1 hmmm... so she is still dealing, just can't find that one last vote.

2 Are their lips moving?

Then they're lying!

All of today and much of yesterday has just been stage management.

3 I think that this goose is cooked - time to move on the next battle. Too bad that a victory here will only embolden the Dems to cram even more of this garbage down our throats. Goad times.

4 We'll know tomorrow morning at 11am (Stupak's conference) whether or not she has the votes.  And if she has to make a deal with Stupak (that she won't keep) it means that she doesn't have the votes right now as everyone is saying.

5 Bizarre.

6 So.....very.....tired....

7

"They just want a promise which they know is to be broken that they can point at and claim 'I tried -- but I was betrayed!'"

That applies to every single provision in the reconciliation bill.  None of it will ever see the light of day once the unmodified Senate bill is "deemed passed" by the House, because Obama will then be able to sign it and he and the Senate will be able to declare the subject closed.  Pelosi is perfectly happy with that prospect, and with whatever lies and subterfuge she has to undertake now in order to make it happen.

8

Fuck it! Time to break some windows! (figuratively speaking of course)

9 It's a trap!

10 They're always being "tricked".  You'd think people would wise up and stop electing such simpletons to office.

11 Bitches were doing the ho stroll through Pelosi's office all week. This ain't news. Eric Cantor says they’re bluffing and that they’re still seven votes down. Some Democrats are ducking the president’s calls because they are sick of hearing how “voting no would be the end of him…..blah blah blah.” Cao is still saying he's a NO. Heath Schuler ust announced he will vote NO.

12 Who would want to be the deciding vote in a risky scheme that might short-circuit their political career? A true believer, sure, but they are probably all on board already.

So finding a fence-sitter to be that decisive vote (and lightning rod) will not be easy. Someone might need a massive bribe. Like a cabinet position or something. And a major shield to hide behind. Nancy won't care if she's called a liar - especially when she knows the accuser doesn't really mean it.

13 Any hope of winning this in the the State houses of legislator?   I don't think those peeps are used to dealing with lots of pissed off voters.

14 New: South Carolina and Florida to also sue if this atrocity passes.

15
Pelosi's eyes must be getting tired from all the winking she has to do.

Yeah, no funding for abortion...wink wink.

16 Notice these yeses are all timed around 5 on Friday. They're on House arrest, too. Rush said it's possible some just want Pelosi out of their faces till Sunday. It's certainly plausible.

17 Who would want to be the deciding vote in a risky scheme that might short-circuit their political career?

Come on.  There are going to be a ton of health care oversight jobs to hand out.  Remember Pelosi's 400k jobs?

There is no downside.  Not short-term, not long-term.

18 The fact that we're tired is by design. There's a reason that Obama/Pelosi/Reid have been throwing a new legislative idea at us almost every week for the past year. And that's to wear use down and sap our resolve. Anyone with any doubt that Obama isn't doing this purpose needs to go for a psych eval.

19

Transparency and the most Ethical Congress.

Yes, so was the 3rd Reich.

20

Even the Catholic Nuns are walking away from Stupak.

Yeah, THE FRIGGIN' PENGUINS see baby killing as no big thang.

And I quote http://tiny.cc/n6NGs :

"Sister Simone Campbell says she and other nuns who signed the letter support the legislation because their analysis "indicates that there are adequate protections that maintain the status quo so that there is no federal funding of abortion."
 
The letter from the leaders says "despite false claims to the contrary, the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions." The letter adds that the legislation will help support pregnant women and says: "this is the real pro-life stance."
 
According to Campbell, the leaders' response is a "response to the gospel...not a response to what the bishops have said or what anybody else has said."
 
"Jesus, over and over in the Christian scriptures, responded to people who were in need of healing," she says. "That's what we're trying to do is follow that example." "

Jesus wants this bill passed!

 

21 Like a cabinet position or something.

Obama is out of office in 2013. Besides, the bribe situation is looking like the candy bowl late in the trick-or-treating after the fat kids have rolled through.

22

Damn.  These people aren't even good at being corrupt.  Even in third world countries they have the good sense to hide the corruption.  These arrogant elitists are flaunting it!

23 Stupak & Co. will sell out and then lie they were jedi mind tricked over an abortion promise from the abortion queen. I have less regard for Stupak and his rabble than Nancy- at least she says she's coming to kill you.

24

Silver Lining if Obamacare passes: Lindsay Grahmesty says if House votes for O-care this weekend. amnesty is dead in the Senate. 

 

 

25 For being so religious, San Fran Nan is closer to being the spawn of the very Devil himself. Always knew she was evil, but she's no longer concealing it.

26

"Pro-choice female Dems are shuttling in and out of Pelosi's office and they won't say why."

The "L" word.

27 15 Pelosi's eyes must be getting tired from all the winking she has to do.

Perhaps all Pelosi's Botox injections made her skin mutate, so she doesn't need a lot of effort to wink.

This "will it be yes or no" crap is driving me insane.  That's the purpose, I guess.  One good thing about having a cold this weekend is that if this garbage passes, I'll have lots of phlegm to use to accentuate my displeasure.

28

"Government is not reason; it is not eloquence. It is force. And force, like fire, is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."  ;">- George Washington

29 Jim in San Diego--those nuns aren't representative of nuns at large.

30 Ace Game over. They have the votes. With or without Stupak. You are correct - the energy now is being used to craft some form of plausible deniability - as implausible as that sounds. Obama-Reid-Pelosi own this. Hold on to your wallets and hope the marginal tax rates combined don't top 70%. Sigh.

31

Rush said it's possible some just want Pelosi out of their faces till Sunday. It's certainly plausible.

I will personally donate $1000 to the campaign of any Dem who manages to kill this bill by lying about their yes vote.

32 @25
Are you shitting me??

33
Perhaps all Pelosi's Botox injections made her skin mutate, so she doesn't need a lot of effort to wink.

I think she's like a lizard and has an inner-eyelid. You know, like an alligator.

34 Lindsay Grahmesty says if House votes for O-care this weekend. amnesty is dead in the Senate.

Posted by: Jon at March 19, 2010 06:41 PM (3x5A6)

You know.... I mean... if we have learned anything in the last couple of days wouldn't it be that politicians are maybe not the most honorable fellows in the whole world?

Could it be that Lindsay is not as virtuous as he claims?

35
reptile?

lizard?

fuck it

36 I'm posting this in every thread until the eeyores calm the fuck down:

Some of you eeyores really need to stfu for a second and chill out. Even if we lose this vote the dems are dead men walking come November. The GENERAL public disapproves of this plan. Now switch general public to ACTUAL voters in swing districts and this piece of shit is underwater 10 to 30 points in these districts based on polling done. So even if dems get this magical unicorn bump they're praying for, it will A) be small and B) not nearly enough to save these districts. Many are now already dead. Even those that voted no are mostly dead too now - due to the same cascade effect as happened to dems who voted against Clinton in 94.

The relationship between blue dogs and their conservative districts is effectively dead now too. They'll never be trusted again when push comes to bribe. Many of these districts are very red and will NEVER flip back again according to Michael Barone, who is the foremost expert on these districts.  These are permanent flips. 

Now throw in the census - red states are picking up lots of seats (4 in Texas alone) while blue states will be losing seats. Congress will get much more conservative on this basis alone.

And finally, the ultimate eeyore complaint is that we can never touch this. It's based on some degree of truth because of the history of entitlements. Well, guess what? Historically we haven't had trillion and a half dollar deducts ( and growing after this passes) either. The progs can promise golden unicorns and free skittles to their hearts content but if the money isn't there it isn't there. That's reality. "socialism works until you run out of other peoples money" as Thatcher once said.  The bill doesn't need to be "repealed".  It repeals itself.  You just don't fund it.  Go look up Tennessee's version of Obamacare - it bankrupted ITSELF and no longer exists.  Nobody had to repeal anything.  The DEMOCRATIC Governor just recognized reality and let it wither away due to lack of money. 

This April, maximize all your tax deductions - make sure you get every last cent you are owed. It's awfully hard to build progressive utopia without the consent of the governed.

So stop acting like fucking eeyores. Don't get angry. Don't get upset.

Get even. See you in November. We have some House cleaning to do. Let's get to work.

I'll see you in November.

37

Silver Lining if Obamacare passes: Lindsay Grahmesty says if House votes for O-care this weekend. amnesty is dead in the Senate. 

But, but, but won't the Hispanic caucus vote no then?

Yeah, I know.

38 Besides, the bribe situation is looking like the candy bowl late in the trick-or-treating after the fat kids have rolled through.

There are a few hundred billion bailout/stimulus dollars still waiting to get sent where bribe-needers say they get sent. They'll go soon.

39 Despite the partial congruence, the areas of difference loom large.
Christians cannot concur with the fundamental assertion that fallen
human nature is basically good nor with the belief that it is
virtually perfectible by social engineering. Many Christians believe
that socialists fundamentally misread human nature. In its fallen
state it is not necessarily other-oriented or primarily concerned
about the common good of the community.

Christians also reject any implication that the working class is
morally better than other groups. Many Christians also assert that the
socialist prescription for societal improvement stifles individual
initiative and is therefore doomed to fail.

Christians do not locate the source of evil in economic exploitation
but in human rejection of God. They insist that fallen human nature
causes economic exploitation, not that economic exploitation causes
evil in human nature. Nor do Christians accept as correct the notion
that the proper and central study of human nature should focus on
economics.

While Christians acknowledge the existence of economic classes, they
do not accept the centrality of class structure nor the inevitability
of class conflict. Indeed, Christians and others point out that for
most people the idea of economic class does not take precedence in
self-identification. They note that in the great wars of the 20th
century, as in earlier times, the masses of people placed
identification with their country far above membership in supposed
transnational classes. For example, socialists in France and Great
Britain fought socialists in Germany.

Additionally, Christians reject the marginalization of the individual
and individual responsibility, the widespread policy discrimination in
favour of the working class, the great faith in big government and the
strong emphasis on central planning and government regulation.
Justification of virtually all strikes constitutes another problem.

Perhaps the greatest difference between typical socialist assertions,
at least in our time, and Christian teaching is the widespread
socialist rejection of the concept of soul, of the supernatural realm
and of the need for human salvation rooted in God. Socialists seem to
assume that all reality is material.

In short, while we can identify some important areas of ethical
commonality, Christianity and socialism explain evil differently,
postulate different solutions to human depravity and, in the main,
have different priorities and ideals.

John Redekop teaches political science at Trinity Western University
and is an Abbotsford city councillor.

If God wanted our lives to be planned for us from cradle to grave, He would have made it that way to begin with. We ate the forbidden fruit, even though God told us not to. Freedom, even when we are wrong, has always been a token of God's love for his children.

40 "Pro-choice female Dems are shuttling in and out of Pelosi's office and they won't say why."

Kissing her ring (and ass) and saying "yes, Don Pelosi".

41

Bi-partisanship!!  Hope!!!!  Change!!!   I'm a moderate!!!

 

42

They are not stupid morons who are actually fooled by such a charade.

They think you are.

43

this may be a bad time and all, but since i am a democrat does this mean i not only get free shit from the government but your shit too?  WOOHOO!!

bacon and beer to my left and stompy boots to my right please

come on, chop chop

44 25
Congresscritters calling Capitol Police complaining of angry voters in the streets.

Posted by: sickinmass at March 19, 2010 06:41 PM (1rflU)

It's. Just. The. Fucking. Beginning!

P.S. SiM - pet your pooches for me

45

"Even the Catholic Nuns are walking away from Stupak."

Not gonna really go into details, but safe to say abortion has saved many an errant nun's career, IYKWIMAITYD. Those are probably the ones supporting this.

46 30 Jim in San Diego--those nuns aren't representative of nuns at large.

Posted by: HeatherRadish at March 19, 2010 06:42 PM (OkT2m)

I hope you are right Heather. Sister Simone Campbell was on TV less than an hour ago either claiming or trying to make the impression she was speaking on behalf of the church.

Heck, whom can you trust on this one?

47 oh, a sammich would be nice too

48 Hey - I'm thinking our employment prospects are looking up!  To the machines, my brothers and sisters!  Produce like the wind!

49 What is the likelihood that the Slaughter maneuver can be challenged (successfully) based on constitutional issues? 

I've been out of the loop for a week while my liberal 70-something-year-old godmother visited from Massachusetts.  Maybe that was a blessing as the news all seems to be bad now.

She, btw, voted for Obama but is hoping he'll be out in one term.  She's a pro-abortion, liberal academic who never voted for Reagan or Bush, but did vote for Nixon (against HHH) and recently voted for Scott Brown. 

50 I keep saying, no pro-choice person should be in favor of this bill. It will tie health care to political whims - it will block your access to insurance coverage you have now - and politicalwhims won't always be rational or related to what's good or bad or risky to the health of any woman.

51 Why does it always come down to abortion? When are the women dems gonna realize that the dems hold them hostage every single time. So sick of it. They did the same thing in the general - better vote for Obama or the evil repubs will take away Roe v. Wade. I hate them.

52 FoxNews by there count, citing Kosmas as the vote to potentially give them enough. Sickening

53 No, honey, really- it won't hurt at all.  You'll love getting pounded in the squeakhole if only you give it a chance.  I promise.

54 There/their

55

46  Heck, whom can you trust on this one?

the college of cardinals and the pope

they make the policy of the RCC, everyone else is just a sham

56

Silver Lining if Obamacare passes: Lindsay Grahmesty says if House votes for O-care this weekend. amnesty is dead in the Senate. 

 

Won't need amnesty- already will have the health care, the welfare, the food stamps, no taxes, the sanctuary cities...

 

Shit, I'm heading south and crossing back illegally, sounds pretty good! 

57 Some Democrats are ducking the president’s calls because they are sick of hearing how “voting no would be the end of him…..blah blah blah.”

Posted by: Tattoo De Plane at March 19, 2010 06:36 PM (mHQ7T)

Yet this is PRECISELY the reason that Obama, Pelosi and Reid will never give up.  They know that, while winning on ObamaCare won't necessarily lead to a Golden Age where they can pass everything they want, LOSING on ObamaCare will lead to the Pits of Despair in which they will have no power to accomplish anything.

58
"But I was tricked!"

Fuck you,  you have no discernment.  Your judgment is shit.  You are a fool.

59 44

this may be a bad time and all, but since i am a democrat does this mean i not only get free shit from the government but your shit too?  WOOHOO!!

bacon and beer to my left and stompy boots to my right please

come on, chop chop

Posted by: navycopjoe at March 19, 2010 06:50 PM (gg4j2)

*thumbing through the long democrat pitchfork list*

Ok everyone, see this "navycopjoe" guy?

Leave him alone he's one of the good guys.

60

They think we're stupid.  I say we call their bluff.  To everyone who is working to let the Congress know how the American public feels about this piece of carp, I thank you.

 

It sucks and we must dispose of it and all those who made it possible as soon as possible.

 

And...Happy Friday, y'all.  Cheers!

61

Posted by: Tattoo De Plane at March 19, 2010 06:46 PM (mHQ7T)

Beautifully put.

62 48 oh, a sammich would be nice too

I'll give you a sammich laden with my germs, how's that, ncj? 

grrr...wrong time to get sick (or do I feel bad because I'm missing something?)

I gtg.  Anyway, don't let the bastards get all you too down.  This isn't the end of everything..yet, *weak laugh*.

63 Another reason to be optimistic:  Think of all the people who said that Jimmy Carter made them into a conservative. Will history repeat...?

64 Now matter which way the vote goes Sunday, Obama becomes a lame duck President

65 I'm reading and I'm drinking. Can't contribute much else. Perhaps we should think about blogging strategies like the ones that aided Scott Brown? They can focus on Reps that are involved, and how they can be thwarted in November. The second line of defense might be to support those Senators that are in a position to prevent the bribes from kicking in.

66

From CNN

End run?: Democrats have floated the idea of voting on a resolution that would simply “deem” the bill passed, to allow unhappy House members to avoid a direct vote on the Senate bill. The House then would proceed to a separate vote on the more popular changes to the Senate bill.

Boehner said Thursday that Democrats have tried “every kind of scheme known to man to try to get it through the Congress without a vote.”

The minority party introduced a resolution that would force an up-or-down vote on the Senate bill and would call for at least an hour of debate before the vote.

Democrats avoided an effort to bring it to the floor with a procedural vote to move on to other business

67 John Redekop teaches political science at Trinity Western University
and is an Abbotsford city councillor.

John Redekop is a dipshit who presumes much when he claims to speak for "Christians".

68

63  at least you got to finish gow3

bioshock2 is still kicking my ass

69 Pelosi doesn't have the authority to offer anything related to the Senate, and Reid was headed to Florida before he changed his plans and decided to stay in Washington this weekend.  He's been awfully quiet lately.  For someone who's about to spearhead the reconciliation process, he's had no comment on any of this.  Pucker up, House Dims.  It's always fun to kiss while you're getting f*cked.

70 64 - Obama made my entire family switch over to Ind. after three generations of being dem - so I would say the chances of many many more crossing over are good.

71

this may be a bad time and all, but since i am a democrat does this mean i not only get free shit from the government but your shit too?  WOOHOO!!

bacon and beer to my left and stompy boots to my right please

come on, chop chop

Posted by: navycopjoe at March 19, 2010 06:50 PM (gg4j2)

Don't leave the College Republicans in charge of tsunamis.

72 Oh for fuck sake with these idiots!  Stupek and his morons surely must know that these assholes can vote abortion back into the bill 2 weeks, 28 days, or a month and a half from now.  This political theatre isn't even interesting.  Vote already so we know for sure who the real traitors are.  ( I mean yeah we know already, but lets make it official)

73 Jim in SD read this:

http://tiny.cc/FGp1m

74 Third shift being called up!  We're falling behind!

75

Now matter which way the vote goes Sunday

i just hope the republicans in january remember this shit and use it to put an end to every single liberal law on the book and push every conservative policy to take its place

oh and to make a law to crush the unions

and nuke detriot

and pass a law to make the cubs win the world series

76 56

46  Heck, whom can you trust on this one?

the college of cardinals and the pope

they make the policy of the RCC, everyone else is just a sham

Posted by: navycopjoe at March 19, 2010 06:53 PM (gg4j2)

Yeah, I'm pretty sure if The Pope took a stand on this thing we all would have heard about it.

Thanks!

77

 

Brick Thrown Through Window in Slaughter's Falls Office

And so it begins.

78 Is it time to start thinking about impeachment?

79 "BIDEN:  Well, I'm telling them two things.  One is that, look, this is going to be something when the American people realize -- once it's passed -- that, A, it does take care of preexisting conditions; B, you're insurance rates aren't going to skyrocket; C, the insurance companies aren't going to be running the show like they were before; D, you're going to be in a position where you can keep your insurance that you have.  That once the American public realizes that, you're going to get a reward for this.  They're going to be rewarded.  But right now, though, all of the effort that's been placed near the side, the tens of millions of dollars spent by the insurance industry to misrepresent what this bill, if it doesn't pass, then it's like, well, Gus, guess what, we've saved you from death panels.  Guess what we -- so the benefit for the American people is also a political benefit.  They're going to see what we've been saying is true."

via drudge:  "BIDEN: 'We're going to control the insurance companies'..."

80 74 Jim in SD read this:

http://tiny.cc/FGp1m

Posted by: Guy Fawkes at March 19, 2010 07:00 PM (ympF

Reading it right now. Thank you.

81 What are we, chopped liver?

82 I am beginning to think that Nancy and Joe are getting their orders from Rome.

83 The source of my comment above came from a college who is there in  DC.
She also said the congresscritters are removing their 'pins'.

Posted by: sickinmass at March 19, 2010 07:00 PM (1rflU)

They pulled their pins?  Oh, no!  Now they're armed and primed to detonate!

DUCK!!!

84 79

 

Brick Thrown Through Window in Slaughter's Falls Office

And so it begins.

Posted by: Fish at March 19, 2010 07:01 PM (M5t+h)

Just another brick in the wall...

85

Did everyone else hear just how stupid Obama is when he said about the House vote..."They can vote with their constituents, or they can vote with Speaker Pelosi."

 

I bet he didn't even know how stupid he sounded when he said it.  Does the MSM just not get it?  Or are they deliberately uninformed?

86

and pass a law to make the cubs win the world series

Posted by: navycopjoe

'Cause like the shenanigans with this health bill monstrosity, that's the only way it'll happen.

87

If Nancy had the votes now, she'd say "fuck the 72 hour rule" and gather everyone in chambers to vote.  After all, look how much respect they have for house rules now.

88

The Constitution is being ignored or twisted.
Extreme threats demand extreme responses!

 

That's how I'm starting to feel.  If they have no respect for my life and freedom, why should I respect theirs.

89

Does the MSM just not get it?  Or are they deliberately uninformed?

No. They do.

But they think you don't.

90 Brick Thrown Through Window in Slaughter's Falls Office

And so it begins.

Posted by: Fish at March 19, 2010 07:01 PM (M5t+h)

So is this the Brick Heard Round the World?

91 I hate my government.

92

Stock up.  I sense an even higher demand on the horizon...

ammo

http://tinyurl.com/ybtxcux

mags

http://tinyurl.com/dgfq2d

 

93 Hmmm. Interesting.

I wonder if the GOP will be smart enough to vote it down this time.

94 It is better to concentrate on sending another round of messages to all the Dems who said they could potentially vote no, or just the ones that are currently wavering?

95 http://tinyurl.com/y8sz2ms It was always over once the CBO lie came out. It gave the socialists cover. To me, the Dems always were on the edge of socialism, but would never embrace it. Now they finally have. Bush and Hastert screwed up. They spent way too much money. This was never about the war. That gave them a wedge. Welcome to socialism. Somewhere Ben Franklin is rolling over in his grave.

96

 

Brick Thrown Through Window in Slaughter's Falls Office

And so it begins.

Wish I could say that saddened me.

97 Breaking update I sent to Ace: Stupak says there is no agreement... yet.

Stupak just told me the convo with Pelosi was about an abortion-related “proposal that’s out there,” that he wants to “see it in writing” before he signs off on it

Stupak told me Dem leaders “don’t have the votes, or they wouldn’t be talking to me.” He holds a presser on Sat at 11am and “hopes” he’ll have an agreement to announce. Leaving the Capitol, he told me “there’s a proposal out there but nothing yet and we want to see it in writing and massage it,” which is what he told the Speaker during the 10 min pow wow

Rep. Becerra confirms that there are “animated discussions” going on over the abortion language with both sides.

"We're not happy," says pro-choice Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) after meeting in Pelosi's office about abortion and #hcr.

98 #56, the refusal of the Pope and the College of Cardinals to discipline his flock by a formal excommunication of pro-abortion Catholic politicians like Biden, Pelosi, and Kerry, and his tolerance for left-wing liberation theology bullshit in the Holy Mother Church, is the reason I have never converted. I'm a Catholic sympathizer, but I'm not chaining myself to that wagon until they get the rest of the team on board.

#92, exactly. Read up on Julius Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon and his march on Rome during their civil war. I fear war will be our judge too. Oh, well, the Republic had a pretty good run.

99 We need to do everything in our power to stop this bill; however, enough with the doom and gloom "if it passes" bullshit.

I don't buy the conservative cliche that "once they pass it, it'll be impossible to repeal like SocialSecurityMedicareNewDeal."

No offense, but bullshit.  Centralized government liberalism, like other political systems is not forever.  It is a tiny historical blip.  What I'm seeing in my crystal ball is the devolution of power to the states following a statism-induced economic collapse.

These dipshits are messing with primal forces waaaaaaay beyond their comprehension.  You cannot impose unpopular policies in this day and age.
These Chicago provincials think all of America is like Chicago.  They are wrong and they will destroy their party and possibly their movement in years to come.  Obama has so angered the average American that people, talented people who  have never delved into politics before are going to commit years of their lives to fighting this crap. 

Let's not give these thugs more credit than they deserve.  They are way above their heads.  Their strategic goals are unrealistic.  Their tactics are desperate.  They fundamentally do not understand US history as they've taken the independent streak in the American spirit head on. 

The future will leave them in the dust. 

100

@8: "Fuck it! Time to break some windows! (figuratively speaking of course)"

So, we're sticking with the battle plan of strongly worded letters, come Hell or high water?

101 I don't buy the conservative cliche that "once they pass it, it'll be impossible to repeal like SocialSecurityMedicareNewDeal."

Posted by: JB at March 19, 2010 08:00 PM (OYq6R)

It ain't gonna happen with the GOP leading the charge.

102

@79: - regarding the brick

http://tinyurl.com/yfxkj9b

Someone's actually calling for it.....

103 83 We have a winner!