Mar

4

Enough Already, It’s Time To Listen!

Category: Opinions, Our Nation, Politics | Comments Off | 1,000 words | Print

As you know, President Obama spoke to the American people on Wednesday. He spoke about health care. Again. During his speech he spoke about some changes in the current health care bill. You remember the current health care bill don’t you? Yeah, that’s right, it’s the one that 2/3 of the American people don’t want!

I think this was speech number 500 or something. Do I really need to see the President of the United States every day on my television? Do I need to hear his voice every day on the radio? If Barack Obama was as smart as he wants us all to think he is, he would shut up already, and he would do it now.

Let’s look at some of the things he had to say, shall we?

  1. He said, “The bottom line is: our proposal is paid for.”

    Don’t be so sure about that. The CBO (the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office) has said that it lacks sufficient details to evaluate the President’s plan. There’s no way for him to honestly claim that this “new” proposal is paid for.

  2. He said, “Now, it’s true that all of this will cost money – about $100 billion per year.”

    Over the course of 10 years, that $100 billion per year will add up to $1 trillion in costs. Costs he just claimed were “paid for”. If that cost is paid for, that means your taxes are going up and you haven’t even started paying for the new health care you’re going to be receiving yet!

  3. He said, “Finally, my proposal would bring down the cost of health care…”

    Wait. How can you bring down the cost of health care, when you’re paying $1 trillion for it before you even know what the actual costs are going be? Remember, he said it would cost $100 billion per year and the CBO hasn’t been able to verify anything about the proposal!

    Many non-partisan experts, within the CBO and the Obama Administration itself have said the Senate bill will raise premium costs for families on the individual market by an average $2,100 and raise national health spending overall. So which part of those facts show his proposal “brings down the cost of health care”?

  4. He said, “I don’t believe we should give government bureaucrats … more control over health care in America.”

    His “new” proposal creates more than 160 new boards, commissions and programs. Billions and billions (probably $100 billion) in wasteful government bureaucracy firmly planted between you and available health care.

It’s no secret that I disapprove of President Obama, but just once I would like to believe something, anything, that comes out of his mouth once he starts to make a statement. Heck, even when he starts with the words “Good Afternoon”, it usually isn’t. Have you seen the economy lately?

If his speech was meant to “rally the American people” he needs to fire his speech writers and spokespeople, immediately. All he has done is rehash all of the same aspects of a health care bill that the American people have already said they don’t want. During the presidential campaign, he made a comment about “lipstick on a pig”. If this isn’t the biggest pig to be painting lipstick on, I don’t know what is.

In addition to the cosmetic surgery he performed on the horrible health care bill, President Obama has made it clear he intends to have it pushed through Congress using reconciliation which requires a simple majority in both the House and the Senate.

By doing so, every member of the Senate and every member of the House up for re-election, who vote to pass the bill this way, will face intense scrutiny from the voters in November. My bet is less than 25 percent of them will keep their jobs. That is, if the bill ever makes it way back to the House floor at all. Steny Hoyer says they don’t even have a bill yet.

Democratic leaders are contending with a host of undecided lawmakers who want to see the fine print before making a decision. Hoyer said final language and a cost estimate should come back from the Congressional Budget Office by the end of next week.

“At this point in time we don’t have a bill,” Hoyer said. “It’s a little difficult to count votes if you don’t have a bill.”

Once again, our Congressional leaders are pimping a bill no one has seen yet. It hasn’t even been written, yet the President has spoken to the American people encouraging them to support whatever it is that they may write in the future.

The President wants Congress to act before he leaves on his trip to Asia on March 18th. Both Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer say it’s “doable”. I don’t think so, neither does Howard Dean.

Passing the healthcare proposals before Congress will “hang out to dry” every Democratic incumbent running for reelection this fall, Howard Dean said Thursday.

Dean, a physician by training who’s a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), said that Democrats in Congress — and President Barack Obama — would do themselves more harm than good by passing the current healthcare bill.

How long can the Democrats ignore the will of the American people even when their own party members begin speaking out against the bill? It won’t be much longer, I can guarantee you that.

It’s time to start over. Toss out the current bill, sit down at the table to discuss the real issues, and put together a real health care proposal that makes sense.

If the Democrats don’t see this is the best way to move forward on health care, it’s time to vote them all out of office.

It’s time to get leaders in those seats who know how to listen to the American people.

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Mar

2

Another Day, Another Snow Job

Category: Life, Opinions, Politics | Comments Off | 585 words | Print

Yesterday some weather forecasters said we’d get snow while others said we wouldn’t. Of those calling for snow, one was correct. We got exactly as much as he said we would, and that’s why I pay attention to Glen Burns at WSB-TV. After 13 years of watching (and listening to) him, he’s right more often than anyone else.

 

I took the video fairly early in the day. We ended up with about 3 inches total here at our house, but at one point it was melting as quick as it was falling.

It was pretty to watch, but it was a heavy, wet snow and the kids didn’t find much interest in it. Amazing really, because we rarely get snow, so you would think they would want to be out there all day.

With all the snow falling outside, I couldn’t help but wonder if hell had frozen over. After reading the news today, I’m still not sure.

House Ways and Means Committee Charlie Rangel was on the verge of losing his gavel Tuesday night as a trickle of Democratic defections turned into a flood.

It wasn’t clear how Rangel would go – voluntarily, by force, temporarily or permanently – but the tide had clearly turned against him by the time he walked into a closed-door meeting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s staff Tuesday night.

“The dam broke today,” said a senior Democratic aide.

Charlie Rangel has been in the House of Representatives for 39 years. House members are elected every two years. That’s one election and 17 re-elections so far for those of you keeping track. By now, Mr. Rangel is pretty settled into his job as a career politician, but it looks like his days are finally numbered.

Sure, it’s only a leadership role, but a very influential one at that, so if hell is freezing over, I’m hoping his days as a Congressman could be coming to an end as well.

Another interesting development today was the sudden “switch” by Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY).

For days now he has blocked a bill extending unemployment benefits, highway funding, and other government programs because the bill was unfunded.

Tonight, however, he switched his position because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) promised him a vote on his amendment forcing the $10 billion bill to be offset by closing a tax loophole, as well as a chance to offer amendments on the next Senate jobs bill which will cost $150 billion.

Just moments after he agreed to Scary Harry’s terms, the extension bill passed 78 – 19 and his amendment failed with only 43 Senators voting for it.

So what did Bunning gain out of this? Nothing. Nothing at all. He folded under the pressure when he should have stood his ground. How much longer can we write checks with nothing to pay them with? Here’s Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) speaking on the Senate floor today before Sen. Bunning caved.

 

The one bright side was seeing which 19 GOP members voted against the measure. Senators Alexander, Barrasso, Bennett (UT), Bunning, Burr, Coburn, Corker, Cornyn, Crapo, DeMint, Ensign, Enzi, Gregg, Hatch, Johanns, McConnell, Risch, Sessions, and Thune all voted against a bill that will cost $10 billion with no money allocated to pay for it.

Even though he voted against the bill itself, by dropping his opposition to the bill Jim Bunning helped increase our national debt by $10 billion in just a matter of minutes. Thanks, Jim!

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Jan

26

Truths, Tampering, Tark, & Teleprompters

Category: Opinions, Our Nation | 1 Comment | 540 words | Print

I couldn’t believe the number of comments you all left about that 2012 presidential poll. [COUGH] Your insight and your guesses stunned me. [COUGH] Now you’ll never know who my choice was.

Thought #1

With that said, and on a different note, I was really hoping Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) was going to challenge Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) for his seat in the U.S. Senate. Sadly, Pence announced today that he will not be challenging Bayh in the upcoming election.

 

Mike Pence is one of the true leaders on Capitol Hill. If we get more people like him running in 2010, only good can come of it.

Thought #2

If you missed hearing what Charles Krauthammer had to say about President Obama’s “one-term President” comment, you may want to listen to it.

 

Thought #3

I heard James O’Keefe got arrested today for attempting to tamper with Sen. Mary Landrieu’s (D-LA) phone.

If you didn’t know, O’Keefe was the filmmaker responsible for the undercover ACORN videos.

He’s a moron. It appears that he and his cohorts were presenting themselves as telephone repairmen, and they got busted. Good. If he was breaking the law, he deserves everything he gets.

Thought #4

This evening I am going to make my first political endorsement for the 2010 elections. I usually wait a bit longer before I throw my support behind candidates in any race, but I am so sure about this endorsement there is no need to wait.

I usually don’t endorse candidates running in another state but I am endorsing Danny Tarkanian for U.S. Senate in the state of Nevada.

I attended UNLV in 1983 and 1984. At the time, Tarkanian was the star basketball player for the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels. He is running for the Republican nomination against Sue Lowden, who is a former news anchor and a state senator.

You’ve heard me rant about Harry Reid. I have been quite vocal about my opposition to Mr. Reid since I was 10 years old. My opinion of Sue Lowden is not much better than that of Harry Reid. While I don’t have any personal anecdotes about knocking over her campaign signs, I am adamantly opposed to her winning the Republican nomination. She wants to tap some public retirement funds to pay for God knows what, and she took a No Tax Pledge and then voted to impose a $100 per year, per job tax as well as additional taxes and fees on everything from limited liability corporations to water distribution. Sue Lowden would be as bad for Nevada, my home state, as Scary Harry Reid.

I support Danny Tarkanian’s position on the issues, and he is consistently beating Harry Reid in every poll taken. Two very good reasons to support him in the 2010 election.

Thought #5

I’ve got to end the evening with this.

 

When the President of the United States meets with a dozen people, does he really need to stand at a podium with the Presidential Seal, and does he really need to use the teleprompter?

I’m beginning to wonder if President Obama has a Linus van Pelt syndrome. It’s not quite a security blanket but that teleprompter could be filling the same void.

Jan

20

Slamming Into A Brick Wall

Category: Opinions, Our Nation | Comments Off | 313 words | Print

I’m still working hot and heavy on a project so here’s another short post tonight.

It seems that the Scott Brown win in Massachusetts special election to fill the people’s seat (formerly known as Ted Kennedy’s seat) has had a ripple effect in reality, or the Obama administrations perception of reality anyway.

Erroll Southers has officially withdrawn his nomination to run the Transportation Security Administration. Funny isn’t it? It was obvious from the beginning that Southers was not a viable candidate for the position because of his natural aversion to answering simple yes or no questions and his expertise in violating the privacy of everyday citizens. Yet, he stuck it out since September and was prepared to go the distance until it was painfully clear that the Democrats no longer had a filibuster proof majority.

President Barack Obama’s choice to lead the Transportation Security Administration withdrew his name Wednesday, a setback for an administration still trying to explain how a man could attempt to blow up a commercial airliner on Christmas Day.

Erroll Southers said he was pulling out because his nomination had become a lightning rod for those with a political agenda. Obama had tapped Southers, a top official with the Los Angeles Airport Police Department, to lead the TSA in September but his confirmation has been blocked by Republican Sen. Jim DeMint, who says he was worried that Southers would allow TSA employees to have collective bargaining rights.

I disagree that his nomination had become a lightning rod for those with a political agenda. His nomination had become a lightning rod for anyone who valued truth, justice, and privacy. He will never see it that way, but that’s okay. I’ve grown accustomed to the fact that many people associated with our current President couldn’t tell you the definition of truth and ethics if you gave them a dictionary.

Jan

19

A Fresh Face And A Fresh Start

Category: Our Nation | Comments Off | 636 words | Print

What an unexpected night this turned out to be.

Two weeks ago it was unthinkable that Republican Scott Brown would win the special election in Massachusetts, yet tonight, he made history when he proved he could (and did) win it.

The people of Massachusetts spoke tonight and made it evidently clear where they stand on the issues. They also made it clear where they expect their senators and representatives to stand as well.

Many people believe this election was decided because of the health care reform issue, and that may very well be the case. Scott Brown’s win will be the final nail in the coffin for the current health care reform bill, and Democrats know it. If you don’t believe me, just listen to what they have to say now.

Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) now says,

It is vital that we restore the respect of the American people in our system of government and in our leaders. To that end, I believe it would only be fair and prudent that we suspend further votes on health care legislation until Senator-elect Brown is seated.

Sen. Webb made it clear that pushing the bill through with a vote before Brown is seated would appear “unfair”. Where was his concern about appearances each time they were pushing the bill through before today? Why wasn’t fairness a concern when they had a filibuster proof majority of 60 votes? Were they blinded with power?

In light of Scott’s victory, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) says,

If there isn’t any recognition that we got the message and we are trying to recalibrate and do things differently, we are not only going to risk looking ignorant but arrogant.

I take it Rep. Weiner has no idea that he and other Democrats looked ignorant because they were not listening to the American people. I take it he also doesn’t realize they looked arrogant because they were pushing votes on the health care bill before they knew what was contained within it. It’s a shame that it took the loss of “Ted Kennedy’s seat” (as they call it) before they started worrying about appearances.

Evan Bayh (D-IN) adds,

They just don’t believe the answers we are currently proposing are solving their problems. That’s something that has to be corrected.

I don’t believe, for a moment, that any of these Democrats just realized all of this. They knew they had the super majority and they thought they could ram this health care bill down our throats.

Tonight, the people of Massachusetts saved the rest of us from the health care bill fiasco, but Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is still convinced they can pass the health care bill.

We will get the job done. I am confident of that. I have always been confident of that

Of course, she’s a little slow on the uptake because we all know the Botox has numbed her senses. Reality will dawn on her before the sun rises and she’ll be making another appointment to erase those worry wrinkles too.

All it will take is one vote to kill the bill. I find it highly ironic that the one vote will come from the man sitting in the seat that used to be filled by the ‘Lion of the Senate’, the man who’s life cause was universal health care, Ted Kennedy.

Democrats far and wide know the health care debate must start over. Even the staunchest of supporters of this bill know it’s time to start over. Just think how much they could have accomplished if they had just listened to the American people in the first place.

The people of Massachusetts are sending a fresh face to Washington, and with him, a fresh start on real health care reform. Congratulations Mr. Brown.

Jan

5

Harry & Nancy Are Drunk With Power

Category: Opinions, Our Nation | Comments Off | 375 words | Print

Did you see the headlines today?

Dems look to skip formality on health bills

Democrats Reid, Pelosi ponder crafting Obama’s final healthcare bill behind closed doors

Did you read any of the stories with those headlines?

Democratic leaders are looking to forgo a formal, public conference to merge the House and Senate’s health care overhaul bills, giving Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the White House free rein to hammer out the final measure behind closed doors and thwart Republican efforts to stymie it.

The maneuver gives Democratic leaders the ability to quickly work through hundreds of differences between the 2,000-page bills and to keep control over the deals they will need to make on politically touchy topics such as abortion, taxes and Medicare cuts.

You read that correctly. Rather than allowing a conference committee to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill, Scary Harry and Nanny State Nancy are planning to keep the negotiations behind closed doors, out of the public eye, and away from any scrutiny by the American public.

It wasn’t all that long ago that Harry Reid was against that very idea. The year was 2006.

They rushed the bill through votes in the House. They called the Senate into session at one o’clock in the morning to pass their version. They refused to allow enough time for people to read the entire bill before bringing these votes, many of which were on amendments which members of Congress hadn’t even received a copy of. But don’t you fret. Nancy Pelosi says there has never been a more open process.

C-SPAN wrote a letter to congressional leaders Tuesday asking that TV cameras be allowed to film negotiations to reconcile the House and Senate versions of healthcare reform legislation.

But Pelosi said Congress has already been transparent throughout the process.

“There has never been a more open process for any legislation,” Pelosi said at a press conference.

If you get too nauseated you can fast forward to the 7 minute mark to hear her ridiculous remark.

Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are drunk with power and it’s only a matter of time before they kill someone. It’s time to pull them over and make them pay the consequences.

Dec

23

Two Days Before Christmas

Category: Opinions, Our Nation | Comments Off | 460 words | Print

Here we are just two days before Christmas and the U.S. Senate is still debating health care reform with the final vote for passage coming around 8:00 am tomorrow morning. Harry Reid keeps saying that the reason they are debating the bill in the middle of the night and right up to Christmas day, is because of the Republicans. He forgets that we all know he, as Majority Leader, sets the Senate schedule, and he alone decides when legislation hits the floor. In other words, this is his way of punishing everyone because he thinks the Republicans are pooping in his Post Toasties. Grow up Harry.

Just thinking about the health care bill makes me angry, which is exactly why Scary Harry made sure that debate on the bill ran right up to the Christmas holiday. Too many people are traveling to visit family. They’re trying to enjoy the season, and they don’t want to listen to all this negativity or even think about the horror that will come if this bill actually makes it through the entire process.

On a more optimistic note, Rich Lowry writes about five reasons the health care bill might not pass. Personally I think there are a few more reasons than the ones he chose to focus on. His five include public revulsion (which hasn’t stopped Scary Harry, Nanny State Nancy, or The Failed One® yet), the abortion funding issue, and more.

Some other reasons the bill might not make it include the fact that Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), the chairwoman of the House Rules Committee has gone on the record to state that Congress should scrap the bill and start over. It turns out Democrats aren’t supporting the bill either. As their base erodes, so will any effort to pass the horrific legislation. It’s already a given that most Democrats up for re-election in 2010 (in the House and the Senate) face an uphill battle because of their support for the bill.

To make matters worse for every Democrat in the House (as the entire House is up for reelection in 2010) is the fact that The Failed One® is now thinking about postponing health care talks until February. This will keep health care reform on everyone’s mind well into the months leading up to the election. Those opposed to this bill and running for office couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas present from President Obama.

That’s it from me tonight. I have a few things I need to get done around here, and I need to get up early tomorrow for the senate vote (although I am pretty sure we all know the outcome of the vote).

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Dec

21

Cash 4 Cloture More Successful Than Cash 4 Clunkers

Category: Opinions, Our Nation | Comments Off | 508 words | Print

As expected, debate continued on the Senate floor until late into the evening. After taking a small break the Senate was back in session at midnight at just after one o’clock this morning, Scary Harry and the ‘Cash 4 Cloture’ Democrat Party voted for cloture on the health care bill.

As I mentioned last night, there is no such thing as a moderate Democrat, nor one that keeps their word, not in the U.S. Senate anyway. They say that everyone has a price and we learned tonight that several senators can be bought with little to no out of pocket expense (for some anyway).

Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) made sure his state received a Medicaid expansion “kickback” that will save his state, as well as Vermont and Massachusetts (because of deals with their Senators too), roughly $1.2 billion, which will be passed on to the citizens of 47 other states.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), Carl Levin (D-MI), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), all made sure to get a little honey in added to their pot before the vote took place.

One Senate Democrat, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) thinks that anyone against the health care reform bill hates President Obama, yet he fails to see that 60% of the American people are against this health care reform bill.

They are desperate to break this president. They have ardent supporters who are nearly hysterical at the very election of President Barack Obama. The birthers, the fanatics, the people running around in right-wing militia and Aryan support groups, it is unbearable to them that President Barack Obama should exist. That is one powerful reason. It is not the only one.

Does he actually think that sixty-percent of the American people are members of Aryan support groups or right-wing militias? Seriously? Talk about a fanatic.

Are you still wondering why Scary Harry called the Senate into session in the wee hours this morning? Maybe it has something to do with the numerous new tax hikes the Senate Democrats are forcing on their constituents.

…

Medicine Cabinet Tax (Page 1997/Sec. 9003/$5 bil/Jan 2011): No longer allowable to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin)

HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike (Page 1998/Sec. 9004/$1.3 bil/Jan 2011): Increases additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRAs and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10 percent.

FSA Cap (Page 1999/Sec. 9005/$13.3 bil/Jan 2011): Imposes cap on FSAs of $2500 (now unlimited). Indexed to inflation after 2011 (added on page 363 of manager’s amendment)

…

Does he really think passing a bill in the middle of the night will keep people from learning what they’re up too?

The vote tonight does settle one thing. This health care reform bill is owned 100% by the Democrats. Anything printed in the bill, anything passed into law, is on their shoulders, and we the people of the United States of America will remember exactly what they have done.

Dec

16

Passage, Productivity, Procedures, & Praise

Category: Opinions, Our Nation | Comments Off | 611 words | Print

Another day, another tumultuous day where DSL is concerned. Although the weather cleared up enough so it wasn’t foggy and the sun was trying to break through the clouds, a dark cloud hung over my internet connection. It’s okay though, because they will fix it. Eventually.

Today, for the first time ever, we saw Sandhill Cranes flying in formation. First we saw a group of 21 over the interstate and then farther down the road we saw approximately 300 of them flying on their journey south for the winter. They were too high in the sky for decent photos, but it sure was nice watching them.

Thought #1

If, and that’s a big if, this health care bill passes the Senate, how exactly does Harry Reid expect to reconcile the Senate version with the House version?

The Senate version doesn’t prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, the House version does. The Senate version might not contain a public option, the House version does. These are some pretty big obstacles to overcome in the road to reconciliation in conference.

It might not matter though, since Democrat support for the bill is waning as well.

Former Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean argued Wednesday that the health care overhaul bill taking shape in the Senate further empowers private insurers at the expense of consumer choice — a claim the White House rejected.

…

“This is an insurance company’s dream,” the former Democratic presidential candidate said. “This is the Washington scramble, and it’s a shame.”

Dean argued that the Senate’s health care bill would not prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage for preexisting conditions and he also said it would allow the industry to charge older people far more than others for premiums.

Oops. Where is Scary Harry going to find the 60 votes now?

Hat Tip: Vinny

Thought #2

Speaking of Vinny, you need to watch his latest episode of IT.tv.

 
Thought #3

The debate over the heath care bill got interesting today when Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced a 767 page single-payer amendment to the bill. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) exercised his prerogative in the Senate and insisted that the bill be read, in its entirety, on the Senate floor.

The Senate clerk began reading the bill at noon and three hours later they were less than 150 pages into the bill. Realizing his amendment lacked the votes to pass, he withdrew the amendment and then berated Republicans for bringing Senate business to a halt.

I applaud the Republicans, especially Tom Coburn for doing so. Without their dedication to stopping this bill, the Democrats would be rolling through with steam rollers killing the American way of life and ushering an era of socialism that would destroy our country forever.

Thought #4

When the author of the bill insists that no Senator can understand the health care bill, you know you have issues.

 

Max Baucus (D-MT) insulted every member of the Senate by claiming they do not have the mental capacity to understand the bill they are debating. What a moron.

Tom Coburn is one of only two doctors who serve in the U.S. Senate. Max Baucus is one of almost 60 morons who do the same.

Thought #5

Once again, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) makes me wish I lived in the 11th district of Michigan.

 

What a great summary of the Democrat controlled Congress. “Too costly, too crazy, too quickly…”

Thought #6

Time for my final thought of the day. Actually, it’s a question. What did you see or hear today that made you smile? This is what I saw.

 

Hold fast to your dreams, for without them life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.
Langston Hughes

Nov

21

And You Thought Nixon Was A Crook

Category: Our Nation | Comments Off | 571 words | Print

As you may have heard by now, the Senate voted in favor of cloture, and to send their version of health care reform to the Senate floor for debate. The vote for cloture was 60-39.

Before you panic too much, please remember that the bill must still pass the a final vote in the Senate, then, if it does, it must be reconciled in conference with the House version that passed and then the final bill must then pass another vote of the House as well as a cloture vote and final passage within the Senate.

The fight is far from over, but let’s look at the vote which took place this evening. In order to invoke cloture, sixty Senators must for it. As you see above the vote was just 60. To tell the truth, I was shocked. I thought for sure at least one Democrat would defect, or at the very least, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) would.

Sen. Lieberman has stated, more than once, that he would support a filibuster of the bill if it contained a public option. The bill tonight contained that option, so I was very upset with Mr. Lieberman. I still am. He made it clear, or at least made it seem that way, in many media outlets that he would not vote the way he did tonight, yet his communication with his constituents tells a completely different story.

Some have asked about my remarks regarding votes on health care reform on the Senate floor. When the bill comes to the Senate floor, I am planning to vote to allow debate to begin on the bill, which in this instance will require 60 votes. I very much look forward to debating the various aspects of this critical legislation and voting on proposed amendments. If, however, when the subsequent motion to limit debate time on the bill is voted on, with a 60-vote requirement for that motion to succeed, I will not vote in favor of that motion if the bill at that time includes a public option, for the reasons stated above.

It seems he was straight up with his constituents, which is good, but he sure misled the remainder of the American people, didn’t he?

A few Democrats had indicated that they would not support the bill if it contained a public option as well, and every single one of them toed the party line. I don’t know why any Senator would vote to begin debate, let alone vote to support this bill, when a vast majority of Americans do not want this bill to pass.

The approval rating for this bill is far below that of President Obama, which just happens to have dropped below 50% this week also.

It’s just a shame that Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Ben Nelson (D-FL) and every other Democrat in the Senate put their loyalty to Harry Reid over their loyalty to their constituents tonight. That action alone speaks volumes.

With the success of this cloture vote, Harry Reid accomplished two tasks. He showed the people of Nevada (which is my home state) how much he listens to and appreciates their opinions, and he showed the rest of the United States that he is better at bribing, and coercing his party members in the Senate than Nancy Pelosi is with her members in the House.

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