) and it passes through the Senate without incident. Or Joe Biden overrules the chair on the point of order, and Democrats are whipped to sustain it (though Republicans have said they would not agree to that and would vote en masse against it).
It’s about as clear as mud. But somehow, when something has to be done, the rules tend to melt away. It’s clear the House cannot pass the health care bill without Bart Stupak. That tends to concentrate the mind.
The Pro-Choice Caucus, incidentally, is talking about an open revolt on this.
The vote prompted an angry backlash from members of the Pro-Choice Caucus, who vowed to kill any future healthcare bill containing the Stupak language, which they say goes beyond current law and places more restrictions on abortion than already exist.
Leaders of the Pro-Choice Caucus, some 30 minutes after storming into Pelosi’s office, renewed that threat.
“This concurrent resolution which Congressman Stupak and several others have filed, from the position of the people who signed my letter back in November, is a non-starter,” said Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), a Pro-Choice Caucus co-chairwoman. “We compromised to the concept ‘no federal funding for abortion,’ which is current law — we don’t like that. And so if Mr. Stupak and a few members, along with the Republicans, decide to use this to take healthcare down, then that loss on healthcare coverage is going to be on their hands.”
DeGette said a move allowing the enrollment resolution to go forward would put “somewhere between 40 and 55” pro-abortion rights votes at stake.
That math was also leading to counter-rumors, including from aides of anti-abortion rights Democrats, that Pelosi could not realistically be putting even a dozen votes from the left at stake for the sake of Stupak and his allies.
This why Stupak insists this be passed by both houses BEFORE he will agree to the HC bill. But if they DO pass this, the pro-choicers are going to bolt. Pewlosi is in a box.
Bet he caves, though. He wants health care, but not the abortions. They will sucker him in somehow. He is not, ultimately, our friend against this bill.
Another thought here. I’ve been puzzling over why the unions are fighting so hard for this plan. I mean, this would destroy the huge super-plans they worked so hard to get for their union members now. Then it hit me. Right there few (if ANY) insurance companies are unionized. They know that when this becomes universal healthcare 1/6 of the national economy will then become unionized. In other words, this is not about what is best for the union MEMBERS; but what is best for union POWER and for the union LEADERS.
The SEIU is bleeding money in its pension system. It is only 65% funded right now. If gov’t healthcare goes thru, they will eventually shift the union’s healthcare obligations on to the gov’t, but it will also allow the SEIU to organize low level healthcare workers.
I think that the unions need help to continue to fund health care plans for retirees. I believe the unions – surprise! – have mismanaged pension funds and this is a “bail-out” of sorts.
You are absolutely correct. I’ve confronted some union organizers on this exact point and when they hear me articulate it, they have this look on their face that says “we’ve been outed”
The funny thing (not so funny from their members perspective) is that those pension funds got tangled up in the same CDS and CDO mess that the banks were in.
and what I’m saying is there’s no way in hell the pro-choice would even consider- WHY ON EARTH would you waste time on something we don’t need to fight against!!
Actually, the point ssmith was making was to call Female pro-choice reps and tell them to stand firm against Stupak’s supposed deal with Pelousy. This would continue the discord within the Democratic ranks and if Stupak is to be believed, he still would not vote for this bill if his deal does not get the other pro-choice Democrat rep’s support.
Chris
you are the one who is not getting it. The idea was to use Alinsky rules against the Marxists and in this case the female pro-choice caucus. The purpose was to tell them to stand firm.
If Stupak was to win, then we would want the pro-choice caucus make up their minds to torpedo the bill.
I am disgusted at my Representative, Susie Kosmos D-FL, who announced her vote from a NO earlier to a YES now on healthcare. Apparently she doesn’t understand that about 70% of the area she represents says NO to the bill. Why did we elect this fool? Never again.
I truly believe they re being blackmailed into changing their vote. Blackmailed with fidelity issues, corruption issues, etc. Why are they all retiring, they are tired of the blackmail!
It’s awful that so many elected people have things that they can be blackmailed with. Do we not get any people in office that have been honest about their lives past dirt and now live and serve us with a decent record?
http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=John
Paul Stevens&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1
The link above indicates that Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who is 89, may step down next month. That’s unfortunate in my opinion. Obama getting another opportunity to name a Supreme Court justice
would shift the current balance from right to left.
You’re correct. What hurts is that I knew he was considered moderately liberal. My mistake above. It’s still possible that someone like a uber liberal Cass Sunstein could find his butt on the bench, which would not be very good because of the acrimony it would cause.
Given all that’s been going down in Congress, I do hope the ‘Pubs in the Senate unite and filibuster any Obama nominee to the SC. Let that seat — and any further openings — remain vacant until January 2013.
I think that they have done it in the past. It happened to the first Latino to have been nominated – Martinez I think it was.. just not sure of the correct name.
We need to organize on the computer and saturate any and all sites to counter the Obama-bots. And we need to do it NOW. Between now and November the internet is going to be saturated…and I mean SATURATED by Obama-bots going around attacking conservatives. We have to outnumber them. And if liberal sites ban our comments or block them we need to saturate their phones and emails until they stop.
The other side is mobilizing…we need to do the same. We need to start putting real pressure on the MSM. Yes…they are idiots. But we decided somewhere down the line they were a lost cause and just ignore them. We cannot afford to ignore them any more.
The MSM is a vital tool used by the liberals. Did you know in Britain the conservative media is BANNED? Don’t you know Obama and his leftist thugs would love nothing more than to eliminate Fox news and conservative media? This cannot happen. We have GOT to mobilize and get people involved and put pressure on liberal media. Their numbers are tanking (HALLMARK had higher ratings than NBC last week). If we start putting pressure on sponsors who advertise on liberal media and start saturating them with complaints they will have no choice but to listen.
Stupak cancels press release, says there is NO deal.
Stupak Cancels/Delays Presser; Dem Leadership Says There Will Be No Deal
—Gabriel Malor
Okay, I thought this morning’s press conference with Congressman Bart Stupak would settle the fate of the healthcare bill. He and the leadership were working furiously last night to work out a deal on abortion language.
It turns out the House Pro-Choice Caucus told Pelosi that if she cuts a deal with Stupak, they will vote against the whole mess: the Senate bill, the reconciliation sidecar, and any abortion provision offered to placate Stupak’s bloc. So Stupak tried and Pelosi looked like she was going with it, but she’s facing a mutiny if she does.
The fact that this occurred like this is great news. It means that Pelosi doesn’t have the votes yet. Most counts have her a handful short. By my own count, she has to peel off some of the Stupak folks or she won’t get to 216.
My final whip count and all the latest news on the healthcare vote will be up in a bit.
Two pro-life GOP members close to Stupak tell NRO that any Stupak deals are off. They just spoke with him and they said he’s finished with Pelosi. They rejected his enrollment corrections proposal.
Finished — for the nth time. Like the bills themselves?
The only death certificate that matters in this case can only be issued once the next Congress is sworn in — and even that may not suffice, if e.g. O gets creative with his executive orders.
Bishop Stupak’s Press Conference Postponed: Confusion Reigns
By: David Dayen Saturday March 20, 2010 7:57 am
The Speaker’s office denied any deal with Bishop Stupak and his monsignors last night, and now this morning, a press conference they were planning for 11am has been put on hold. Lynn Woolsey denied on the record that there was a deal, probably because of what she said later, “all pro-choice female Dems will bolt if Stupak prevails.”
Now the Democrats are calling the last card on Stupak – his mentor, John Dingell.
Veteran Democratic Rep. John Dingell vowed Saturday to work to defeat fellow Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak (D) on abortion in the healthcare bill.
Dingell, the longest-serving member of the House whose career has centered around healthcare reform, said he would work to “beat” Stupak’s efforts to add additional restrictions on federal support for abortion to the healthcare bill before the House.
“I strongly disagree with Bart,” Dingell said during an appearance on MSNBC. “I think he’s wrong.”
Both the anti-choice and pro-choice side have the power to stop the leadership from getting to 216 votes. I’m revamping the whip count chart a bit to reflect that from the anti-choice perspective. From the pro-choice perspective, Diana DeGette still holds a letter with 40 names on it, all of whom would vote no if the Stupak deal came to pass, and they wouldn’t need that many – 10 would probably be sufficient.
The path of least resistance remains going around Stupak by peeling off a couple members of his bloc. But this will probably go all day. The Rules Committee has already started their markup, and remember in November, the deal wasn’t made to get a vote on the Stupak amendment until late on the night of the committee hearing.
I’m feeling a little… hopeful…
It’s not over yet :-)
The Stupster postpones his presser, my fax to him telling him how brave he was for his NO, and how he was on the side of the angels, finally got through… It’s funny how little things like that cause hope to grow again.
As a Christian, I should not idolatrize, but right now I am calling on Eris, the goddess of discord, to multiply dissent in the Dem ranks ;-)
Whip Count 3-20-10: 199 Yes, 214 No
—Gabriel Malor
Since my last count yesterday, Pelosi got Sanford Bishop, Scott Murphy, Suzanne Kosmas, Brad Ellsworth, Allen Boyd, Tom Perriello, Dina Titus and John Boccieri. (Harry Mitchell announced again, but I already counted him in the “yes” group.)
She lost Jason Altmire, John Barrow, Lincoln Davis (officially; he was already headed that way), Peter DeFazio (a surprise from “yes” to “no”), Heath Shuler, and Harry Teague.
So Nancy has 199 “definitely voting yes” congresscritters. She is 17 short of the magic number. There are 214 publicly declared “no” votes. There are 18 undecided/undeclared congressmen left (including Cuellar):
Yes votes in November now undecided:
Tim Bishop (NY-1), Mike Capuano (MA-8 ), Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8 ), Bill Foster (IL-14), Baron Hill (IN-9), Paul Kanjorski (PA-11), Alan Mollohan (WV-1), Bill Owens (NY-23), Earl Pomeroy (ND-All), Nick Rahall (WV-3), Zack Space (OH-18 ), John Tierney (MA-6).
No votes in November now undecided:
Brian Baird (WA-3), Rick Boucher (VA-9), Jim Matheson (UT-2), Glenn Nye (VA-2), John Tanner (TN-8 ).
Stupak bloc remaining:
Bart Stupak (MI-1), Marion Berry (AR-1), Joe Cao (LA-2, Republican), Jerry Costello (IL-12), Henry Cuellar (TX-28 ), Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-3), Joe Donnelly (IN-2), Steve Driehaus (OH-1), Marcy Kaptur (OH-9), Dan Lipinski (IL-3). Cuellar is thought to be “leaning yes”, but he’s refusing to take the President’s phone calls.
Of the maybe’s left, I suspect enough have told Pelosi privately that they are voting “no” that she believes she has to peel apart Stupak’s bloc to pick up the final handful of votes. That’s why all the effort last night. Unfortunately, the Pro-Choice Caucus mutinied and Pelosi is running out of “maybes” to turn.
Update (11:44AM): Bill Owens will vote yes. (h/t William Amos.)
So Pelosi has 200. She needs 16. There are 17 maybes left.
Update (11:47AM): Baron Hill will vote yes. (h/t Guy Fawkes). Also, I missed Tim Bishop’s announcement yesterday. He’s a yes. (h/t Patrick Archibold)
So Pelosi has 202. She needs 14. There are 15 maybes left.
Reminder: it will get closer before this is over. Change your pants and tighten up those sphincters. She’ll be closer than 210 before this is over. Doesn’t matter if she doesn’t get the 216th vote.
Newest whip count in Firedog (and, remember, this is a left-wing site!):
***
New Whip Count, With Changes To Reflect The Stupak Bloc
By: David Dayen Saturday March 20, 2010 8:32 am
OK, so NRO has not always been right (understatement of the year), but they claim that Stupak told their sources that he’s “finished with Pelosi” and the enrollment corrections bill is dead. So I’ve taken a second look at the numbers to reflect what we know, and the challenge facing the Democratic leadership.
I’ve re-divided the whip count categories into Yes, No, Undecided, and Stupak. The thinking here is that if you haven’t decided by now, the day before the vote, you’re undecided. And the Stupak bloc should get its own category to more easily see the challenges of getting to 216.
So if you do that, you have 201 202 sure Yes votes, and 206 sure No votes (which includes all Republicans and 28 Democrats who have announced their intention to oppose). 13 12 members are still completely undecided. Four who voted No last time:
Brian Baird, Jim Matheson, Glenn Nye, John Tanner
And nine who voted Yes last time:
Melissa Bean, Chris Carney, Bill Foster, Paul Kanjorski, Solomon Ortiz, Bill Owens, Earl Pomeroy, Zack Space, Mike Michaud
(UPDATE: Bill Owens will vote Yes. So it’s down to 12 undecideds, from 13)
If Speaker Pelosi were to get every single one of these votes – and that’s a tall order – she would still need two members from the confirmed Stupak bloc. This confirmation comes from the names on the enrollment corrections bill from last night, and also Joe Donnelly and Jerry Costello, whose public statements leading up to the vote put them squarely in the Stupak camp. There’s some question as to whether Chris Carney belongs there as well, but his name didn’t appear on the list, and he’s wavered enough in public statements that I’ll keep him undecided. These are the Stupak 11:
Bart Stupak, Marion Berry, Sanford Bishop, Jerry Costello, Kathy Dahlkemper, Joe Donnelly, Steve Driehaus, Marcy Kaptur, Dan Lipinski, Alan Mollohan, Nick Rahall
So if the deal is dead, Pelosi needs everyone in the first two categories and two from the Stupak bloc. If she can peel off more from the Stupak bloc, it gives her room with the undecideds. The only other option would be to try and flip one of the sure No votes, like Stephen Lynch or Mike Arcuri. Expect the two committee chairs voting No, Collin Peterson and Ike Skelton, to get a lot of attention.
Given those odds, you can see why she explored the Stupak deal. But pro-choice women apparently slapped it down so soundly, that the path of least resistance is now this agonizing trek to peel off enough votes to get to 216.
And I find it interesting that Piglosi even finds it necessary to at this hour be wheeling and dealing with people about their votes. If they pass this bill it will be by the skin of their teeth.
Hill:
UPDATE 11:27 a.m. ET: E-mail from GOP House leadership aide:
See floor schedule for the House today (from Hoyer’s office)… last vote should be 3-ish. Rules Committee is meeting now to write the rule for tomorrow’s reconciliation bill… we expect it will include the “Slaughter Solution” deeming the Senate bill passed and making Obamacare law. . . .
Things are tight . . . DO NOT let up on your efforts.
If there are 37 States that are voting to block the Federal O- plan, isn’t that getting close to the number required to pass a Constitutional amendment? Wouldn’t the States getting together on such a united effort be able to make a difference to block this over-turn of the Constitution? I thought it was like a three quarters majority or a two-thirds majority. Just asking?
DO NOT LET THE LIBERALS CONVINCE YOU that we can’t repeal this bill. It CAN be repealed. The founding fathers specifically wrote in the constitution that NO CONGRESS can pass laws that the next congress can’t change. It’s against the law.
That’s true… but it has to be signed by the president also. Short of Obama, Biden, and ALL the dems in succession being removed from office, any repeal of the legislation from congress would need to be signed by the sitting president- and THEY AREN’T GOING TO DO THAT. Rush and Hannity both said over and over that once this is signed into law it will be almost impossible to repeal it completely.
Most of the bill will not go into effect until after 2013. Plenty of time for seats to change and for congress to switch seats and even the presidency to change.
CLinton reversed welfare entitlements when people said that was going to be impossible.
NOTHING is impossible. If you believe nothing is possible then don’t ever run for office. It is ALWAYS possible. There are a thousand different ways to repeal this bill and parts of this bill…ammendments…procedural moves motions, lawsuits…it is ENDLESS what we can do to stop his bill.
If you want to just give up and say “The liberals won” go ahead but you’re wrong.
My sis-in law looked up whose feast day is tomorrow. Get this – It’s St. Nicolas of Flue. He was a hermit and stopped a civil war in Switzerland by getting the delegates to work together. He worked through the night and came up with a set of proposals that everyone could agree on.
Here is his prayer: Lord God, You alone are holy and no one is good without You. Through the intercession of St. Nicholas help us to live in such a way that we may not be deprived of a share in Your glory. Amen.
Okay, as a former resident of California, I had no idea that they had a ‘Department of Home Furnishings’.
*eyes buggin*
Look, I can mock that place as easy as the next person, but there are times when the ridiculousness hits such a high level that I find that i can still be shocked.
They are absolutely out of their minds. And THIS is what we’re facing as a nation. The exportation of the absolute intellectual and fiscal insanity of that state. And we will be as broke and bankrupt as that state on a national level, and we will be mere serfs to the cause.
Ask ANYONE who is a middle class resident of that state what the cost of living is like and you’ll get an earful.
Only you wont’ have any place to run to unless you leave the country. I used to joke about this when I lived there.
I realized what the deal was during the election and it scared the dog**** out of me.
Sacramento is freaking psycho and it’s infected DC.
I that guy interviewed. Standing there with his thumb up his behind when questioned about it. Admitted that he didn’t know jack about subject on a physiological level.
I’m sure that if someone looked at him and said “okay then how are bakers supposed to make bread?” he would sit there with that dumb deer in the headlights look.
And that says nothing about the incredible, cutting edge restaurants in New York. Ask someone with a three start designation not to use salt?
I seriously wonder sometimes just how functional these folks are in their personal lives.
this news about expansion of the I.R.S.–MORE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF THE IRS THAN A RATTLE SNAKE!!!! PLEASE GET THIS OUT TO THE AVERAGE “JO”!!! WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS AT A SMALL LOCAL RESTAURANT HERE IN ALABAMA LAST NITE AND HAD 3 OR 4 TABLES ENGAGES — NOT ONE PERSON HAD HEARD THIS AND NOT MUCH ON THE HEALTHCARE— IT WAS QUIET INTERESTING!!! ENGAGED ABOUT 10 FOLKS TO PRAY!!!
Come on ya’ll. This fight is not over. It’s not about the vote tomorrow or Monday or Tuesday. It’s about November. It’s about counter-attacking idiots on the internet who are trying to demoralize and discourage us from fighting. It’s about pressuring the liberal elitist media to be UNBIASED and call them out EVERY SINGLE TIME. It’s about contacting the sponsors who PAY the liberal media for air time.
NBC was beaten in ratings by the HALLMARK channel for crying out loud.
Instead of sitting here counting votes…go hit back at the Obama-bots paid for with our stimulus funds.
You can sit here and whine and boo-hoo or you can think to November so we can throw these leftist thugs back into the trash heap where they belong.
November is too late. Putting in R’s in November isn’t going to be able to repeal this- not without having enough to overturn a presidential veto!! …and there aren’t enough open seats to get enough R’s to do that.
Just saying what Rush, Hannity, and Malkin have been saying for the past month now. Any repeal has to be signed by the president; and in order for the repeal to be law it would have to be able to overturn the presidential veto, which would take a super majority (or was it 2/3 majority?).
We can be as evil as them. If a senator is not up for re-ection in 2010 then those states that have the recall provision should use it, recall the senator.
If you start thinking evil like liberals we’ll beat them.?
Ok, to repeal a law it needs to have the same number of votes as it took to pass the law (60 in the senate, for example).
**** http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/11/will_republicans_repeal_health.html
Repeal requires 60 votes as surely as passage. Undoing health-care reform will be about as hard as doing health-care reform.
***
Then it goes to the president. A Dem president will veto it. To overturn a veto takes a 2/3 majority in the house AND the senate: http://www.ask.com/wiki/Veto_override
This law is a law. Any law can be ammended or changed. That’s in the constitution. You can also file motions and procedures to render a law useless for years and years and years and years. Plenty time to repeal it with a Republican president.
In Washington nothing is forever. Our founding fathers made it that way.
I’m going to be optimistic. I’ve seen enough politics in my life to know that when all the politicians are on TV saying something can’t be done…they are liars.
I also have seen enough politics in my life to know that when people spew doom and gloom it means they want your money.
THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END…send me your money so I can save it. Oldest trick in the book. It’s how Al Gore became a billionaire.
NOTHING is forever. The Democrats who vote yes will be thrown out. We will be ammending and changing this bill for the next 100 years. The revolving door of politics will continue on. Money changes hands. New politicians. New set of issues. It goes on and on and on.
Just heard a snippet of a speech The One was giving where he called this the biggest deficit reduction measure in history… my GOSH! Our economy is reeling NOW- if this goes through it will be the final blow to an already half-dead economy!
Sanford Bishop Moves To Yes
By: David Dayen Saturday March 20, 2010 9:01 am
I never had Sanford Bishop in my counts until his name showed up on the Stupak amendment yesterday. But apparently, he decided to vote for the bill late last night, which changes the calculation a bit, in favor of Pelosi and the Democrats.
“Unfortunately I think that my constituents are split right down the middle, so in a sense I’m dammed if I do, damned if I don’t,” Bishop said in an interview.
“If I’m going to be dammed, I want to be damned on the side of the angels, on the side of what I think will be an obligation as a Christian to take care of the least of (us) and to make sure people are treated fairly,” he said.
Bishop’s conversion is pretty momentous. It means that the leadership needs only to flip 1, or maybe 2 (depending on Chris Carney) more Democrats, along with running the table on the undecideds, to get to 216.
The new whip count would be 203 Yes, 206 No, 12 undecided, 10 Stupak bloc.
I think this just came up a few minutes…a post to Hot Air:
“Saturday, March 20, 2010
“Stupak is ‘Finished with Pelosi’ [Robert Costa]
“Two pro-life GOP members close to Stupak tell NRO that any Stupak deals are off. They just spoke with him and they said he’s finished with Pelosi. They rejected his enrollment corrections proposal.”
I was so excited when I saw this and didn’t want to lose a minute…didn’t read the previous threads…it was already linked and well discussed. I’ll go back to my corner now. Sorry.
There’s been a last-minute Tea Party ‘Flash Protest’ called in San Diego, at 10am to 12pm today (Saturday), downtown at Broadway between 2nd & 3rd. Leaving shortly to attend.
If the bill passes…I’m going to celebrate. It means the end of Democratic majority for at least 30 years. I got to enjoy that after Jimmy Carter ruined them in the 70s. I get to enjoy another 30 years of liberals wallowing in their own stench again.
They have done more to destroy their party than the GOP could have ever dreamed of doing. November is not that far away…and it will be glorious because it will be the beginning of fixing our country again.
We have lots to do between now and then. You can sit here and boo-hoo or you can get to work.
UPDATE: Melissa Bean will vote yes, as well. So will Baron Hill, but I already counted him as a Yes based on other statements. So it’s 204-206, 11 undecided, 10 Stupak bloc.
Photos of impromptu “Kill the Bill” rally in Steubenville, OH. Over 150 people gathered after a couple people decided late the night before to stage the rally. Permission to share: http://bit.ly/9Xxahp
Watch Ok Senator Tom Coburn’s posts. He has assigned his staff to watch for every bribe and kickback–expose them–and if they are promised any jobs after getting voted out–he will block them!
Dr. NO is mad!
Got up with the kids this morning (8 yr DD and 16 month DS), went out into the back yard, climbed on the trampoline. Em and I taught Wee Jack “ring-around-the-rosy”. And for half an hour, I didn’t think about what’s happening in Washington.
At this moment they are trying to “fix” it, but there are procedural problems.
9.2 million military personnel, families and retirees don’t deserve a back room deal?
Democrats’ Plan Will NOT Protect Military Health Plans
Don’t you rememeber when he tried to blow off the military, veterans and their families when he first came into office and make them get private insurance? Well this is his way of doing it.
I’m just tired. I feel like giving up on this whole mess. These ridiculous people are hell bent on ruining this country and it feels like there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s been a LONG two years. I miss my life before I started caring about politics!! :)
I’ll get over it, get angry again, and continue fighting. But for now, I’m just tired.
I am sure these pages encourage you too! How about reading the Hillbuzz piece: Our promise to America.
And look at all the photos from rally today, don’t you love them?
I love the Hillbuzz fans sending them!
And now it looks like the “deem and pass” option is gone.
Maybe donate to the Hillbuzz cause, since they are fighting for us!!!!USA!!!
(Makes me feel good, knowing I in a small way can contribute to the cause.)
Did you guys see this on ACE?
White House Crosses a Line in the Health Care Takeover
—Gabriel Malor
Whoa. Promoted from the Top Headlines sidebar because I just saw it.
We are far from daylight, friends. CBS reported yesterday that the White House Office of Health Reform has been sending emails to government employees encouraging them to help pass ObamaCare.
DeParle’s unsolicited emails have been regularly coming to some federal employees’ official government email inboxes for weeks without permission or request, causing some federal employees to feel threatened by the overt political language.
The Department of State employees, who receive hundreds of official government emails every day, have complained about the annoying and partisan emails but are nervous to go public for fear of retribution. The emails are addressed to the federal employees by name and use the official .gov address.
The unsolicited emails also request that the federal employees take action in order to ensure that Obama’s health reform package is passed and the federal budget isn’t at risk for bankruptcy. One federal employee was so concerned about DeParle’s language in one email that he questioned whether his department’s budget would be cut or eliminated without passage of Obama’s bill. DeParle uses scare tactics that some assume are meant as threats:
This is a big no-no. Tell me, when your boss “suggests” that you do something, is it really a suggestion? There are strict ethics rules about this type of thing. DeParle’s going to get away with it because she works for the president and she is technically not the boss of anyone she’s sending these emails to. But, really? This scummy Democrat needs to be called out for her morally-challenged decision to intimidate federal employees on her boss’ behalf.
Maybe others know this, but I didn’t. The House cannot pass a bill making amendments to a law that hasn’t become a law yet. And this is what they want to do tomorrow. By passing the Reconciliation bill (with the Demon Pass within it) they are passing a bill to make changes to the Senate bill/law. It’s not a law until Dr. U signs it and it won’t be signed until their Reconciliation (amendments) are passed.
I had some vague idea of this particular conundrum, but that post puts it much more sharply. The question it raises is, why has the House parliamentarian not issued a clear statement indicated the impermissibility of such a procedure, akin to the Senate parliamentarian’s earlier ruling?
That is why Pelosi was going to strip out the Senate bill and send only that to Senate for certification, then PresBO for signature. But you can’t do that either. Senate has to certify and Pres has to sign exact bill that was passed in House – WITH amendments. No way the Senate is doing that. The bribes are not finalized and the Repubs will fight it tooth and nail.
Sounds like Waxman has killed the DemonPass strategy, though. This means they will have to vote straight up on the Senate bill, and then work on amendments later. Might change some vote dynamics.
Off the top of my head, surely such an Executive Order (whether from the White House or from Sibelius at HHS) would be subject to additional legal challenges — would it not?
Interesting… I wonder what they are thinking here. I think they are finding there is no way to change the bill to add anti-abortion language unless it is re-voted on in the senate again (NOT reconciliation), so they are grabbing at any “straw” they can to try to get language that Stupak will swallow. Ok, here’s the question: will they succeed in giving Stupak a “fake” for “cover”? That appears to be what an executive order would end up being… just a “fake” to give him an excuse to vote “yes” and give himself “cover”…? Am I understanding this right?
It won’t play with the pro-abortion crowd. And I hope Stupak isn’t that gullible. I don’t think he (and a lot of other reps) trust the Senate or PresBO to really do any amendments.
Interesting that no internet news sites have ANYTHING about this rally up. Newsmax, Newsbusters, Drudge . . .nada. Only Michelle Malkin and Hillbuzz are giving it press, that I can see.
IMO, the lame-stream-media is ignoring it.
You know the old “if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?” Well, their theory is “If we don’t cover it, it didn’t happen.”
Or as someone else pointed out, this is also the anniversary of the Iraq war’s beginning. Anti-military group was already down to protest at the Capitol on this day. So most likely that’s who will get the press. Heck, they’ll probably take footage of OUR rallies and say our 25,000+ are the anti-war kooks!!!
It’s great weathe here at the capital. Obama is supposed to be o the East side at 3. We are here on the West. Will be moving over. Candlelight vigil at 7. Lots and lots of people. Some craZies and a few arguments broke out but mostly everyone here is here for killing the bill. I’ve been sending pics from my phone to he Boyz since I can’t directly upload so I hope they get them and are able to share them with you all soon. Will write more soon. PS: Tito the Builder was awesome!!! Loved it.
What’s on my mind? I want Paul Ryan to run for President! He seems like the smartest, most articulate, most REASONABLE, commonsense person on Capital Hill. He’s personable, speaks in easy to understand sentences, explains things in a way the American people can understand, I think I read where he studied ECONOMICS in college, and he looks good and we all know how important that is to the masses of American Idol voters. I’m so very impressed with him.
If they are so confident they have the votes then why are they descending into total chaos at the House and Rules Committee meeting over whether to use Deem and Pass or not? If they have the votes then vote. They are having trouble getting their members to agree to vote up and down but know if they use Deem and Pass the bill will be in the courts for the next three years and know they could lose that fight.
So again….they are still afraid to vote up and down.
Drudge has a red line on top saying the same thing…. DemonPass out… full vote in.
That’s good because then their votes will be “on record” either for or against the senate bill. I just wonder if they broke enough arms and legs that they felt confident that they have 216 people who will step over the edge of the cliff like that….
all the chit that is in that Senate bill is and NOW WILL BE FRONT AND CENTER!!!!!!!!!
the 5% penalities to doctors for referring too many patients to specilists, the taxes on drugs, the penalties towards military families. the extra taxes.
I personally think it is all up in the air.
Whether it passes or not, there is no fig leaf, and if they pass this chit, lawsuits galore, I heard on patriotroom, run by lawyers, that since over 30 states are filing suit, there will an injuction placed on the law.
I just watched it, I really don’t think members who voted yes wanted this demon-pass.
They really really looked pissed off, I think they were thinking they would not have to vote on the actual bill and this latest move now has caught them off guard. VERY off-guard
Actually, if this is going to pass anyway, Deem and Pass gives a quick target to get this into the courts. If they drop it, not so easy. It will now rest on the states, and a few Constitutional scholars are skeptical they can rest on the states rights argument because of a supreme court decision that basically “Federalized” the state governments. Of course, the Supremes can overturn their previous decisions. I wish I knew more about this decision they have cited. I can’t even begin to know where to find a reference. Might have been in the ’90′s?
Fox if reporting the votes as 217 for – 214 against – I’m floored! The crowd outside looks big! What’s wrong with these freaking Dimicrats with no fortitude that won’t support their constituents? How can they sleep at night? Are we really raising such spineless people in this country now that they can’t stand up for what is right and demand a better bill or a smaller bill or just fix welfare fraud and abuse first – that would be a start! Not this huge goverment take-over when they can’t even run the damn post office efficiently! What a bunch of wimps! I’m ashamed I was EVER a DEM – I don’t recognize my party. John Kennedy is rolling over in his grave!
Fox also cut off Paul Ryan trying to explain that CBO numbers REALLY determined that this bill is a HUGE deficit problem. For once some minority/opposition comment – and they cut him off.
Idiots. The Dim-o-crats are more afraid of their OWN party than the Republicans…and with good reason.
I loved seeing Bart Gordon all flustered and irritated because he was EXPOSED for the FRAUD that he really is. Sorry Bart…the gig is up. YOU are a traitor and not welcome in Tennessee. GOOD LUCK getting that job at NASA.
Wish I could be in DC with all my fellow Americans standing strong against this Obamacare. I am so proud of all you here at this site and across America, standing strong against this major government take over. Just checked MSNBC to see what the other side is saying about what is going on in DC today. What a joke! MSNBC is airing their prescheduled programs, Sex Slaves, Runaways, Santa Stranger..no wonder they rate behind the cartoon network.
Yeah…the photos of the rally are a bit disheartening…wish there could have been millions of people there..as it is..but you are right..the expense of it keeps so many of us away..it is hard to get to DC..and especially on a moments notice.
Apparently they dropped DemonPass to get Cardoza’s vote. He said he’d vote “no” if it went that process. The question is now… how many of those who stated “yes” are wobbling now with the DemonPass gone and their votes going on record as for or against the Senate bill? Or… IS it the senate bill? They aren’t still thinking of doing a combined bill somehow and doing a vote on it, without voting separately on the senate one are they? I guess I wouldn’t put ANYTHING past them at this point.
Here’s the fuller version of Hasting’s ad hoc remarks:
“I wish that I had been there when Thomas Edison made the remark that I think applies here: “There ain’t no rules around here, we’re trying to accomplish something.” And therefore, when the deal goes down, all this talk about rules, we make them up as we go along.”
Oblahblah is going over to give a sermon to the congregation at 3pm. He’ll be in full throated “I have a dream” mode – shouting out his message. The thunder will crash, the lightning will flash, the heavens will open and the trumpets will blast. The angels will descend with wings beating and a light will come down and shine on all the DIMS and Oblahblah will COMMAND them to VOTE YEEEEEESSS! and the 8th day was created.
OT but I saw on Fox Nation that Cheech Marin beat Anderson Cooper and a couple of other CNN people on Jeopardy !!! Way to go Cheech!! Some say he had an earpiece but I think he has a hearing aid.
He’ll have to send troops in to enforce it in every state. Of course, he’s probably willing to do that – maybe what he wants to happen, but before it gets to that he will be removed from office.
Your side lost the civil war … I want to go back to Preisdent Obama’s speech where he said he envisions a day where … white will embrace what’s right … So why won’t you do what’s right?
“Life, for most of us, feels like a movie we’ve arrived to forty minutes late.
Sure, good things happen, sometimes beautiful things. But tragic things happen too. What does it mean? We find ourselves in the middle of a story that is sometimes wonderful, sometimes awful, usually a confusing mixture of both, and we haven’t a clue how to make sense of it all. No wonder we keep losing heart.
We need to know the rest of the story.
For when we were born, we were born into the midst of a great story begun before the dawn of time. A story of adventure, of risk and loss, heroism…and betrayal. A story where good is warring against evil, danger lurks around every corner, and glorious deeds wait to be done. Think of all those stories you’ve ever loved-there’s a reason they stirred your heart. They’ve been trying to tell you abut the true Epic ever since you were young.
There is a Larger Story. And you have a crucial role to play.”
Excerpt “Act One Eternal Love”:
In the beginning…or “Once upon a time…” It’s a wonderful phrase, isn’t it, full of legend and myth, promise and mystery, and a sort of invitation. “Come, let me show you something…”
[...]
It rouses our longing for the ancient things, our insatiable curiosity to look back into ages past.
[...]
“In the beginning” is used twice in the Scriptures. There is the well-known passage from Genesis: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (1:1).
And an important passage it is, to be sure. But to grasp this Epic, you cannot start there. That is way into the Story. That is Act Three. It is a beginning, but it is the beginning of the human story, the story of life here on earth… And before this? There are events that have preceded this chapter, events that we must know.
If you want to look back into the once upon time before all time, well, then you have to start with another passage, from the gospel of John:
“In the beginning was the Word, ad the Word was with God, and the Word was God. he was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothin was made that has been made” (1:1-3).
Now we’re reaching back to things prior to Genesis. Once upon eternity, if you will. What does it mean? John was peering back into the mystery of god’s own life, before anything else existed, and he was trying to unveil this: in the ancient past there was a fellowship, a heroic intimacy, something called the Trinity.
Picture the opening scenes of the movie “The Last of the Mohicans”:
1757
THE AMERICAN COLONIES.
IT IS THE 3RD YEAR OF THE WAR
BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE FOR
THE POSSESSION OF THE CONTINENT.
THREE MEN,
THE LAST OF A VANISHING PEOPLE,
ARE ON THE FRONTIER
WEST OF THE HUDSON RIVER.
We behold a vast, untamed wilderness. Mountain and forest, as far as the eye can see. Beauty. Mystery. A primeval world. Down into those woods we are taken, and we discover three men running at full speed through deep forest. Leaping across ravines, racing through the heavy undergrowth, they are clearly on some great mission.
No words are spoken in this scene; no words need to be spoken. It is an image of intimacy and fellowship and adventure. A picture of the Trinity.
[...]
God has always been a fellowship. This whole Story began with something relational.
I am so angry at Betsy Markey I thought I would send her a fax, but I would like to have some input before I send it.
Dear Congresswoman Markey,
I have been trying to contact you since Monday, March 15, 2010, to thank you for having had the fortitude to vote no on the health care bill and to encourage you to stay strong on your no vote. Then I heard you on the news announcing to change your vote from no to yes. Imagine my surprise, especially when I heard your explanation. You are right. You will never have another opportunity to vote for a bill of this magnitude again. Your response in addressing your decision to change your vote in favor of this health scam bill is mind boggling. Do you really think a $2.5 trillion dollar cost from this monstrosity is going to result in a deficit reduction? Also, if this is such a good deal for America, why all the bribes, trickery and lies to try and get it to pass? This scam is unconstitutional and un-American! The government should never be allowed to take over 1/6th of the economy or any issues involving life and death. Shame on you and any of your cohorts who vote in favor of this bill. The only thing American’s need to fear is having people like you in congress. I am writing on behalf of my family and the American people that your vote will affect. I am not in your district, but I wasn’t in Martha Coakley’s either. That did not however, stop me from making a donation to Scott Brown. Just a little reminder in case you run for re-election. One last thought. How will your work in congress be remembered Betsy? As a bold person who stood up for the people, or as a little toady who blindly followed an out of control president with a fascist agenda who’s approval rating is sinking faster than the Bismark. Your yes vote will not be forgotten.
From a very disappointed Coloradan
Should I make any changes, or additions? I’m leaving in about an hour, so any input will be appreciated.
I, personally, would add something like “there is no math on earth that can add 30 million more people on the rolls, get better coverage for all, lower costs, AND lower the deficit. More people = either more cost or less benefits. Has to be one or the other; it can’t be anything else.”
Why do I get the feeling that the ones who swore to uphold the constitution have no idea what’s in it at all? …and don’t care? Why do I get the feeling that swearing an oath meant NOTHING to them? Reminds me a bit of when Bill Clinton swore to tell the truth and way lying. That, of course, is what he was impeached for- lying under oath. How many of our elected officials are now doing the same kind of thing? Breaking their oath of office….
All of that said (I’m talking to myself), ssmith, thanks for posting this list and I’m going through it now. So far, no answers of mailboxes full. Will keep trying throughout the day and into tomorrow.
Yes votes in November now undecided:
Mike Capuano (MA-8 ) 5111
Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8 ) 2542
Bill Foster (IL-14) 2976
Paul Kanjorski (PA-11) 6511
Alan Mollohan (WV-1) 4172
Earl Pomeroy (ND-All) 2611
Nick Rahall (WV-3) 3452
Zack Space (OH-18 ) 6265
John Tierney (MA-6) 8020
No votes in November now undecided:
Brian Baird (WA-3) 3536
Rick Boucher (VA-9) 3861
Jim Matheson (UT-2) 3011
Glenn Nye (VA-2) 4215
John Tanner (TN-8) 4714
I agree. I think it’s just a ploy to avoid backlash. But, if that’s their on-record status right now, it’s enough reason to be contacting them to speak out.
This was on firedog. Can they DO this? It seems illegal (not that THAT would stop them – sigh):
By: David Dayen Saturday March 20, 2010 11:34 am
Multiple reports say that the House will drop the “deem and pass” strategy and instead hold three separate votes on Sunday – a vote on the rule, a vote on reconciliation, and a vote on the Senate bill. Dennis Cardoza, who criticized the “deem and pass” strategy of consolidating two votes into one, praised the Democratic leadership for taking that away. “Sanity prevailed,” Cardoza said.
Given that the worry about Cardoza mainly came from his issues with deem and pass, I would guess that he’ll come home and vote for the bill now. But we’ll exercise caution.
The right-wing freakout over “deem and pass” was massively hypocritical, but once they pushed the media into calling a perfectly normal procedure unconstitutional, the utility of doing it faded away. One wonders what Republicans will freak out about now.
…Lori Montgomery has a story up now.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said Saturday that the House would take three votes Sunday: first, on a resolution that will set the terms of debate; second, on a package of amendments to the Senate bill that have been demanded by House members; and third, on the Senate bill itself.
Van Hollen, who has been working on the issue with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), said House leaders concluded that that order — approving the amendments before approving the Senate bill — makes clear that the House intends to modify the Senate bill and not approve the Senate bill itself.
“concluded that that order — approving the amendments before approving the Senate bill — makes clear that the House intends to modify the Senate bill and not approve the Senate bill itself.
”
These arrogant A-holes,,, the “ONE” is getting ready to speak– hit mute already”!
Can you believe this “Dem party caucus” over this corrupted damn Health-care bill,,, it all just makes me want to hurl. Liar’s every damn one of them. No, they are not listening– welcome to Socialism, it’s already here”
Carney To Vote Yes
By: David Dayen Saturday March 20, 2010 12:36 pm
A major development: Chris Carney (D-PA) will vote yes on the health care bill. Carney was sort of part of the Stupak bloc, but wasn’t on the list of Democrats who co-sponsored Bart Stupak’s ultimately failed amendment.
Carney was present at a meeting between Speaker Pelosi and three anti-choice Democrats (Carney, Kathy Dahlkemper and Steve Driehaus). The fact that he came out of this and decided to vote Yes bodes well for the Democratic leadership.
In addition, Jim Costa and Henry Cuellar decided to lend their support to the bill, but I already had them in the count as Yes votes (Cuellar actually announced yesterday, I believe).
Seeing fellow Californian Costa come home, and with Dennis Cardoza’s main complaint, the deem and pass strategy, rendered moot by the House leadership going away from that path, I think we can confidently put Cardoza down as a Yes, too.
The new count is 204 Yes, 205 No, with now 12 undecided and 10 assumed in the Stupak bloc
I wrote this before election night, because letting Obama in the White House seemed liked such a bad idea. Obviously it’s too late now… but I was rereading it, and while things didn’t go just this way, this is kind of how I feel… violated. Let’s kick him out:
——————–
Dear American voter,
You are being seduced by an attractive, intelligent gentleman steeped in mystery. It sounds like a novel, doesn’t it? Tall-dark-and-handsome (no RAAAAACISM intended) is trying to sweep you off your collective feet with vague but sweet promises of hope and change.
We are on the eve of decision now. Let’s say tonight is the night. He’s holding your hand, looking you in the eyes and telling you it will all be OK if you just trust him. Some of your friends are frowning behind his back. They keep telling you they’ve heard bad things about this guy from people they trust. But most of them are swooning. He seems like your dreams come to life, they say. Why are you holding back? Shouldn’t you take a chance? Shouldn’t you throw caution to the wind and embrace the Hope and the Change and the Mystery?
What’s the worst that can happen?
Let’s say, for the sake of discussion, that you decide to take that risk. After all, he is Harvard educated, well-spoken and has a good job as a community organizer. He cares about the environment. He’s into safe sex. You let yourself get caught up. After an evening of revelry, a veritable blur of celebration and goodwill, you invite him home.
Things go as expected. It’s a little awkward, but, after all, you just met. It’s been a long night, so, around midnight, you both drift off into an exhausted sleep.
Right around the dawn of the year, you start to hear weird noises in the living room. It almost sounds as if someone is coming in your front door. You reach over and try to wake up your new lover, but he turns away — he seems to be oblivious to shaking and completely out of it. So you get up to investigate alone — after all, it’s your house.
Someone is, in fact, coming right into your home — through the front door! You’re frozon with shock and horror.
Paralyzed by your astonishment, you can’t get away quickly enough. You are violated by this stranger.
You yell and scream and plead, but your new lover can’t seem to hear you in time to stop the attack.
In the aftermath, once the attacker has slipped away, you pull yourself together enough to get back to your bedroom. This time you are able to wake your lover up. He is horrified. He is shocked. He is dismayed. He can’t believe this could happen right under his nose without any warning.
You try to tell him about your attempts to wake him up beforehand. He shushes you, says you are distraught, tells you to let him handle things.
He goes to call the police and your family members. They are, naturally, a little surprised to be getting a call from your new man so soon with news of a tragedy, but they rally around you. And, of course, he is treated as a part of the family now — after all, he has suffered this grave event with you.
The police come. Your family is in a sad state — everyone is looking for a lock to blame or a suspect to hunt down. Your lover urges you — everyone — to rest; he says he’ll handle things for a while. He leaves with the police to give his statement, telling them your side of the story can be told later, once you’ve healed a little bit.
After he leaves, you crawl back into bed to rest. You can’t get your fears out of your mind. You vaguely remember asking him to lock the front door, but you push the thought away. Now is no time for blame and recriminations, you think.
Around mid-morning (say, oh, April), you start to wake up and take stock of things a little bit. You start wanting some answers. Your lover has come back from speaking with the authorities, but he’s given you very little information. When you press him, he gets frustrated and says he knows things he can’t tell you right now.
You decide to rest a little more. You’re getting nervous, but it feels better to be optismistic.
He rushes in around noon, saying he’s received a call — they have a suspect. He’s going down to the police station to talk to them. You want to go — you want to see the guy face-to-face. He says no. He says he’ll handle things.
You are getting tired of being “handled.” But you agree.
He leaves his dad, Joe, to make you feel a little less alone. Joe eats all your ice cream and tells you you’ve got to stand behind your new guy NO MATTER WHAT.
When your new lover comes back, he’s strangely calm. He tells you he sat down and spoke with the suspect and that he has great compassion for him. He lets you know that the suspect is unused to seeing women dressed as provocatively as you were that night. He informs you that the suspect and his friends have seen you flaunting your wealth, and they are “understandably” angry.
He sympathizes. He lets you know he has taken some money out of your purse and given it to the suspect, just to make things more fair. He also has told the suspect he is welcome in your home any time.
You are outraged. But you try to stay calm as you state your case. Compassion is never bad, right? But you inform your lover that the two of your are not married, and he can not make decisions about your home and your life without your permission.
He, just as calmly, informs you that a vow — an oath, if you will — was in fact taken, and your are stuck with him for at least four years. And your friends and family — your Aunt Nancy, your Uncle Barney — have given him power of attorney over you, since you are in a weak state and can not make decisions for yourself.
“Also,” he says, “some of my friends will be moving in, including my girlfriend, Socialism. She’ll be sleeping with us. What’s yours is hers. Don’t worry — she’s very seductive.”
You’ve had it. You are NOT getting in bed with Socialism, and you are not letting your attacker and his buddies live here, supported by you, just because this guy says so. You made a mistake, but you know the way things work — we have a constitution, we have laws and law enforcement officers for a reason, and you, by golly, OWN THIS HOUSE.
You stand up for yourself, finally — you tell him to GET OUT!
He stands up, too, and backhands you across the room.
While you’re lying on the floor, stunned, he opens the door and lets a burly man in black fatigues in.
“Meet Vinnie,” he says. “Think of him as my civilian national security force. And I’ve spoken with the neighbors — no one will be coming onto this land unless I ask them to — and no one leaves.
“It’s for your own good.”
Don’t you wish you could go back and not invite him in to begin with?
The lede reads: “Victory within reach, President Obama…”
That is NOT good journalism.
Read through the story and note the use of words like “momentum,” “victory” and “confidence” with regard to Democrats.
Then note how phrases like “complained anew” define those who oppose the legislation.
And reasons why “victory” would be “within reach” are never fully given. They talk about some Dems switching votes, but that is low in the story and the information is never really analyzed.
March 20, 2010 at 12:57 am
From Redstae http://www.redstate.com/charlesdjou/2010/03/19/democrats-didnt-listen-to-massachusetts-lets-send-them-another-message-2/
Special election in Hawaii on April 30
March 20, 2010 at 1:07 am
CHECK THIS OUT- RAHM THE NUTCASE!
Rahm Emanuel on Tea Parties:
GOP “At The Behest of a Fringe Group That Has Taken Over Party” (Video)
hotairpundit ^ | 3/20/10 | HAP
Yeah, those people waving an American flag demanding that elected leaders adhere to the Constitution are a real fringe group…CBS released this clip of the 60 minutes interview that will air Sunday night (Video)
(Excerpt) Read more at hotairpundit.blogspot.com …
March 20, 2010 at 1:22 am
What’s on my mind is all those who have been ELECTED by people who have put them into power: and have sworn to ‘protect and defend’ the USA constitution, but are breaking it or not following it have usurped their duty and should be removed from ‘power’ at whatever level they are.
March 20, 2010 at 1:31 am
Nursing school. It’s hard.
March 20, 2010 at 1:38 am
It must be especially hard to concentrate on school at a time like this.
March 20, 2010 at 1:59 am
There are days, Xana. I currently am working towards two licenses in health care, my EMT-B and RN, and even the career (Union) staff in my county detest this thing. The Medics and EMS Supervisors are all grumbling about how much they already have to cover their asses, and anticipate this’ll make things worse.
But then I find things like this:
March 20, 2010 at 1:59 am
Aw, it didn’t post right. Here’s the link.
http://cheezburger.com/View.aspx?aid=3259495168
March 20, 2010 at 6:18 am
The resemblance is quite striking.
March 20, 2010 at 6:18 am
Except that she isn’t as wise as an owl.
March 20, 2010 at 8:47 am
Though she does live by night.
March 20, 2010 at 10:36 am
BTDT. Harsh. *hug*
March 20, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Thanks, JKR. When did you graduate? What’s your specialty/unit?
March 20, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Answers: 1988, ICU
Haven’t worked in nursing since pregnant with my second child, but I won’t ever forget being a student. Highest unit load per major at my university (nothing like finding that out halfway through. LOL).
March 20, 2010 at 1:44 am
I saw my first Impeach Obama bumper sticker in Los Angeles County today.
It’s probably the only one of it’s kind and will cause Obots in their Prius’s to call 911 reporting a drive by racial attack which will then cause a police chase and next thing you know, Al Sharpton and Rep. Maxine Waters call a press conference about highway RAACISM.
March 20, 2010 at 6:30 am
LOL
March 20, 2010 at 7:51 am
Sweet. There are many Impeach Obama bumper stickers in Texas, usually outnumbered by variations of OBAMA (Oh what a Big A@@ Mistake for America; Obama is a…, you get the idea). Glad to hear the sentiment is shared by at least one person in LA County.
March 20, 2010 at 8:11 am
I just spilled my coffee.
March 20, 2010 at 9:36 am
I saw a nice “Galt/Taggart 2012″ sticker on a car. Liked it very much.
I’d love to have a sticker on my car, but the dirty hipsters here in Chicago would just key it up.
March 20, 2010 at 9:46 am
Oh, dear! I want one of those, too.
March 20, 2010 at 11:13 am
I’ve been trying to order an IMPEACH CONGRESS and IMPEACH OBAMA bumper sticker and they are COMPLETELY back-ordered right now. I’m getting some custom made. I talked to a guy who sells these things and he said he is so overwhelmed with requests right now he can’t make them fast enough.
March 20, 2010 at 11:37 am
You can buy bumper sicker paper at the office stores and print your own!
March 20, 2010 at 12:01 pm
OMG– shayk’ you made my morning,,, Now that just too funny…!
March 20, 2010 at 3:48 pm
http://www.zazzle.com/impeach_congress_bumper_sticker-128551894675616126
http://www.cafepress.com/+impeach-congress+bumper-stickers
March 20, 2010 at 1:49 am
On my mind… That I need sleep soon, and I need to pray. Pray for our country’s freedom. Pray that we will be heard this weekend…
Sometimes, I’m almost afraid to pray for this, wondering what it’ll be like if my prayers go unanswered…
But “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he gives his beloved sleep.” I’ve got to stop worrying for now.
A restful night to all!
March 20, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Xana, where is that quote from? (I admit I’ve never heard it before.)
March 20, 2010 at 2:28 am
well I just spent the day testing new beds…
Our bed is 10 years old, and it is due for renewal. We are upgrading to a king size bed, and instead of mattress and base we are getting a slat bed with ends….
Our current bedhead is more than 30 years old. This year we will be married 34 years so do the Math :)
Of course this meant new sheet sets, new doona… new doona cover………….
And several thousand dollars later….
March 20, 2010 at 6:31 am
Too bad you can’t government bedding, eh? (Oh God, that would be uncomfortable if you did!)
March 20, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Aussie, congrats on your lovely new bed.
I am a firm believer in ‘indulging’ oneself when it comes to our bed, our haven, the place where we spend so much time. So, good for you for going ‘all out’.
The bed I now have used to be in my guest room, but since moving into a smaller house, I put it in my room and it’s the best bed I’ve ever had.
Antique white iron frame and the mattress and box spring make it very high.
I made an awesome canopy for it, which is suspended from the ceiling and makes it extremely cozy.
I hope you enjoy many restful hours in your new bed. Hang the expense! You’re worth it.
March 20, 2010 at 3:12 pm
we get the bed in about 6 weeks. In the meantime my new pillow which cost $65 allowed me to sleep a lot better last night.
I have a lot of trouble with pillows not suiting my needs.
March 20, 2010 at 2:51 am
I do not know what tomorrow and Sunday will bring. I feel like we’ve played this scenario over and over again (mainly because we have) each time to be let down. I pray that is not the case this time.
There’s a thunderstorm brewing here tonight. I’m not sure if I believe in omens, but it does seem ominous.
I will continue to pray for the safety of everyone in Washington, DC this weekend. There’s also going to be a rally for communists and socialists there this weekend, which sounds like a riot waiting to happen. I pray for the preservation and restoration of this great nation.
Last night I was trying to wrap my head around what’s going on, and what a world without the United States would look like. I was saying a prayer then too, and told the Lord that I simply couldn’t process the thought of the US collapsing because I’ve never seen what that would look like. Before I even finished the thought, I remembered when we drove through El Paso. On our left was the United States; on the right, across the border, was a shantytown. I remembered the recent riots in Greece, at the G20, in France; the footage I’ve seen of Tienanmen Square. I remembered the footage Glenn Beck showed recently of Madison Square Garden full of people at a Nazi rally back in the 30′s and the Hitler Youth parade that was held in the Hamptons.
The point being made was obvious: I have seen it, we all have, and we need to disabuse ourselves of this notion that we’re somehow immune from it here. There is no magic freedom force field on the borders of the United States. The balance of power is in reality precarious, and these clowns are trying to tip the scales in their favor.
I’m feeling unusually somber tonight. The thunderstorm is now overhead, and my son is asleep on my arm. I know we’re safe from the elements outside, but I worry if I can shelter him from the storm brewing over the country. I’ve come to the conclusion that all I can do is what I’ve been doing already, though perhaps more of it. You guys here really keep me going; while I’m here I want to say thank you, to everyone, and whatever happens this weekend, I am proud to continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with all of you and continue our fight against those who would try to destroy the greatest nation this world has ever known. May we make the Greatest Generation proud.
March 20, 2010 at 5:05 am
Well said.
But fear not. Even if health care passes on Sunday, the fight is far from over.
Orrin Hatch has said there will be amendments proposed that will have to send it back to the floor at least two more times for votes.
Many states are going to immediately sue if it eventually becomes law.
The mandate will be challenged and I’m fairly certain it will be struck down.
2010 is going to bring enormous changes, like ’93 or even greater. Worst case scenario, the Republicans succeed in hamstringing this thing before it ever really gets started.
All we have to do is CONTINUE to fight, continue to speak out, and continue to get our friends and family involved and seeing things our way.
March 20, 2010 at 6:35 am
I hope and pray that if it passes it won’t be virtually impossible to ever reverse it as is generally the case. The courts have become so liberal and no telling if they will even “consider” this “rules” issue, even though it directly violates the Constitution.
March 20, 2010 at 10:57 am
Not True. It will be easy to repeal because most of the things we object to don’t even go into effect until 2013. Don’t drink the Koolaid from the left that is saying that.
Our constitution was written SPECIFICALLY so that no legislation is permanent. SPECIFICALLY…no party can deem it unchangable. They did that because they were smart. NO CONGRESS can pass legislation that cannot be reversed.
Don’t let the liberals convince you otherwise. I am seeing A LOT of comments being repeated that are talking points of the LEFT. We CAN’T. We won’t be able to…We LOST. That’s BALONEY!!!!!
Fiscally responsible conservatives know how to fix this and we WILL WIN this fight. Piglosi can gloat all day long…In November she is back to the pig pen.
March 20, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Dee, if Demonpass is overturned by SCOTUS it will be as if it never existed. At least that is my understanding of it. Mark Levin’s site probably has better info.
March 20, 2010 at 10:08 am
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!
Rays of hope and change are all around….real hope and change.
For instance, it wasn’t long ago when Beck first told us about the ACORN office down in New Orleans and all their ties, I recall feeling so overwhelmed and hopeless.
NOW:
“After the activists’ videos came to light and swiftly became fodder for 24-hour cable news coverage, private donations from foundations to Acorn all but evaporated and the federal government quickly distanced itself from the group.
The Census Bureau ended its partnership with the organization for this year’s census, the Internal Revenue Service dropped Acorn from its Voluntary Income Tax Assistance program, and Congress voted to cut off all grants to the group.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/20/us/politics/20acorn.html
March 20, 2010 at 11:15 am
EXACTLY!!! The fight has just started. Obama has created a HUGE, HUGE mess for himself. It’s not like this is going to pass and all the sudden the country forgets. Taxes go up. Premiums go up. People will get laid off. Obama has a huge basket of issues he’s got to deal with…and an entire country who thinks he is a marxist socialist trying to destroy the economy. The Democrats don’t have a prayer next November.
The majority of this bill will not come to pass and don’t let the liberals convince you otherwise.
March 20, 2010 at 6:10 am
Thank you for putting into words a lot of what I feel right now.
March 20, 2010 at 7:45 am
What a beautiful piece.
March 20, 2010 at 8:49 am
Wow. Just wow. Thanks.
March 20, 2010 at 9:51 am
Keep in mind that, according to Hussein’s own words, we are indeed going to be fired up.
We “lose”? FIRED UP! ANGRY! FOCUSED! FIGHTING MAD!!!
We “win”? It’s just the first quarter of the game….we score….and then. Then. THEN…we take it to them. We start running up the score like they have never faced. We will be FIRED UP! ANGRY! FOCUSED! FIGHTING MAD!!
No matter what happens–we WILL BE fired up. And we.will.win.
Many years ago, a Christian friend had been dealing with horrible and tragic circumstances that seemed to have no end. It was finally “over” and she had survived, but (she felt like)..just barely. She said that as she prayed, asking for strength, she really felt like the Lord whispered to her heart, “You haven’t lost. You won. You don’t know what you were up against.”
So no matter, fellow patriots, WE WIN. We are already winning! Do you think that in their worst dreams they thought that 12 months after he ascended the throne of their making that they would facing THIS right now, in March of 2010?? No way.
March 20, 2010 at 11:38 am
Making me cry here!
March 20, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Thanks, Emma!
When the going gets tough, the tough get rough!
March 20, 2010 at 9:58 am
Very well said.
March 20, 2010 at 10:38 am
Well, said. Brought a tear to my eye.
March 20, 2010 at 3:01 am
have a look at this story:
http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/fundraiser-for-obama-and-clinton-admits-fraud/
How interesting… he is Iranian… and he raised funds for Dr. Utopia…. is there a payback?
March 20, 2010 at 3:22 am
1) I can’t believe my own eyes — they just won’t stop.
2) I’m commenting at HillBuzz, a website that makes me laugh at least once a day.
3) I hope Gov. Palin and Rep. Bachmann know about HillBuzz and appreciate all that the HillBuzz Boyz are doing for our country.
4) It is damned late, the dog has been walked, and I need to go to bed if I want to get any errands done today.
March 20, 2010 at 4:00 am
Please tell Palin and Bachmann. We don’t know if they are aware of us, but they have a strong team ready to go for them, and we want them to use us.
March 20, 2010 at 4:17 am
Done, my friends. I called Bachmann’s offices two weeks ago — I wrote a post to you about it under the “Contact” thread (#175). Check it out — it was a very positive experience.
I argued for the need for the GOP to adopt a strong federalism plank, so the party can represent a broad coalition of conservative Americans… which is what you are, HillBuzz
Boyz! You right-wingers, you! :)
March 20, 2010 at 8:15 am
Boyz,
I believe Sarah (and I suspect Michelle) already is well aware of you. You must know that there is a link to Hillbuzz at conservatives4palin.
Sarah is a master strategist. You have not heard from her up to now, but I suspect you will hear from her when her plan is complete.
Meanwhile, you are doing your part, organizing “your peeps.”
Think about this. Many of us who label ourselves Christian conservatives came to a gay Democratic website via Rush Limbaugh. Remember that old saying that the pen is mightier than the sword? Well, by virtue of the gift of writing that God has given you, you have managed to persuade many of us to come here daily to read and ponder what you have to write. As you have been willing to share your lives with us, we in turn, have shared our lives with you and in so doing, have found common ground in our love for our country. By your pen, you have knit together unique individuals to the point that when you suggest we do something, we take action.
Sarah is watching this. Now, I’m not saying that she wakes up every morning and reads every post of yours and every response to your posts. But, there are probably others around her who are monitoring your site and are well aware of what is happening.
I am only guessing here, but I suspect that there is no need at this point, in her mind, to make an official contact. What is happening here is like a garden that is being prepared for seed. One must dig up the ground. Another must pull out the weeds and stones. One must level the ground and add fertilizer. Another must plant the seed and water it. In order for a plant to grow, the seed must die. I feel like that is where we are. No matter what our political or religious persuasion prior to coming to Hillbuzz, we are dying to some of our preconceived ideas. It has even happened with you Boyz, when you went to that little Catholic church the other night. When the plant has grown and is ready to be used, Sarah will use you (and us).
Be of good cheer.
March 20, 2010 at 9:12 am
That is all very well said.
On another front, I really hope that Netanyahu has taken the advice of e.g. Melanie Phillips and Caroline Glick to heart and uses his days in the States to reach out to the American people directly — not only to the political people in Washington who oppose this Administration’s Israel policy.
March 20, 2010 at 3:20 pm
and to remove the weeds, you must plant the trees and the other plants because then the weeds cannot grow.
A good gardener also removes the weeds from the Garden.
Removing the weeds (the Communists) from the Democrat Party will be a mighty task.
It can be done, but it needs to be something that the grassroots will do in the very near future.
March 20, 2010 at 11:17 am
I’ve written Palin about you.
March 20, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Sarah visits a lot of different web-site’s boyz, and Sarah “positively” knows who you are :)
March 20, 2010 at 3:43 am
I went to see Repo Men tonight (Friday).
In the movie, there is an evil corporation called “The Union”.
I wasn’t sure if the name of the company was an intentional jab at unions, or just a coincidence.
Though they never really mention the topic, throughout the movie, I kept thinking to myself, there is absolutely no way that a company this evil could exist without the willful blessing of the government.
My money is on the government chasing some “socialist utopia”. It sure seems that way based on the setting.
I also kept thinking how nice it would be for us all to become “Constitutional Repo Men” (and women). I have a fantasy of 200 million Americans marching on Washington, barging into a Congressional session and saying something like
“We’re here to take back our country, mother******s”
March 20, 2010 at 6:24 am
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0318/Scott-Brown-effect-Could-Senator-Barbara-Boxer-lose-California
Ready, Aim……….FIRE!
March 20, 2010 at 10:20 am
Pelosi and Waxman are next!
http://www.johndennis2010.com/
March 20, 2010 at 12:04 pm
don’t forget to send Pelosi a 70th bday present! March 25
$$$ to Dennis!
March 20, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Wonder how or where we find out when Reid and the others dems birthdays are? I would love to send them a card telling them I have honored their birthday by contributing to their opponents compaign.
March 20, 2010 at 3:22 pm
I have just given Waxman a small pass. He stood up to Pelosi and her demon pass.
March 20, 2010 at 1:30 pm
YES!
March 20, 2010 at 6:25 am
Yesterday it was the Washington Times. Today it is the London Telegraph that mentions the “I” word:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/geraldwarner/100030703/barack-obama-could-the-president-face-impeachment-if-the-supreme-court-strikes-the-slaughter-solution/
I’m not living in a fantasy land. I know there is very little hope for an impeachment when the democrats control congress, but it can’t hurt for this word to be mentioned and cause people to start thinking about it.
Personally, the words I would rather see are ‘treason’ and ‘hanging’.
March 20, 2010 at 6:38 am
I wonder, WHEN the Repubs take back the House & Senate this year, the remaining Dems sure better vote to impeach Obama if they want any hope of preserving the Dem party.
March 20, 2010 at 7:55 am
I’m good with treason as well, at least failing to uphold the Constitution. Obama may win the battle over health care reform but lose the legal war with the states. He is assured a place in history, just not the one he desires.
March 20, 2010 at 9:44 am
I would just love to see a huge Conservative majority take congress and proceed to embarrass the hell out of Obummer for 3 more years. Relegate him to impotence and take his “historic election” to infamy.
March 20, 2010 at 9:52 am
Funny you say that, because I’ve been saying since the moment I first heard of the “Slaughter Rule” that if this bill is signed into law, I would work to see that she [Slaughter] and Pelosi would swing for treason.
Of course, I don’t have any pull whatsoever, nor do I work in an industry where I could do anything about this. But I will throw everything I have behind someone who can do this and pursues it…
March 20, 2010 at 10:00 am
The Slaughter Deem and Pass stuff has to stop. Forever. We must see that the Constitution is fully restored.
March 20, 2010 at 11:42 am
Hold our reps to the fire to make sure they take action against the traitors, don’t let business go back to usual. I don’t give a rats if they all play poker and golf with each other after they leave the congress. You comport with criminals, you’ll go down with them.
March 20, 2010 at 3:25 pm
it looks like Waxman got the upper hand and stopped it.
March 20, 2010 at 7:07 am
I am so upset right now!
I just heard that Stupak has scheduled a press conference for 11:00 AM (ET).
I don’t know if I’m disappointed, angry, depressed, surprised, or what. I just know the emotions twirling around inside me are making me feel ill.
He is going to upset a lot of people. I was actually feeling sympathy for the man when he told of the harrassment he and his wife have been going through.
What could nancy have threatened him with? Or what could she have promised him to make him turn?
I think he is just another whore!!!!!
March 20, 2010 at 7:26 am
Promised him, cross her heart and hope to die, that he could re-write abortion funding out of the bill at the same time they pass the bill tomorrow (or, if he’s caved by now, today)?
I always feared they might be willing to dispose of the abortion funding in the bill at the last minute to get pro-life votes, if only for the reason that the federal gov’t already gives so much money to Planned Parenthood and other “charities” offering abortion services. Pelosi knows that there are indirect ways for the gov’t to fund abortion, too.
March 20, 2010 at 7:30 am
Oh no!!! I am so thoroughly disgusted with this whole process. I expected a government takeover from this crew…what has shocked me(why, I don’t know..hope springs eternal, I guess) is the blatant corruption and the Democrats shrugging it off as “oh well, that’s how Washington works”!!! Why has he not been taken to task for his promise to put it all on CSpan so we can see how the deals went down? The promised “no mandates”? The “must have public option”?
I don’t want this plan, but what upsets me more is watching Obama just skate through with no accountability and with continued adoration. It’s terrifying.
March 20, 2010 at 10:37 am
There’s an update on Michelle Malkin’s site “Stupack conference cancelled”.
March 20, 2010 at 12:57 pm
The press conference has been post poned. Lord only knows what madness is going on behind the scenes.
March 20, 2010 at 7:29 am
I am feeling much calmer today.
I prayed yesterday for our country. I prayed that if these pass this POS bill, it will not defeat freedom loving people across the spectrum, it will only unite us.
We are repubs, dems, indies on this board, we have many disgareements, but we all want freedom, we all want free will, we all want choices on how to live our lives.
And that is why we are ALL pissed off.
People… remember, the fight is only begun. Everytime I hear that idiot Juan Williams on Fox News go “people will forget about this by november 2010″, and “its an anti-incumbuncy feeling, against repubs AND dems”
IT IS NOT!
my fellow hillary peeps have NOT forgotten what happened 2 years ago on May 31th, 2008, why the hell would we forget this $hit that is only about 6 months away from movember 2010??
AND HEY TROLLS…. A REMINDER… I AM A DEMOCRAT/INDEPENDENT.. I AM MORE PISSED OFF AND DISGUSTED AT THE RADICAL LUNATICS/DIMOCRATS THAN I EVER WAS AT BUSH.
Let me give you a hint, the anti-incumbancy feeling… ITS AGAINST THE FREAKING DIMOCRATS MAINLY!.
I have voted for every dimocrat my entire voting life, at the local, state and federal level, didn’t matter if I knew who they were so long as they had a “D” after there name.
I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR A DIMOCRAT EVER IN MY LIFE AGAIN! EVER!
This country was built on freedom, THERE IS NO OTHER COUNTRY LIKE AMERICA. THere is only ONE!!!
IF they ram thru this $hit, remember, the fight will continue, will we tire, will we complain? oh yes.
But it is nothing compared to what the founding fathers and soldiers went thru. THey gave up their lands, they cushy lifelstyle, THEIR OWN LIVES.
AND it did not come overnight, it took close to 10 years for the British to completely concede defeat.
And yes WHY did the American patriots revolt?
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
“
and the list of greviances against their govt(part of it)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence:
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
sound familiar??
PLEASE remember, this fight is NOT over on Sunday, THE fight has just begun. All of us have never seen anything like this in our lives, WE HAVE A CHOICE NOW.
We can accept it or fight back.
I have never been politically active, like a rubber band now stretched, I cannot go back to living in oblivion. Do I get scared at what is being forced down our throats? Not anymore, I firmly believe we have brought to this point so we cannot just bury our heads in the sand and hope it all goes away.
This is no longer dems vs repubs, its totalrians-dimocrats vs the American people.
We will all stand together and defeat this. Have faith. This country has survived a lot more this Marxist Messaih, and will survive this, grow stronger and more uniter and we will defeat this.
Our eyes have now been opened, its all been building up to this for years now, we have stand up and hold firm and fight back.
//thanks for letting me share my views, my love for this country. I want you all to take 4 minutes to watch this, this is who we are. this is why we will prevail. this is why we as Americans across the political spectrum will unite even stronger, survive and grow stronger and defeat the nonsense that has now taken over the WH and Congress.
March 20, 2010 at 9:05 am
We’re two peas in a pod on this. I can’t see myself voting Democrat ever again at his time. I think the Democratic party has done irreparable harm to its brand, and it just might slither off and die an ignominious death.
March 20, 2010 at 10:27 am
Yep; I said it before, it’s like the story in the Old Testament, with Moses leading the Jews out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. He climbed Mt. Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments but was gone so long, his people got scared. Not surprisingly, they reverted back to the familiar, resuming their idol-worshiping ways. They melted down all of their gold to fashion a golden calf, and began praying to the idol for deliverance. Moses returned and, seeing what they had done, threw down the tablets. Then God spoke to Moses and commanded, lead these people through the desert another 40 years before taking them to Canaan, the promised land. That way, all generations which have known slavery will have perished.
I will not vote D again for 40 years.
March 20, 2010 at 3:29 pm
are you aware of what the Democrats did or connived during the Reconstruction period?
I think a lot of people who are lifelong Democrats are unaware of that connivance.
This is nothing new.
March 20, 2010 at 9:19 am
For me too — once a Democrat, in the aftermath of 9/11 an Independent — I shall never vote for someone with a D after his or her name again. In those — probably rare — cases where that person is nonetheless deserving of election, I shall vote for him or her but as a write-in candidate only, or, as happens sometimes in New York, as the candidate of another party that has placed him or her concurrently on the ballot.
For the sake of our political system, two strong parties are needed, but it may be that an entirely new one will have to replace the Democrats.
March 20, 2010 at 9:55 am
Yes, the “third party” may end up being some re-creation of Independent Democrats who simply will not return to the “democrat” label. Hmmmmm….that’s interesting. We do need two parties…
March 20, 2010 at 12:45 pm
NO THIRD PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!
A third party is an Obama win.
March 20, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Agree, no THIRD PARTY!
The GOP can be rebuilt from the inside out.
Whatever becomes of the Dim’s is their problem.
March 20, 2010 at 9:40 am
From here on I am only voting for American candidates. If they are not pro-American they will not get my vote.
March 20, 2010 at 10:03 am
I am with you, Ernst.
I’ve always been an independent, and now I know I’ve always been a Libertarian (fiscally conservative, socially moderate). I’ve voted accordingly.
Now I know that’s not enough. I have to vote for people who LOVE this country as I do. And even more than that, I have to be fully involved, even if I choose not to pursue a political office myself.
March 20, 2010 at 3:31 pm
be careful because they can pretend to be pro-American. Dr. Utopia pretended to be centrist, even though a lot of us knew differently.
March 20, 2010 at 9:48 am
Now there is a bumper sticker: “Pursue Happiness – Defeat Democrats”
March 20, 2010 at 10:36 am
Just call me DINO!
March 20, 2010 at 10:44 am
Love it. Me, too.
March 20, 2010 at 10:41 am
You and me both. I’d NEVER voted for a GOP in my life. I couldn’t bring myself to vote this past election, but ALMOST went to voted against Obama.
I will NEVER, EVER vote for another democrat, at any level, EVER again.
March 20, 2010 at 10:47 am
Honey, I’m a registered Republican, but have always voted for the individual, and that means that I’ve pretty much voted for every party that there has ever been. Rep, Dem, Ind, heck even Green.
Not anymore. Not again. A barrier has been crossed by the Democrats. A boundary of civility, respect and responsibility that has been transgressed. Risks being taken with our nation that are so frightening that I cannot pretend any longer that this party loves America and that we just have different ideas as to how to do things.
I have always been a patriot but when I see the absolute possibility of losing everything that had ever been fought for…when I see the liberties and freedoms that so many died for taken for granted and either being given up or forcefully taken away by those who have no respect for their fellow citiizens, only the greedy infantile need for power at all costs…
Then it’s time to take a stand and I’m taking mine. No more.
March 20, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Why not register as a Republican so at least you can vote in their primaries. I went from Dem to Indie to GOP last year for that reason.
March 20, 2010 at 7:30 am
Here’s my current feeling:
We are in a war. Right now we like soldiers when the enemy is on the assault. We have to try to hold our position and make their endeavor as hard and bitter as possible – inflict losses, obstruct, rain fire on them, make it hard.
The thing about being a soldier is – that it is an internal thing too. Under assault, we are challenged by despair, bleakness, a feeling of being weak and vulnerable. To overcome this we need to strongly be in fortitude, a set and dogged will to adhere to our goals, and the bloodyminded dedication to make their every effort as hard as f**cking possible for the enemy.
Right now we hold hard under an assault. Fact is it’s their game right now, they’ve got the ball and they might be able to ram this pig through.
But after that it’s our turn and we must assault with a WILL. In every state in every neighborhood in every vote in every place at every level of community and government online and IRL. Recalls and ballot initiatives, local and state and national fundraising, communicating with people, rallying.
Whenever you have expectations like longing for winning or longing for the fight to end, we have to try to LET GO of expectations. Just be the fight. Be in the fight. Expectations can trip you up and make you weak or lose your head when what we need is clear headedness and clear vision to watch the enemy and pursue our own course clearly.
We are defending our country, our families and everything we love so we must to everything possible to cultivate our every strength and minimize our every weakness.
March 20, 2010 at 7:44 am
What are our weapons in this fight?
It is our own personal attributes and abilities. Look at hillbuzz – they know the enemy the best. They also know fundraising, politics and they way it all operates, and how to read the tea leaves. They also communicate far and wide.
Look into yourself and into your life so far and find what your natural weapons are. They will be different for everybody. Is it your knowledge of socialism in other countries? Is it your wide network of friends and families? Is it your knowledge of the government or of the law? Is it your ability to inspire and encourage others? To comfort them? That you have free time in which to organize rally or make calls. Do you have media connections?
Someone posted on the ‘gut feeling’ thread below that we are in a battle of truth and our weapons are ourselves, that Gandhi called this satyagraha. This is my take on what that poster was saying.
We need to raise our fellow warriors too. For example in Virginia we elected Cuccinelli to the AG, and he’s going to file suit if this pig is passed. Thank you god for sending us a warrior like him right now. We need them to fight at every level because they want to control us at every level – look at this business of turning on the water (after all these months!) in California to get 2 votes on obamacare – so wrong in leaders who never listened to the needs of the suffering people but used them for their own gain. GRR.
We have an army to raise, at the local, state and national level. This is an election year. We will need to raise them, train them and ourselves, and provision (fund) them.
Last night I dreamed I was in a large audience and an emcee announced Tina Fey who came onto the stage and in the dream I stood up and started BOOing (or is it boohing?). And then the rest of the audience began to boo as well.
March 20, 2010 at 9:21 am
In all of this that stunt with the water supply is I think the single most vile and frightful thing the Dems have done.
March 20, 2010 at 9:48 am
Me, too. Somehow that information needs to be as famous as “I can see Alaska from my house.” How can we do that? The water issue indicts the whole corrupt system.
Perries, you are a very articulate leader – yes, leader. Would you consider running for office yourself? You can start small. I’ll do what I can from Richmond to help you.
March 20, 2010 at 9:59 am
Good stuff….your posts and others like them help us all think through the issues and how we participate…
March 20, 2010 at 9:01 am
Other weapons: KEEPING CALM and KEEPING OUR SENSE OF HUMOR.
They’re trying to frighten us and provoke us. As tempting as it is to fall into Eeyore-despair or spitting incoherent View-like fury — if we do that, we lose.
We choose our own reactions. My Congressman will probably ignore the fax I sent him yesterday (took half an hour to get through, btw), but I choose my own reaction. Will I sink into gloom and doom? Will I do something foolish and violent? Or will I shake my head, trust in God, and move on? (And maybe draw a cartoon ridiculing the guy to post on the Internet?)
“The devil, that proud spirit, cannot bear to be mocked.” –Thomas More
March 20, 2010 at 10:48 am
Agreed. They’re looking for a “Reichstag fire” between here and November so they can cancel elections. Don’t give them one.
March 20, 2010 at 1:00 pm
I believe you are correct.
I fear that people will be pushed to the breaking point and things will overflow into violence. Then they will have the excuse to (1) label us as violent, crazies, and (2) impose martial law. None of that would be good, obviously.
March 20, 2010 at 7:32 am
I’m so thankful to have a GREAT diversion from the mess in DC today. Going to see Nora Ephron’s “Love, Loss, and What I Wore” in NYC with 2 of my faves..Fran Drescher and Carol Kane. I’ll laugh, I’ll cry, I’ll love on my friends..then come home and puke of this bill.
March 20, 2010 at 9:10 am
I love Fran Drescher, voice and all! I’m so glad she overcame her illness.
March 20, 2010 at 1:01 pm
She wrote a book called “Cancer, Shmancer” and started a non-profit to help other women with cancer, to help them fight and advocate for their health needs. She’s a real dynamo.
March 20, 2010 at 3:35 pm
that is strange because I cannot stand Fran Drescher, especially her voice.
March 20, 2010 at 7:54 am
JT… congratulations on nursing school, best of luck to you! hang in there!! When you need a break for schoolwork, take it, the rest of us have your back.
March 20, 2010 at 7:55 am
If they ram this thing through I believe our Country will fall silent. I’ve lived through several hurricanes; the silence will be like the eye of the storm. Woe be to those who plot our destruction from within. They have not begun to see the power of the American Patriot when the eye passes over and the winds begin to blow.
But, they will see a CAT 6 coming straight at them.
March 20, 2010 at 8:54 am
Being from South Louisiana, I could not agree more! Let the winds blow…the winds of Patriotism and love of our Constitution, that is!!!
March 20, 2010 at 7:56 am
March 20, 2010 at 10:05 am
Excellent vid. Thanks for posting it.
March 20, 2010 at 10:51 am
Those stupid-@#$% “yes we can” lazy moochers make me sick.
March 20, 2010 at 1:02 pm
They don’t make me sick, they’re just young and incredibly stupid. Doing a happy dance that someone else is going to pay their bills…until they realize that THEY are the ‘rich’ and then the whining, screaming and gnashing of teeth will be deafening.
And I won’t shake my fist at them, I’ll just LMAO and tell them that they got what they voted for.
March 20, 2010 at 8:10 am
I feel so sick to my stomach, this is exactly what I knew is only going to accelerate if they pass this POS on sunday.
Now high tech companies are leaving for China.
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2010/03/high-tech-research-moves-from-us-to.html
I’m Asian, I read AsianTimes regualrly, they are just aceelerating so much over in China and Asia in general.
No cap n tax shit, no healthcare mandates, no capital gains taxes on investments.
theere is not as much uncertainty in China as in the US for businesses.
I am so scared for my country, these asshoels in DC and congress are trueling gutting our country.
March 20, 2010 at 9:08 am
Don’t be afraid. We are about to witness history. We will make history and we will make a future for our children.
There are ways to starve the Beast. I am closing my bank accounts, stocking up on non-perishables, water, batteries, candles, sterno, a generator and breaking out my food sealer so that we can store meats and vegetables in a chest freezer.
Just doing some “pre-hurricane” season prep. I’ll be prepared to help my neighbors when the 2nd shoe falls.
If these idiots think that they can outsmart us, they’ve got another thing coming. I’m withdrawing my financial support for the Federal Government because they do not represent me.
We will get through this, sister. Trust me. We can do anything.
March 20, 2010 at 10:47 am
Thank you. These people have not outsmarted us; they only had a head start before we got up to speed. We will fix this undemocratic mess, and next time, prevent this from happening. (There are still no regulations in place that would prevent another too-big-to-fail multi-billion dollar bailout of the financial services industry.)
March 20, 2010 at 12:20 pm
WE STARTED DOING THAT VERY THING — FOOD,WATER, ECT.. THEN HUBBY WAS TERMINATED 2 WEEKS AGO… WHAT DO I DO NOW — NO JOB — NO MONEY—
March 20, 2010 at 1:02 pm
I’m so sorry.
March 20, 2010 at 9:46 am
I was on a conference call this week going over trading volumes for global exchanges. While the US shrank, there are huge amounts of capital being focused on Asia, and to a lesser extent South America.
The US was the financial capital of the world becuase every investor knew that we would keep their money safe.
That is now in the past.
March 20, 2010 at 8:19 am
I am doing what I can today in my own little corner…
Tonight is our county Republican Central Committee’s Lincoln/Reagan Dinner. I will be there – as will my husband, who hasn’t attended in five years because of his medical situation, because it’s one way to show we are active participants in this fight against the takeover of our country by the subversive forces within.
I have volunteered to run the campaign of one of the new generation of candidates who is willing to step up for the first time and work through the system for a better future for our state. So I will be hauling my butt out of bed here to go get balloons to stamp with “Vote Phoebe” and tie with bright ribbons to decorate the room with. At 10, I will meet with my son – who is contributing his time and talents too – to complete the initial work on her campaign website. And I will be printing out cards and envelopes requesting donations and support for her election.
Will this do anything to stop Obamacare this weekend? No. Not really. But if we can flip this one legislative seat from Democrat to Republican, then Montana will be able to stand stronger against a federal mandate that we cannot afford and do not support.
The point of this rant – Even if you can’t change the vote of your Congress critter for this bill – you can get involved and you can begin to effect a change that will have long-lasting impacts on the direction this country will go in the future. Get in the trenches!!!!
By the way – there is one other little thing you can do when you file your income taxes: Don’t check the box to donate $ to the federal presidential election fund. This would be mostly symbolic – but symbols are effective.
March 20, 2010 at 8:24 am
wow!
me? I trying to figure out the details on how to get a ballot intitiative in VA that puts the Fed. mandate on the November 2010 ballot.
If that is struck down, the entire thing dissolves.
my guess is a ballot intiative require a certain number of signatures, if it does, I will start working the VA tea Party to see how to get that started.
March 20, 2010 at 10:50 am
ssmith, AG Cuccinelli could ‘out’ BO right now, if he just launched an investigation into charges filed with his office that Nancy Pelosi committed election fraud in VA by swearing to the Board of Elections, BO is a NBC so they would print his name on the ballot; without ascertaining beforehand whether he was Constitutionally eligible for the job. (The VA citizen complaint is in the sidebar on the blog, http://jbjd.wordpress.com )
March 20, 2010 at 1:03 pm
More power to you!!!
March 20, 2010 at 8:27 am
Here’s the story of pelosi’s proposal to the pro-life dems:
http://dailycaller.com/2010/03/19/chaos-stupak-proposal-riles-pro-choice-dems-but-shows-pelosi-may-not-have-the-votes/
Does anyone think it’s at all possible that at his press conference, Stupak will announce that he is still voting against the bill?
That would be shocking!
I’ll be attending a local tea party this morning and so won’t be here for the big press conference. I’ll have to wait until later to hear the news.
Meantime I will be praying.
March 20, 2010 at 8:33 am
from what I understand, if they change the Senate bill, then if it is passed, then it cannot go for a signature, it still has to go back to the Senate for their approval.
They are trying some little used procedure, but the parlimetarian said, this is what that procedure was used for.
I suspect that the GOP will be blocking this.
Fear not. If they ram this thru, so be it. they have now abused the American people so much, we have no choice but to fight back.
March 20, 2010 at 8:33 am
“this is what that procedure was NOT NOT used for.”
March 20, 2010 at 10:43 am
The language in the senate bill, passed by the House, must stay EXACTLY the same as when the Senate passed it.
March 20, 2010 at 8:32 am
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/03/20/video-americas-comeback/
Great video from the Governor’s Alliance.
March 20, 2010 at 8:39 am
I’m a member of my county’s Republican Central Committee – got elected to that spot simply because they needed someone from my precinct to do it and they asked – it was that simple. I am now PUMPED to WORK, WORK, WORK to throw out the bum that just caved yesterday to Mistress Nancy’s pressure to vote for this unconstitutional mess. I have done the door-to-door and phone bank thing before on the Presidential level but have never before been so engaged on the down-ticket races. My view is now that ANY candidate that is willing to have a D next to their name has claimed the Obama/Pelosi/Reid values as their own and are proclaimimng it with their party affiliation. They all need to go – LIKE THE SNAKES FROM IRELAND… Hey, can you guys make up a Hillbuzz tee shirt with your cute little bee and just have that phrase on there? We’ll all know what it means! Just asking.
March 20, 2010 at 8:42 am
Here’s an idea. Whether this thing passes or not, it’s the end of the Democratic party in November and for elections to come.
Why don’t the Hillbuzz guys start an obituary thread where we can write eulogies for those politicians who commit political suicide.
March 20, 2010 at 10:36 am
Great idea! I need to write one for Boccierri! (Spell check for his name! hahaha!)
March 20, 2010 at 11:31 am
OhioDee – do we share the same rotten scoundral as a supposed “representative”? I called Boccieri MANY times opposing this thing and told him he was sworn to uphold the Constitution, not skirt around it. He only voted “no” the last time because Nancy let him. Out he goes!
March 20, 2010 at 1:33 pm
He’s a done deal!
March 20, 2010 at 8:50 am
Check out Rasmussen today. http://www.rasmussenreports.com
Not only is Obama at his lowest rating on the approval index -21, but he is also at his lowest overall approval 43%.
March 20, 2010 at 8:51 am
Happy first day of Spring BTW. I’m predicting that before the first day of summer his approval will be under 40.
March 20, 2010 at 9:03 am
I’m going for 39 also.
However, I really don’t think it matters to him. He’s a suicide bomber in mindset.
Come in, do maximum damage before being gone…. hell, November isn’t going to be soon enough. That has been his intention from day one.
Less than 14 months and look at the carnage.
March 20, 2010 at 9:06 am
His approval/disapproval numbers match those for the health-care “reform” — which may be a mere coincidence, but could mean more than that.
Note that this coming week Rasmussen will be offering more detailed polling information about him and presumably other politicians: “On Monday, Rasmussen Reports will begin rolling out new features for measuring the performance of the President and other politicians. Also, next week, we will launch new features that will help track information on a state by state basis.” That could mean we’ll have something other than slanted polls to gauge a two-way race between O and Palin.
March 20, 2010 at 10:59 am
How in the H-E-2x hockey sticks could 43% of Americans “approve” of this jackass?!?!?!?
March 20, 2010 at 11:21 am
43% huh? I’d guess that all blacks are approving of him, all the liberals, and some who voted for him but can’t yet admit the mistake they made. If he were white he’d likely be in the high 20′s approval.
March 20, 2010 at 12:52 pm
He has actually beaten George Bush as the most disapproved of….and he has beaten Jimmy Carter, too.
I guess he is going for the record. It will only be a matter of time before we run him out of office..and I’m all for running him out of the country.
I have said it and will say it again…Obama will be much more dangerous when he is OUT of office.
March 20, 2010 at 8:58 am
I’ve been reading a little bit about the coup de ‘etat in Chile in 1973 and the similarities are striking to Obama. Obama is like Salavatore Allende, the marxist dictator elected in 1970. Once he was elected he went about radically changing the system from the inside. The people revolted, that’s why General Augusto Pinochet overthrew the gov’t. Not the typical lefty lie that Allende was democratically elected, and the mean old conservative military wanted to stop a Marxist Paradise because they were in the pockets of the rich.
The similarities to Honduras just last year is striking too. Same old lefty lies. A democratically elected government of Zelaya was trying to help the poor…..blah, blah, blah.
With the recent earthquake in Chile, Geraldo made a quick passing remark about the history of Chile, “The overthrow of the DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED gov’t in 1973″
Why the hell do these lefties always use that old line “The democratically elected government was overthrown”.
These dicators get elected, then they radically, unconsitutionally and illegally change the gov’t, build up fascist power centers and dare anyone to stop them.
History repeats again.
I bet if Obama gets thrown out or overthrown you’ll hear the same thing. The DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED gov’t of Barack Obama was overthrown by the mean old Rich republicans.
March 20, 2010 at 9:08 am
I’m mean, but I’m sure as heck not rich. Otherwise, I don’t care what they call me…. it’d be worth it to see him gone.
March 20, 2010 at 9:12 am
If you’re mean, over 30, and have 100 dollars in the bank, you’re a mean old rich republican. (just to clarify)
March 20, 2010 at 11:32 am
You forgot to say ‘racist’ and ‘stupid’.
Just trying to help.
March 20, 2010 at 9:00 am
I had the strangest thought just now — from the news reports it seems that among the group of pro-choice Democrats in the House who are threatening to vote against the Reid bill if it is amended as Stupak wants, is Louise Slaughter! Wouldn’t it just cap off this whole outrageous process were the thing to pass somehow and she, with her allies, did a complete turn and joined the court case against this “law” deemed passed by her own strategem?
Seriously, though, I’m waiting for Stupak’s press conference and the reaction from that fraction of Democrats. On the one hand it could all just be a stage-managed counterfeit battle before they all unite to deem the thing done; but on the other hand it could well be an intra-party war.
The further warnings from the ‘Pubs in the Senate to the House are very welcome.
March 20, 2010 at 9:12 am
What aren’t people aren’t understanding is that Hatch and everyone talking about amendments and such are all talking about the Reconciliation Bill. It’s the Reconciliation Bill they are passing tomorrow (or trying to). Within that bill is the language that “deems” the Senate HCR bill passed. Once the Rec bill is passed, Pelosi will “separate out” the Senate bill that was just deemed passed, and send it to Reid for his rubber stamp and then it is put on Obama’s desk. The Reconciliation Bill still has to go to the Senate for approval and that is what all the threats are about. Yes – it will be a slug-fest over the Rec Bill – but that matter nought. The Senate HCR bill will be signed into law within 15 minutes of the House Passing the Rec Bill.
I know it’s confusing – but the Rec Bill is what Pelosi et al have been using to promise all the crap to get Yes votes. The stupid, idiotic representatives (and what the Senate Republicans have been trying to tell them.) have a snow-ball’s chance in hell of the Senate passing their Reconciliation, or at least it will take a very long time.
But Dr. U, Piglosi and Rabid Reid just know that by tomorrow night we will most likely have a health crime law that launches the first major battle on their question to make us Venezuela.
March 20, 2010 at 9:15 am
And since I just let myself slip into depression with this post – I had to go back and read what another poster gave us yesterday. Please read it – it will give you hope.
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100228/ASPENWEEKLY/100229854/0/FRONTPAGE
March 20, 2010 at 10:00 am
This where Levin comes in. He says that if they use this method to pass both the Senate bill and reconcilliation (amendments) combined, then break out the Senate bill to send to Obama – this is unconstitutional because they did not pass and sign the exact same bills in all phases. It will be illegitimate and unenforceable.
March 20, 2010 at 10:40 am
And I’m praying he’s successful. I also hope others also have suits prepared to file.
March 20, 2010 at 11:33 am
Goodness knows that I am no lawyer, so I don’t understand all this either. However, it was my understanding that the deem and pass thing was part of the rule for the reconciliation bill and not part of the bill itself. In which case, it would not be a different bill in the Senate, just a different rule. Can someone with a better understanding of how all this works clear this up for me? If it is part of the rule to deem the Senate health care bill as being passed when the reconciliation bill passes, does that mean the Senate health care bill is part of the reconciliation bill too? If that is the case, then it would make it two different reconciliation bills being voted on in the Senate and House.
March 20, 2010 at 9:12 am
PLEASE COME JOIN THE RALLY!!!
Upcoming Rally with Governor Palin and Congresswoman Bachmann
Woodbury – Congresswoman Michele Bachmann t announced an upcoming rally with former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. The free rally, which is open to all, will take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center on April 7, 2010 and begins at 2:00pm. Hosted by the Republican Party of Minnesota, the event will surely be a memorable occasion.
“We are delighted to welcome Governor Sarah Palin, to our beautiful state of Minnesota. Governor Palin represents so many Americans that are tired of business as usual in Washington. I encourage everyone to join us at the upcoming rally, and send a powerful message to Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the liberals in Congress,” stated Congresswoman Bachmann.
Tickets are being distributed on a first come, first served basis. To acquire your free tickets please visit rally.mngop.com or call 651-222-0022.
Governor Sarah Palin will also be hosting a reception and dinner fundraiser for Congresswoman Michele Bachmann for more details please click HERE.
RALLY DETAILS
Wednesday, April, 7, 2010 at 2:00 PM
Minneapolis Convention Center: Hall D
Visit http://www.michelebachmann.com for more details about Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.
Visit rally.mngop.com to get tickets or call 651.222.0022.
For Members of the Press:
Please email mhd@mngop.com for press credentials.
March 20, 2010 at 9:17 am
The only reason I’m looking at firedog is because it IS liberal- they’re going to (if anything) post it from what the left is seeing. That way it can’t be any worse than what they say there. This is the latest from firedog; and they ARE confused:
http://news.firedoglake.com/
*****************
The Stupak Amendment Is Back: What’s an Enrollment Corrections Bill?
By: David Dayen Friday March 19, 2010 7:38 pm
Jane has gone over this, but what Bart Stupak hinted at today has apparently come true. Stupak’s four-page “enrollment corrections” bill will get some sort of vote in the House as part of the overall health care bill. You can look at the scans of the four-page document here. It’s essentially the Stupak amendment.
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
On page 2, you can see clearly that it says “Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require any health plan to provide coverage of abortion services or to allow the secretary or any other person or entity implementing this Act (or amendment) to require coverage of such services,” and then later, “None of the funds appropriated by this Act… shall be expended for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion, except in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed…. or unless the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.”
This is the Stupak amendment, right down to the language on Page 3 about a separate abortion rider (which is not currently offered in any state where private coverage is banned). And it’s added as a “concurring resolution” to this bill.
Now, can that work? What about reconciliation? Don’t the changes have to be budget-related? What’s the deal with this “enrollment corrections”?
A concurrent resolution doesn’t have to be signed by the President, just adopted by the House and Senate. Enrollment corrections are typically reserved for technical changes to a bill happening in between passage and signage – before “enrollment” of the bill.
The question here seems to come down to how this is presented. Does this enrollment correction get tucked into the reconciliation bill and then “deemed” (there’s that word again) passed by the Senate? Would it have to be a stand-alone measure? What about the Byrd rule?
I asked Sarah Binder, a parliamentary expert and a professor at George Washington University, about all this. She doesn’t quite think it’s possible. Specifically, she says that “any enrollment corrections resolution considered to be more than a technical correction would need unanimous consent (in the Senate) to be adopted.” Failing that, it could possibly run through a cloture vote, basically 60 votes in the Senate. But if it’s inside the reconciliation process, then one Senator merely can challenge the language of one line of the bill and get the concurrent resolution ordered out of the sidecar.
It seems it may come down to WHEN the vote happens. If it occurs before the final vote, Congress might be able to get away with having it included in the total bill. But that doesn’t seem like it would work, for reasons that David Waldman explains here:
It seems to me that if the Senate parliamentarian is indeed insisting that the reconciliation bill address “current law,” then that means the Senate bill must be not only enrolled, but signed by the President before reconciliation can be considered, at least in the Senate. I assume the House parliamentarian has no such objection to the House beginning its work (which is curious in itself), since he’s apparently allowing the House to consider and pass reconciliation before the Senate bill is enrolled.
Will the Senate parliamentarian insist that the bill be signed before permitting the Senate to begin its reconciliation work on the floor? He may have no say over what the House parliamentarian approves with respect to when the House passes reconciliation, but he can prevent the Senate from beginning until the Senate bill becomes “current law.”
Nobody really knows if Stupak can pull this off; there’s very little precedent.
If the vote occurs after the vote on the final bill, it would have to go through a very dicey reconciliation process. And as a concurrent resolution, it might have to exist as a standalone measure entirely, meaning it’s eligible for a filibuster.
Now, we don’t know what assurances are being made on the Senate side to keep this in. Remember, if anything from the House reconciliation sidecar gets changed, the sidecar has to go BACK to the House for another vote. At which point we’re in exactly the same boat that we’re in right now. Democratic Senate leaders have already said they would whip to make no changes whatsoever to the sidecar. So there could end up being a “conspiracy of silence,” where nobody says anything about the abortion language (though presumably a Republican might) and it passes through the Senate without incident. Or Joe Biden overrules the chair on the point of order, and Democrats are whipped to sustain it (though Republicans have said they would not agree to that and would vote en masse against it).
It’s about as clear as mud. But somehow, when something has to be done, the rules tend to melt away. It’s clear the House cannot pass the health care bill without Bart Stupak. That tends to concentrate the mind.
The Pro-Choice Caucus, incidentally, is talking about an open revolt on this.
The vote prompted an angry backlash from members of the Pro-Choice Caucus, who vowed to kill any future healthcare bill containing the Stupak language, which they say goes beyond current law and places more restrictions on abortion than already exist.
Leaders of the Pro-Choice Caucus, some 30 minutes after storming into Pelosi’s office, renewed that threat.
“This concurrent resolution which Congressman Stupak and several others have filed, from the position of the people who signed my letter back in November, is a non-starter,” said Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), a Pro-Choice Caucus co-chairwoman. “We compromised to the concept ‘no federal funding for abortion,’ which is current law — we don’t like that. And so if Mr. Stupak and a few members, along with the Republicans, decide to use this to take healthcare down, then that loss on healthcare coverage is going to be on their hands.”
DeGette said a move allowing the enrollment resolution to go forward would put “somewhere between 40 and 55” pro-abortion rights votes at stake.
That math was also leading to counter-rumors, including from aides of anti-abortion rights Democrats, that Pelosi could not realistically be putting even a dozen votes from the left at stake for the sake of Stupak and his allies.
March 20, 2010 at 9:26 am
GUYS:
PLEASE call the pro-choice bloc and scream at them for NOT going along with this. TELL THEM NO TO STUPAK!!!!
Use those alinskly on the lefites.
Here are the people’s names:
Diana DeGette
CALL HER!!
(202) 225-4431
(303) 844-4988
March 20, 2010 at 10:05 am
This why Stupak insists this be passed by both houses BEFORE he will agree to the HC bill. But if they DO pass this, the pro-choicers are going to bolt. Pewlosi is in a box.
Bet he caves, though. He wants health care, but not the abortions. They will sucker him in somehow. He is not, ultimately, our friend against this bill.
March 20, 2010 at 9:19 am
Another thought here. I’ve been puzzling over why the unions are fighting so hard for this plan. I mean, this would destroy the huge super-plans they worked so hard to get for their union members now. Then it hit me. Right there few (if ANY) insurance companies are unionized. They know that when this becomes universal healthcare 1/6 of the national economy will then become unionized. In other words, this is not about what is best for the union MEMBERS; but what is best for union POWER and for the union LEADERS.
March 20, 2010 at 9:57 am
The SEIU is bleeding money in its pension system. It is only 65% funded right now. If gov’t healthcare goes thru, they will eventually shift the union’s healthcare obligations on to the gov’t, but it will also allow the SEIU to organize low level healthcare workers.
March 20, 2010 at 9:58 am
I think that the unions need help to continue to fund health care plans for retirees. I believe the unions – surprise! – have mismanaged pension funds and this is a “bail-out” of sorts.
March 20, 2010 at 10:46 am
By jove, I think you are all correct!
March 20, 2010 at 2:07 pm
You are absolutely correct. I’ve confronted some union organizers on this exact point and when they hear me articulate it, they have this look on their face that says “we’ve been outed”
The funny thing (not so funny from their members perspective) is that those pension funds got tangled up in the same CDS and CDO mess that the banks were in.
Guess who was being greedy too?
March 20, 2010 at 9:27 am
GUYS:
PLEASE call the pro-choice bloc and scream at them for NOT going along with this. TELL THEM NO TO STUPAK’S NEW AMENDMENT!!!!
Use those alinskly on the lefites.
Here are the pro-choice people’s names:
Diana DeGette
CALL HER!!
(202) 225-4431
(303) 844-4988
March 20, 2010 at 9:40 am
don’t waste your time on pro-choice votes. They will NEVER let stupak win this battle. Focus on someone else
March 20, 2010 at 9:55 am
you repubs really don’t still get the alinsky ways do you?
I told the pro-choice leader to say NO to stupak.
then the pro-choice leader will say NO to stupak, and then stupak’s people will continue to say NO to rationcare
I urge all pro-lifers and pro-choice people to call this lady to say stand firm. We are all against Rationcare, that supercedes our differences.
March 20, 2010 at 10:50 am
and what I’m saying is there’s no way in hell the pro-choice would even consider- WHY ON EARTH would you waste time on something we don’t need to fight against!!
March 20, 2010 at 10:52 am
As you can NOW see Stupak just walked away because piglosi was getting too much flack from the pro-choicers. Point made?
March 20, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Actually, the point ssmith was making was to call Female pro-choice reps and tell them to stand firm against Stupak’s supposed deal with Pelousy. This would continue the discord within the Democratic ranks and if Stupak is to be believed, he still would not vote for this bill if his deal does not get the other pro-choice Democrat rep’s support.
March 20, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Chris
you are the one who is not getting it. The idea was to use Alinsky rules against the Marxists and in this case the female pro-choice caucus. The purpose was to tell them to stand firm.
If Stupak was to win, then we would want the pro-choice caucus make up their minds to torpedo the bill.
It is that simple. It is a double-cross.
March 20, 2010 at 9:29 am
I am disgusted at my Representative, Susie Kosmos D-FL, who announced her vote from a NO earlier to a YES now on healthcare. Apparently she doesn’t understand that about 70% of the area she represents says NO to the bill. Why did we elect this fool? Never again.
March 20, 2010 at 10:04 am
I truly believe they re being blackmailed into changing their vote. Blackmailed with fidelity issues, corruption issues, etc. Why are they all retiring, they are tired of the blackmail!
March 20, 2010 at 10:44 am
It’s awful that so many elected people have things that they can be blackmailed with. Do we not get any people in office that have been honest about their lives past dirt and now live and serve us with a decent record?
March 20, 2010 at 2:05 pm
One can only wonder why anyone changes their vote other than an awakening to what the people want. Other than that, it’s pure bribary.
A government we can all feel ashamed of.
March 20, 2010 at 9:40 am
http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=John
Paul Stevens&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1
The link above indicates that Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who is 89, may step down next month. That’s unfortunate in my opinion. Obama getting another opportunity to name a Supreme Court justice
would shift the current balance from right to left.
March 20, 2010 at 9:49 am
Is Stephens a liberal or conservative?
March 20, 2010 at 9:53 am
way lefty from what I remember, so the chances are good we get a more moderate.
so, its good that a lefty is stepping down. Especially when the country in fleeing to the right.
there are now 41 votes in the Senate, filibuster. no really lefty will get thru, it would have to be a moderate. So at least that’s an improvement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_Stevens
March 20, 2010 at 12:27 pm
You’re correct. What hurts is that I knew he was considered moderately liberal. My mistake above. It’s still possible that someone like a uber liberal Cass Sunstein could find his butt on the bench, which would not be very good because of the acrimony it would cause.
March 20, 2010 at 4:31 pm
ONE OF THE MOST LIBERAL!!! CANT DO ANY WORSE IMHO!!
March 20, 2010 at 6:39 pm
I disagree. Sunstein on the bench would be a total disaster. It is objectionable.
There are plenty of other picks. I heard two names of women. Both of them in my view are totally unacceptable as possible candidates
March 20, 2010 at 6:36 pm
Stephens is a lefty… he voted against the Citizens United decision and his opinion in my view was not all that coherent.
March 20, 2010 at 10:12 am
Given all that’s been going down in Congress, I do hope the ‘Pubs in the Senate unite and filibuster any Obama nominee to the SC. Let that seat — and any further openings — remain vacant until January 2013.
March 20, 2010 at 4:32 pm
I AGREE!! CAN THEY DO THIS???
March 20, 2010 at 6:40 pm
I think that they have done it in the past. It happened to the first Latino to have been nominated – Martinez I think it was.. just not sure of the correct name.
March 20, 2010 at 9:55 am
The Sunlight Foundation has much information on campaign donors and fundraisers for both parties. http://www.sunlightfoundation.com/ is the website. TheirfFundraising event info is at: http://www.politicalpartytime.org/
March 20, 2010 at 9:57 am
We need to organize on the computer and saturate any and all sites to counter the Obama-bots. And we need to do it NOW. Between now and November the internet is going to be saturated…and I mean SATURATED by Obama-bots going around attacking conservatives. We have to outnumber them. And if liberal sites ban our comments or block them we need to saturate their phones and emails until they stop.
The other side is mobilizing…we need to do the same. We need to start putting real pressure on the MSM. Yes…they are idiots. But we decided somewhere down the line they were a lost cause and just ignore them. We cannot afford to ignore them any more.
The MSM is a vital tool used by the liberals. Did you know in Britain the conservative media is BANNED? Don’t you know Obama and his leftist thugs would love nothing more than to eliminate Fox news and conservative media? This cannot happen. We have GOT to mobilize and get people involved and put pressure on liberal media. Their numbers are tanking (HALLMARK had higher ratings than NBC last week). If we start putting pressure on sponsors who advertise on liberal media and start saturating them with complaints they will have no choice but to listen.
We have to start working NOW. November is coming.
March 20, 2010 at 9:59 am
http://www.ace.mu.nu/
Stupak cancels press release, says there is NO deal.
Stupak Cancels/Delays Presser; Dem Leadership Says There Will Be No Deal
—Gabriel Malor
Okay, I thought this morning’s press conference with Congressman Bart Stupak would settle the fate of the healthcare bill. He and the leadership were working furiously last night to work out a deal on abortion language.
It turns out the House Pro-Choice Caucus told Pelosi that if she cuts a deal with Stupak, they will vote against the whole mess: the Senate bill, the reconciliation sidecar, and any abortion provision offered to placate Stupak’s bloc. So Stupak tried and Pelosi looked like she was going with it, but she’s facing a mutiny if she does.
The fact that this occurred like this is great news. It means that Pelosi doesn’t have the votes yet. Most counts have her a handful short. By my own count, she has to peel off some of the Stupak folks or she won’t get to 216.
My final whip count and all the latest news on the healthcare vote will be up in a bit.
March 20, 2010 at 10:05 am
Good news indeed!!! Let’s bombard Heaven with prayers! I have hope starting to trickle back in again!
March 20, 2010 at 10:07 am
GUYS… PLEASE…
play both sides of the fence.
Call stupack to encourage him to NOT budge!!
and call the Pro-choice leader (I listed the phone number above) for her to stand firm and not buldge.
March 20, 2010 at 10:14 am
Good idea ssmith!
March 20, 2010 at 10:07 am
Fox just said it’s just postponed…not canceled… and it’s due to a SCHEDULING issue.
March 20, 2010 at 10:09 am
If it’s postponed, then when is it going to be held? While the protest is taking place?
Very odd.
March 20, 2010 at 10:11 am
Just like the whole bill itself, everything is mixed up and mass confusion right now.
March 20, 2010 at 10:10 am
Ok, I don’t know who is right now… everything is a mess of confusion:
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTk1ZWIwYjRkMDA1MWNlYzdiNDJlODI4OTQzMmFiZGE=
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Stupak is ‘Finished with Pelosi’ [Robert Costa]
Two pro-life GOP members close to Stupak tell NRO that any Stupak deals are off. They just spoke with him and they said he’s finished with Pelosi. They rejected his enrollment corrections proposal.
03/20 10:57 AM
March 20, 2010 at 10:15 am
Finished — for the nth time. Like the bills themselves?
The only death certificate that matters in this case can only be issued once the next Congress is sworn in — and even that may not suffice, if e.g. O gets creative with his executive orders.
March 20, 2010 at 11:07 am
It’s done. Stupak is not voting for this bill.
March 20, 2010 at 12:06 pm
I give God
credit
for
this.
Keep praying!
March 20, 2010 at 10:10 am
Ssmith’s idea worked! The pro-choice ppl stood up to Stupak.
March 20, 2010 at 10:13 am
I didn’t think I’d ever cheer for the pro-choice contingent, but U-RAH-RAH STOP STUPAK PLAN…. and U-RAH-RAH STUPAK STAND FIRM!
March 20, 2010 at 10:21 am
Amen to that!
March 20, 2010 at 10:11 am
Praying that God will harden the hearts of the legislators against this monstrosity of legislation.
March 20, 2010 at 10:13 am
Prayers welcome…
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=usa
March 20, 2010 at 10:15 am
More on Stupak from firedog:
Bishop Stupak’s Press Conference Postponed: Confusion Reigns
By: David Dayen Saturday March 20, 2010 7:57 am
The Speaker’s office denied any deal with Bishop Stupak and his monsignors last night, and now this morning, a press conference they were planning for 11am has been put on hold. Lynn Woolsey denied on the record that there was a deal, probably because of what she said later, “all pro-choice female Dems will bolt if Stupak prevails.”
Now the Democrats are calling the last card on Stupak – his mentor, John Dingell.
Veteran Democratic Rep. John Dingell vowed Saturday to work to defeat fellow Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak (D) on abortion in the healthcare bill.
Dingell, the longest-serving member of the House whose career has centered around healthcare reform, said he would work to “beat” Stupak’s efforts to add additional restrictions on federal support for abortion to the healthcare bill before the House.
“I strongly disagree with Bart,” Dingell said during an appearance on MSNBC. “I think he’s wrong.”
Both the anti-choice and pro-choice side have the power to stop the leadership from getting to 216 votes. I’m revamping the whip count chart a bit to reflect that from the anti-choice perspective. From the pro-choice perspective, Diana DeGette still holds a letter with 40 names on it, all of whom would vote no if the Stupak deal came to pass, and they wouldn’t need that many – 10 would probably be sufficient.
The path of least resistance remains going around Stupak by peeling off a couple members of his bloc. But this will probably go all day. The Rules Committee has already started their markup, and remember in November, the deal wasn’t made to get a vote on the Stupak amendment until late on the night of the committee hearing.
March 20, 2010 at 10:27 am
I’m feeling a little… hopeful…
It’s not over yet :-)
The Stupster postpones his presser, my fax to him telling him how brave he was for his NO, and how he was on the side of the angels, finally got through… It’s funny how little things like that cause hope to grow again.
As a Christian, I should not idolatrize, but right now I am calling on Eris, the goddess of discord, to multiply dissent in the Dem ranks ;-)
March 20, 2010 at 11:12 am
GOD is doing this to them right now.
March 20, 2010 at 10:39 am
Hey, does anyone know whether there is a patron saint of confusion, discord, or trickery?
Being just a protestant, I know a little about the Catholic saints (they have awesome stories, like St Wilgefortis), but not that much.
March 20, 2010 at 11:16 am
LOL!! No, I don’t think there is a Saint of “discord, confusion or trickery”. ;-)
TRUTH and FAITH move mountains.
March 20, 2010 at 10:26 am
Here is a link of live streaming of the Kill The Bill Rally in DC.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/freedomworks-action
March 20, 2010 at 10:28 am
Tom Delay says to send the Stupak crew some words of support. They are the key to blocking this (today).
March 20, 2010 at 10:31 am
Fox just said that a Stupak spokeswoman told them that negotiations are still continuing.
You know… on the first house HC bill Stupak was the last holdout; and in the end he voted “yes”. I’m terribly afraid this is a rerun…
March 20, 2010 at 10:54 am
For what it’s worth, Red State has a post about Fox’s shall we say precipitous reporting on this question:
http://www.redstate.com/dan_perrin/2010/03/20/fox-news-and-their-vote-count/
March 20, 2010 at 11:06 am
Stupak is not voting for this bill.
March 20, 2010 at 10:34 am
Whip Count in ACE:
Whip Count 3-20-10: 199 Yes, 214 No
—Gabriel Malor
Since my last count yesterday, Pelosi got Sanford Bishop, Scott Murphy, Suzanne Kosmas, Brad Ellsworth, Allen Boyd, Tom Perriello, Dina Titus and John Boccieri. (Harry Mitchell announced again, but I already counted him in the “yes” group.)
She lost Jason Altmire, John Barrow, Lincoln Davis (officially; he was already headed that way), Peter DeFazio (a surprise from “yes” to “no”), Heath Shuler, and Harry Teague.
So Nancy has 199 “definitely voting yes” congresscritters. She is 17 short of the magic number. There are 214 publicly declared “no” votes. There are 18 undecided/undeclared congressmen left (including Cuellar):
Yes votes in November now undecided:
Tim Bishop (NY-1), Mike Capuano (MA-8 ), Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8 ), Bill Foster (IL-14), Baron Hill (IN-9), Paul Kanjorski (PA-11), Alan Mollohan (WV-1), Bill Owens (NY-23), Earl Pomeroy (ND-All), Nick Rahall (WV-3), Zack Space (OH-18 ), John Tierney (MA-6).
No votes in November now undecided:
Brian Baird (WA-3), Rick Boucher (VA-9), Jim Matheson (UT-2), Glenn Nye (VA-2), John Tanner (TN-8 ).
Stupak bloc remaining:
Bart Stupak (MI-1), Marion Berry (AR-1), Joe Cao (LA-2, Republican), Jerry Costello (IL-12), Henry Cuellar (TX-28 ), Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-3), Joe Donnelly (IN-2), Steve Driehaus (OH-1), Marcy Kaptur (OH-9), Dan Lipinski (IL-3). Cuellar is thought to be “leaning yes”, but he’s refusing to take the President’s phone calls.
Of the maybe’s left, I suspect enough have told Pelosi privately that they are voting “no” that she believes she has to peel apart Stupak’s bloc to pick up the final handful of votes. That’s why all the effort last night. Unfortunately, the Pro-Choice Caucus mutinied and Pelosi is running out of “maybes” to turn.
March 20, 2010 at 10:59 am
ACE update:
Update (11:44AM): Bill Owens will vote yes. (h/t William Amos.)
So Pelosi has 200. She needs 16. There are 17 maybes left.
Update (11:47AM): Baron Hill will vote yes. (h/t Guy Fawkes). Also, I missed Tim Bishop’s announcement yesterday. He’s a yes. (h/t Patrick Archibold)
So Pelosi has 202. She needs 14. There are 15 maybes left.
Reminder: it will get closer before this is over. Change your pants and tighten up those sphincters. She’ll be closer than 210 before this is over. Doesn’t matter if she doesn’t get the 216th vote.
March 20, 2010 at 11:34 am
Now at Ace: 202 Yes, 214 No.
There are 15 Maybes, and Pelosi needs to get 14 of them.
March 20, 2010 at 10:48 am
Newest whip count in Firedog (and, remember, this is a left-wing site!):
***
New Whip Count, With Changes To Reflect The Stupak Bloc
By: David Dayen Saturday March 20, 2010 8:32 am
OK, so NRO has not always been right (understatement of the year), but they claim that Stupak told their sources that he’s “finished with Pelosi” and the enrollment corrections bill is dead. So I’ve taken a second look at the numbers to reflect what we know, and the challenge facing the Democratic leadership.
I’ve re-divided the whip count categories into Yes, No, Undecided, and Stupak. The thinking here is that if you haven’t decided by now, the day before the vote, you’re undecided. And the Stupak bloc should get its own category to more easily see the challenges of getting to 216.
So if you do that, you have 201 202 sure Yes votes, and 206 sure No votes (which includes all Republicans and 28 Democrats who have announced their intention to oppose). 13 12 members are still completely undecided. Four who voted No last time:
Brian Baird, Jim Matheson, Glenn Nye, John Tanner
And nine who voted Yes last time:
Melissa Bean, Chris Carney, Bill Foster, Paul Kanjorski, Solomon Ortiz, Bill Owens, Earl Pomeroy, Zack Space, Mike Michaud
(UPDATE: Bill Owens will vote Yes. So it’s down to 12 undecideds, from 13)
If Speaker Pelosi were to get every single one of these votes – and that’s a tall order – she would still need two members from the confirmed Stupak bloc. This confirmation comes from the names on the enrollment corrections bill from last night, and also Joe Donnelly and Jerry Costello, whose public statements leading up to the vote put them squarely in the Stupak camp. There’s some question as to whether Chris Carney belongs there as well, but his name didn’t appear on the list, and he’s wavered enough in public statements that I’ll keep him undecided. These are the Stupak 11:
Bart Stupak, Marion Berry, Sanford Bishop, Jerry Costello, Kathy Dahlkemper, Joe Donnelly, Steve Driehaus, Marcy Kaptur, Dan Lipinski, Alan Mollohan, Nick Rahall
So if the deal is dead, Pelosi needs everyone in the first two categories and two from the Stupak bloc. If she can peel off more from the Stupak bloc, it gives her room with the undecideds. The only other option would be to try and flip one of the sure No votes, like Stephen Lynch or Mike Arcuri. Expect the two committee chairs voting No, Collin Peterson and Ike Skelton, to get a lot of attention.
Given those odds, you can see why she explored the Stupak deal. But pro-choice women apparently slapped it down so soundly, that the path of least resistance is now this agonizing trek to peel off enough votes to get to 216.
March 20, 2010 at 11:00 am
And I find it interesting that Piglosi even finds it necessary to at this hour be wheeling and dealing with people about their votes. If they pass this bill it will be by the skin of their teeth.
March 20, 2010 at 10:51 am
I also find the Code Red tally to be helpful:
http://www.nrcc.org/CodeRed/targets/
March 20, 2010 at 10:53 am
latest update:
Hill:
UPDATE 11:27 a.m. ET: E-mail from GOP House leadership aide:
See floor schedule for the House today (from Hoyer’s office)… last vote should be 3-ish. Rules Committee is meeting now to write the rule for tomorrow’s reconciliation bill… we expect it will include the “Slaughter Solution” deeming the Senate bill passed and making Obamacare law. . . .
Things are tight . . . DO NOT let up on your efforts.
March 20, 2010 at 11:08 am
Vote TODAY 3′ish? What vote is being done TODAY?
March 20, 2010 at 11:11 am
You’re either not paying attention or….
March 20, 2010 at 10:55 am
If there are 37 States that are voting to block the Federal O- plan, isn’t that getting close to the number required to pass a Constitutional amendment? Wouldn’t the States getting together on such a united effort be able to make a difference to block this over-turn of the Constitution? I thought it was like a three quarters majority or a two-thirds majority. Just asking?
March 20, 2010 at 10:59 am
YES…a constitutional majority.
DO NOT LET THE LIBERALS CONVINCE YOU that we can’t repeal this bill. It CAN be repealed. The founding fathers specifically wrote in the constitution that NO CONGRESS can pass laws that the next congress can’t change. It’s against the law.
March 20, 2010 at 11:10 am
That’s true… but it has to be signed by the president also. Short of Obama, Biden, and ALL the dems in succession being removed from office, any repeal of the legislation from congress would need to be signed by the sitting president- and THEY AREN’T GOING TO DO THAT. Rush and Hannity both said over and over that once this is signed into law it will be almost impossible to repeal it completely.
March 20, 2010 at 11:22 am
you simply need a veto proof senate.
March 20, 2010 at 11:24 am
WRONG.
Most of the bill will not go into effect until after 2013. Plenty of time for seats to change and for congress to switch seats and even the presidency to change.
CLinton reversed welfare entitlements when people said that was going to be impossible.
NOTHING is impossible. If you believe nothing is possible then don’t ever run for office. It is ALWAYS possible. There are a thousand different ways to repeal this bill and parts of this bill…ammendments…procedural moves motions, lawsuits…it is ENDLESS what we can do to stop his bill.
If you want to just give up and say “The liberals won” go ahead but you’re wrong.
March 20, 2010 at 10:56 am
My sis-in law looked up whose feast day is tomorrow. Get this – It’s St. Nicolas of Flue. He was a hermit and stopped a civil war in Switzerland by getting the delegates to work together. He worked through the night and came up with a set of proposals that everyone could agree on.
Here is his prayer: Lord God, You alone are holy and no one is good without You. Through the intercession of St. Nicholas help us to live in such a way that we may not be deprived of a share in Your glory. Amen.
March 20, 2010 at 10:58 am
For comic relief, have a look at Mark Steyn’s latest:
http://article.nationalreview.com/428594/welcome-to-deemocracy/mark-steyn
March 20, 2010 at 11:12 am
Okay, as a former resident of California, I had no idea that they had a ‘Department of Home Furnishings’.
*eyes buggin*
Look, I can mock that place as easy as the next person, but there are times when the ridiculousness hits such a high level that I find that i can still be shocked.
They are absolutely out of their minds. And THIS is what we’re facing as a nation. The exportation of the absolute intellectual and fiscal insanity of that state. And we will be as broke and bankrupt as that state on a national level, and we will be mere serfs to the cause.
Ask ANYONE who is a middle class resident of that state what the cost of living is like and you’ll get an earful.
Only you wont’ have any place to run to unless you leave the country. I used to joke about this when I lived there.
I realized what the deal was during the election and it scared the dog**** out of me.
Sacramento is freaking psycho and it’s infected DC.
March 20, 2010 at 11:42 am
New York is not far behind. Some legislator wants to ban the use of salt in restaurants and public establishments as a public health measure!
March 20, 2010 at 12:55 pm
I that guy interviewed. Standing there with his thumb up his behind when questioned about it. Admitted that he didn’t know jack about subject on a physiological level.
I’m sure that if someone looked at him and said “okay then how are bakers supposed to make bread?” he would sit there with that dumb deer in the headlights look.
And that says nothing about the incredible, cutting edge restaurants in New York. Ask someone with a three start designation not to use salt?
I seriously wonder sometimes just how functional these folks are in their personal lives.
March 20, 2010 at 11:22 am
this news about expansion of the I.R.S.–MORE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF THE IRS THAN A RATTLE SNAKE!!!! PLEASE GET THIS OUT TO THE AVERAGE “JO”!!! WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS AT A SMALL LOCAL RESTAURANT HERE IN ALABAMA LAST NITE AND HAD 3 OR 4 TABLES ENGAGES — NOT ONE PERSON HAD HEARD THIS AND NOT MUCH ON THE HEALTHCARE— IT WAS QUIET INTERESTING!!! ENGAGED ABOUT 10 FOLKS TO PRAY!!!
March 20, 2010 at 11:23 am
“30R4 TABLES JOINED IN “
March 20, 2010 at 11:01 am
March 20, 2010 at 11:04 am
EVERYBODY STOP COUNTING VOTES!!!!!
Come on ya’ll. This fight is not over. It’s not about the vote tomorrow or Monday or Tuesday. It’s about November. It’s about counter-attacking idiots on the internet who are trying to demoralize and discourage us from fighting. It’s about pressuring the liberal elitist media to be UNBIASED and call them out EVERY SINGLE TIME. It’s about contacting the sponsors who PAY the liberal media for air time.
NBC was beaten in ratings by the HALLMARK channel for crying out loud.
Instead of sitting here counting votes…go hit back at the Obama-bots paid for with our stimulus funds.
You can sit here and whine and boo-hoo or you can think to November so we can throw these leftist thugs back into the trash heap where they belong.
March 20, 2010 at 11:07 am
November is too late. Putting in R’s in November isn’t going to be able to repeal this- not without having enough to overturn a presidential veto!! …and there aren’t enough open seats to get enough R’s to do that.
March 20, 2010 at 11:09 am
EEYORE
You need find out constitutional law because you are wrong.
March 20, 2010 at 11:10 am
A veto-majority is a very real possibility and likely at this point.
March 20, 2010 at 11:13 am
Just saying what Rush, Hannity, and Malkin have been saying for the past month now. Any repeal has to be signed by the president; and in order for the repeal to be law it would have to be able to overturn the presidential veto, which would take a super majority (or was it 2/3 majority?).
March 20, 2010 at 11:15 am
Bev, a veto majority is a very real possibility in the house- but there aren’t enough open seats in the senate to get that.
March 20, 2010 at 11:20 am
Karen…I don’t know where you’re getting your information but you’re wrong.
March 20, 2010 at 12:27 pm
We can be as evil as them. If a senator is not up for re-ection in 2010 then those states that have the recall provision should use it, recall the senator.
If you start thinking evil like liberals we’ll beat them.?
March 20, 2010 at 11:38 am
Ok, to repeal a law it needs to have the same number of votes as it took to pass the law (60 in the senate, for example).
****
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/11/will_republicans_repeal_health.html
Repeal requires 60 votes as surely as passage. Undoing health-care reform will be about as hard as doing health-care reform.
***
Then it goes to the president. A Dem president will veto it. To overturn a veto takes a 2/3 majority in the house AND the senate:
http://www.ask.com/wiki/Veto_override
March 20, 2010 at 11:52 am
This law is a law. Any law can be ammended or changed. That’s in the constitution. You can also file motions and procedures to render a law useless for years and years and years and years. Plenty time to repeal it with a Republican president.
In Washington nothing is forever. Our founding fathers made it that way.
I’m going to be optimistic. I’ve seen enough politics in my life to know that when all the politicians are on TV saying something can’t be done…they are liars.
I also have seen enough politics in my life to know that when people spew doom and gloom it means they want your money.
THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END…send me your money so I can save it. Oldest trick in the book. It’s how Al Gore became a billionaire.
NOTHING is forever. The Democrats who vote yes will be thrown out. We will be ammending and changing this bill for the next 100 years. The revolving door of politics will continue on. Money changes hands. New politicians. New set of issues. It goes on and on and on.
March 20, 2010 at 11:04 am
Just heard a snippet of a speech The One was giving where he called this the biggest deficit reduction measure in history… my GOSH! Our economy is reeling NOW- if this goes through it will be the final blow to an already half-dead economy!
March 20, 2010 at 11:29 am
The Prince of Lies
Now you see who is is.
March 20, 2010 at 11:04 am
Mark Levin said if it were to end up 215-215 then it would fail..
March 20, 2010 at 11:05 am
That’s true… they need 216. Don’t worry if you hear the D’s are up in the low 200′s… as long at they DO NOT GET UP TO 216!
March 20, 2010 at 11:11 am
..scot murphy voted yes?? traitor!!
March 20, 2010 at 11:47 am
He just sealed his fate. He will earn a nice pension though, after only 2 short years in the congress.
March 20, 2010 at 11:16 am
Newest in firedog:
Sanford Bishop Moves To Yes
By: David Dayen Saturday March 20, 2010 9:01 am
I never had Sanford Bishop in my counts until his name showed up on the Stupak amendment yesterday. But apparently, he decided to vote for the bill late last night, which changes the calculation a bit, in favor of Pelosi and the Democrats.
“Unfortunately I think that my constituents are split right down the middle, so in a sense I’m dammed if I do, damned if I don’t,” Bishop said in an interview.
“If I’m going to be dammed, I want to be damned on the side of the angels, on the side of what I think will be an obligation as a Christian to take care of the least of (us) and to make sure people are treated fairly,” he said.
Bishop’s conversion is pretty momentous. It means that the leadership needs only to flip 1, or maybe 2 (depending on Chris Carney) more Democrats, along with running the table on the undecideds, to get to 216.
The new whip count would be 203 Yes, 206 No, 12 undecided, 10 Stupak bloc.
March 20, 2010 at 11:17 am
I think this just came up a few minutes…a post to Hot Air:
“Saturday, March 20, 2010
“Stupak is ‘Finished with Pelosi’ [Robert Costa]
“Two pro-life GOP members close to Stupak tell NRO that any Stupak deals are off. They just spoke with him and they said he’s finished with Pelosi. They rejected his enrollment corrections proposal.”
It was Time stamped 10:57 (EST?)
03/20 10:57 AMShare
March 20, 2010 at 11:22 am
I was so excited when I saw this and didn’t want to lose a minute…didn’t read the previous threads…it was already linked and well discussed. I’ll go back to my corner now. Sorry.
March 20, 2010 at 11:20 am
http://interactive.foxnews.com/livestream/live.html?chanId=3
YES!!!! Check out hte live streaming protest in DC…
TONS OF PEOPLE!!!!
God Bless America!
March 20, 2010 at 11:34 am
They said there is about 25k people so far… and more arriving.
Awesome.
March 20, 2010 at 11:53 am
There’s been a last-minute Tea Party ‘Flash Protest’ called in San Diego, at 10am to 12pm today (Saturday), downtown at Broadway between 2nd & 3rd. Leaving shortly to attend.
March 20, 2010 at 11:29 am
I’m not going to sit here all gloom and doom.
If the bill passes…I’m going to celebrate. It means the end of Democratic majority for at least 30 years. I got to enjoy that after Jimmy Carter ruined them in the 70s. I get to enjoy another 30 years of liberals wallowing in their own stench again.
They have done more to destroy their party than the GOP could have ever dreamed of doing. November is not that far away…and it will be glorious because it will be the beginning of fixing our country again.
We have lots to do between now and then. You can sit here and boo-hoo or you can get to work.
March 20, 2010 at 12:15 pm
And if it doesn’t pass, I’m going celebrate, because now that they are exposed….that means the end of democrat rule for at least 30 years.
We win.
March 20, 2010 at 11:40 am
firedog update… one more yes vote announced:
UPDATE: Melissa Bean will vote yes, as well. So will Baron Hill, but I already counted him as a Yes based on other statements. So it’s 204-206, 11 undecided, 10 Stupak bloc.
March 20, 2010 at 11:43 am
And Stupak is absolutely not voting on this bill.
March 20, 2010 at 11:53 am
He sure better not!
March 20, 2010 at 12:08 pm
He’s not.
March 20, 2010 at 12:02 pm
So even if all undecideds vote yes.. and Stupak block stays strong.. it wont pass.
March 20, 2010 at 11:41 am
Off to annoy Missy Bean’s local office now. Bringing a DON’T TREAD ON US sign and an empty tea kettle to bang on.
March 20, 2010 at 11:50 am
Photos of impromptu “Kill the Bill” rally in Steubenville, OH. Over 150 people gathered after a couple people decided late the night before to stage the rally. Permission to share:
http://bit.ly/9Xxahp
March 20, 2010 at 11:53 am
SHE DOESN’T HAVE THE VOTES WITHOUT STUPAK BLOC!!
ENCOURAGE STUPAK TO HOLD STRONG!!!!!!!!
March 20, 2010 at 12:07 pm
I just heard the FUNNIEST thing on a rock station here in Nashville. It was one of those funny quote things they say between songs….
“There is no “I” in “DEEM” …but there is in “Kiss my F**KING ASS!”
HeeHee
March 20, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Hahahaha
March 20, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Watch Ok Senator Tom Coburn’s posts. He has assigned his staff to watch for every bribe and kickback–expose them–and if they are promised any jobs after getting voted out–he will block them!
Dr. NO is mad!
March 20, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Bart Gordon thinks he’s getting an administrator job at NASA for his yes vote. AHAHAHAHAHA! Not if we in Tennessee have anything to say about it.
Just ask Al Gore how fun it is when your home state votes against you.
March 20, 2010 at 12:16 pm
I hereby officially decree that his nickname henceforth be:
Tom “Labor Pains” Coburn.
(He is an OB/GYN).
March 20, 2010 at 12:36 pm
I like that!
March 20, 2010 at 12:12 pm
http://interactive.foxnews.com/livestream/live.html?chanId=3
Michelle Bachman speaking now!!
March 20, 2010 at 12:14 pm
John Voight on!
I love this country!
March 20, 2010 at 12:17 pm
He is saying Obama is a one term President for sure.. but the tracks he can lay will haunt us for years.
March 20, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Get the “IMPEACH” meme out now. The earliest it can happen is after November, but get the idea floating around.
March 20, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Yep,
however, the impeach term is being floated openly and that’s good thing. No, not that it’ll happen, simply that people are saying it in the open.
March 20, 2010 at 12:41 pm
They say that about everything. THE WORLD IS ABOUT TO END! WHALES ARE DYING! SAVE THE PENGUINS!
Interpret that as “I WANT YOUR MONEY” and you’ll be on the right track.
March 20, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Congressman from Michigan is channeling his inner Reagan..
Mr President… TEAR UP THIS BILL.
haha
March 20, 2010 at 12:45 pm
They have over 40k protesters there now!!!
Way to go AMERICA!!!!
March 20, 2010 at 12:48 pm
7:30 pm is a candle light vigil in DC..
Geesh.. I wish I was there!!!!
March 20, 2010 at 12:17 pm
What’s on my mind is this:
Got up with the kids this morning (8 yr DD and 16 month DS), went out into the back yard, climbed on the trampoline. Em and I taught Wee Jack “ring-around-the-rosy”. And for half an hour, I didn’t think about what’s happening in Washington.
: )
March 20, 2010 at 12:39 pm
The world is not going to come to a screeching halt if this bill passes. It’s just making it easier for us to vote the Democrats out in November.
March 20, 2010 at 12:17 pm
People…we win whatever this vote ends up.
If they vote yes on this bill…the Democratic party is toast.
If they vote no then they all look like a bunch of idiots (which they will be anyway).
So truly…we are on the winning side here.
March 20, 2010 at 12:25 pm
RIGHT ON!!
IMPEACH OBAMA!
March 20, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Too bad Chelsea Clinton’s future mother-in-law is on Fox News right now encouraging Dems to vote for Obamacare…
March 20, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Wasnt she ousted because she is a CROOK?
Yeah. dems.. listen to a crook.
ugh.
watch the tea party on line. Fox News is reporting they have the votes.. they dont.
http://interactive.foxnews.com/livestream/live.html?chanId=3
March 20, 2010 at 12:46 pm
My guy Paul Ryan (R-WI) kicking @$$ and taking names.
March 20, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Paul Ryan came to chew some bubblegum and kick some ass. And he’s all outta bubblegum.
March 20, 2010 at 4:15 pm
LMAO!
March 20, 2010 at 4:19 pm
Had to steal this as my comment when posting this video to my FB page. I hope you don’t mind!
March 20, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Lol, NO I don’t mind at all…I love saying (and hearing) that! :D
March 20, 2010 at 4:14 pm
He.Is.Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!
March 20, 2010 at 12:51 pm
At this moment they are trying to “fix” it, but there are procedural problems.
9.2 million military personnel, families and retirees don’t deserve a back room deal?
Democrats’ Plan Will NOT Protect Military Health Plans
http://www.gop.gov/blog/10/03/20/democrats-plan-will-not-protect
March 20, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Don’t you rememeber when he tried to blow off the military, veterans and their families when he first came into office and make them get private insurance? Well this is his way of doing it.
March 20, 2010 at 1:07 pm
No, because it’s not true! Get the facts, people.
March 20, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Hates America
Disses the Military….why are people surprised??
March 20, 2010 at 12:53 pm
I’m just tired. I feel like giving up on this whole mess. These ridiculous people are hell bent on ruining this country and it feels like there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s been a LONG two years. I miss my life before I started caring about politics!! :)
I’ll get over it, get angry again, and continue fighting. But for now, I’m just tired.
And no, I’m not a troll. :) Just being honest.
March 20, 2010 at 2:10 pm
I am sure these pages encourage you too! How about reading the Hillbuzz piece: Our promise to America.
And look at all the photos from rally today, don’t you love them?
I love the Hillbuzz fans sending them!
And now it looks like the “deem and pass” option is gone.
Maybe donate to the Hillbuzz cause, since they are fighting for us!!!!USA!!!
(Makes me feel good, knowing I in a small way can contribute to the cause.)
March 20, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Hang in there. You’ll come back around again. We’ve all been there.
March 20, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Did you guys see this on ACE?
White House Crosses a Line in the Health Care Takeover
—Gabriel Malor
Whoa. Promoted from the Top Headlines sidebar because I just saw it.
We are far from daylight, friends. CBS reported yesterday that the White House Office of Health Reform has been sending emails to government employees encouraging them to help pass ObamaCare.
DeParle’s unsolicited emails have been regularly coming to some federal employees’ official government email inboxes for weeks without permission or request, causing some federal employees to feel threatened by the overt political language.
The Department of State employees, who receive hundreds of official government emails every day, have complained about the annoying and partisan emails but are nervous to go public for fear of retribution. The emails are addressed to the federal employees by name and use the official .gov address.
The unsolicited emails also request that the federal employees take action in order to ensure that Obama’s health reform package is passed and the federal budget isn’t at risk for bankruptcy. One federal employee was so concerned about DeParle’s language in one email that he questioned whether his department’s budget would be cut or eliminated without passage of Obama’s bill. DeParle uses scare tactics that some assume are meant as threats:
This is a big no-no. Tell me, when your boss “suggests” that you do something, is it really a suggestion? There are strict ethics rules about this type of thing. DeParle’s going to get away with it because she works for the president and she is technically not the boss of anyone she’s sending these emails to. But, really? This scummy Democrat needs to be called out for her morally-challenged decision to intimidate federal employees on her boss’ behalf.
March 20, 2010 at 1:06 pm
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/03/20/dems-in-disarray-in-rules-committee/
Maybe others know this, but I didn’t. The House cannot pass a bill making amendments to a law that hasn’t become a law yet. And this is what they want to do tomorrow. By passing the Reconciliation bill (with the Demon Pass within it) they are passing a bill to make changes to the Senate bill/law. It’s not a law until Dr. U signs it and it won’t be signed until their Reconciliation (amendments) are passed.
March 20, 2010 at 1:10 pm
I had some vague idea of this particular conundrum, but that post puts it much more sharply. The question it raises is, why has the House parliamentarian not issued a clear statement indicated the impermissibility of such a procedure, akin to the Senate parliamentarian’s earlier ruling?
March 20, 2010 at 1:19 pm
they are like roaches. THey need to be stamped on in nov. 2010 and then in nov. 2012
March 20, 2010 at 2:00 pm
That is why Pelosi was going to strip out the Senate bill and send only that to Senate for certification, then PresBO for signature. But you can’t do that either. Senate has to certify and Pres has to sign exact bill that was passed in House – WITH amendments. No way the Senate is doing that. The bribes are not finalized and the Repubs will fight it tooth and nail.
Sounds like Waxman has killed the DemonPass strategy, though. This means they will have to vote straight up on the Senate bill, and then work on amendments later. Might change some vote dynamics.
March 20, 2010 at 1:10 pm
They’re still working on Stupak. I’m afraid that (just like the first HCB vote) he’ll end up caving. This on NRO:
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Will Stupak Be Silenced by Executive Order? [Daniel Foster]
There are whispers that the Majority are working on an executive order with Stupak-like language in an attempt to pacify pro-life Democrats.
UPDATE: Rep. Steny Hoyer (D., Md.) tells reporters that an executive order is under consideration.
March 20, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Off the top of my head, surely such an Executive Order (whether from the White House or from Sibelius at HHS) would be subject to additional legal challenges — would it not?
March 20, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Sadly, Stupak WANTS to vote yes.. its just the abortion language.
So.. if he gets the right promise.. he will cave.
March 20, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Executive orders DO NOT apply as amendents to legislation.
Think about, if the exec. branch can just willy nilly change parts of a law, why even need a legislatative branch.
Any amendent to ANY law has to be passed in both houses. AN EXECUTIVE ORDER WILL NOT be possible to change a law.
March 20, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Interesting… I wonder what they are thinking here. I think they are finding there is no way to change the bill to add anti-abortion language unless it is re-voted on in the senate again (NOT reconciliation), so they are grabbing at any “straw” they can to try to get language that Stupak will swallow. Ok, here’s the question: will they succeed in giving Stupak a “fake” for “cover”? That appears to be what an executive order would end up being… just a “fake” to give him an excuse to vote “yes” and give himself “cover”…? Am I understanding this right?
March 20, 2010 at 1:35 pm
And how is that going to play with the pro choice crowd?
March 20, 2010 at 2:03 pm
It won’t play with the pro-abortion crowd. And I hope Stupak isn’t that gullible. I don’t think he (and a lot of other reps) trust the Senate or PresBO to really do any amendments.
March 20, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Exactly, the pro abortion crowd will see how quickly they’ve been cast away for expediency’s sake and bolt.
March 20, 2010 at 1:19 pm
At the National Review main webpage right now they’ve got another beaut of a photo of Squeaker Piglosi:
http://www.nationalreview.com/
March 20, 2010 at 1:30 pm
On a CBS poll, her approval rating was 18%…..
From CBS veiwers!!
March 20, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Interesting that no internet news sites have ANYTHING about this rally up. Newsmax, Newsbusters, Drudge . . .nada. Only Michelle Malkin and Hillbuzz are giving it press, that I can see.
IMO, the lame-stream-media is ignoring it.
You know the old “if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?” Well, their theory is “If we don’t cover it, it didn’t happen.”
Or as someone else pointed out, this is also the anniversary of the Iraq war’s beginning. Anti-military group was already down to protest at the Capitol on this day. So most likely that’s who will get the press. Heck, they’ll probably take footage of OUR rallies and say our 25,000+ are the anti-war kooks!!!
March 20, 2010 at 1:24 pm
…and Fox
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/20/tea-party-activists-make-stand-health-care-vote/
March 20, 2010 at 1:21 pm
It’s great weathe here at the capital. Obama is supposed to be o the East side at 3. We are here on the West. Will be moving over. Candlelight vigil at 7. Lots and lots of people. Some craZies and a few arguments broke out but mostly everyone here is here for killing the bill. I’ve been sending pics from my phone to he Boyz since I can’t directly upload so I hope they get them and are able to share them with you all soon. Will write more soon. PS: Tito the Builder was awesome!!! Loved it.
March 20, 2010 at 1:24 pm
thank you so much for going!!
and letting us know what’s going on.
March 20, 2010 at 3:50 pm
I’m sure the opposition has people infiltrating to create trouble. Be aware. Stay safe. And, thank you!
March 20, 2010 at 1:24 pm
What’s on my mind? I want Paul Ryan to run for President! He seems like the smartest, most articulate, most REASONABLE, commonsense person on Capital Hill. He’s personable, speaks in easy to understand sentences, explains things in a way the American people can understand, I think I read where he studied ECONOMICS in college, and he looks good and we all know how important that is to the masses of American Idol voters. I’m so very impressed with him.
March 20, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Me too!
Ryan/Palin or Palin/Ryan 2012
March 20, 2010 at 1:36 pm
I LOVE him…he is AWESOME. And he says it like it is and exposes people straight up. I love him. I like that guy from Utah, too.
March 20, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Palin/Ryan is my dream ticket.
March 20, 2010 at 1:40 pm
I think we need him in Congress – sorry.
March 20, 2010 at 2:05 pm
I agree. Pres is more for international issues and a party cheerleader. We need conservatives with brains in Congress.
March 20, 2010 at 1:26 pm
They are shameless in announcing that they have no shame — meta-shamelessness!
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OGM0ZjlhMDRkMzBmM2ZhMmY4MmExOTNhMWM5NDUyMTk=
March 20, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Update in ACE:
Rules Committee Gets Unruly
Update: Demon Pass Dropped; House Will Vote On Standalone Bill
—Ace
Update: Washington Post reporting Demon Pass dropped.
My fear is that this means they have the votes. But then, I think that about everything.
March 20, 2010 at 1:30 pm
If they are so confident they have the votes then why are they descending into total chaos at the House and Rules Committee meeting over whether to use Deem and Pass or not? If they have the votes then vote. They are having trouble getting their members to agree to vote up and down but know if they use Deem and Pass the bill will be in the courts for the next three years and know they could lose that fight.
So again….they are still afraid to vote up and down.
March 20, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Drudge has a red line on top saying the same thing…. DemonPass out… full vote in.
That’s good because then their votes will be “on record” either for or against the senate bill. I just wonder if they broke enough arms and legs that they felt confident that they have 216 people who will step over the edge of the cliff like that….
March 20, 2010 at 1:30 pm
now they can’t hide behind anything.
all the chit that is in that Senate bill is and NOW WILL BE FRONT AND CENTER!!!!!!!!!
the 5% penalities to doctors for referring too many patients to specilists, the taxes on drugs, the penalties towards military families. the extra taxes.
I personally think it is all up in the air.
Whether it passes or not, there is no fig leaf, and if they pass this chit, lawsuits galore, I heard on patriotroom, run by lawyers, that since over 30 states are filing suit, there will an injuction placed on the law.
March 20, 2010 at 1:32 pm
I just watched it, I really don’t think members who voted yes wanted this demon-pass.
They really really looked pissed off, I think they were thinking they would not have to vote on the actual bill and this latest move now has caught them off guard. VERY off-guard
March 20, 2010 at 1:33 pm
oops.. I meant they WANTED the demon-pass, so that they don’t have to vote on the actual Senate bill.
They looked very pissed off that now they have to vote on the actual bill. They looked pissed and just stunned.
March 20, 2010 at 1:34 pm
What were you watching? Was it a press announcement with house members standing there? Or?…
March 20, 2010 at 1:37 pm
it was on c-span 2 or 3??
March 20, 2010 at 1:53 pm
The Slaughter Solution has been slaughtered … and they’re next.
March 20, 2010 at 1:34 pm
That would be EXCELLENT…! Force them to stand on the edge and look over it and either jump off or vote “no”…!
March 20, 2010 at 1:52 pm
“they’re really looking pissed off”
LOL… they vote for this nation crushing monstrosity, they’re going to see what “really looking pissed off” is.
March 20, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Actually, if this is going to pass anyway, Deem and Pass gives a quick target to get this into the courts. If they drop it, not so easy. It will now rest on the states, and a few Constitutional scholars are skeptical they can rest on the states rights argument because of a supreme court decision that basically “Federalized” the state governments. Of course, the Supremes can overturn their previous decisions. I wish I knew more about this decision they have cited. I can’t even begin to know where to find a reference. Might have been in the ’90′s?
March 20, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Fox if reporting the votes as 217 for – 214 against – I’m floored! The crowd outside looks big! What’s wrong with these freaking Dimicrats with no fortitude that won’t support their constituents? How can they sleep at night? Are we really raising such spineless people in this country now that they can’t stand up for what is right and demand a better bill or a smaller bill or just fix welfare fraud and abuse first – that would be a start! Not this huge goverment take-over when they can’t even run the damn post office efficiently! What a bunch of wimps! I’m ashamed I was EVER a DEM – I don’t recognize my party. John Kennedy is rolling over in his grave!
March 20, 2010 at 1:52 pm
let me tell you, Fox News has not been accurate with the vote counts, they seem to be getting the dimocrats talking points.
March 20, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Red State spanked Fox hard for their bad reporting:
http://www.redstate.com/dan_perrin/2010/03/20/fox-news-and-their-vote-count/
March 20, 2010 at 2:09 pm
The numbers Fox is reporting is assuming “if those vote the same way they voted before”.
March 20, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Fox also cut off Paul Ryan trying to explain that CBO numbers REALLY determined that this bill is a HUGE deficit problem. For once some minority/opposition comment – and they cut him off.
March 20, 2010 at 1:26 pm
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Rules-Committee-meeting-descends-into-chaos-88725962.html
Idiots. The Dim-o-crats are more afraid of their OWN party than the Republicans…and with good reason.
I loved seeing Bart Gordon all flustered and irritated because he was EXPOSED for the FRAUD that he really is. Sorry Bart…the gig is up. YOU are a traitor and not welcome in Tennessee. GOOD LUCK getting that job at NASA.
March 20, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Does this indicate confidence — or extreme desperation?
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MGY3MTRiNGI3NjMwMmIxOTllY2E0ZDYyMWQyY2JhZDA=
March 20, 2010 at 1:31 pm
I just posted asking the same thing….
March 20, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Have a look at what Hastings said (the link in #81 above)!
March 20, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Hastings should have that carved in stone on a tombstone…..
March 20, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Wish I could be in DC with all my fellow Americans standing strong against this Obamacare. I am so proud of all you here at this site and across America, standing strong against this major government take over. Just checked MSNBC to see what the other side is saying about what is going on in DC today. What a joke! MSNBC is airing their prescheduled programs, Sex Slaves, Runaways, Santa Stranger..no wonder they rate behind the cartoon network.
March 20, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Me too. It’s like either sitting in the seats at the Super Bowl, or watching it at home….
March 20, 2010 at 1:48 pm
I checked out an airline ticket the other day and it was darn near 900 bucks. :p
I am there in spirit and in my heart.
March 20, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Yeah…the photos of the rally are a bit disheartening…wish there could have been millions of people there..as it is..but you are right..the expense of it keeps so many of us away..it is hard to get to DC..and especially on a moments notice.
March 20, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Apparently they dropped DemonPass to get Cardoza’s vote. He said he’d vote “no” if it went that process. The question is now… how many of those who stated “yes” are wobbling now with the DemonPass gone and their votes going on record as for or against the Senate bill? Or… IS it the senate bill? They aren’t still thinking of doing a combined bill somehow and doing a vote on it, without voting separately on the senate one are they? I guess I wouldn’t put ANYTHING past them at this point.
March 20, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Crud. I have a ton of things I need to get done today… but things are happening so fast and furious I hate to step away and do them…
March 20, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Here’s the fuller version of Hasting’s ad hoc remarks:
“I wish that I had been there when Thomas Edison made the remark that I think applies here: “There ain’t no rules around here, we’re trying to accomplish something.” And therefore, when the deal goes down, all this talk about rules, we make them up as we go along.”
Truer words were never spoken.
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Y2NiYTQyMGE3OGZmZDY0M2ZlMjM2N2YxNjk2NDkyMTU=
March 20, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Oblahblah is going over to give a sermon to the congregation at 3pm. He’ll be in full throated “I have a dream” mode – shouting out his message. The thunder will crash, the lightning will flash, the heavens will open and the trumpets will blast. The angels will descend with wings beating and a light will come down and shine on all the DIMS and Oblahblah will COMMAND them to VOTE YEEEEEESSS! and the 8th day was created.
March 20, 2010 at 1:56 pm
And then Rahm will be unleashed to nuzzle and poke them, as needed.
March 20, 2010 at 1:56 pm
OT but I saw on Fox Nation that Cheech Marin beat Anderson Cooper and a couple of other CNN people on Jeopardy !!! Way to go Cheech!! Some say he had an earpiece but I think he has a hearing aid.
March 20, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Anderson Cooper is not only a tool, he’s not very bright either.
March 20, 2010 at 2:05 pm
AND he’s got a teeny weiner. It’s what we in Boystown call “a baby dick”.
March 20, 2010 at 2:14 pm
LOLOL…. I believe it.
March 20, 2010 at 2:02 pm
I should have been doing something else today…a short clip:
March 20, 2010 at 2:10 pm
VA atty general lays out perfectly why this federal mandate is unconstitutional
March 20, 2010 at 2:13 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM0SpOo-WZo
Virginian At Obama Rally: If Cuccinelli Fails, There Will Be Civil War
March 20, 2010 at 2:16 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM0SpOo-WZo
Virginian At Obama Rally: If Cuccinelli Fails, There Will Be Civil War
March 20, 2010 at 2:43 pm
He’ll have to send troops in to enforce it in every state. Of course, he’s probably willing to do that – maybe what he wants to happen, but before it gets to that he will be removed from office.
March 20, 2010 at 2:15 pm
March 20, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Excellent!
Got to love that unicorn / pixie dust caller:
Your side lost the civil war … I want to go back to Preisdent Obama’s speech where he said he envisions a day where … white will embrace what’s right … So why won’t you do what’s right?
What a DA
March 20, 2010 at 2:22 pm
I did just hear some Constitutional scholar say the Commerce Clause is a better route than 10th Amend, but still iffy. Got to fight this, though!!
March 20, 2010 at 2:25 pm
PLEASE CALL THE VA ATTY GENERAL ON MONDAY TO ENCOURAGE HIM, SHOULD THIS POS BILL PASS.
(804) 786-2071
March 20, 2010 at 2:12 pm
For HillBoyz and HillBuzzers:
EPIC by John Eldredge
Back Cover:
“Life, for most of us, feels like a movie we’ve arrived to forty minutes late.
Sure, good things happen, sometimes beautiful things. But tragic things happen too. What does it mean? We find ourselves in the middle of a story that is sometimes wonderful, sometimes awful, usually a confusing mixture of both, and we haven’t a clue how to make sense of it all. No wonder we keep losing heart.
We need to know the rest of the story.
For when we were born, we were born into the midst of a great story begun before the dawn of time. A story of adventure, of risk and loss, heroism…and betrayal. A story where good is warring against evil, danger lurks around every corner, and glorious deeds wait to be done. Think of all those stories you’ve ever loved-there’s a reason they stirred your heart. They’ve been trying to tell you abut the true Epic ever since you were young.
There is a Larger Story. And you have a crucial role to play.”
Excerpt “Act One Eternal Love”:
In the beginning…or “Once upon a time…” It’s a wonderful phrase, isn’t it, full of legend and myth, promise and mystery, and a sort of invitation. “Come, let me show you something…”
[...]
It rouses our longing for the ancient things, our insatiable curiosity to look back into ages past.
[...]
“In the beginning” is used twice in the Scriptures. There is the well-known passage from Genesis: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (1:1).
And an important passage it is, to be sure. But to grasp this Epic, you cannot start there. That is way into the Story. That is Act Three. It is a beginning, but it is the beginning of the human story, the story of life here on earth… And before this? There are events that have preceded this chapter, events that we must know.
If you want to look back into the once upon time before all time, well, then you have to start with another passage, from the gospel of John:
“In the beginning was the Word, ad the Word was with God, and the Word was God. he was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothin was made that has been made” (1:1-3).
Now we’re reaching back to things prior to Genesis. Once upon eternity, if you will. What does it mean? John was peering back into the mystery of god’s own life, before anything else existed, and he was trying to unveil this: in the ancient past there was a fellowship, a heroic intimacy, something called the Trinity.
Picture the opening scenes of the movie “The Last of the Mohicans”:
1757
THE AMERICAN COLONIES.
IT IS THE 3RD YEAR OF THE WAR
BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE FOR
THE POSSESSION OF THE CONTINENT.
THREE MEN,
THE LAST OF A VANISHING PEOPLE,
ARE ON THE FRONTIER
WEST OF THE HUDSON RIVER.
We behold a vast, untamed wilderness. Mountain and forest, as far as the eye can see. Beauty. Mystery. A primeval world. Down into those woods we are taken, and we discover three men running at full speed through deep forest. Leaping across ravines, racing through the heavy undergrowth, they are clearly on some great mission.
No words are spoken in this scene; no words need to be spoken. It is an image of intimacy and fellowship and adventure. A picture of the Trinity.
[...]
God has always been a fellowship. This whole Story began with something relational.
It is no small revelation.
March 20, 2010 at 2:16 pm
I am so angry at Betsy Markey I thought I would send her a fax, but I would like to have some input before I send it.
Dear Congresswoman Markey,
I have been trying to contact you since Monday, March 15, 2010, to thank you for having had the fortitude to vote no on the health care bill and to encourage you to stay strong on your no vote. Then I heard you on the news announcing to change your vote from no to yes. Imagine my surprise, especially when I heard your explanation. You are right. You will never have another opportunity to vote for a bill of this magnitude again. Your response in addressing your decision to change your vote in favor of this health scam bill is mind boggling. Do you really think a $2.5 trillion dollar cost from this monstrosity is going to result in a deficit reduction? Also, if this is such a good deal for America, why all the bribes, trickery and lies to try and get it to pass? This scam is unconstitutional and un-American! The government should never be allowed to take over 1/6th of the economy or any issues involving life and death. Shame on you and any of your cohorts who vote in favor of this bill. The only thing American’s need to fear is having people like you in congress. I am writing on behalf of my family and the American people that your vote will affect. I am not in your district, but I wasn’t in Martha Coakley’s either. That did not however, stop me from making a donation to Scott Brown. Just a little reminder in case you run for re-election. One last thought. How will your work in congress be remembered Betsy? As a bold person who stood up for the people, or as a little toady who blindly followed an out of control president with a fascist agenda who’s approval rating is sinking faster than the Bismark. Your yes vote will not be forgotten.
From a very disappointed Coloradan
Should I make any changes, or additions? I’m leaving in about an hour, so any input will be appreciated.
March 20, 2010 at 2:21 pm
I, personally, would add something like “there is no math on earth that can add 30 million more people on the rolls, get better coverage for all, lower costs, AND lower the deficit. More people = either more cost or less benefits. Has to be one or the other; it can’t be anything else.”
March 20, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Thank you! That is great! I really appreciate your suggestions.
March 20, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Explanation in a nutshell.
Good points, Karen.
(BTW, I enjoy and concur
with your posts)
March 20, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Add Karen’s point and its a print!
March 20, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Why do I get the feeling that the ones who swore to uphold the constitution have no idea what’s in it at all? …and don’t care? Why do I get the feeling that swearing an oath meant NOTHING to them? Reminds me a bit of when Bill Clinton swore to tell the truth and way lying. That, of course, is what he was impeached for- lying under oath. How many of our elected officials are now doing the same kind of thing? Breaking their oath of office….
March 20, 2010 at 2:19 pm
From the list I posted above of undecideds per blogger ace, I was able to contact the following:
Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8 ) 202-225-2542 – left vm msg
Zack Space (OH-18 ) 202-225-6265 – left vm msg
John Tierney (MA-6) 202-225-8020 – live person contacted, says he’s voting YES
Brian Baird (WA-3) 202-225-3536 – left vm msg
Jim Matheson (UT-2) 202-225-3011 – live person contacted, says he’s still undecided
If they’re clearing out their voice mailbox so you can leave a message on a Saturday, I think that means they still want to hear from people.
March 20, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Anyone who claims to be “undecided” at this point in my view is:
1. lying
2. trying to avoid instant constituent backlash
3. clueless
4. waiting for a better deal
March 20, 2010 at 3:58 pm
All of that said (I’m talking to myself), ssmith, thanks for posting this list and I’m going through it now. So far, no answers of mailboxes full. Will keep trying throughout the day and into tomorrow.
March 20, 2010 at 2:21 pm
March 20, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Remember why they wanted to do the DemonPass in the first place? Remember this?
March 20, 2010 at 2:24 pm
please… no pictures of botox woman.
I already avoid the news to not have to see her lying face.
March 20, 2010 at 2:23 pm
According to Ace, these are the undecideds…followed by the last four digits of their DC number (i.e., 202-225-XXXX)
http://ace.mu.nu/
Yes votes in November now undecided:
Mike Capuano (MA-8 ) 5111
Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8 ) 2542
Bill Foster (IL-14) 2976
Paul Kanjorski (PA-11) 6511
Alan Mollohan (WV-1) 4172
Earl Pomeroy (ND-All) 2611
Nick Rahall (WV-3) 3452
Zack Space (OH-18 ) 6265
John Tierney (MA-6) 8020
No votes in November now undecided:
Brian Baird (WA-3) 3536
Rick Boucher (VA-9) 3861
Jim Matheson (UT-2) 3011
Glenn Nye (VA-2) 4215
John Tanner (TN-8) 4714
March 20, 2010 at 3:52 pm
I just don’t understand being ‘undecided’. You’d have to be pretty damn stupid to not have an opinion at this late date.
What more do they need to know?
March 20, 2010 at 3:59 pm
I agree. I think it’s just a ploy to avoid backlash. But, if that’s their on-record status right now, it’s enough reason to be contacting them to speak out.
March 20, 2010 at 2:28 pm
This was on firedog. Can they DO this? It seems illegal (not that THAT would stop them – sigh):
By: David Dayen Saturday March 20, 2010 11:34 am
Multiple reports say that the House will drop the “deem and pass” strategy and instead hold three separate votes on Sunday – a vote on the rule, a vote on reconciliation, and a vote on the Senate bill. Dennis Cardoza, who criticized the “deem and pass” strategy of consolidating two votes into one, praised the Democratic leadership for taking that away. “Sanity prevailed,” Cardoza said.
Given that the worry about Cardoza mainly came from his issues with deem and pass, I would guess that he’ll come home and vote for the bill now. But we’ll exercise caution.
The right-wing freakout over “deem and pass” was massively hypocritical, but once they pushed the media into calling a perfectly normal procedure unconstitutional, the utility of doing it faded away. One wonders what Republicans will freak out about now.
…Lori Montgomery has a story up now.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said Saturday that the House would take three votes Sunday: first, on a resolution that will set the terms of debate; second, on a package of amendments to the Senate bill that have been demanded by House members; and third, on the Senate bill itself.
Van Hollen, who has been working on the issue with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), said House leaders concluded that that order — approving the amendments before approving the Senate bill — makes clear that the House intends to modify the Senate bill and not approve the Senate bill itself.
March 20, 2010 at 2:31 pm
“concluded that that order — approving the amendments before approving the Senate bill — makes clear that the House intends to modify the Senate bill and not approve the Senate bill itself.
”
THIS IS DEMON-PASS BY ANOTHER NAME.
Same crap, different name.
March 20, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Yup.
March 20, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Unless there’s more to it than that, they can’t vote to amend a bill they haven’t approved yet. They’re in the same situation as they were before.
March 20, 2010 at 2:33 pm
CSPAN 2 has Paul Ryan in committee meeting discussing reconciliation (amendments) bill.
March 20, 2010 at 2:56 pm
These arrogant A-holes,,, the “ONE” is getting ready to speak– hit mute already”!
Can you believe this “Dem party caucus” over this corrupted damn Health-care bill,,, it all just makes me want to hurl. Liar’s every damn one of them. No, they are not listening– welcome to Socialism, it’s already here”
March 20, 2010 at 2:58 pm
I think if Obamacare passes…starting Monday we should all start sending our medical bills to the White House.
March 20, 2010 at 3:07 pm
update from liberal firedog:
Carney To Vote Yes
By: David Dayen Saturday March 20, 2010 12:36 pm
A major development: Chris Carney (D-PA) will vote yes on the health care bill. Carney was sort of part of the Stupak bloc, but wasn’t on the list of Democrats who co-sponsored Bart Stupak’s ultimately failed amendment.
Carney was present at a meeting between Speaker Pelosi and three anti-choice Democrats (Carney, Kathy Dahlkemper and Steve Driehaus). The fact that he came out of this and decided to vote Yes bodes well for the Democratic leadership.
In addition, Jim Costa and Henry Cuellar decided to lend their support to the bill, but I already had them in the count as Yes votes (Cuellar actually announced yesterday, I believe).
Seeing fellow Californian Costa come home, and with Dennis Cardoza’s main complaint, the deem and pass strategy, rendered moot by the House leadership going away from that path, I think we can confidently put Cardoza down as a Yes, too.
The new count is 204 Yes, 205 No, with now 12 undecided and 10 assumed in the Stupak bloc
March 20, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Isn’t Carney in a very conservative PA district?
March 20, 2010 at 5:20 pm
no such thing as a pro life democrat. Throw them enough money and they cave.
March 20, 2010 at 4:48 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbHTJSu_2Lk
THIS IS UNREAL!! BUT SOOOOOO TRUE..
DEM SAYS –”NO RULES HERE WE JUST MAKE THEM UP AS WE GO ALONG”
HOW HAS OUR COUNTRY COME TO THIS???
March 20, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Hey y’all –
I wrote this before election night, because letting Obama in the White House seemed liked such a bad idea. Obviously it’s too late now… but I was rereading it, and while things didn’t go just this way, this is kind of how I feel… violated. Let’s kick him out:
——————–
Dear American voter,
You are being seduced by an attractive, intelligent gentleman steeped in mystery. It sounds like a novel, doesn’t it? Tall-dark-and-handsome (no RAAAAACISM intended) is trying to sweep you off your collective feet with vague but sweet promises of hope and change.
We are on the eve of decision now. Let’s say tonight is the night. He’s holding your hand, looking you in the eyes and telling you it will all be OK if you just trust him. Some of your friends are frowning behind his back. They keep telling you they’ve heard bad things about this guy from people they trust. But most of them are swooning. He seems like your dreams come to life, they say. Why are you holding back? Shouldn’t you take a chance? Shouldn’t you throw caution to the wind and embrace the Hope and the Change and the Mystery?
What’s the worst that can happen?
Let’s say, for the sake of discussion, that you decide to take that risk. After all, he is Harvard educated, well-spoken and has a good job as a community organizer. He cares about the environment. He’s into safe sex. You let yourself get caught up. After an evening of revelry, a veritable blur of celebration and goodwill, you invite him home.
Things go as expected. It’s a little awkward, but, after all, you just met. It’s been a long night, so, around midnight, you both drift off into an exhausted sleep.
Right around the dawn of the year, you start to hear weird noises in the living room. It almost sounds as if someone is coming in your front door. You reach over and try to wake up your new lover, but he turns away — he seems to be oblivious to shaking and completely out of it. So you get up to investigate alone — after all, it’s your house.
Someone is, in fact, coming right into your home — through the front door! You’re frozon with shock and horror.
Paralyzed by your astonishment, you can’t get away quickly enough. You are violated by this stranger.
You yell and scream and plead, but your new lover can’t seem to hear you in time to stop the attack.
In the aftermath, once the attacker has slipped away, you pull yourself together enough to get back to your bedroom. This time you are able to wake your lover up. He is horrified. He is shocked. He is dismayed. He can’t believe this could happen right under his nose without any warning.
You try to tell him about your attempts to wake him up beforehand. He shushes you, says you are distraught, tells you to let him handle things.
He goes to call the police and your family members. They are, naturally, a little surprised to be getting a call from your new man so soon with news of a tragedy, but they rally around you. And, of course, he is treated as a part of the family now — after all, he has suffered this grave event with you.
The police come. Your family is in a sad state — everyone is looking for a lock to blame or a suspect to hunt down. Your lover urges you — everyone — to rest; he says he’ll handle things for a while. He leaves with the police to give his statement, telling them your side of the story can be told later, once you’ve healed a little bit.
After he leaves, you crawl back into bed to rest. You can’t get your fears out of your mind. You vaguely remember asking him to lock the front door, but you push the thought away. Now is no time for blame and recriminations, you think.
Around mid-morning (say, oh, April), you start to wake up and take stock of things a little bit. You start wanting some answers. Your lover has come back from speaking with the authorities, but he’s given you very little information. When you press him, he gets frustrated and says he knows things he can’t tell you right now.
You decide to rest a little more. You’re getting nervous, but it feels better to be optismistic.
He rushes in around noon, saying he’s received a call — they have a suspect. He’s going down to the police station to talk to them. You want to go — you want to see the guy face-to-face. He says no. He says he’ll handle things.
You are getting tired of being “handled.” But you agree.
He leaves his dad, Joe, to make you feel a little less alone. Joe eats all your ice cream and tells you you’ve got to stand behind your new guy NO MATTER WHAT.
When your new lover comes back, he’s strangely calm. He tells you he sat down and spoke with the suspect and that he has great compassion for him. He lets you know that the suspect is unused to seeing women dressed as provocatively as you were that night. He informs you that the suspect and his friends have seen you flaunting your wealth, and they are “understandably” angry.
He sympathizes. He lets you know he has taken some money out of your purse and given it to the suspect, just to make things more fair. He also has told the suspect he is welcome in your home any time.
You are outraged. But you try to stay calm as you state your case. Compassion is never bad, right? But you inform your lover that the two of your are not married, and he can not make decisions about your home and your life without your permission.
He, just as calmly, informs you that a vow — an oath, if you will — was in fact taken, and your are stuck with him for at least four years. And your friends and family — your Aunt Nancy, your Uncle Barney — have given him power of attorney over you, since you are in a weak state and can not make decisions for yourself.
“Also,” he says, “some of my friends will be moving in, including my girlfriend, Socialism. She’ll be sleeping with us. What’s yours is hers. Don’t worry — she’s very seductive.”
You’ve had it. You are NOT getting in bed with Socialism, and you are not letting your attacker and his buddies live here, supported by you, just because this guy says so. You made a mistake, but you know the way things work — we have a constitution, we have laws and law enforcement officers for a reason, and you, by golly, OWN THIS HOUSE.
You stand up for yourself, finally — you tell him to GET OUT!
He stands up, too, and backhands you across the room.
While you’re lying on the floor, stunned, he opens the door and lets a burly man in black fatigues in.
“Meet Vinnie,” he says. “Think of him as my civilian national security force. And I’ve spoken with the neighbors — no one will be coming onto this land unless I ask them to — and no one leaves.
“It’s for your own good.”
Don’t you wish you could go back and not invite him in to begin with?
You can.
March 20, 2010 at 4:59 pm
It should be entirely illegal to vote on a bill if even the actuary has no clue what all’s in it, what it will cost and whether it’s effective:
http://republican.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_Id=cbd6f99a-426d-4635-bde1-f28d1afbc057
March 20, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Ack!
New segment idea: Can we start analyzing MSM stories the same way we do troll droppings?
Read this story:
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100320/D9EIHK580.html
The lede reads: “Victory within reach, President Obama…”
That is NOT good journalism.
Read through the story and note the use of words like “momentum,” “victory” and “confidence” with regard to Democrats.
Then note how phrases like “complained anew” define those who oppose the legislation.
And reasons why “victory” would be “within reach” are never fully given. They talk about some Dems switching votes, but that is low in the story and the information is never really analyzed.
Poor.
Fail.
March 20, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Eagles up!!
Just read that Jim Matheson of Utah and Zack Space of Ohio are now voting ‘NO’!
March 20, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Oh goody!!! I just faxed them a couple of hours ago. Their fax numbers were very busy. I believe we are making a difference.
March 20, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Down to the wire here are names of dems we need to contact.
PREVIOUS NO VOTES (Pelosi needs two of these four)
Baird, Brian – WA (http://www.baird.house.gov/)
Davis, Lincoln – TN (http://www.house.gov/lincolndavis/)
Nye, Glenn – VA (http://nye.house.gov/)
Tanner, John – TN (http://tanner.house.gov/)
THE STUPAK BLOC (we need them ALL to stand strong!)
Costello, Jerry – IL (http://www.costello.house.gov/)
Donnelly, Joe – IN (http://donnelly.house.gov/)
Driehaus, Steve – OH (http://driehaus.house.gov/)
Lipinski, Dan – IL (http://www.lipinski.house.gov/)
Stupak, Bart – MI (http://www.house.gov/stupak/)
Berry, Marion – AR (http://www.house.gov/berry/)
Dahlkemper, Kathy – PA (http://www.dahlkemper.house.gov/)
Mollohan, Alan – WV (http://www.mollohan.house.gov/)
Kaptur, Marcy – OH (http://www.kaptur.house.gov/)
Rahall, Nick – WV (http://www.rahall.house.gov/)