Weimar.
The Republican leadership in the House offers a wave of the hand as the Democratic leadership bypasses comity and goes for partisan confrontation. Michael Vlahos tells me Friday 19 that the Naval War College speaks of the nation transforming into the modern version of the Weimar Republic. Fractured, alienated, surly, fatalistic, enraged, parched for trust. Boehner's and Cantor's claims that they are doing all they can do to stop the Pelosi maneuvers are not trusted. Boehner's late-in-the-day claim that his objection to deem and pass contributed to the climb-down by Slaughter and Pelosi on the gambit is another example of the GOP failure to engage the adversary. Boehner and Cantor chose to cooperate with the contrivance of the Blair House gabfest, and they have chosen to stand by like kibbitzers at a Yankees game.
Late Count.
The whip late Saturday 20 is that the Democrats sit at 37 No's, with none to give. Went through the 17 undecided in The Hill's list, using the brain of a GOP source in the House. The name that was left as a possible No was Kathy Dahlkemper, a strong pro-life member. If and when Kathy Dahlkemper flips to Yes, then Mrs. Pelosi may at last have her 216. Watch PA-3.
Ryan Puzzle.
I also went over the undecided list, and I see a number of possible NO votes there. Maybe half a dozen. Of course your GOP braintrust knows better than me.
However, Loretta Sanchez, one of the 17, is noted as possibly not voting. An absentee vote puts them into a tie. How is a tie broken in the House?
What does your braintrust say about:
Blair
Kaptur
Rush
Tanner
Davis
?
Remember that Stupak is claiming that he still has at least 6. Wouldn't that have to include either Kaptur or Dahlkemper?
If this thing passes today, we’re cooked. There will be no soft landing. It will have been done illegally; unconstitutionally. As such, the American people are no longer bound by their contract with Washington. This is America after all. America is and has never been a banana republic. In the America I know of nobody who can just get up there and declare themselves king. If this passes, the time has come to pick up our pitchforks and march; to put away our tools of trade; to idle our factories and businesses; to link up and lay our bodies down in the streets. Whereas strikes are generally associated with blue collar union workers, this shall be an upside down strike. Let the white collar professionals strike for a change. Businessmen are people too and have every right not to be demonized and robbed of their work. Government will never be able to fill their shoes. When government demands more than what is reasonable from the fruit of their labor, they are entitled to redress, just as any other oppressed group - to strike. No! They are obligated to make their grievance known.
The Marxist dialectic of splitting people apart along lines of rich and poor is wrong. We are all one people. And the last time I looked, opportunity is still available to all. This equation has multiple sides. Each is indispensable to the others. Individual income is a percentage determined by the value that you yourself are able to generate. To attempt to turn this formula on its head is madness. It will not work. It cannot work. What it will essentially do is drive everyone – regardless of talent - out into barren fields to pick fruit, a la Mao. And we all know how popular he is in the White House these days. Even China has abandoned his path. As Obama is not known to be terribly well acquainted with the facts, it is likely that he does not know the staggering numbers killed in China between 1949 and 1978. Even if he knows, he likely doesn’t care. Ideology- especially radical ideology - trumps everything.
http://peterkoelliker.blogspot.com/
I hope you won't be too let down if it doesn't pass, Peter!
Today, I lit a candle in a quiet room and prayed for the third time in my life. I recited the Lord's Prayer from memory, then bared my soul to a being whose existence I have roundly denied all my life. I said, "This is the third time in my life I've prayed. I forget what the first time was for. The second time, was that the woman I'm now married to would love me. You answered that one. Now, this is the third and last time. I realize you're not my personal genie but I want three wishes anyway. My wish is that this bill fails tomorrow. I ask this wish so that I can continue to make a good living to support my wife. Since you granted my second wish, you obviously care about her as much as I do, and I am afraid that if the bill passes tomorrow, I won't be able to take as good care of her anymore as I had promised. So please grant me this prayer and then I'll see you when I die and you can kick my butt all around Heaven for having always denied your existence." Then I recited the 63rd Psalm ("But those who seek my soul, to destroy it, shall pass into the lower parts of the Earth.") Then I said Amen and blew out the candle.
Pelosi is leaving everything out on the field for this. Well, so am I.
John, you will perhaps be encouraged to note that I show you more respect than I show even to the almighty. This is not by accident.
Late:
Went over the undecided list left on The Hill: Went through this list with source. We were tough on the details. Dahlkemper remains the No. Salena Zito writes late that if Dahlkemper votes Yes on the bills, without the Pro Life protection, then she is done in PA 3 has become the new Margolies-Mezhvinsky. The damage to the Democrats in Pennsylvania is widespread.
Undecided/Unclear (17)
Brian Baird (Wash.) (N) Retiring member who bucked party on Iraq war surge. Another target of Clyburn
Bruce Braley (Iowa) (Y) Expected to vote yes, but kcci.com reported Braley is concerned about Medicare cuts
Jim Cooper (Tenn.) * (Y) Has had up-and-down relationship with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.) * (Y) GOP target. Her yes vote could be key to passage. Strong backer of Stupak language
Lincoln Davis (Tenn.) * (N) The Hill on March 19 moved Davis from Likely No category to Undecided column. Voted no in November, but has been avoiding requests for comment
Bill Foster (Ill.) (Y) GOP target who voted no on climate change last year.
Paul Kanjorski (Pa.) * (Y) GOP target. Also voted against education reform bill that will move with healthcare reform in reconciliation
Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) * (Y) Voted with leadership first time around, but doesn't toe the party line. Wants Stupak language but that's not a deal breaker. Voted yes during Budget Committee markup. Likely to move to lean yes category soon
Ron Kind (Wis.) (Y) Represents competitive district. Voted against bill in committee
Ron Klein (Fla.) (Y) GOP target
Alan Mollohan (W.Va.) * (Y) In November, seat was considered safe. Now, he's in a tight race
Solomon Ortiz (Texas) * (Y) Was a late yes last time around. Rejected climate change last June
Earl Pomeroy (N.D.) * (Y) Voted against bill in committee, and for it on the House floor. Rejected climate change bill last year
Mike Quigley (Ill.) (Y) Late addition to this list. The Chicago Sun Times reported March 20 that Quigley said he will not vote for bill if a deal is make with Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) on abortion. Quigley, who replaced Rahm Emanuel in the House, said he talked to White House political adviser David Axelrod on March 19
Bobby Rush (Ill.) (Y) Surprise addition to this list. Said he was undecided on March 18. The Hill reported that Rush engaged in several discussions with leadership lawmakers after announcing his position. Concerned about bill's impact on hospitals in poor areas. Still, liberal congressman is a likely yes. Rush defeated Barack Obama in 2000 House primary
Loretta Sanchez (Calif.) (Y) Roll Call reported March 20 that Sanchez is not certain to make the vote. She missed all seven votes on March 20 and has said publicly she is not fond of the Senate measure. Was a late yes in November
Kurt Schrader (Ore.) (Y) Budget Committee member didn't vote during March 15 markup. In competitive reelection race.
John Tanner (Tenn.) * (N) Tanner as of March 20 still undecided. House deputy whip is not running for reelection, but he still will need to be convinced to get to yes. Voted no in committee and on floor last year
the sunday deadline is entirely artificial. if they don't have the votes then i expect them to keep grinding.
the easter break is somewhat more real in that there is a risk of erosion when congress goes home to mad grannies. however, at this point, given how far the leadership has shown itself willing to go, i rather expect them to keep pounding til the next congress is seated.
perhaps even then there will be a trick that someone somewhere used once before that can be adapted to keep the wicked witch of the west in power.
It was stated on Politico at one point that reconciliation had to be completed by April at the latest. It has to do with the fiscal year and changes to the budget, I believe. So the deadline isn't with the House, it's with the Senate.
I bet we get at least 2 no votes from the above list of 17.
Oh, Billy, Billy, Billy, Billy, Billy .........
By the way, that should be 2 no votes from the above list of 18. There are 18 people on that list. The Hill just caught the mistake about 5 minutes ago. I checked your list against The Hill's list and there are no differences except the count changed.
just now, no confirm:
W00T! RT @SuziLeVeaux: RT @RussertXM_NBC Stupak 6 are on board. 220 counted. #hcr looks to be coming in for a smooth landing
http://the-right-guy.blogspot.com/
We are F#$%ed.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
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Stupak still a 'no' vote on healthcare bill
By Bob Cusack - 03/21/10 01:45 PM ET
Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) is still a no vote, according to his spokeswoman.
In an email to The Hill, Stupak spokeswoman Michelle Begnoche stated, "There is not yet a deal and Congressman Stupak is still a NO vote right now."
At least a couple of news outlets reported Sunday afternoon that Stupak is now a yes vote, having reached a deal with Democratic leaders.
There is intensifying speculation that Democratic leaders will not have the votes unless they strike a deal with Stupak and other anti-abortion rights lawmakers.
Sorry 'bout posting all those headers. Text at bottom still "Muy Importante", however.
Also remember that the pro-abortion caucus will s*** little blue beans if Pelosi goes too far to appease the pro-lifers. She risks having a whole bunch of people who never even showed up on The Hill's list talking a walk. Oh, this could be good. Whatever happens today, the Democrats are going to be dead after today. DEAD. There will be a dead donkey in the room, John.
Can't wait for tonight's show, ought to be best ever with all this going on.
GOP Source:
Stupak a YES, ads of now.
Tanner and Lincoln Davis both NOs, as of now. Hill reports 39 No's.
Got my 2 of 18, assuming they actually vote no.
Stupak sold out. What a waste of time that whole thing was.
Still, there are other question marks. For example, will Obama's promised executive order push the pro-abortion caucus over to the NO column? They will never accept this compromise. Also, you have outliers like Sanchez and Rush.
It looks bad, but it still ain't over.
I got God on my side. He won't let this bill pass.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
This is a win-win situation for me! I either defeat health care reform, or prove that God doesn't exist! Pretty good day's work for a Sunday.
Sorry for the hemorrhagea of posts. One more for now; Since The Hill's NO list only had two of Stupak's dozen listed as "NOs" before this latest presser, it's only gone down to 37 as a result. So even with the Stupak's people gone we still only need 1! Just one brave man or woman to join and make us 38.
Our version of god is totally corrupted. Someone once said god does not meddle in the affairs of men. Amen. So it's up to us to row the damn boat, or hit the SOBs over the head with an oar.
I'll try anything.
Be at my house Wednesday night at 8. I'll supply the Macallan, you supply the Oar.
I'm more of a Mescal man myself. However, as long as the bottle does a decent job of holding gasoline and a wick, it doesn't really matter what was originally packed in it.
It's an expensive bottle. At $180, it's not cheap stuff. Hopefully it will be money well spent.