Posted on 08/16/2009 1:16:51 AM PDT by Steelfish
Health Bill Hinges On Blue Dogs' Vote But Few Bite So Far
By DAVID HOGBERG AND SEAN HIGGINS
August 14, 2009
Blue Dog Democrats are being chased by both sides in the health care debate. But the opposition may have the inside track, based on an IBD survey of these moderate-to-conservative House lawmakers.
There are 256 Democrats in the House, 52 of whom are Blue Dogs. Rep. Artur Davis of Alabama, who's not a member of the pack, has said he won't support HR 3200 in its present form. That means Democrats need the support of at least 15 Blue Dogs to reach the 218 votes required to pass the health care bill. So far, no Republicans have come out in favor of the measure.
An IBD survey, combined with news reports, of all the Blue Dogs reveals only four definite supporters: John Salazar of Colorado, Ohio's Zack Space, and Mike Thompson and Adam Schiff, both from California.
Based on the survey and previous press reports, at least 13 Blue Dogs are opposed to the bill as it now stands.
Many of those who are undecided or did not respond have expressed reservations about various aspects of the bill, including the public plan option, the cost and tax increases.
Summer Of Discontent
That's bad news for the Democratic leadership, which was counting on the August recess to firm up support for House passage of the bill.
A Gallup poll released Tuesday found public opinion on the plan almost equally divided, with 35% in favor of the congressional health care reform bill, 36% opposed and 29% unsure. A poll released Wednesday said a plurality disapproved of the way President Obama was handling the health care debate, 49%-43%.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibdeditorials.com ...
Good, let’s hope it holds, fingers and toes crossed!
In the end, "Blue Dog" Democrats are still Democrats.
To put hope in these worthless people is akin to the Titanic passengers putting hope in the iceberg.
The so-called Blue Dogs will be polling and focus grouping in their districts right up to the day before the big vote. If they think they can get reelected despite (or because of) voting for Pelosi’s vision of health care, they’ll support it. All we really have to hang our hats on is the typical politician’s survival instinct, and most of us have lived long enough to see Democrats vote against their electoral interests, like the Dems who gambled and voted for tax increases back in ‘93 (and lost).
Our congressman, Ike Skelton, (D) 4th District, Missouri, it too afraid to hold a meeting with constituients on health care. He did come down here last week to have a closer look at an asphalt plant...
I am sure there is a list of who the Blue Dogs are ... use it to e-mail the heck out of them. Regular mail doesn’t work because they will ignore correspondence from outside their district. E-mail is good as it is unlikely the they will back-track it to your computer. Don’t threaten them with anything other than withholding your vote if they vote with Pelosi. Gently remind them that they are in DC to reflect the will of their constituents, not to tow the party line.
Some of these reps are getting their hackles up and are going to vote with Pelosi just to ‘show the scum back home who is the boss’. Dogget from Austin TX is one such idiot.
Hope and wishing never work only action works.
True,they will do their “act”,but they’ll follow Comrade
Pelosi orders.
This is the operative phrase. We know that the House and Senate will pass a healthcare bill. They must in order for Obama to save face. And we also know that the vast majority of Reps will not like what is in this bill.
The Dems are playing up this blue dog crap as part of their good cop, bad cop strategy. It helps sell whatever comes out as a "compromise." Take a look at how the cap and tax bill passed and you will see a similar template for ObamaCare.
Piglosi will peel off just enough to pass a bill very similar to the one proposed. Witness Cap and Tax. All she needs is a majority vote, plus one. She'll allow the rest of the Blue Dogs to remain righteously in hiding and vote "NO" so they can live to fight again on the next outrage, amnesty.
The Dims don't really care if they lose 20 or 30 Blue Dogs next election. They will still have a majority in both houses and own the Executive branch - all the while pumping the Judicial branch full of Liberals. The important thing is they will have their agenda locked in place forever and then can proceed with forging their chains on America.
Like the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, the future of America rides on this one vote. But even if this bill is defeated, it is a long, uphill battle to wage against immense odds to prevent the complete destruction of America. The enemy still controls everything except the hinterlands.
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