Category Archives: Capitol Building

Parker Griffith Republican congressman, Griffith switches to GOP, Alabama representative Griffith at odds with Democrat Party, Health care bill, Huntsville AL district

From Politico, December 22, 2009.

“Rep. Parker Griffith switches to GOP”

“POLITICO learns Rep. Parker Griffith will announce today that he’s switching parties to become a Republican.”

“POLITICO has learned that Rep. Parker Griffith, a freshman Democrat from Alabama, will announce today that he’s switching parties to become a Republican.
According to two senior GOP aides familiar with the decision, the announcement will take place this afternoon in Griffith’s district in northern Alabama.
Griffith’s party switch comes on the eve of a pivotal congressional health care vote and will send a jolt through a Democratic House Caucus that has already been unnerved by the recent retirements of a handful of members who, like Griffith, hail from districts that offer prime pickup opportunities for the GOP in 2010.
The switch represents a coup for the House Republican leadership, which had been courting Griffith since he publicly criticized the Democratic leadership in the wake of raucous town halls during the summer.
Griffith, who captured the seat in a close 2008 open seat contest, will become the first Republican to hold the historically Democratic, Huntsville-based district. A radiation oncologist who founded a cancer treatment center, Griffith plans to blast the Democratic health care bill as a prime reason for his decision to switch parties—and is expected to cite his medical background as his authority on the subject.”

“Signs of Griffith’s dissatisfaction with his party began to surface publicly during the summer recess, when he received an earful of criticism from constituents.
In August — one month after Republicans picked up his former state legislative seat in a special election — Griffith told a local newspaper that he wouldn’t vote for Nancy Pelosi to remain as House Speaker because she’s too divisive. He joked that if she didn’t like it, he’d provide her with a gift certificate to a mental health center.
He added that if the Democratic leadership wouldn’t commit to working in a more bipartisan manner, “perhaps we should look at altering that.””

Read more:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30896.html

Thanks to commenter Patriot Dreamer.

Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Senator, Insults Americans, Obama, Health Care Bill, Obama thugs, Attacks Senate GOP, Birthers, Fanatics, Right wing militia, Aryan support groups, Whitehouse idiot, Remove Senator Whitehouse

Heaven has it’s hierarchy of angels

Angels
Archangels
Principalities
Powers
Virtues
Dominions
Thrones
Cherubim
Seraphim

Likewise, on earth we have a hierarchy of stupidity

Ignoramus
Fool
Imbecile
Moron
Idiot
Lying, Ignorant, Foolish, Imbecilic, Moronic Idiots
Congressmen

From the Washington Times, December 20, 2009.

“Sen. Whitehouse: foes of health care bill are birthers, right-wing militias, aryan groups”

“Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) today took shots at those who are not supporting the health care legislation. During a floor speech, he excoriated Senate GOP members for holding up the pending health care bill and accused their supporters of being birthers and fanatics in right-wing militia and Aryan support groups. He started off by citing an editorial from the Manchester Journal Inquirer, which used the insult “lunatic fringe.”:”

“After explaining why absent GOP members who did not vote for the Department of Defense spending bill was tantamount to a “no” vote, he went on to say that Republicans and their supporters just want to “break” the momentum of President Obama.:
“Voting ‘no’ and hiding from the vote are the same result. Those of us on the floor see it. It was clear the three of them who did not cast their yes votes until all 60 Senate votes had been tallied and it was clear that the result was a foregone conclusion. And why? Why all this discord and discourtesy, all this unprecedented destructive action? All to break the momentum of our new young president.

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.””

Read more:

http://washingtontimes.com/weblogs/watercooler/2009/dec/20/sen-whitehouse-foes-health-care-bill-are-birthers-/

To the good citizens of Rhode Island:

If you need any assistance removing this idiot, we will come to your aid.

Harry Reid defeated, Harry Reid loses 2010 election, Bribes senators, Illegal use of taxpayer dollars, Tea Party Express III, Health Care Bill unconstitutional, Harry Reid lies

From Tea Party Express III.

“Disgusted with Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid? 
Well, we at the Tea Party Express sure are, and we’ve dedicated ourselves towards defeating Reid in the upcoming 2010 congressional campaign.  Here’s our brand new TV ad to “Defeat Harry Reid” – please watch it and share it with others:”

To help get this ad broadcast on every Nevada TV station morning, noon and night, please make a donation to our “Defeat Harry Reid” campaign – HERE.

https://secure.donationsafe.com/tea/
Our goal is to raise $100,000 for this campaign in the next 5 days.  That’s $20,000 per day, so please make a contribution of any amount from as little as $5 to the maximum allowed $5,000.
To meet our fundraising goals to “Defeat Harry Reid” we’re hoping 465 people can make a contribution of $100 or more.

Or if you prefer, you can mail in a contribution to the “Defeat Harry Reid” campaign:
Our Country Deserves Better PAC
ATTN: Defeat Harry Reid Campaign
770 L Street #1020
Sacramento, CA 95814

http://www.teapartyexpress.org/home/

Senate cloture vote, December 21, 2009, 1:00 AM ET, Harry Reid, Ben Nelson, $470 billion Medicare cuts, $548 billion in new taxes next year

Jeff Schreiber does a great job over at America’s Right. Here is a great article about the rape of America that just took place while most of us were sleeping. Thanks Jeff.

“Is This For Real?

It’s 11:15 p.m. on a Sunday night. I’m in a king-size hotel room bed in Athens, GA with a snoozing wife and a three-year-old who is still singing “he sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake” despite the long, fun-filled day she had. It’s late. And, yet, on one side of my sister-in-law’s fancy MacBook Pro is a live stream from the floor of the United States Senate.

It’s 11:15 p.m. on a Sunday night. And Florida Sen. Bill Nelson is speaking, right now, on the floor about the Senate’s health care reform bill, which will be voted on in a little less than two hours from now. He’s talking about how private insurance companies will be forced to spend 85 cents out of every dollar on patient health care costs. Where, may I ask, does our federal government have the authority to mandate the capital structure of private companies? Where?

Why else would the lights even be on in the Capitol building unless our government is up to no good? This is legislation which will not even come into effect until 2014, two years after the next presidential election, and yet the Democrats feel it so essential to work through the night as the last weekend before Christmas comes to a close?

Most of America is fast asleep. Most of the people whom these senators represent, even if they wanted to pay attention, are sawing logs (probably not literally, though I’m sure there are a strange few) and catching winks in advance of a working Monday tomorrow. These people have no business whatsoever working right now. It might be different if they were burning the midnight oil in an attempt to save the nation with legislation that would have an immediate impact, but they are not — instead, they’re planning the destruction of our economy and health care system through legislation which will not take effect (other than the spending aspect of it) for another four years. If this is a great bill, if it is so necessary, and if the 60 percent or so of Americans who vigorously oppose it just don’t have their facts straight, then they should be debating it during the day, when most of America is awake and attentive.

12:06 a.m.

Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander made an excellent point — the reason they’re working now is because Harry Reid dropped a 400-page amendment on Friday, something that has been written and kept under the cover of darkness, and that they want to have it passed as part of the bill before Americans can figure out what’s in it.

I can count on the fingers of one hand when I’ve read 400 pages of anything in one day. One was Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park, which I read in the course of one night as a kid. Another was Bernie Goldberg’s Bias, which may not be 400 pages long, but was finished in the course of a single afternoon. Reading, digesting and researching 400 pages of legislative language in one day is nearly impossible.

Other things Alexander noted:
$470 billion over the next ten years will be cut out of Medicare, and about $1 trillion in total.
$548 billion in new taxes starting next year. So much for reducing joblessness. And the taxes on medical devices will be passed along to consumers, as will the increased regulation on private insurers, which will be passed along in the form of increased premiums. So much for reducing health care costs.

The CBO said that 9 million will lose employer-based insurance. So much for insuring everyone.
Changes the bi-partisan agreement not to federally fund abortion.

A political kamikaze mission toward an unfortunate mistake. Damaging to the Democrats, but worse for our country. Nicely put.”

“12:32 a.m.

Chris Dodd is up. I can’t even look at him, nonetheless listen to him, without getting irreversibly angry. The only time I want to see Christopher Dodd at 12:32 a.m., or frankly at any time of day, is if he’s wearing handcuffs. And not in a Barney Frank kind-of-way, either — I want to see Dodd being led into prison like Bernie Madoff.

More Ted Kennedy stuff. Good grief. If Ted Kennedy were a normal, everyday American in the aftermath of this legislation, he would have been cold and dead long before he passed with the benefit of the best health care that money can buy, the same health care innovation and ingenuity that the Democrats are poised to stifle, discourage and destroy.”

“12:54 a.m.

And, as if to show evidence of nothing good happening in Washington, D.C. at all, Harry Reid is up.

Every ten minutes, he says, another American dies because they don’t have health insurance. Oh, please. We have emergency rooms ready and able to care for illegal immigrants who have no identification, nonetheless insurance. What’s going to happen is that Americans are going to die because Democrats destroyed the American health care system. What’s going to happen is that Americans are going to die while waiting for six months for a biopsy.

I will dance a jig in my new living room next November when Fox News Channel calls the Nevada election for whomever is running against Reid. And then I’ll switch over to MSNBC–just for a moment–to watch them call it. In fact, I will keep champagne on ice to enjoy during his concession speech.

And, gosh darn it, health care is NOT a fundamental right. Freedom is a fundamental right, and what they are doing right now is destroying freedom in the name of the perpetuation of power.”

“1:08 a.m.

Here goes. Cloture on Reid’s amendment, and the vote which sets up a Christmas Eve vote on the destruction of American freedom and prosperity. I mean, seriously? They need to tear these people away from their families, just so Americans from coast to coast will be too busy eating dinner and enjoying their own families to notice?

Bayh is an “aye.” Burris is an “aye.” Byrd has been dusted off and wheeled in; he’s an “aye.” Bob Casey, supposedly a pro-life Democrat, is an “aye” to a bill which federally funds abortions. Susan Collins votes “no.”

Lieberman? Aye.

Lincoln? Aye.

Landrieu? Aye.

Nelson? Aye. Unreal.

Cloture passes by a vote of 60 to 40. At 1:18 a.m. Procedural votes will come at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday and 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The vote for final passage will come at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday night. That’s Christmas Eve. It seems America will be getting a lump of coal in her stocking this year, and from this year on.”

This is a must read and please pass this on:

http://www.americasright.com/2009/12/is-this-for-real.html

Citizen Wells

Next election

Lieberman voted out, Aye.

Lincoln voted out, Aye.

Landrieu voted out, Aye

Reid voted out, Aye!!!!!

Thanks CW commenters.

Senator Claire McCaskill, Senate health care bill, Citizens voice concern, YouTube videos, Reporter present, Health Care rally, Washington DC, Disabled American voices concern

After the Health Care Rally in Washington DC, December 15, 2009, many of the attendees visited their Senator’s office in Washington while others in their home states expressed their concern about the Senate Health Care Bill.

Here are some videos of concerned patriots visiting one of Senator Claire McCaskill’s offices.

“Dana Loesch Expresses Her Concerns To Claires staffer”

View more videos here:

http://sharpelbowsstl.blogspot.com/2009/12/frozen-fun-at-claire-mccaskills.html

Obama threatens Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson, Close Offutt Air Force Base , Senate aide reports, December 15, 2009, Senate Health Care vote, Rahm Emanuel and White House extort Nelson’s vote

From The Weekly Standard, December 15, 2009.

“Source: Dems Threaten Nelson In Pursuit of 60”
“While the Democrats appease Senator Lieberman, they still have to worry about other recalcitrant Democrats including Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson. Though Lieberman has been out front in the fight against the public option and the Medicare buy-in, Nelson was critical of both. Now that those provisions appear to have been stripped from the bill, Lieberman may get on board, but Nelson’s demand that taxpayer money not be used to fund abortion has still not been met. According to a Senate aide, the White House is now threatening to put Nebraska’s Offutt Air Force Base on the BRAC list if Nelson doesn’t fall into line.

Offutt Air Force Base employs some 10,000 military and federal employees in Southeastern Nebraska. As our source put it, this is a “naked effort by Rahm Emanuel and the White House to extort Nelson’s vote.” They are “threatening to close a base vital to national security for what?” asked the Senate staffer.”

Read more:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/12/source_dems_threaten_nelson_in_1.asp

Call Senator Ben Nelson and demand that he do the right thing.

I just received the following in an email:

We’re in Chambliss’ office. He is saying we need everyone across the country to contact the Senators in . Louisianna, Arkansas Indiana, Connetticut, Nebraska ASAP. To protest healthcare.  Here are phone numbers:
Sen. Blanche Lincoln, Arkansas
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-4843, DC Fax Number: 202-228-1371

Sen. Ben Nelson, Nebraska
DC Office Number: 202-224-6551, DC Fax Number: 202-228-0012
 
Sen. Mary Landrieu, Louisiana
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-5824, DC Fax Number: 202-224-9735

Sen. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-4041, DC Fax Number: 202-224-9750

Sen. Michael F Bennet, Colorado
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-5852, DC Fax Number: 202-228-5036
 
Sen. Mark Pryor, Arkansas
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-2353, DC Fax Number: 202-228-0908
 
Sen. Robert Byrd, West Virginia
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-3954, DC Fax Number: 202-228-0002
 
Sen. Jim Webb, Virginia
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-4024, DC Fax Number: 202-228-6363
 
Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-2023, DC Fax Number: 202-224-6295
 
Sen. Jon Tester, Montana
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-2644, DC Fax Number: 202-224-8594
 
Sen. Mark Begich, Alaska
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-3004, DC Fax Number: 202-224-2354
 
Sen. Evan Bayh, Indiana
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-5623, DC Fax Number: 202-228-1377
 

 

Michele Bachmann warning, Breaking News, ACORN, TARP II, CFPA Oversight Board, Barney Frank, Democrats, Taxpayer bailouts permanent solution, systemic risk regulator, Breitbart TV interview

Representative Michele Bachmann has put out an urgent plea to stop a dangerous bill about to be voted on.

From Michele Bachmann’s site.

“Bachmann: House Preserves ACORN’s Role in TARP II

 
 
Washington, D.C., Dec 10 –

(Washington, D.C.) U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann (MN-06), member of the House Financial Services Committee, made the following statement after the Democrat Leadership denied the entire House an opportunity to vote on her amendment to prevent ACORN from participating in the Consumer Financial Protection Agency’s Oversight Board.  The Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) is an expansive new government bureaucracy with far-reaching powers to make decisions for consumers about the kinds of mortgages, small business loans, and other financial products they may access.  The Oversight Board will be tasked with advising the Agency’s director on strategies and policies.

“An organization that has repeatedly shown an inability to adhere to even the most basic standards of ethics should not have a role in overseeing our nation’s financial system,” said Bachmann.  “By rejecting consideration of my amendment, the Democrat Majority protected ACORN instead of American taxpayers and investors.”

In recent months, the IRS, U.S. Census Bureau, and Congress have taken numerous actions to sever ties with ACORN.  In fact, less than two months ago, the House Financial Services Committee accepted another amendment offered by Bachmann that would prevent ACORN from serving on a similar board established in the exact same bill under consideration this week.

“There is a clear consensus amongst the American people that ACORN is unfit to receive federal funds and partner with federal organizations.  The Democrat Leadership’s decision today robs Congress from having the opportunity to take an up-or-down vote on my amendment and keep ACORN out of our financial markets,” said Bachmann.”

Star Tribune: Giving more power where power is not due
Wall Street and bureaucracy would benefit from pending reform.

 
Washington, D.C., Dec 11 –

The majority of Americans last fall were united against the $700 billion Wall Street bailout known as TARP. Proponents of the bill urged immediate action, claiming that a failure to act quickly would send the financial industry over the brink. They promised to examine the root cause of the crisis once financial markets were secure. One year later, the House is considering legislation that will result in the most far-reaching reforms of the financial services industry in our nation’s history.

But instead of addressing the real causes of the financial collapse and fixing bad government policies that led to the crisis, congressional Democrats want to codify the fiscally irresponsible bailout mania. Their bill would make taxpayer bailouts the permanent solution for dealing with reckless financial institutions in the future.

The 1,300-plus-page bill the House is scheduled to vote on today creates a “systemic risk regulator” tasked with determining which firms meet an undefined “too big to fail” test. It allows the government to tap a multibillion-dollar bailout fund to save troubled firms whenever it wants. This fund will be initially financed by a massive new tax on financial institutions and is expected to take $55 billion out of the hands of small businesses and job creators, leading to a loss of as many as 450,000 jobs. Should that fund run dry, taxpayers are on the hook to replenish it. And unlike TARP, this bill authorizes the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve to completely bypass congressional approval and directly provide such lifelines to flailing firms.

The moral hazard this bill creates will ripple through the entire financial marketplace. Providing banks with a bailout guarantee will perpetuate a cycle of irresponsibility, shielding creditors from taking the fall for making risky decisions and forcing taxpayers to ante up again and again.

Rather than increasing transparency within the Federal Reserve and directing it to focus on the nation’s monetary policy, this bill drastically expands the powers of the Fed to intervene in the private marketplace. But the Federal Reserve has already proven its inability to preemptively catch systemic risks as demonstrated by the financial crisis that occurred under its watch. Giving more power to government bureaucracies that have failed in the past will do nothing to stabilize our markets.

I support an alternative plan that addresses both the core problems in our financial system and promises American taxpayers that they will not be on the hook for Wall Street’s mistakes ever again. Three key principles guide this proposal: 1) It ends government bailouts of financial institutions; 2) It stops allowing the government to pick winners and losers in the financial industry; and 3) It reinstates market discipline by removing moral hazards that exist today.

Minnesotans know when Washington is trying to pull a fast one. While the government takeover of health care and total lack of job growth is at the forefront of everyone’s minds, we cannot let this permanent bailout legislation slip through Congress without a fight.”

http://bachmann.house.gov/News/

Must hear interview of Michele Bachmann

Breitbart TV

 

http://www.breitbart.tv/bachmann-on-the-b-cast-a-conservative-call-to-action/#

Thanks to commenter Katie.

Senate Health Care Bill, Cloture, Debate, Senate schedule, Senate proceedings, Harry Reed, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

I was asked to post the following email.

 
“Healthcare Tea Party on the Las Vegas Strip today
 
SENATE VOTES TO BEGIN FORMAL DEBATE ON HEALTH CARE BILL
 
The Senate has voted to begin debate on the Senate healthcare bill, by a party line vote.

As we wrote earlier today, even though we have been considering every vote to be “first and goal” there are still a number of plays left in the game, and will need your efforts now more than ever to win it.
 
Here’s what Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell just said:
 
“This bill may have been drafted behind closed doors but now it’s the American people’s turn to have their voices heard. ..”
 
IN THIS ALERT:
1. Senate schedule
2. Senate proceedings
3. Democrats already panning their own bill
4. The “Big Picture” from here: “Forget the Trees, Look at the Forest” by Jane Orient, MD
5. What is Cloture?  from David Lowther, M.D.
 
 
 
Senate schedule & next steps
The Senate will begin formal debate on the healthcare bill after the Thanksgiving recess. At that time amendments may be introduced as well, which will likely number into the hundreds. Debate will probably take up to 3-4 weeks, so that brings us up to Christmas recess. Even if it passes the Senate then, it would have to be reconciled with the House bill, which is significantly different.
 
ACTION STEP:
Please circulate the “Healthcare Turkey” one-pager to family, friends and colleagues during the next 10 days while the Senate is in recess.
 
DOWNLOAD “HEALTHCARE TURKEY”
 
Senate proceedings
First, let’s be clear – the vote tonight was only to proceed with formal debate. The bill can be filibustered, and some have indicated that they will do so. That means that the Senate would again have to invoke cloture to end that debate. The votes required for that are 60.
Those votes would come before we even get to a final vote on the bill. So when you hear that the Senate voted to pass the health care bill – THAT IS NOT CORRECT!
 
Democrats already panning their own bill
 
SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “My Vote Today To Move Forward On This Important Debate Should In No Way Be Construed By The Supporters Of This Current Framework As An Indication Of How I Might Vote As This Debate Comes To An End.” (Sen. Landrieu, Floor Remarks, 11/21/09)
 
SEN. BLANCHE LINCOLN (D-AR): “I Am Opposed To A New Government-Administered Health Care Plan As A Part Of Comprehensive Health Insurance Reform, And I Will Not Vote In Favor Of The Proposal That Has Been Introduced By Leader Reid As It Is Written.” (Sen. Lincoln, Floor Remarks, 11/21/09)
 
SEN. BEN NELSON (D-NE): “If That’s Not Possible, I Will Oppose The Second Cloture Motion–Needing 60 Votes–To End Debate, And Oppose The Final Bill.” (Sen. Nelson, “Nelson: Nebraskans’ Views Must Be Heard In Health Care Debate,” Press Release, 11/20/09)
 
SEN. EVAN BAYH (D-IN): “At The End Of The Process, I’ll Avoid The Washington Two-Step Of Voting To Go Forward But Then Voting Against The Final Bill … But This Is Just A Starting Point, So At This Point I Do Think There’s A Difference.” (“Bayh To Support First Procedural Vote On Healthcare,” The Hill, 11/18/09)
 
The Big Picture
 
Forget the Trees; Look at the Forest on Healthcare
By Jane Orient, M.D
AAPS Executive Director
 
Various groups, on both sides of the issues, are squabbling over details: abortion, a “public option,” treatment of illegal aliens, size of penalties, distribution of subsidies, calculation of doctors’ pay, etc. Items are moved in or out of the bill as needed to capture just the right number of votes with the least electoral damage. None of it really matters. The rules will be written later — after they “get it done” and “something” passes and the next election is over.

Americans need to take the view from 35,000 feet. That’s the view of the controllers, the global budgeters, and the folks who drop bombs without having to see the faces of the victims….
[CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE]
 

What is Cloture?
Dr. David Lowther of Atlanta sent us this great email and we thought we’d share it:
 
 What is cloture?  if you’re like me, you’re learning new things about government every day with this administration…
 
According to this Reference:
“By 1915 (under President Woodrow Wilson), the Senate had become a breeding ground for filibusters.  In the final weeks of the Congress that ended on March 4, one administration measure related to the war in Europe tied the Senate up for 33 days and blocked passage of 3 major appropriations bills.  Two years later, as pressure increased for American entry into that war, a 23-day, end-of-session filibuster against the president’s proposal to arm merchant ships also failed, taking with it much other essential legislation.  For the previous 40 years, efforts in the Senate to pass a debate-limiting rule had come to nothing.  Now, in the wartime crisis environment, President Wilson lost his patience.  Calling the situation unparalleled, he stormed that the “Senate of the United States is the only legislative body in the world which cannot act when its majority is ready for action.  A little group of willful men, representing no opinion but their own (that would be the minority), have rendered the great government of the United States helpless and contemptible.”  The Senate, he demanded, must adopt a cloture rule. 
On March 8, 1917, in a specially called session of the 65th Congress, the Senate agreed to a rule that essentially preserved its tradition of unlimited debate.  The rule required a 2/3rds majority to end debate and permitted each member to speak for an additional hour after that before voting on final passage.  Over the next 46 years, the Senate managed to invoke cloture on only 5 occasions.  In 1975*****, the Senate reduced the number of votes required for cloture from two-thirds (67) to three-fifths (60) of the current 100 senators.”
 
 
*****interesting little side notes i noted trolling the web:
 
#1: Guess how many Democratic Senators there were in 1975? 60 (the same number needed for cloture as mentioned above). 
 
#2: During the 35 years from 1945 through 1981, the Democrats were the majority in Senate save for 8 years (1st 2 years of Eisenhower’s first term and the 1st 6 years of Reagan).  During late Eisenhower years through JFK and LBJ, the Democratic Senate majority numbers were as follows: 65, 64, 66, 68, and 64 (ie – total dominance).  When Nixon was elected, their majority slipped to 57, 54, and 56.  Once Ford was in place, they regained numbers to 60.  So after ceding their 2/3rds control of the Senate during Nixon, they changed the rules while still in the majority and suddenly 60 was the magic number for cloture.
 
#3: From the moment Cloture was first instituted during Wilson until the Cloture rules were changed from 67 votes necessary to 60 (1975), Cloture was invoked only 21 times.  In 1975 alone, it was used 17 times by the Democrat-controlled Senate.
 
#4: During Carter, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton and Bush II it was invoked an average of 12 times a session (6 times a year) and ranged from 3 (Carter) to 34 (Bush II).
 
#5: Since Democrats took control of Congress in 2007, it has been used 90 times.  90.
 
QUESTION:
So, how do you feel about Harry Reid using a rule that was originally designed as a means of funding WWI by expediting war appropriations bills NOW being used to force Universal Health Care upon the public?  Keep in mind the following:
 
1. Obama’s approval rating is only 47%, his lowest since taking office when he was at 65%.  While his approval rating has dropped 18%, his disapproval rating has climbed from 30% to 52% in only 10 months.
2. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s approval rating in her own state of California is only 34%.
3. Senator Harry Reid is behind in his re-election campaign in NV by 10% (“Sue Lowden beating Reid by 10%, 50% to 40%. Lowden is chairwoman of the Nevada Republican Party and the preferred candidate of the Republican party establishment.  GOP hopeful Danny Tarkanian beats Reid by seven points, 50% to 43%”).
4. In the race for California’s next governor in 2010, Republican Meg Whitman and Democrat Jerry Brown are tied at 41% each.
5. After Pelosi’s bill passed the House, the public was against the bill 54% v. 42%.  Even CA comes in at 51%, down 4% since last week.
 
To pull a cloture vote on one of the largest entitlement programs in US history, federalize 17% of the economy, and to do it on a Saturday, off the regular news cycle, is an atrocity.”

Senate cloture vote, November 20, 2009, Harry Reid, ObamaCare, Government health care bill, 60 votes, Medicare cuts, Deficit increase, Republican filibuster, CBO cost estimates

From an AmeriPac email, November 20, 2009. 

“Senate ObamaCare Cloture Vote On Saturday!

Kill the BILL Today – Stop ObamaCare In The Senate!

Alert: We Have the Chance to Kill Socialized Medicine TODAY –

Reid and Senate Democrats announced they will file cloture today on the motion to proceed regarding ObamaCare. He will go to the floor for cloture on the motion to proceed to a House-passed tax bill, to begin the Senate debate on ObamaCare.

This vote will require 60 votes and will likely occur on Saturday.

Several Democrats have said they will not vote for the bill. Remember cloture is a three day process – file on day one, day two is an intervening day and the vote occurs on day three. Reid is using a House-passed tax bill as a “shell” allowing him to offer up the language he released tonight as a substitute amendment if he gets cloture on the motion to proceed.

Reid’s Senate version of ObamaCare calls for:

  • Hiding the $1.8 Trillion price tag by not accounting for actual costs.
  • Major reductions in Medicare befits to seniors.
  • Major Tax Increases on every American to pay for it all.
  • Reid called for increasing the Medicare payroll tax. “

 

“ALERT: We all know that “ObamaCare — the two thousand page Democrat healthcare bill — passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week… by THREE VOTES.

The radical leftists in the House were able to squeak their bill through…

But we have STILL have a chance to stop them in the SENATE…TODAY!

TELL THE SENATE TO REJECT SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE
BETTER KNOWN AS “OBAMACARE”:”

 

“Even after a final barrage of over eighty thousand faxes from our members that POURED in to the U.S. House… a slight majority of Congressmen still voted to destroy our freedom in health care.

Those legislators will be feeling the WRATH of voters next year — but WE still have our work cut out for us NOW!

WE HAVE NOT LOST. The bill pushed by Obama, passed by leftist Democrats in the House — and rejected by all but one turncoat Republican — must now head over to the U.S. Senate…

And we CAN defeat it there!

In fact… we can stop this bill COLD TODAY. Here’s how:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) last Tuesday laid the groundwork for the Senate’s healthcare reform debate to start TODAY – Tuesday, Nov. 17th. Reid filed a motion to introduce the bill yesterday, Monday, Nov. 16. Anticipating a Republican objection, the bill would be pushed onto the Senate calendar.

BUT… Reid’s action last Tuesday sets up a critical vote this week on a motion to proceed to the bill. Such a motion would require 60 votes to succeed — and there’s a GOOD CHANCE that Reid does NOT have those 60 votes!

Reid needs a majority (51) to pass the motion to proceed so the Senate can begin debating and amending the bill.  If Republicans filibuster this motion, he will need 60 votes to invoke cloture and shut off debate.

THIS IS IT — one of our BEST chances to kill this bill, before it even gets off the ground!”

 

“Remember, this bill is the worst of all possible bills. It’s chock full of every far-left special interest socialistic dream imaginable. Here’s some of what’s in its TWO THOUSAND PAGES:

  • The CBO estimates that H.R. 3962, the health bill that the House passed, would cost $1.2 TRILLION over 10 years, including the cost to states for mandated Medicaid expansion ($34 billion), the “Doc Fix” ($245 billion), and authorized discretionary spending for grants, public programs, changes and funding for a variety of agencies that would be responsible for implementing H.R. 3962.
  • The bill protects trial lawyers. The bill gives money (authorized at “such sums”) to states that enact “certificate of merit” (a document signed by a medical professional that says there is a probability that the standard of care was violated) and / or a certificate of “early offer” (an early, confidential apology) laws, as long as the states don’t limit attorneys’ fees or impose caps on damages.
  • The current version will give billions of dollars of taxpayer healthcare benefits to ILLEGAL ALIENS in America. It would allow illegal aliens to use the new healthcare “exchange” and would not require verification to keep illegal aliens out of the other parts of the proposed federal healthcare system. Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus fought back against reports that leaders would add Senate language to block illegal immigrants from participating in the insurance exchange.
  • It will create a nationwide federal government program, the “public option,” which will pay for abortion on demand — with federal funds, of course, because that is what federal agencies spend.

Liberals in the House AND the Senate ignored us when the majority said, “NO BAILOUT.” They ignored us when the majority said, “NO FAKE STIMULUS.” Now, they’re trying to ignore us when the majority demands with a clear voice, “NO GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE!””

 

“We all remember when President Obama stood in front of a joint session of Congress — and LIED. He LIED when he said they weren’t planning to set up “end-of-life panels” — his cronies have promoted the idea for a long time now. He LIED when he said his “reforms” wouldn’t insure illegal aliens — it has been clearly shown that there would be NO WAY to prevent this from happening. He LIED when he said that his “government option” health care plan would not force taxpayers to pay for abortions — the Obama-backed House bill would explicitly authorize the federal government insurance plan to pay for elective abortions and would explicitly authorize taxpayer subsidies for private abortion insurance.

The American people are TIRED of being lied to — which is why over ONE MILLION of us went to Washington, D.C., to bring the voice of the MAJORITY to the doorstep of Congress. You see, the “sleeping giant” in America has been awoken… and we aren’t going back to sleep… not while our own government tries to cram a socialist health care plan down our throats!

And on top of all of this… the fact remains that we can’t AFFORD this plan! In the face of an estimated $1.85 trillion federal budget deficit for FY2009 and projected trillion dollar annual deficits for the foreseeable future, how can anyone in Congress vote for this health care plan, which will cost over $1 trillion over the next ten years? Plus, Congress is facing at least $53 trillion of unfunded liabilities due to its passage of the previous entitlement programs, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the recent addition of prescription drug coverage for Medicare. How can anyone in Congress vote for a new entitlement program for health care when Congress has not even begun to face up to this unfunded liabilities problem?

Well, they’re trying to — but WE can stop them, with YOUR help!

TAKE ACTION: Even the Democrats are now admitting that it’s conceivable that we might not even get passage this week on the usually perfunctory motion to proceed to debate. That’s because Republicans will filibuster even that, requiring 60 votes… and there are at least two Democrats who could join that filibuster.

BUT THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM US TO BE CONVINCED!

We CANNOT let the radical liberals in Congress — and the White House — force this plan for socialized health care on the American people! That’s why we’ve set up our website to enable you to send a strong message to every single member of the U.S. Senate, OPPOSING this outrageous plan.

For about what it would cost you in time and telephone charges, you can send Blast Faxes to Democrats, Republicans, Independents — EVERYONE in the U.S. Senate, DEMANDING that they REJECT this socialized health care plan NOW”

 

New York City terrorist trial, US Constitution, 9/11 criminals, Al Qaeda, November 18, 2009 protest, Eric Holder, Larry Sinclair for Congress, Michele Bachmann, Jim DeMint, Trent Franks, Steve King

I oppose conducting the 9/11 terrorists trial in New York City because the defendants are war criminals and not US Citizens. They should be tried by a military tribunal or other setting appropriate for judging war criminals. Other people oppose trying them in NY for other reasons. I respect their wishes.

Larry Sinclair is running for Congress in Florida District 24. Larry Sinclair has a love for this country and much common sense. I spoke to Larry last night and we were in agreement. The 9/11 terrorists are not US Citizens and not entitled to the protection of the US Constitution.

This was posted here last night.

Wednesday, November 18, 9:30 am protest of 9/11 trial in New York City

“Dear Supporters,

Americans, it is time to unite, not as Republicans or Democrats, not as conservatives or liberals or progressives. It is time to unite as citizens.

President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have forgotten that their chief duty is the safety and the security of the American people. It is time for us to remind them.

AG Eric Holder will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, November 18, to testify about the administration’s plan to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed back to the scene of Al Qaeda’s greatest single atrocity — Ground Zero — where he will brag about the slaughter of 3,000 innocent men, women and children and his lawyers will tell a “jury of his peers” that HE is a victim of the U.S. Government.

This is insanity.

Please join 9/11 Families for a Safe & Strong America, the firefighters of TheBravest.com and Keep America Safe in Washington, D.C. to tell Eric Holder, President Obama and their supporters in Congress: “We will fight you all the way!”

We know this is short notice, but that’s how the Administration planned it. They are counting on you just sitting this out, yelling at the cable news coverage of this outrage — instead of showing up and changing the narrative in the MSM echo chamber.

Where:
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room G-50
Constitution Avenue and 1st Street, NE
U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.

When:
Wednesday, November 18, 9:30 am (Get there at very early, as seating is limited.)

Who:
Attorney General Eric Holder

Sincerely,

Keep America Safe

P.S. Over 100,000 concerned Americans have joined us and signed our letter to President Obama. If you haven’t done so already, please read and sign the letter today!”

 
Today, Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 11:00 a.m, at the House Triangle outside the U.S. Capitol
 
“TODAY REP MICHELE BACHMANN, SEN JIM DEMINT JOIN AMERICANS AGAINST GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER”

“Congresswomen Michele Bachmann (R- Minnesota), Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), Congressman Trent Franks (R-Arizona), and Congressman Steve King (R-Iowa) are among those who are planning to be present at this event.

Janet Folger, founder and president of Faith2Action, will also be one of the participants in this press conference. “Pink slips nearly 3 times the size of the Washington Monument have already been delivered to Congress demanding that the government stay out of health care, energy, and speech,” declared Folger, “it’s encouraging to know that message is finally being heard-and not a moment too soon.”

Senator DeMint stated that “these pink slips are getting to people right now. It’s the only reason people haven’t passed something [the health care bill] in the Senate. …Keep it up and let’s keep trying to draw attention to it.”

Meanwhile, more than 4.5 million pink slip warning notices have already been sent to Congress by concerned citizens across the nation through WorldNetDaily and the website: www.SendCongressaPinkSlip.com.

“Placed end to end, the ‘pink slips’ would stretch from the District of Columbia to the Sears Tower in Chicago,” said Joseph Farah, CEO of WorldNetDaily, who will also be participating in the press conference.  “If stacked, the pile of pink would be taller than the Sears Tower itself.”

U.S. Representative Tom Price (R-Georgia) said, “They’re talking about it, but they’re only talking about it behind closed doors and in the elevators as they go up and down and in very whispered tones.  Because, what you hear are people saying, ‘How many of those did you get or how many people came to your office today? And what are you going to do and how are you going to vote on this?””