Posted on 03/20/2010 1:02:50 PM PDT by Uncledave
They Still Don’t Have the Votes [Jeffrey H. Anderson]
The most likely explanation for the breakdown of talks between Rep. Bart Stupak and Speaker Nancy Pelosi is not that Pelosi decided she didn’t need Stupak and his crew in order to have enough votes to pass Obamacare. Rather, it is that Stupak — who is increasingly emerging as this drama’s Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart’s heroic character in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) — held firm in insisting on language that would truly prevent taxpayer-funded abortions, and in insisting that such language be passed by the Senate before the bill could become law.
In turn, Pelosi either decided that by accepting the language, she would lose more votes in the House than she would gain, or else knew that Democratic senators, with their strong preference for taxpayer-funded abortion, would never go along with this concession to the views of the vast majority of Americans.
In any event, by all accounts, Pelosi is now trying to pass the bill without the pro-life Democratic vote — or at least without Stupak. As of now, it doesn’t appear that she has the votes. I currently count 208 leaning in favor of Obamacare and 214 leaning against, with 9 undecided. Here they are — with the margin by which the presidential vote was won (by one party or the other) in their districts over the last three elections:
• Marion Berry (D., Ark.) (GOP +8) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Henry Cuellar (D., Tex.) (Dem +1) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Bill Foster (D., Ill.) (GOP +4)
• Jim Matheson (D., Utah) (GOP +30) — with nearly two-thirds of his constituents having supported GOP presidential candidates over the last three elections, a “yes” vote on Stupak, and an earlier “no” vote on Obamacare, a “yes” vote would mean that, for the rest of his days, he would be remembered as the guy who sold his vote for the price of Obama’s having just nominated his brother to a federal judgeship
• Michael Michaud (D., Me.) (Dem +7) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Solomon Ortiz (D., Tex.) (GOP +1) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Earl Pomeroy (D., N.D.) (GOP +21) — pro-Stupak Amendment — yes, that’s GOP +21
• Nick Rahall (D., W.V.) (GOP +6) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Zach Space (D., Ohio) (GOP +12) — pro-Stupak Amendment
Also, here is a partial list of some particularly key members who are leaning “no”:
• Christopher Carney (D., Pa.) (GOP +15) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Dan Lipinski (D., Ill.) (Dem +22) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Kathleen Dahlkemper (D., Pa.) (GOP +3) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Glenn Nye (D., Va.) (GOP +9) — “no” last time
“I still beleive there will be some surprise “no” votes.”
I thought this as well, perhap ssying “yes” to avoid the Chicago thugs.
Then they could hunker down and avoid the wrath of Pelosi until Beohner becomes the new Speaker after the election.
I think that’s actually a pretty good idea.
Libs always run as Conservatives, It would be funny to see Conservatives run as a Lib and spread havoc within the party once elected.
And likely the Conservative base would get the Wink< because libs pay no attention, they only vote for the most PC popular one with the little “d” after the name.
I’m liking that strategery!
For the last few days, Boehner’s demeanor has impressed me as having something up his sleave.
Cause they're Deemocrats, and their commie slimeball media sycophants trust their commie slimeball overlords to pull some shenanigan and get it done.
For what it’s worth, if they had the votes Obama would be out playing golf. Instead he is preaching to the choir.
Contact Congressman Pomeroy, ND. You will find him hiding under his desk.
He's not hysterically running after votes. He was very circumspect on Hannity.
Despite the media circus and the "triumphalism" on TV at these Dem meetings, they are short and they don't know what Boehner's doing.
But one thing overlooked by the Dems is that their theatrics here is going to operate to flip a few state legislatures to GOP in the November election. GOP governors will also be in the majority. And the legislatures and the governors will be in charge of the re-district process after the census. Red states are probably going to gain seats and blue states lose them.
He hasnt looked as tan. He is so busy he cant make it to the tanning salon. Have you noticed that?
“So why is the MSM (including Fox) acting as though it’s in the bag?”
Honestly, I think FOX is grandstanding and wants the drama.
SHAME on them...leave the sleazy grandstanding and campaigning to two bit sleazeballs like PMSNBC...
It’s a good strategy, and one that will work. There is no ideological litmus test that prevents you from joining. And there are plenty of opportunities.
I find it amazing that conservatives are willing to resort to all sorts of drastic measures, yet they won’t do something as innocuous as going to a Democratic party meeting in their hometown.
If they had the votes they would have voted on it.
Plus, if you're trying to stop it and the vote is going to be really really close, by lying and getting them to count your vote, you can get them to bring it to the floor when they don't have the votes they think they have.
I pray they don’t have the votes.
have you heard anything about Matheson? I haven’t. I emailed him last night; my landlord just dropped over here and he emailed Matheson this morning. We haven’t heard a damn thing. Nothing on twitter, either.
Politics has an ebb and flow. One party wins, then the other one does. The problem is that conservatives continue to put all their eggs in one basket, and wonder why they get decimated during those times when their party is on the retreat.
“We must act.”
You can pray while you act, you know...;)
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