UPDATED: FOUR things to say about Scott Brown, who remains Hottie McAwesome to us
H/t Mizz Jodee
Some of you are kicking around Scott Brown today because he voted with Democrats on a Jobs Bill the Democrats in Massachusetts successfully convinced voters Brown needed to vote for — lest he be seen as anti-jobs at a time when the people of Massachusetts want more jobs, and are still getting used to the idea of someone with an “R” after his name sitting in a Senate seat representing the Bay State for the first time in decades.
Here are four things we want to say about Scott Brown:
(1) He’s hot and awesome and that hasn’t changed.
(2) He is single-handedly the reason Democrats were not able to ram through the Rationing Bill last month. So, Brown served a great purpose to the nation already. Whatever he does good in the future is just gravy, folks. For us, he has served his purpose. Now, going forward, Brown will vote on the side of sense and reason more often than he will vote with lunatics. If it was Senator Coakley in Massachusetts, there would never be any reason at all. Brown will vote more than half the time for fiscal responsibility, national security, economic development, and the preservation of the constitution. Coakley would have voted the way the DNC wanted her to 100% of the time. So, you need to see that Brown is a man who wants to be re-elected to the Senate in 2012. To do that in Massachusetts, he needs to be a Massachusetts Republican, in the way that the Weird Sisters are Maine Republicans. Purist trolls out there don’t seem to understand this, but to win elections, people like Brown must do what his constituents want. They wanted a Yes vote on this bill. So Brown gave them one. In the future, it’s up to Brown to juggle his votes between what Massachusetts wants and what he knows is best for the nation. We have confidence this man will do what’s right much more often than not.
(3) Scott Brown will not be president. Ever. We really like the man…as a Senator. But, did you learn nothing from the McCain campaign? Republicans need to run a true conservative because that’s what Independents want when they are desperate to vote for a Republican in an election year. They will not vote for a Republican who is Democrat-lite. Meanwhile, they don’t vote for a Democrat unless they think that Democrat is a moderate (which Dr. Utopia claimed he was…even though we all knew better…and was able to trick Independents into believing him). Brown is a great-looking guy. He has a wonderful wife and a pair of gorgeous, smart, and talented daughters. They are the perfect Senate family. We hope he’s in the Senate until retirement many years from now. We’d love to help with his Senate re-election campaign. But, he is not presidential timber. As a Democrat, he’d probably be a conservative or moderate Dem like us, and he could be president someday, taking Evan Bayh’s place now that Bayh’s revealed himself to be anything but moderate. But, Brown has that “R” after his name and won’t be switching parties ever. Thus, the Senate is as far as he’ll go…unless he wants to be Governor of Massachusetts some day. Which, come to think of it, is a very good place for Brown in the future.
(4) UPDATE: The other thing that occurs to us that many of you need to remember is that Brown was not a deciding vote on this matter. Olympia Snow, Susan Collins, George Voinovich, and K.I.T.T. Bond, the legal name of the car from Knight Rider, apparently, all voted with Democrats for this “jobs bill”. So, the ire directed at Brown, and the melodrama over him “abandoning you” or “throwing you in a well” or “stabbing you in the back” is just misplaced on this one, folks. This bill was going to pass with Brown or without him. It would be a different story if the Weird Sisters, Voinovich, and that car all voted AGAINST the bill, and Brown broke ranks to vote with the Dems. Then, and only then, would we see your side of betrayal regarding Brown. Frankly, even in that event, if Brown thought his constituents wanted a YES vote on this, then he needed to give them a YES vote. It’s Brown’s job as Senator to represent his constituents as best he sees fit. If he read this bill and didn’t think it would damage the country, and that his voters wanted it, then his duty is to vote yes. Just like, we wish every day Scott Brown came to work in just a red, white, and blue Speedo to conduct business in all his centerfold glory. Man, we’d just love that. But, would the voters of Massachusetts want that? No. Would that be good for the country? No. So, we’re disappointed. We live in Illinois, and can never vote for Brown, so us being disappointed in Boystown for the lack of Speedos in his daily wardrobe doesn’t amount to a hill of Boston baked beans.
So, that’s our take on all this.
Brown saved us from the Rationing Bill, so he’s a hero.
Brown will occasionally take votes he has to so that he can stay in the Senate.
Brown is not going to be president so long as he is a Republican.
Give the guy a break, don’t berate him, and always look at the big picture.
Especially when that picture’s a smokin’ hot centerfold.
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I am sure a lot of this caterwauling comes from the Beck wing, who seem unable to understand that he is going to have to do stuff like this sometimes.
Brown even TOLD people ahead of time that he wouldn’t always vote with the Republicans, and ahead of this vote he said he was going to look at it on behalf of the people of Massachusetts.
I have no patience with the griping.
You have the right to your opinion.
I resent my right to comment called ‘catterwalling’ however.
I have no patience with lack of respect.
Nor I. And what’s with the snide, accusatory “Beck wing” remark? Not the treatment I’ve come to expect here.
Really? Upset about “caterwauling” and “Beck Wing”. I reserve the right to be offended by something much worse than that.
Folks, this was just a vote to stop debate on the bill; not a vote to PASS the bill – that will happen later.
This was a procedural bill, and legislators cross party lines all the time to allow a bill to move to the next point in the process.
Usually, the newbies get stuck having to cast their vote, and it is done with the full acceptance of their respective party. If it had been anyone else, this wouldn’t have even been a blip on the radar; the MSM is jerking everyone’s chain…..
It’s all about principle Miss Marple. Why does everyone including Hillboyz excuse the constant “gaming?” Brown was my first political donee and I was an out of state volunteer. Hillboys, I’ve been a big fan of yours and a contributor (twice). I simply don’t get you on this one and no longer find Scott Brown as McAwesome. This is not cool to me at all.
I’m with you Laura… I have your back on this.
I totally understand where you are coming from on this. I consider myself a purist at heart.
BUT, politics is and always has been about compromise and, in a way, conceding certain points in order to gain others.
This goes all the way back to the very foundation of this country. Our Founding Fathers didn’t just sit down and write the Constitution in a single sitting. The Constitutional Convention took months of extremely passionate debate before they were able to produce The Constitution.
Some of our Founders wanted much more power given to the federal government in the Constitution. Some of our Founders wanted much less power given to the federal government.
A great example of “gaming” was the issue of Slavery. Most of the “main” Founders were opposed to slavery and would have preferred to outlaw it in The Constitution. But the greater wisdom was that a “purist” approach would never be agreed upon by all the states. So the Convention eventually agreed on outlawing the trading of new slaves after 20 years as a way of slowing eliminating slavery over time.
Does the U.S. Congress need to move back towards Constitutional conservatism? ABSOLUTELY. Would I like to snap my fingers and make it happen? YES. But that’s just unrealistic fantasy. The shock of moving all the way back to where WE may want the country to be in a single step would be too much for the system to bear. The other side would react strongly, just as we have reacted strongly to the shock of the sudden move towards the left.
It’s impossible and unreasonable for any of us to expect any candidate to exactly mirror our ideology. This is exactly the problem Obama is facing now. He made ethereal, nebulous, “empty” promises and people filled in all their own expectations in place of his actual ideologies. Now people are finding that Obama isn’t the guy they thought they were voting for.
If Brown promised something specific and then reneged on it, I might be upset about this vote.
BUT, I freely admit, I didn’t really research a single Scott Brown policy. I donated to his campaign to help break the Democrat’s 60 vote automatic super majority.
Mission Accomplished and money well spent.
Scott Brown may or may not represent my particular ideologies. But he’s not my Senator. All I can do is give him the benefit of the doubt that he’s doing what he thinks is best for his state.
Also, even if Brown votes with the Republicans only half the time, that’s still twice as often as Martha Coakley would have.
Well said Eric.
This isn’t a vote on slavery, but your piece was oh, so dramatic.
Brown promised to cut spending.
This is spending.
HE LIED.
The government does not create jobs, the public sector does. If their taxes(psector) go up, they cut jobs.
This bill will put the country further in debt. And someone(the taxpayers) have to pay for this.
How do you not GET this?
This isn’t compromise, it’s a flat out LIE to the people who elected him!
Tamara:
I don’t necessarily disagree with anything you said. But as I pointed out in my post, I didn’t research any of Brown’s positions, so it’s impossible for me to feel lied to.
Also, since I’m not from his state, I didn’t vote for him and it is therefore impossible for him to have betrayed me personally.
My mentioning of slavery and the Constitution was simply an example – perhaps the best example ever – of how political “gaming” has existed since the very beginning of this country.
If you’re from MA, or if you tracked Brown’s campaign closer than I and feel that he has been unfaithful to the ideology which got him elected… okay. I don’t argue with your right to feel that way. I’m simply putting another opinion out there illustrating how compromises are an integral part of politics.
No drama llama here.
Technically, I guess I’m from the “Beck Wing.” However, I am not too concerned with how Scott Brown votes as long as he votes “NO” on the three issues he ran on. HCR, Card Check and Cap n Trade. When I knew he was running in the Special Election, I didn’t care if he was a moderate because to me it was a “Hail Mary Pass.” Our only option and chance to stop Reid/Pelosi, etc. Of course, beyond that, I really didn’t put much of my hopes in him, anyway.
Just as there are some who are screaming because Sarah has endorsed McCain and/or Rand Paul, there are those who are going to be upset over this.
As a part of the “Beck Wing”, I have been of the thought that we, too, need to work on the Overton Window Theory. Keep moving the window closer and closer to where we really want our country to be. Yes, it would be wonderful if we could get “pure” constitutional conservatives in there, but that won’t happen immediately. This is a long-haul situation. Progressives have been moving that window for the last 100 years.
We’re actually very blessed that Obama’s Admin over-played their hand. They were a cold bucket of water. We’re awake now and now it’s time to start working together to change the country to what it was meant to be. FREE.
He is the elected Senator of Mass. and voted accordingly. We supported him for one reason, to stop health care.
Then you are a moron, because he is US Senator, not a State Senator anymore.
All of his votes affect the entire country, not just your state.
Oh, and by the way, health care will be rammed through regardless of Brown.
Get it?
It’s getting a little hostile here. Having an opinion different from yours doesn’t make a person a “moron”. That’s the kind of hyperbole that the progressive left is famous for and, personally, I find it extremely off-putting.
It’s certainly not effective in winning hearts or minds.
Actually, I don’t believe that the “hellCare” will be rammed through. I think it’s bluff & bluster. Even if Reid can ram it thru the Senate with “slow Joe” Pelosi doesn’t have enough votes in the House.
Actually, he is one of two Senators to represent the State of Massachusetts in a body where every state in the union has 2 representatives. Each of them is there to represent the interests of their voters first and foremost.
The assumption is that they will do what is best for the country, because the majority of their populace will always want what is best for the country.
Who knows, perhaps he’ll have an important portfolio beginning in 2013 in President Palin’s cabinet …
Thank you Hillbuzz!
my thoughts exactly. I never thought of Scott B as Jim Demint, but scott will vote against rationcare, and cap n tax.
and that is most important to me.
I really don’t have an issue with him voting for this jobs bill, its not 85 billions, its 15 billions, at least that’s better, and the man is from MA, he’s never going ot be as conservative as demint, and nor should he, if he wants to stay in the senate.
Just as long as he staunchly opposes rationcare in ANY form, no to cap n tax, no to amnesty, and yes to pro-america policies.
this 15 billion “jobs” bill, the man has just deflated the “party of no” ballon the marxist dims keep lying about.
and yes, I like both scott brown and jim demint. but if scott voted like jim demint in liberal MA, yikes! scott would be gone in 2 years.
and then MA would get patrick kennedy… AHHHH!!!!! no!! not another kennedy.
I know there are people who are upset with scott, but seriously, there will not be a jim demint from MA. sorry, that will not happen, so the best solution is to make the red states more red, and those are are very blue… make them purple (turning them red will take time, its possible, but that will take time, culturally, but purple is the best to hope for now)
“just” 15 Billion, huh? How many times have I heard that “just” word? Give me a break. Nothing seems to change.
Just “15 billion”??
no wonder purist conservatives will not get it. Yes, I agree with you on principle, but there is a bigger picture at play,
if all the repubs had voted no against this, there would be no ammo for the repubs to use against rationcare.
15 billion versus a 2 trillion dollar take over of rationcare.
I will support scott on this, would I have liked for him to vote against this “jobs” bill? of course. but this is beyond the 15 billion bill.
Also, people don’t realise, this was a 85 billion dollar bill, Reid changed it ON PURPOSE to 15 billion to trap the repubs, thinking they would all vote against it, and then the dems can claim “party of no” and then use that as evidence to ram through Rationcare later this week.
I have seen these dems work, I used to be a democrat.
This is not just 15 billion at play, this is a 2 trillion govt takeover of healthcare at play.
This isn’t a “politics-as-usual” time of our lives. This is NO MORE SPENDING time. We are on the verge of an economic collapse. It’s not just “NO” it’s HELL NO!
I was unhappy with Brown voting yes because it was not a good jobs bill. It won’t help small business at all. It was just more wasted money.
Brown is an east coast Republican not a heartland Republican. East coast Republicans are JFK Democrats. That’s an OK thing because JFK would never have been Teddy the Killer Kennedy. JFK would not run as a Dem today he would be a Republican like McHottie.
Anyone out in the heartland who thought he would be different is maybe not paying attention.
I like Hottie McAwesome.
I truly think his voters in Mass thought he would be different. Take a look at his Facebook page. Lot’s of comments from his voters who feel quite betrayed.
I might agree but my parents are in Seekonk MA and voted for him. They are not at all upset. The peeps who are hammering him on FB are the Cons from out of state who gave money and time to get him elected.
My parents voted for JFK then never voted for a Dem again.
Some people pushed for Brown without looking at his record. He is not pro life but pro choice. So he is not a Social Con never claimed to be but now they are mad as hell.
I like him but I am fiscally conservative and socially liberal in many ways.
just my 2 cents..
peace breath calm down peeps..
Exactly. I don’t live in MA, but I donated to his campaign without researching a single policy of his because he would break the 60 vote supermajority strangle hold the Democrats had over the Senate.
I didn’t donate to his campaign expecting a “litmus” conservative.
If people did vote for him for that reason, then my guess is that it’s their fault for not researching his opinions first. Though I didn’t look in to his policies, I did know he supports abortion as a form of birth control (I do not) and I donated anyway.
Me too, and I think he could run for potus and win.
Aaaa-men!!!!
Well….. I wish he would have voted otherwise. 15 BILLION in more spending?
Didnt he claim to be concerned with spending?
If the 800 BILLION dollar stimlous didnt create jobs.. why do they think 15 billion will create a job?
I still like him and I am not giving up but.. geesh.
I don’t think its even a “jobs” bill. If you look at it, its actually mainly an extension of unemployment benefits for states.
there are very little to none tax cuts. Its mainly unemployment benefits given to states who are running out of money.
Is this the bill Harry Ried was babbling about today?
If its unemployment benefits.. I cant blame him.
Now is when I serach for details.. : )
yes, it started out as a 85 billion bill, some tax cuts, some tax credits, some infrature funding, and mainly unemployment benefits to states.
it was cut to 15 billion b/c Reid wanted to trap the repubs by making them voting against it, so then the dims could tout “party of no”, and ram through rationcare later this week.
this has severely deflated the “party of no” ballon.
This is where I get totally frustrated. If 800 Billion didn’t do squat, and it didn’t. What is 15 Billion going to do being thrown around by the government? More nothing.
This is pure politics and trying to win something for the mid-terms. This is the very type of behavior that has to be changed! Create jobs through a business friendly environment that encourages investment. Create jobs through slashing spending that will increase the stability of the country and brighten the future outlook.
What is going to happen when, six months from now, this bill like so many others does nothing? You have to make a stand somewhere and this is not the way to do it.
What were the aspects that caused Brown to vote for the Bill?
What was stripped down in the Bill to make him decide to vote for the stripped down version?
I have an economics degree, and I am looking at this very closely. I am still learning more about the errors of FDR.
I will not be hard on Brown at this point in time because he has a lot of Democrat constituents and he has to please them as well.
I need to see more about what was in the bill, and whether or not it will do any good.
My comment here is that Government should only have a minor role in the creation of jobs. Also, if they did not spend all of the money allocated this year, then they are not likely to spend all of this money.
I agree with this post. No reason to dump on Brown. He is far better than the alternative and will do well for us overall. Your point about him stopping the healthcare bill is RIGHT ON and way more important than some small jobs bill thats a joke.
I still support Scott too. He just proved to the Dems he’s not partisan,and jobs ARE important in his state.
As someone said on another forum…..”Brown just played a brilliant chess move.”
whatever
I would tend to agree with the comment about the chess move.
The Dems cannot scream “Party of No”.
I am hoping that the Republicans will either not show up for the coming summit or at least walk out…. will just wait and see…….
I so agree.
And… it’s just to stop discussion, it’s not been voted on yet.
He might change his vote— he’s getting flayed alive on his FB page…and he’s posted twice defending his vote but it’s at 1800++ comments and maybe a dozen in support of him.
Folks are actually calling to ask for their donations back. It’s like we’re all little kids and the adults keep saying “trust us” and take our allowance. Either by taxes or by donations to their campaigns.
I’ll think long and hard when the next ‘money bomb’ comes along. It now has a double meaning.
Its not the actual vote (I think) he voted to bring it to a vote..
hmm.. interesting about his facebook page.
he voted to stop debate only. cloture is to stop the debate so they can vote
Aha… it was the vote to what, end cloture? Didn’t Susan Collins do the same thing with the Reid Healthcare bill, and then she voted No…. and continues to vote against it?
Have some faith in Brown… people are jumping to conclusions and going the wrong way about it….
When the full vote occurs, you will probably see MORE support for the bill, not less.
I’m not a betting man, but if I had to bet, I’d probably bet on picking up at least 4 more republicans when the final bill is actually voted on.
I agree with you 100% about Scott Brown. While I contributed to his election, I knew that I would not always agree with his votes. While I am disappointed with the “jobs bill” vote, he wasn’t the only Repub who voted to end debate. My reaction when I heard the headline that the “jobs bill” passed the Senate was “What the H********ll! Why are they spending any money for anything except national defense right now!?!”
It was the FIRST vote! RED FLAGS
I think his first vote was against that nominee.
But still.. ugh.
Laura,
First off, that’s just racist. The color of flags has nothing to do with anything. And, honestly, it’s 2010, please use the correct term: it’s ROUGE-AMERICAN FLAGS. Puh-lease.
Secondly, Brown didn’t control when this vote came. It might have been the fifth vote or the tenth or the eleventy-eth. It just happened to be this vote. TECHNICALLY his first vote was the vote that DIDN’T happen because of his election…the vote that would have rammed through Rationing.
Brown voted a big NO to that, so the vote was not held. It still counts as a vote to us.
Now, try your best to never be a flag-racist again.
green challenged flag?
hehe
At least if you use the term RED FLAG.. put a disclaimer after it.. like… this is no way to diminish the importance of other color flags.
Hillbuzz, as a person that prides herself on a sense of humor (one of the reasons I contribute to your site), I am feeling very humorless this evening. Brown’s vote today was simply wrong. Quit excusing him.
No, his first vote was against a labor nominee who was alinged with SEIU and ACORN.
(and he received a lot of flack from MA labor unions for this)
I will support scott on this recent vote. Don’t expect I will agree with him on everything, as long as he is against the major socialist stuff, he has my support.
He’s from a deep deep blue state, I don’t expect a staunch conservative like jim demint.
but it was not a vote to make it pass. It was to end cloture or at least bring it on to the Senate floor. Different from actually voting for it…
What it does is force Reid’s hand.
It was a cloture vote. Everyone remain calm and wait and see what happens.
I think there are earmarks on this bill, because Senator Bond from Missouri a Republican voted for it, too. He is the earmark king!
Scott Brown might have been testing the waters with his constituents, too. To see if their passion for cutting spending was really true.
PS….he is representing Massachusetts and if he is getting pummeled on Facebook then you know he is getting pummeled at his office, too.
Phone numbers are being posted to not only call to complain but demand their donations to his campaign back.
Seriously, cruise the FB comments…. you’ll find maybe one per 500 or so that is actually nice….
The rest pretty much want to set him on fire, roast marshmallows and use his remains for potash.
Look, this could be THE most brilliant move since Alexander’s Battle of Issus. I can understand how it might be ‘brilliant’.
But appearances to the ‘average dumb voter’ mean everything. And this appears bad, very very bad. Folks feel used and betrayed.
And telling them they ‘don’t understand how brilliant this is’ only makes it that much worse….because we’ve been hearing that line for how long now???
He is really getting pounded on Facebook. I was angry at first but after thinking about it I believe it was a pre-emptive strike against the planned Democrat strategy to accuse the Republicans of obstructionism to justify reconciliation of the Health Care Takeover. I hope so, I want so badly to trust SOMEBODY.
Perhaps Brown felt the need to vote to allow debate (transparency), knowing full well that his constituents would object. If they are screaming bloody murder, he can vote no, without being part of the “party of no” because he can say he is truly representing his constituents. At least that is what I am praying this is what it will turn out to be.
@ CTmom- I did some further thinking on this and come to the same conclusion. Throwing it up the flagpole, so to speak. If the FB comments are any indication of the MA constituentcy, I would look for his vote to change. Good call.
I contributed to him just to make a point to take the “Kennedy” seat.
He seems like a level headed guy.
And he represents a difficult state.
Don’t give up on him so quickly.
My attitude is this—
he’s been warned…. HE’S the one who used the term “the people’s seat”….
HE’S the one who took donations from all over the US.
He’s lost a lot of respect and ground tonight that he didn’t have to lose… he won’t get a second chance.
Still, it’s just the cloture vote. If his constituents say no and he comes back and says “The people I represent do not like this bill…and I will vote no.” He’s doing his job well.
I guess we’ll see.
He didn’t “take” donations from anyone. He “accepted” donations, which were given FREELY, by people who were looking to break the 60 vote super majority.
I was one of those people who donated to him. I never researched a single policy of his and I didn’t care. I still don’t care. I don’t live in MA and I fully expect him to vote his conscience for his state. It’s not his job to represent me and I won’t ask him to.
Chances are good that 99% of the people from out of state who donated to his campaign never looked beyond the “I’ll be the 41st vote against health care” issue. If you’re one of those people and are now surprised that he’s not a “litmus test” conservative, then the fault should lay only at your own feet.
Republican Joseph Cao voted for the HCR bill in the House because his election was a fluke, like Brown’s. Will Brown vote for the new Health Insurance regulation bill, too?
If Brown vote for the Health regulation bill, heck, i will ask for my donation back as well!
For me, as long as he staunchly stands against rationcare, cap n tax, and amenesty… etc, he’s got me support.
This HI regulation bill is exactly what they had in the soviet union, price controls on grains that farmers had. Farmers just quit, sold their farms and left, and so then there was a food shortage.
Brown specifically said he would not vote for that Bill. In fact Romney would not vote for it!!!
From FB
“I came to Washington to be an independent voice, to put politics aside, and to do everything in my power to help create jobs for Massachusetts families. This Senate jobs bill is not perfect. I wish the tax cuts were deeper and broader, but I am voting for it because it contains measures that will help put people back …to work. … I hope for improvements in that process going forward.”
Guess your wolf will have to depend on just Mass & the Dems to re-elect him.He is no conservative republican,approving fake job bills that are just more payback and bribes 4 the unions. He snowed us,but we will be a lot more careful next time.Much more vetting is in order.PROGRESSIVES ARE ON OUR HIT LIST FOR DC,AND NO ONE WILL STOP US,NOT AGAIN!AMERICA WILL BE FREE AGAIN,THE DICTATOR WILL BE GONE ASAP.LOOKS ARE NOT A PRE-REQUISITE! HONESTY AND PATRIOTISM TO OUR CONSTITUTION,ARE!
Voting for cloture is not voting for the Bill. It brings the Bill onto the Senate floor which gives it transparency.
Susan collins did the same thing with the Senate health bill but she has consistently voted No.
I think you have to trust Brown to know what he is doing here.
I’m with Laura. I contributed to his campaign on ‘Money Bomb Monday’. So far, not thrilled with my investment. More taxpayer money is being tossed down the drain with this bill and I’m afraid it will have little impact (stimulus, etc.) on private sector jobs. I wish they would just stop spending. It’s not a good thing when you vote with the two senators from Maine.
So, you would rather have Coakley in the Senate? Just sayin’
LOL!
Lets see— get slapped around and get a broken jaw by someone you expect to slap you around— so you’re prepared.
OR
get slapped around by someone you trusted and you didn’t see it coming.
Betrayal makes people not vote—or donate— or believe in their government ever again.
That’s the issue. I sense and see a lot of folks who won’t donate to, vote or support the next ‘Scott Brown’ even if he’s 100 times better than this guy.
Either way you have a broken jaw. I choose neither. Let’s not all turn on Scott Brown over one vote. Part of the problem with us Republicans is that we eat our own. I’m not hungry right now. Give him a chance ~as in more than one vote~ before we crucify him.
I’m with you on that….he won’t get a second chance.
what bothers me is that he’s burning all his cache’ at once. In one month he’s gone from darling to damned.
And all for a bill that really isn’t that much of anything…and he did a piss poor job of explaining why he is voting for it.
As for the broken jaw…. believe me, it hurts far more when it comes from someone you trusted.
Well, at least with Coakley I knew what to expect. I didn’t anticipate being thrown overboard so quickly with Brown. Particularly with the track record we’ve had to date with the stimulus package; it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out we’re tossing good money after bad. I’m disappointed he is already saying things like ‘this bill isn’t perfect’. So, I guess my standards were too high….again. In the future my contributions will remain closer to home (in TX).
Again, like has been said many time, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This was a vote to end debate and move to vote on final passage. Basically, it was a vote to end the filibuster, which is not a vote for the bill itself.
Once the final bill is voted on, then we’ll know how people actually vote on this. My guess is that you’re going to see MORE Republicans voting for the final bill.
it is not through the Senate. Nothing is wasted.
You have to see what will happen with the actual Senate vote.
WASHINGTON, Feb 22 (Reuters) – A modest job-creation bill advanced in the U.S. Senate on Monday as the chamber’s newest Republican bucked his party and sided with Democrats on a $15 billion package of tax cuts and highway spending.
Republican Scott Brown joined four other Republicans, 55 Democrats and two independents to overcome a procedural hurdle that sets up a final vote later this week.
Brown was widely hailed as a conservative hero after his surprise victory in Massachusetts last month gave Republicans enough seats to block most Democratic legislation.
His election prompted President Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats to call for increased bipartisanship, and an earlier version of the bill was written with Republican input.
But key Republicans withdrew their support after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid scaled it back.
Brown said the bill was not perfect but would help put people back to work.
“I hope my vote today is a strong step toward restoring bipartisanship in Washington,” he said in a statement.
The bill includes a tax credit for businesses that hire unemployed workers, subsidies for state and local construction bonds and $19.5 billion to shore up a highway-construction fund.
Much of the cost is offset by a crackdown on offshore tax shelters.
LOL!!
“Brown was widely hailed as a conservative hero”
I never saw Brown as a staunch conservative, just a decent man who would vote with repubs on major issues, but more of a moderate on other issues.
Unfortunately the “tax cut” for businesses hiring an unemployed worker is that the business would have to hire someone for say 60,000 (just using that as an average salary) then they get a 5,000 tax credit. In this environment who is going to do that?
Plus this had started as a bipart. big bill that Reid pulled at the last min. All the Repubs should have voted against it and demanded something better.
What I don’t get is where do these 1 person bills come from–what happened to debating and changing things in bills?
Also since this was different from the House jobs bill does it have to be meshed now with the house bill and then voted on again?
It will have to be voted for in the Senate anyway. It has only been brought onto the Senate floor and out of Committee.
I don’t know…I will just have to wait and see before making up my mind. Just saying that there are a lot of people who don’t understand..
HAHAHA… like me.
I had to look up what the friggin vote was about…. of course, after I stated my opinion.
Although, I did see Harry Reid blab about something today but as usual.. I try my best to tune him out……even though he is light skinned and doesnt have a negro dialect.
; )
LOL!!
I find it pretty interesting that people think a Jim Demint will be elected from a liberal state like MA, and are willing to overthrow a moderate like Brown from liberal MA.
What happens in 2012? get a very conservative primary opponent, who will not win in MA. And then its back to the liberals from a liberal state.
If there was no ted kennedy’s death, there would have been no special election, there would have been no scott brown.
And right now, we americans would have had this disgusting Rationcare bill crammed down our throats. And we would have been complaining about that. screaming in fact about this.
That has been stopped. That’s a reason good enough for me to support and donate to scott brown.
gn all.
Dittos from TN!
It seems the RationCare bill rising from the dead (AGAIN) today has frayed many nerves…Sure has frayed mine.
Man. Sad that our own president is wearing us down so much. What strange times.
Well…Let’s hope that after this sham healthcare summit on Thurs, when the repubs immediately come out in united opposition, that thanks to this jobs bill, the repubs will have a very recent piece of bipartisan legislation to point to to combat the “Party of No” BS line that the left is just waiting to go bonkers with first thing Friday morning…This jobs bill WILL weaken that argument. Which IS a good thing.
100% agree
what are the Marxist Messaih going to do?
say and whine… “oh the party of no are standing in the way of everything “??
and now with this vote, they cannot use that argument anymore, it has been severely beaten.
This argument is not so much about a “jobs” bill as much about rationcare.
THis jobs bill vote was not supposed to happen until next week, wanna know why Harry Reid moved it to this week?
Its right BEFORE the rationcare summit, it was designed to embarass the repubs, b/c Reid thought they would all vote against this jobs bill and then come the rationcare summit, the dimocrats would use this excuse to use reconcialtion to ram thru rationcare.
I bet if you added up all the income lost from stress and unproductivity due to anticipated (and actual) pain bestowed on business owners and workers by Utopia, it would be much more helpful to the GNP and jobs than any of these bills.
Can’t agree more with you, HB. As has been stated above, the alternative to Brown wasn’t DeMint or Palin or DeVore, it was Coakley. Who here wishes she’d have won?
I saw this today too and thought, no I don’t trust anything this Congress and Administration puts forth but because of his win we are better off today.
You can’t get everything you want and eventually this madness will come to an end. Hopefully in November.
Off theme: another strange inane remark from the lips of Dingy Reid:
http://minx.cc/?post=298632
The man is truly a loon.
What a nut.
maybe more snow will come, shut down DC before the rationcare summit.
And then more snow until November 2010, so at least more balance will be restored, and more damage cannot be done to the country.
Please no! I live near DC, am a stay at home mom, and seriously need to go outside without trudging thru 4 feet of snow on the ground!
Can’t we pray for some other miracle to shut them down? Maybe like a water main break in the Capitol or finding asbestos or something like that??? Pretty please with sugar on top? I’ll be your best friend!
First, I think it was crazy for anyone to put all of their hopes and dreams on Scott Brown…sound familiar? He’s one man, from a liberal state, who is not always going to vote the way conservatives want him to.
Second, are the Facebook comments really from MA residents? Or from around the country? I’m sorry for those of you who feel your $$ was wasted…but if you don’t live in Mass. he’s not your Senator. If the anger is really coming from his constituents, I hope he takes a long hard look at his stance before he casts the final vote. But this vote to advance this bill is getting a lot of overreaction, IMO.
Personally, I’m still pleased with my investment.
me 2!
I will certainly be donating to his campaign again if he asked (so long as he stands against rationcare, cap n tax, and other job killing crap.)
Ahhh, but remember, it was here we were encouraged to donate from all over the country.
So basically, you’re saying we’re suckers and should just shut up? Thanks…I’ll remember the next time I’m asked to donate.
The next ‘Hottie McAwesome” that comes along will be tempered with lots of “Yeah, but remember what happened with SB!”
But you didn’t have to. HillBuzz was (obviously) excited about him for more than a couple of reasons. But you were under no obligation to share their excitement. I looked into him when I read about him here. He ran as a Republican but it was pretty apparent that he was more of an independent on a few issues. He said himself he wasn’t always going to do what either party expected him to do. So far he has been pretty much what I expected though. I’m sure he was happy for my donation but I donated with the understanding that he in no way represents me. But he was #41 and that alone was worth it…to me. Well that and seeing the libs get their undies in a twist
Anyway, I’m pretty sure he’d give you your money back if you asked for it. I hear he has plenty!
I have no regrets from my “investment”; by blocking Obamacare, he may have singlehandidly changed the course of history in America. However, he also doesn’t seem to be who I hoped he was, which is too bad. I guess you can’t pin too many hopes and expectations on one (relatively unknown) person, especially if that person is from Massachusatts.
Exactly. I might think he’s an ok guy and gorgeous, but he is a politician. People get so caught up (ahem, hope and change) that they seem to forget that these people are politicians. What is that saying? How do you tell if a politician is lying? His/her lips are moving! Sad but all too often true.
One of my favorite pundits has this food for thought (via Instapundit):
THE ANCHORESS IS GLAD SCOTT BROWN IS VOTING FOR THE WATERED-DOWN JOBS BILL, says it wrecks the “party of No” and “broken government” narratives at comparatively low cost.
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/94378/
that is exactly the argument HB has been making.
15 billion vs 2.5 trillion.
both are bad, but 2.5 trillion takeover will decimate the country instantly
I’m done “settling”
LOL! Like that old joke
“We know what you are, now we’re haggling on the price.”
Then ride off on your high horse into the sunset.
At least I’m not letting him screw me
I’m curious, would the people who are pissed at scott at the moment want scott there right now or coakley?
WH just released that should the summit not go well (yea, right, its already fixed)
they will use reconcialition
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/02/white-house-sets-the-table-to-use-reconciliation-rules-to-finish-health-care-reform.html
the democrat party is done, stick a fork in it. I am ashamed to have every voted for a democrat, and no plans to at any time in the future, these people aren’t even American at this point. They really have no clue the backlash comning their way. the party will not be trsuted for a generation
Of course Brown is a better choice than Coakley, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be disappointed by the choice he made.
actaully, I don’t agree with Brown’s vote here either, BUT, and its an important BUT, him voting for this means the “party of no” lie can be done with or severely weakened.
and much more imporatantly it can be used as ammo against the dimocrat’s wanting to ram thru rationcare.
For this reason, I still respect and support scott. I never thought he was a staunch conservative, I knew he would vote with the dimocrats on some issues.
So long as he blocks any socialist job killing crap, I am fine with it and will continue to support him.
I guess I mostly agree with you. I’m not ready to bail on him just yet. I’ll consider this strike one. Also, I suppose it is possible he will reconsider; he is being skewered on his facebook page.
This is just unbelievable. This will be the death of the democratic party. I too am sorry I ever voted “democratic”. The good news is that after November congress will no longer be controlled by dems., certainly not if they use reconciliation to pass health care. My question, can this bill be repealed if republicans have a majority in congress after Nov? (Pelosi should no longer be a problem, even if she’s re-elected in Nov. because she will no longer be speaker of the house since the dems will be the minority party after Nov.)
Am I the only one who thinks this reconciliation nonsense is just a threat? They couldn’t get it done with a super majority and, with Dems tanking in the polls in an election year, I can’t really imagine they’d actually get it done now. Maybe I’m just naive…but I really think this is a threat. I would LOVE, LOVE for Boehner or someone to just come out and say, fine, you want reconciliation, go for it. But you own it, this has Democrat written all over it, you will live or die by this “reform”. No Repub would really be that direct with it but oh how I wish they would.
I agree with you Jessica. I think all this posturing is just Bluff & Bluster. Reid maybe able to ram it thru the Senate, but I don’t think Pelosi can get it thru the House. Too many CongressCritters who want to be re-elected this November.
Does anyone know why more Republican Senators were willing to support the $85 billion jobs bill that Reid pulled, but not apparently this $15 billion one? That is puzzling. If the $15 billion bill still has the same kind of payroll tax “holiday” for hiring unemployed workers that the prior one had, don’t worry. Very few employers will take advantage of that, so most of that money won’t be spent as planned.
I heard earlier today that the more expensive bill had more tax cuts and incentives for the private sector to create jobs. It sounds like much of that was stripped, rendering this bill pretty pointless. But I’m not entirely sure…so don’t quote me on that!
I disagree with part of your take on this. I think that the Independents who are leaning right these days are not leaning so far right that they’re looking for something ultra conservative, “pure” conservative. I think most Independents are not looking for anything extreme and just want a bit of normalcy returned to Washington. I think it is these folks who would readily vote for so-called RINO’s in many instance. But, I think that true conservatives, people who would likely not describe themselves as Independents (because they typically view that label as signifying something wishy-washy) would absolutely not vote for a McCain or a Brown type.
Here’s the conundrum: The right has two factions at the moment. Those who used to be Reagan Dems and/or moderate Republicans, Independents, etc are one group and they’re not looking for any grand “revolution.” Meanwhile, super duper conservatives who want to see things swing waaaaaaaaay right are pulling in that direction. Most Independents are going to go for that. Yet ultra conservatives are so pissed off they’ve had it with anyone who appears at all watered down, willing to compromise, reach across the aisle and all tht sort of stuff.
I’m not sure how the Dems can ultimately be defeated without some reckoning of these two large groups on the right.
yes, as an Independent I 100% agree with your assement.
I am not a purist conservative, but do consider myself a conservative, and see Scott as a man of integrity, he will not vote for this POS rationcare bill, and hopefully him voting for a 15 billion jobs bill will have deeply deflated that “party of no” lie being spread.
That being said, I would have no problems supporting and donating to jim demint as well. The reason I support both is I recognize that Scott cannot be as conservative as Jim since scott if from MA.
so, yes he will vote with dems on some issues, but over all scott will not vote and block any socialist crap.
Sorry. I meant to say Most Independetns are NOT going to go for that.
Personally I am okay with Independence. I have no problem with him voting the way he did. I am much more conservative than most of them in Washington and I am okay with that too. I believe difference in opinion is a good thing. I am okay with moderates, I am just sick and tired of them trying to kick conservatives out of the party. Scott said he was against the Obama care fiasco… Lets keep our fingers and toes crossed.
ssmith, I agree with you… If they go the reconciliation route, all hell is going to break loose.
All I have to say is – Is it any wonder that WE Republicans and conservatives have been in a mess the last several years. I am a conservative and a registered Republican, but I think Republicans are much too quick to jump ship on someone and this Brown thing proves it. Democrats are much better at the Long Roadtrip with their politicians. We Republicans can be short-sighted.
Brown was elected by one of the most liberal states, if not THE most, in the country. Is it surprising that even a Republican senator would fall closer to the middle than, say, a Republican senator from Kentucky? But to completely give up on Brown because he voted for one bill you didn’t want him to, that is destructive to the Republican party and to what we all are trying to get accomplished to keep this country free.
In 6 months if 50% of his voting is aligned with Reid, then complain and I’ll probably complain too, but it’s ONE vote! People need to stop freaking out and look at the big picture.
My representative was one of the 8 Republicans that voted for cap and trade – but for me to throw him away and allow some socialist disguised as a Democrat take his seat is just destructive. Now this same man is running for senate in our state and he has my vote – even knowing he already hasn’t voted in some ways I’d like him to.
This conservative is totally with you Boyz! Everyone needs to chill and look at the big picture.
Excellent post! You make some really great points.
I absolutely agree.
Much like Hillbuzz opinion – here is Hot Air’s reasoned take on the issue.
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/02/22/oh-my-scott-brown-to-vote-with-dems-on-obamas-jobs-bill/
Thanks for posting that. The analysis is interesting. Only time will tell. But my gut tells me that Brown has integrity (I hope) and he will hold the line on health care. AND, most importantly, be extremely vocal about national security, without which, nothing else really matters.
We have to have faith he will hold the line on health care. He knows that is why 99% of us sent him money.
If it really were a jobs bill, Scott’s vote might be understandable.
But IMO, it’s just being called a “jobs” bill and really is just another wasteful stimulus.
I agree. And that’s where things get dicey because Brown needs to be/appear supportive of jobs for his constituents, but so far nothing from this administration has born fruit, just more disaster. So why trust this bill now to have any merit? And, if Brown claims to be against larger government, it’s hard to see exaclty how he can rationalize supporting a bill that will presumably create government jobs.
Round and round we go!
Well you know Hillbuzz, there is a place over here called Provincetown…
Sebastian’s been there. Dated a guy here in Chicago that was in Naked Boys Singing on the island for a summer. We do our level best to keep Bast away from actors, singers, dancers, and strippers, but for some reason that’s who he always attracts. Let’s just say those relationships have lifespans shorter than the run of shows involving exposed penises and bad singing.
[Scott Brown] “Elect me and I will stop the Health Bill Dragon from destroying our land”
[Scott Brown] “You elected me, and I stood on the narrow bridge, alone, and said to the Dragon ‘You shall not pass’. And it did not, and our land was saved.”
[Humourless fanatics] “Yes, but what have you done for us .. lately?”
Boyz. I saw what happened to Free Republic after the election of 2000. Before, it was the premier conservative site on the web. After, the concern trolls and yahoos (goldbugs, losertarians, creation science people .. humourless absolutists of every stripe) flocked to the site, as a big, free stage for their various acts. They were allowed free rein, and FR is now theirs.
The kind of commentary that uesd to be found there is now found at Hillbuzz; and at AoSHQ and the Belmont club, to name a few others. Richard Fernandez and ‘Ace’ have demonstrated that they have the handle on the trolls and the yahoos. And their sites continue to be important.
You all have created a fine thing in Hillbuzz; care for it, protect it.
Well all I can say is WOW HE IS HOT THANKS FOR POSTING THE PHOTO—
I have a younger brother who’s entire life has been devoted to being a political activist. From living in a commune and creating his own communal house, complete with solar panels, to riding a bike and not owning a car, to living totally off of recycled everything.
I think his annual disposable income is less than 500 bucks. But, he has a laptop, cellphone etc ….. all found at landfills or abandoned dorms.
If there is a protest in DC, he’s there. He’s campaigns tirelessly for buying local, making cities more bike friendly, animal rights, energy conservation. He’s not your typical lib who does nothing. He’s researched extensively and written many articles and book (s).
Even though we’re light year opposites on the political spectrum, I’m very proud of him. He wishes ill to no one and really works hard to fix what he sees broken in our world.
But- I found out during the SB campaign (when baby Bro was here for a ‘fix sister’s house’ visit) that he’d never EVER voted. Ever.
He actually looked me in the eye with pity and said “I don’t understand who people really believe when they vote for someone that there is any connection at all between them. They’re going to DC for their own purposes. You’re just a stepping stone.”
I tried to explain the SB campaign, how it was a landmark, a stepping stone, very important. How molds were being broken etc etc and we apparently were getting a relatively (apparently) more decent-normal guy in office.
He shook his head and for the first time I really felt uneasy…. Like I’d dropped from ‘sane smart sister’ to ‘not very bright simpleton’. He said “nothing changes”.
Again, this sibling has done amazing things in his chunk of the world, has been to DC almost on a monthly basis to work-protest-fightfor on some project, but doesn’t believe that voting means squat.
He doesn’t understand how those who vote can imagine anything in common with those they vote for…. that DC politics as he has observed first hand is its own beast and we out here….. are nothing.
Which is why he doesn’t vote— it’s like throwing a grain of sand into a bottomless pit to him.
OK, so there you have the reason for my hurt. I know baby brother is reading all that’s going on and shaking his head at his stupid, foolish, easily led sister.
And yeah, I now understand— I’ve voted my entire life because I thought it was a good thing— now, after watching DC for this last year, listening to my brother and seeing this with SB the “what makes you think you have anything in common with them.” Makes sense. He’s gonna slam me with a great big “I told you so.”
No he’s not, he’s really not mean at all.
Right now, I honestly see his view of it all….like there has been a crack in my universe and an alternative one is leaking through. And it makes me very sad (as well as very angry at myself for being so gullible all this time).
Very nice. Instead of putting on the shoe I made, and loudly announcing that it fit, you ignore it, and write a beautiful little piece in a minor key about the loss of innocence… your nihilistic little brother was right all along, it’s all ‘dust in the wind’, the only logical conclusion is for conservatives to stop donating money and voting…
You are very good. I’ll be looking for you in the future.
“The only logical conclusion is for conservatives to stop donating money and voting”
I never said that— I never even used those terms.
I am saying that I was shocked when I found out that my brother had never ever voted— yet he’s done more ‘politically’ than I’ve ever done in my entire life. He’s accomplished more to see his beliefs and desires put into action tha I have or ever will.
I’ve voted since I was 18, missing only one major election in the last 35 years.
Yet my brother sees voting and politics as a poison river to be crossed or navigated, not cleaned up. It was, at the time, a shocking discussion for me, because I really had never thougtht of it that way. I thought you couldn’t complain if you didn’t vote.
He has the opposite attitude— by not voting, he’s free of all entanglments, all illusions….
OK, so I do see it through his eyes now.
Will I vote again? Sure— . Will I campaign? Probably.
Do I think the river is too poisoned to clean? I’m a realist…..I’ve lived long enough to see more bad than good in life… so it probably is.
Look for me? Where? I’m 10 days older than dirt….not much gonna happen with me. Don’t waste your time.
Boys and girls, the basic job of a politician in a representative democracy is supposed to be to vote for legislation which is (in their opinion at least, hopefully supported by communication from those who voted them into office) in the best interest of those voters, *NOT* to follow the party line – be it the ‘D’ line *OR* the ‘R’ line.
Admittedly, not many on either side seem to remember that.
If Senator Brown read the bill (unlike other senators in recent history), heard from those he represents and believed it was in their best interest, he did his job (also unlike other senators in recent history).
The genesis of the Tea Party movement was representatives not listening and voting in support of party ideology, not the people.
If he was (or is supposed to be) just a partisan hack on the other side of the line, it really wasn’t much of a revolution (IMO).
You know, I was a little disappointed by this at first, but now I’m frankly getting pissed off. NOT at Scott Brown, but with many of the people attacking him now. And not so much because of what they’re saying(hey, they have the right to speak their minds after all) but because of what it shows, which I guess I already knew but it’s still disturbing to see it played out. Far too many people clearly made Scott Brown their new pure Convervative Messiah without bothering to take 10 minutes to research his record or his positions and that is WAY to eerily similar to the way the left held up Barack Obama as some kind of savior while noone I spoke to during the election could give me a single coherent reason why they supported him.
I knew EXACTLY what I was getting when I donated to Scott Brown, and I want to expand on something that the buzzboys quite correctly pointed out in this post. Not only would his voting No not have mattered with 3 other R’s defecting, but assuming they called the role as they usually do, in alphabetical order, then by the time his name was called for all practical purposes a No vote would have been irrelevant as Kit Bond’s Yes would have already settled the matter. Ben Nelson voting No was a bit of a surprise, and likely would not have happened were it not for the fact that his vote was also completely irrelevant by the time it was made.
I’m with you Mark. When I donated to Scott Brown, I knew that while I didn’t agree with him on everything, ~especially abortion~ the idea of him being the 41st vote against HellCare was worth far more than the amount of my donation. There was a reason that Senator DeMint didn’t support him with http://www.SenateConservatives.com Senator DeMint acknowledged that he wasn’t a full conservative, but that he would be a 41st vote against HellCare.
http://bit.ly/a19dof From some radio station in Boston–Scott Brown explains his vote.
Just my opinion but ff we are going to question him –which I am glad ppl are having him explain himself–then we should all at least read the bill first!