“Oh, that God the gift would give us
To see ourselves as others see us”… Robert Burns
Mike Huckabee is on a 60 city tour to promote his new book, ” A Simple Christmas.” Friday, November 13, 2009, Governor Huckabee was at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Charlotte, NC to sign copies of his book. I shook hands with Mr. Huckabee and shared a few brief comments with him about this blog.
To Governor Mike Huckabee from the Citizen Wells blog, concerned Americans across the nation.
Mr. Huckabee, you do seem to be a very nice man, there is a consenus of agreement on that, but you have offended many concerned Americans with your uninformed opinion on Obama’s eligibility issues and your stance on illegal aliens and other issues. Upholding the US Constitution and rule of law is the highest priority of the good people reading this blog as well as millions of other Americans. These are hard working, sincere Americans that do not fit neetly into compartments of birthers and right wing conservatives. This blog, like the tea party movement, represents Americans of all political parties, economic strata and religious persuasions. Your Pelosi like insults of those questioning Obama and his natural born citizen status were not taken lightly. I suggest you do some homework and listen. Even Lou Dobbs of CNN, the Communist News Network, acknowledged that the suspicious COLB presented by the Obama camp was just a piece of paper that referred to another piece of paper.
Last year Fox was the only network presenting any realistic coverage of issues surrounding Barack Obama. Sean Hannity and then Glenn Beck asked probing questions that the MSM ignored or glossed over. However, I critized Fox then for not covering controversial issues surrounding Obama. Some of those issues have now been addressed and still Fox has been hands off on the eligibility issue. Bill O’Reilly has bragged about grilling Obama in an interview last year, and perhaps, compared to the MSM, he did. However, many well informed Americans, including myself, believe O’Reilly gave Obama a free ride.
So Governor Huckabee, it is somewhat understandable why you were ill informed regarding Obama’s eligibility. However, ultimately, you should not have insulted well informed, concerned Americans who rightfully believe that Obama is not a natural born citizen. It is not too late. Below are comments from the good Americans of this blog. Some retired military, some with legal educations, but all genuinely care about this country.
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 3:08pm Pixel Patriot
“Huckabee might be a nice man but he is still a hypocrite. You can’t condone ILLEGAL immigration and open borders during a time of war while there are laws on the books going unfunded and unenforced. I would have more respect for him if he advocated compassionately deporting the ILLEGAL immigrants ASAP and hitting the employers with hefty fines while simultaneously changing the immigration laws so that more are allowed to enter every year but from the back of the line. If the families don’t want to be separated, the families go too until they get back in. No more anchor babies. Also, the radical Islamic jihadists are the first to go and it is just fine if the door hits them in the butt on the way out!
Oh, don’t forget that Huckabee is on record saying Obama is a citizen and born in Hawaii. Huckabee is either complicit in covering for Obama’s crimes via silence or too incomprehensibly negligent to be a candidate for the office of the POTUS and not have a legal research team to definitively determine his opponents’ eligibility when in question as obvious as it was. Remember, the BC is not the issue; it is the dual nationalities which Obama publicly admitted to before the election.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 3:30pm Maddie
“Great points, Pixel Patriot. Although there are
plusses with Huckabee, I did hear him go down
the complacent trail of citizen and Hawaii. I’m not hitching my wagon to anyone who does that.
Ba-bye Huck.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 3:45pm citizenwells
“Huckabee was not my candidate in 2008 and I do not know if I could ever
vote for him.
However, he is intelligent and articulate and is not going away.
He appears to have opened his eyes on the Obama Camp and
he may be trainable.
Does he have the scruples he appears to have?
We will find out.” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 4:06pm c.n.d.e. ville II
“At the moment, my litmus test for the salvageableness of any office holder is the eligibility issue. If Huckabee today starts asking questions about o’s background and eligibility for office, I MIGHT move him from my “I want you our of our government immediately” list to my “okay, maybe not immediately, but you had REALLY better mean this” list.
Realistically, since, at the moment, no potential candidates seem to pass my test, I may have to revise my standards. Sigh. lol Story of my life.
I dunno, if we keep settling for the lesser of evils, will we ever get the good (with warts and all, of course)?” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 4:53pm Don
“Huckabee isn’t my first choice. I would vote for him as the lesser of two evils, like I did McCain.
I did NOT like his stance on illegal aliens.” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:06pm Maddie
“ARMY DAV—That’s exactly when I took him off the list—we are not right wing loonies.
Mr. Huckabee has now joined the ostriches
with their heads stuck in the sand—
hear no evil, see no evil little “cozy clan!””
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:08pm Magna Carta
“I do not trust Huckabee.There was a rape case or something in his home state and he let the guy out or something that really got some people worked up…THEY DID NOT WANT HIM TO ADVANCE.
Then,he did the Wal-Mart thing with illegals..pushing for DREAM ACT…etc…
Snake-oil salesman in my book.” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:10pm Linda from NY
“Huckabee is a likable guy; soft-spoken and not apt to “go off the deep end,” but not POTUS material IMHO.
If he is complicit in the eligibility issue as many of you have said, then I cannot trust him to lead.
The “lesser of two evils” vote never appealed to me…that expression just irks me.
I am looking for the man/woman who is a proponent of the “greater good.”
They have to be more than willing to “talk the talk;” they will have to demonstrate to me they can “walk the walk.”
We need to vote in those who are willing to “fight” for the Constitution to be upheld, and the Declaration of Independence to be respected.
I am certain that will be easy to determine from what we already know.” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:13pm Buraq ’08
“I’m not interested in Mike Huckabee in any way, shape, or form.
Firstly, he is much too soft spoken. He sounds like a therapist. A person either has leadership qualities, or he doesn’t. Mike doesn’t.
Secondly, he is a typical republican.
Thirdly, he looks like Gomer Pyle.
Fourthly, I support Sarah Palin.” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 6:27pm Buraq ’08
“@ Citizenwells:
Heh, sorry. Sometimes I can get carried away.
Since the 2008 elections. I find that my patience is very thin for certain republicans. What really bugs me the most is that the GOP seems incapable of producing conservative leaders. I am very bothered by what seems to be the GOP’s intention to run the exact same failed candidates from 2008 as if they have learned nothing at all.
If they try to nominate McCain, Romney, or Huckabee again, I think my head may explode.
From my standpoint, Sarah Palin was the only bright spot from 2008.
Ideally, what I would like to see in a candidate is a true conservative fighter, and I really mean a fighter. Mike just comes across as too passive to me. Perhaps I am wrong.” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 6:47pm ARMY D.A.V.
“Romney vs Huckabee or RINO vs RINO”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 7:00pm Prairie
“My take on Huckabee. When the country is being taken over by marxists, his show has not tackled one controversial topic outside of abortion. He is the really nice boy in school- that no girl would date. He doesn’t have what it takes to lead.” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 8:04pm live oak
“Never Huckabee!!!”
Submitted on 2009/11/14 at 4:04am usapatriots-shout.blogspot.com
“Huckabee is likable but disingenous to me. What specifically turned me against him was his denial about Obama’s ineligibility to be president.
The man or woman who would be our next president will do so if He/she runs on the platform of restoring America to the republic under the Constitution, promising to challenge Obama’s sealed documents, tightening the borders, repealing the health care plan –if Senate passes it and redefining America as a Christian/Judeo country. In my observations I think Palin has the guts to do this. It also may well depend upon who runs with her and if she stays with the Republicans or creates a third party.”
Submitted on 2009/11/14 at 8:46am Portuguese Revolutionary War Hero – Peter Francisco
“COUNT me as a NOOOOOOOOOOO.
We will Not settle for an appeaser and softy. We will not settle for a coneiver and one that conspired with McAmensty during teh election to SCREW Romeny and teh Republicans therefore getting us STUCK with a RINO who hushed, handcuffed and sabotaged his VP candidate and his own candidacy by sticking up MORE for BO than Palin. After the disaster of an INSURGENCY PRESIDENCY we need a STRONG CANDIDATE that we all can support and unite behind someone fromthe Reagan Wing of the Repuke Party otherwise lets start a new party.
Palin and DeMint or Bachmann are my Top Choices and we shoudl start organizing for them strating NOW.
Forget the DISRUPTERS which is what The Huckster is right along with his running mate McCain.
We need someone with Strong Conservative Principles that clearly has the character and the guts to Stand Firm, communicate clearly and take decisive actions. Someone that we will follow without doubts or REGRETS.
Palin, DeMint, Bachmann NO BODY ELSE right now. Even Romney is too weak as a Conservative even though I like him economically, but he has disappeared and that isn’t good.
Romney should run for Kennedy’s Senate seat and maybe in 2020 run for President”
Mike Huckabee, are you going to be a Statesman or a Politician?
We want our representatives to be nice and exercise protocol to the extent that it protects the American public.
John McCain was polite last year but he did not look after the interests of the public. We fault him for that.
Governor Mike Huckabee, who ran for president in 2008 and is a regular on Fox TV, appeared at a book signing at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Charlotte, NC, today, Friday, November 13, 2009. I spoke briefly to Governor Huckabee and he is just as nice in person as he is on TV. A large crowd stood in line for the signing of Huckabee’s book, “A Simple Christmas.”
While waiting in line I spoke to several people about the state of the country, health care and Congress. All of the folks I spoke to seemed like average Americans and they weer not happy with Congress or the Health Care Bill.
One lady, much younger than I had recently moved from Florida. She has always voted and is not happy with the current state of things. She bought 6 of Huckabee’s books.
A couple near my age group were very unhappy with the state of things and especially the Health Care Bill. The lady stated I should run for office. Ouch. I must control my passion.
An older lady next to me was also concerned. She stated that she had never seen things go from bad to worse as when Obama got elected. She was very concerned but seemed pleased to hear of efforts to unseat congressmen next year.
Two jackasses must be removed from Congress. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. They are pushing hard to ram an unpopular, socialist Health Care Bill down the throat of the American public. And the mentally unstable Pelosi defends the penalties included in the bill for not signing up for health care, including jail time.
From the NY Times, November 10, 2009.
“Reid Says Health Bill Will Be Done by Christmas”
“The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, said Tuesday that he expected to bring major health care legislation to the floor next week and to complete work on the bill before Christmas. But other Democratic leaders said it was unlikely that a bill could reach President Obama’s desk by year’s end.
The House approved its version of the health care legislation late Saturday by a vote of 220 to 215. In a first procedural step toward Senate debate, Mr. Reid on Tuesday night moved to put the House bill on the Senator calendar, from which he could call it up any time after Tuesday.”
“Senate Republicans seized on new polling data showing that Americans are increasingly uncomfortable with the sweeping health care legislation. The Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said Democrats were ignoring public opinion in pressing forward with the bill.
“As we go forward here in the Senate,” Mr. McConnell said, “I hope it will not be lost on our Democratic friends where the public is, how the public feels about this measure. They’re speaking increasingly loudly that they do not think it ought to pass.””
“Does House Speaker Nanci Pelosi Dodge Tough Question on Health Care??? You decide.
Komo 4 News (ABC Seattle) Reporter Shomari Stone Asks House Speaker Nanci Pelosi about the following:
According to Committee On Ways & Means Republicans Ranking Member, Dave Camp, “the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) confirming that the failure to comply with the individual mandate to buy health insurance contained in the Pelosi health care bill (H.R. 3962, as amended) could land people in jail. The JCT letter makes clear that Americans who do not maintain acceptable health insurance coverage and who choose not to pay the bills new individual mandate tax (generally 2.5% of income), are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties, including criminal fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.”
But in all fairness, the Office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi released this information in an email to Shomari Stone about an hour AFTER THE NEWS CONFERNENCE:
“Reform includes a shared responsibility requirement, for those who dont already have insurance to either purchase affordable health insurance or pay a fee of 2.5 percent of their income so they are not driving up everyone elses health costs.
Under the bill, the only people who would face the fee for not purchasing insurance are those who can truly afford to purchase such insurance.
For those who can afford insurance but for some reason do not purchase it, they simply pay the fee a fee designed to cover their costs when they use the health care system. For a small number of people who might refuse to pay the fee, it is important to remember that, in the majority of cases, the IRS which will enforce the insurance requirement uses the CIVIL process to settle delinquent penalties and taxes.
It would only be in extremely rare circumstances that criminal prosecutions of any kind would be pursued. Indeed, in 2008, there were 156 million individual tax returns filed in the United States. Out of all of those 156 million returns, there were only 100 criminal prosecutions for willful failure to pay taxes and only for the most egregious examples of those who willfully defraud the system.””
Nancy Pelosi will stop at nothing to push her socialist agenda. Her involvement in attempts to steal the NY congressional seat recently bears this out. This blog will be reporting more on Nancy Pelosi’s past, and like her persona, it is not a pretty picture.
Did Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats steal the NY congressional seat?
Barack Obama gained the Democratic nomination with voter fraud and strong arm tactics during the primaries and caucuses along with Nancy Pelosi’s help during the convention. Obama has strong longtime ties to ACORN, masters of corruption and voter fraud. With the focus on voter fraud in 2008 that continues on into 2009, Nancy Pelosi and her corrupt cronies have achieved another level of corruption and voter fraud.
Nancy Pelosi ramroded through an unpopular, socialist Health Care Bill last weekend by a margin of 2 votes. Bill Owens apparent victory made a difference in the vote. Did Owens win the NY-23 election?
John Charlton of The Post & Email just brought a breaking story to our attention.
“It looks increasingly that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in her zeal to get the Health Care Federalization Bill passed, may have sworn in an unelected candidate for the NY-23 Congressional District, in violation of the U.S. Constitution and New York State laws.
As a matter of fact, the Secretary of State of New York has not certified the election, in which Dough Hoffman and Bill Owens vied in a special election, nearly head to head, after Scozzafava retired in humiliation, having lost the support of conservatives in her district.”
“It turns out that Pelosi’s swearing-in of Owens had the political effect of garnering the addition Republican vote, of Cao, in the vote for the Health Care Bill, which passed narrowly, 220-215. The election fraud therefore puts in doubt the legitimacy of that vote also.”
From the Syracuse Post Standard, November 12, 2009.
“Recanvassing shows NY-23 race tightens even as Rep. Bill Owens is sworn into House seat”
“Conservative Doug Hoffman conceded the race in the 23rd Congressional District last week after receiving two pieces of grim news for his campaign: He was down 5,335 votes with 93 percent of the vote counted on election night, and he had barely won his stronghold in Oswego County.
As it turns out, neither was true.
But Hoffman’s concession — based on snafus in Oswego County and elsewhere that left his vote undercounted — set off a chain of events that echoed all the way to Washington, D.C., and helped secure passage of a historic health care reform bill.
Democratic Rep. Bill Owens was quickly sworn into office on Friday, a day before the rare weekend vote in the House of Representatives. His support sealed his party’s narrow victory on the health care legislation.
Now a recanvassing in the 11-county district shows that Owens’ lead has narrowed to 3,026 votes over Hoffman, 66,698 to 63,672, according to the latest unofficial results from the state Board of Elections.
In Oswego County, where Hoffman was reported to lead by only 500 votes with 93 percent of the vote counted election night, inspectors found Hoffman actually won by 1,748 votes — 12,748 to 11,000.
The new vote totals mean the race will be decided by absentee ballots, of which about 10,200 were distributed, said John Conklin, communications director for the state Board of Elections.
Under a new law in New York that extended deadlines, military and overseas ballots received by this coming Monday (and postmarked by Nov. 2) will be counted. Standard absentee ballots had to be returned this past Monday.
Conklin said the state sent a letter to the House Clerk last week explaining that no winner had been determined in the 23rd District, and therefore the state had not certified the election. But the letter noted that Owens still led by about 3,000 votes, and that the special election was not contested — two factors that legally allowed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to swear in Owens on Friday.
“We sent a letter to the clerk laying out the totals,” Conklin said. “The key is that Hoffman conceded, which means the race is not contested. However, all ballots will be counted, and if the result changes, Owens will have to be removed.”
Before Owens was sworn in Friday, Rep. John Garamendi, a Democrat who won a special election in California, was sworn in Thursday. The two gave Pelosi the votes she needed to reach a majority of 218 and pass the historic health care reform legislation in the House.”
“Ryan said an important factor in the decision to concede was the unexpected — and erroneous — close vote in Oswego County, where polls had Hoffman with a double digit percentage point lead heading into Election Day.
“That’s the thing that threw us off,” Ryan said.
Oswego County elections officials blame the mistakes on “chaos” in their call-in center that included a phone system foul-up and inspectors who read numbers incorrectly when phoning in results. Of 245 races in the county — not including the congressional and court races — 84 had incorrect totals reported election night.
In the congressional race, more votes were cast in Oswego County than any other in the 11-county district.”
“Jerry Eaton, the Republican elections commissioner for Jefferson County, said inspectors found a problem in four districts where Hoffman’s vote total was mistakenly entered as zero.
“Hoffman definitely gained votes where he didn’t have them,” Eaton said.”
“Ryan said the absentee ballots are likely to favor Hoffman because most were likely mailed before Republican Dede Scozzafava suspended her campaign three days before the election.
“For Doug to win, we needed a three-way race,” Ryan said, adding that the campaign’s internal polls showed Hoffman would win with all three candidates.
“Given the majority of these ballots are from a three-way race, we think the ballots are going to break Doug’s way,” Ryan said.”
“83% of Americans have health insurance which leaves 17% uninsured. Health care should be made available, at low or no cost, to those uninsured AMERICANS.
However, reforming the entire health care system to accommodate 17% of the population is like taking your car to the mechanic to overhaul the engine when it only needs a tune-up and an oil change.
We don’t need 2000 pages of more regulations. How about just expanding Medicaid eligibility and then Congress can place a moratorium on ALL earmarks and pet projects in order to help pay for this health care.”….Jonah, comment on Citizen Wells Blog
Thoughts on Health Care Reform
The Citizen Wells blog has some great commenters. Hard working, common sense based Americans that care about this country. The above quote is an example not only of the comments on this blog but the opinion of most Americans.
I do not care for either political party, Republican or Democrat. However,
I applaud the Republican party for opposing the socialist health care bill before Congress and fighting attempts by the Democrat controlled Congress to spend us into ruin.
The modern day Democrat party is controlled by far left socialists and appears to be beyond help, save for a few courageous Democrats who voted against the health care bill.
We must continue to voice our concerns over government run health care and hold Congress accountable.
One of the lessons I learned along the way is this. It is not ok to simply criticize a plan. I learned this as a practical consequence of dealing with management. When one is in opposition to a plan or strategy, it is important to not just complain, but to offer a better plan. The Republicans have come up with several far superior plans that have been shunned by the Democrats. They have at their basis the strategem from above. Don’t ruin existing health care to fix it. Simply fix the problems.
The Democrat Health Care Bill is not about fixing health care. It is about control, bigger government, appealing to a support base of far left socialists, attorneys, pharmaceutical companies, abortion proponents and so on. Health care can be dramatically transformed by simply doing the following:
Opening up insurance policies across state lines.
Tort reform. That is limiting the role of trial attorneys and therefore reducing malpractice insurance costs to all segments of health care.
Providing for health insurance portability.
Providing basic health care coverage at a moderate price as a safety net for those that truly can not afford it.
Opening up the health care field to allow more doctors and PA’s. Of course lower malpractice insurance costs will help.
Republicans, Independents and some Democrats, if we allow you to enter or remain in Congress this is not a vote for status quo. We expect you to uphold and defend the US Constitution and function as statesmen and not career politicians. We also want you to fix health care and not politicize it. We are fed up with business as usual.
Government health insurance plan included in the House bill is unacceptable to some Democratic moderates who hold the balance of power in the Senate . If a government health plan is part of the deal “as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote,” Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn, said.”
“The glow from a health care triumph faded quickly for President Barack Obama on Sunday as Democrats realized the bill they fought so hard to pass in the House has nowhere to go in the Senate.
Speaking from the Rose Garden about 14 hours after the late Saturday vote, Obama urged senators to be like runners on a relay team and “take the baton and bring this effort to the finish line on behalf of the American people.”
The problem is that the Senate won’t run with it. The government health insurance plan included in the House bill is unacceptable to a few Democratic moderates who hold the balance of power in the Senate.
If a government plan is part of the deal, “as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote,” said Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut independent whose vote Democrats need to overcome GOP filibusters.
“The House bill is dead on arrival in the Senate,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said dismissively.
Democrats did not line up to challenge him. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has yet to schedule floor debate and hinted last week that senators may not be able to finish health care this year.
Nonetheless, the House vote provided an important lesson in how to succeed with less-than-perfect party unity, and one that Senate Democrats may be able to adapt. House Democrats overcame their own divisions and broke an impasse that threatened the bill after liberals grudgingly accepted tougher restrictions on abortion funding, as abortion opponents demanded.
In Senate, the stumbling block is the idea of the government competing with private insurers. Liberals may have to swallow hard and accept a deal without a public plan in order to keep the legislation alive. As in the House, the compromise appears to be to the right of the political spectrum.
Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, who voted for a version of the Senate bill in committee, has given the Democrats a possible way out. She’s proposing to allow a government plan as a last resort, if after a few years premiums keep escalating and local health insurance markets remain in the grip of a few big companies. This is the “trigger” option.
That approach appeals to moderates such as Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. “If the private market fails to reform, there would be a fallback position,” Landrieu said last week. “It should be triggered by choice and affordability, not by political whim.”
Lieberman said he opposes the public plan because it could become a huge and costly entitlement program. “I believe the debt can break America and send us into a recession that’s worse than the one we’re fighting our way out of today,” he said.
For now, Reid is trying to find the votes for a different approach: a government plan that states could opt out of.
The Senate is not likely to jump ahead this week on health care. Reid will keep meeting with senators to see if he can work out a political formula that will give him not only the 60 votes needed to begin debate, but the 60 needed to shut off discussion and bring the bill to a final vote.”
“The 220-215 vote cleared the way for the Senate to begin debate on the issue that has come to overshadow all others in Congress.
In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation Saturday night to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. Republican opposition was nearly unanimous.
The 220-215 vote cleared the way for the Senate to begin a long-delayed debate on the issue that has come to overshadow all others in Congress.
A triumphant Speaker Nancy Pelosi likened the legislation to the passage of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare 30 years later — and Obama issued a statement saying, “I look forward to signing it into law by the end of the year.”
“It provides coverage for 96 percent of Americans. It offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable health care when they need it,” said Rep. John Dingell, the 83-year-old Michigan lawmaker who has introduced national health insurance in every Congress since succeeding his father in 1955.
In the run-up to a final vote, conservatives from the two political parties joined forces to impose tough new restrictions on abortion coverage in insurance policies to be sold to many individuals and small groups. They prevailed on a roll call of 240-194.
Ironically, that only solidified support for the legislation, clearing the way for conservative Democrats to vote for it.
The legislation would require most Americans to carry insurance and provide federal subsidies to those who otherwise could not afford it. Large companies would have to offer coverage to their employees. Both consumers and companies would be slapped with penalties if they defied the government’s mandates.
Insurance industry practices such as denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions would be banned, and insurers would no longer be able to charge higher premiums on the basis of gender or medical history. In a further slap, the industry would lose its exemption from federal antitrust restrictions on price fixing and market allocation.
At its core, the measure would create a federally regulated marketplace where consumers could shop for coverage. In the bill’s most controversial provision, the government would sell insurance, although the Congressional Budget Office forecasts that premiums for it would be more expensive than for policies sold by private firms.
A cheer went up from the Democratic side of the House when the bill gained 218 votes, a majority. Moments later, Democrats counted down the final seconds of the voting period in unison, and let loose an even louder roar when Pelosi grabbed the gavel and declared, “the bill is passed.”
The bill drew the votes of 219 Democrats and Rep. Joseph Cao, a first-term Republican who holds an overwhelmingly Democratic seat in New Orleans. Opposed were 176 Republicans and 39 Democrats.
From the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada issued a statement saying, “We realize the strong will for reform that exists, and we are energized that we stand closer than ever to reforming our broken health insurance system.””
“”We are going to have a complete government takeover of our health care system faster than you can say, `this is making me sick,”‘ jabbed Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich., adding that Democrats were intent on passing “a jobs-killing, tax-hiking, deficit-exploding” bill.”
From the Marooned in Marin blog, November 7, 2009.
“GOP House Call II Rally at Capitol — Pictures and Video”
“I returned just a few minutes ago from the House Call II rally at the grounds of the US Capitol, held by Reps. Steven King and Michele Bachmann, who were joined by other GOP reps.
There was a much smaller crowd than was there Thursday, but many who were from states close to the DC area turned around and came back.
I’m currently uploading video of some of the speakers. Here’s some photos until then.”
“Rep. Joe Wilson, who received probably the loudest applause. The crowd chanted “Thank You, Joe” before he even said a word.”
“This Representative said his vote wasn’t just “No” but “Hell no!” For Virginia District 11 citizens, he noted that Rep. “Jihad” Gerry Connolly annouced his support for Obamacare, even though he doesn’t like the taxes.”
“Attendees who showed up at the rally today were allowed by the Representatives gathered there to go up in the House gallery so Pelosi and the liberal Democrats could “look you in the eye” when they vote on the bill.
Should the bill pass the House, the Reps. and Tea Party organizers are planning to have more “House Calls” of the American people on Washington during the conference meetings with the Senate.”
“Health Care Debate on Capitol Hill Begins”
“The debate on the House floor comes as President Obama prepares to make a rare visit to Capitol Hill aimed at closing the deal, a move that reflects the do-or-die stakes.”
“The House kicked off what is expected to be a tense day of debate Saturday leading up to a final vote on legislation acting on President Obama’s call for a sweeping overhaul of the health care system.
The debate on the House floor comes as Obama prepares to make a rare visit to Capitol Hill aimed at closing the deal, a move that reflects the do-or-die stakes.
The historic House vote, planned for late Saturday, was expected to be tight and Democratic leaders hoped Obama’s late-morning visit would tip the balance in their favor.
In the opening moments of debate, Democrats hailed the legislation, which would extend insurance to tens of millions of Americans and enact dramatic changes to the country’s medical system, as an advance for the nation’s social fabric and a moral and economic imperative.
Republicans said it would be a government takeover of the health care system that would damage the economy and erode the doctor-patient relationship.
Late Friday, House Democrats cleared an abortion-related impasse blocking a vote and officials expressed optimism they had finally lined up the support needed to pass Obama’s signature issue.
“We expect it to come to a vote. We expect it to have 218 votes,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Saturday.”
“With Democrats’ command of the necessary votes looking tenuous in the final hours, Obama threw the weight of his administration behind the effort to round up support. He and top administration officials worked the phones to pressure wavering lawmakers.
Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., said he heard Friday from Obama, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
Their message: “This is a historic moment. You don’t want to end up with nothing,” said Altmire, who remained undecided.
Democratic leaders hoped to hold the vote Saturday evening, but Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said it could slip.
Democrats hold 258 seats in the House and can afford 40 defections and still wind up with 218, a majority if all lawmakers vote. But all 177 Republicans were expected to vote “no,” and Democratic leaders faced a series of complications trying to seal the needed votes for their complex and controversial legislation that would affect one-sixth of the economy and touch the lives of countless Americans.”
“Democrats have little room for error, with the prospect of the 2010 midterms looming large and a some of their own moderates already declaring their opposition.”
Read more:
“We were waist deep in the Big Muddy, And the big fool said to push on.”…Pete Seeger
The arrogant Jackasses continue to push on
to ram a unpopular
Socialist
Health Care Bill
down our throats
From Fox News November 5, 2009
“House Poised to Debate, Vote on Health Care Reform Bill”
“President Obama’s sweeping vision of a health care overhaul will come to an historic debate and vote in the House this weekend.
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said the House would conclude its historic debate and vote on Saturday.
“That would be my expectation,” he said on the House floor, responding to a query from House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., who asked whether lawmakers would be able to leave Washington Saturday.
“It is our intent to finish the health care bill Saturday, Saturday night or Sunday morning,” he said.
Republicans will be allowed to offer their health care bill as an amendment, Hoyer said.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the GOP plan, while keeping premiums down and costing a mere fraction of the Democrats’ bill, would cover only 3 million more Americans. By comparison, the Democrats’ bill is projected to cover 36 million.
On Thursday, House Democratic leaders predicted swift passage of the bill and Obama declared health reform is closer to passage than ever before.
The bill received a huge boost Thursday from two major groups: The American Medical Association and the powerful seniors’ lobby AARP. AARP, with its 40 million members, promised to run ads and contact activists to gin up support.
“I urge Congress to listen to AARP, listen to the AMA, and pass this reform for hundreds of millions of Americans who will benefit from it,” Obama told reporters during an unannounced visit to the White House briefing room after the endorsements were announced.
At the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, Democrats were listening.”
Citizen WElls 
Mike Huckabee, Huckabee book tour, Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Fox show, A Simple Christmas, Huckabee 2008 presidential run, Huckabee running in 2012?, Citizen comments for Huckabee, Republican candidate
“Oh, that God the gift would give us
To see ourselves as others see us”… Robert Burns
Mike Huckabee is on a 60 city tour to promote his new book, ” A Simple Christmas.” Friday, November 13, 2009, Governor Huckabee was at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Charlotte, NC to sign copies of his book. I shook hands with Mr. Huckabee and shared a few brief comments with him about this blog.
To Governor Mike Huckabee from the Citizen Wells blog, concerned Americans across the nation.
Mr. Huckabee, you do seem to be a very nice man, there is a consenus of agreement on that, but you have offended many concerned Americans with your uninformed opinion on Obama’s eligibility issues and your stance on illegal aliens and other issues. Upholding the US Constitution and rule of law is the highest priority of the good people reading this blog as well as millions of other Americans. These are hard working, sincere Americans that do not fit neetly into compartments of birthers and right wing conservatives. This blog, like the tea party movement, represents Americans of all political parties, economic strata and religious persuasions. Your Pelosi like insults of those questioning Obama and his natural born citizen status were not taken lightly. I suggest you do some homework and listen. Even Lou Dobbs of CNN, the Communist News Network, acknowledged that the suspicious COLB presented by the Obama camp was just a piece of paper that referred to another piece of paper.
Last year Fox was the only network presenting any realistic coverage of issues surrounding Barack Obama. Sean Hannity and then Glenn Beck asked probing questions that the MSM ignored or glossed over. However, I critized Fox then for not covering controversial issues surrounding Obama. Some of those issues have now been addressed and still Fox has been hands off on the eligibility issue. Bill O’Reilly has bragged about grilling Obama in an interview last year, and perhaps, compared to the MSM, he did. However, many well informed Americans, including myself, believe O’Reilly gave Obama a free ride.
So Governor Huckabee, it is somewhat understandable why you were ill informed regarding Obama’s eligibility. However, ultimately, you should not have insulted well informed, concerned Americans who rightfully believe that Obama is not a natural born citizen. It is not too late. Below are comments from the good Americans of this blog. Some retired military, some with legal educations, but all genuinely care about this country.
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 3:08pm Pixel Patriot
“Huckabee might be a nice man but he is still a hypocrite. You can’t condone ILLEGAL immigration and open borders during a time of war while there are laws on the books going unfunded and unenforced. I would have more respect for him if he advocated compassionately deporting the ILLEGAL immigrants ASAP and hitting the employers with hefty fines while simultaneously changing the immigration laws so that more are allowed to enter every year but from the back of the line. If the families don’t want to be separated, the families go too until they get back in. No more anchor babies. Also, the radical Islamic jihadists are the first to go and it is just fine if the door hits them in the butt on the way out!
Oh, don’t forget that Huckabee is on record saying Obama is a citizen and born in Hawaii. Huckabee is either complicit in covering for Obama’s crimes via silence or too incomprehensibly negligent to be a candidate for the office of the POTUS and not have a legal research team to definitively determine his opponents’ eligibility when in question as obvious as it was. Remember, the BC is not the issue; it is the dual nationalities which Obama publicly admitted to before the election.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 3:30pm Maddie
“Great points, Pixel Patriot. Although there are
plusses with Huckabee, I did hear him go down
the complacent trail of citizen and Hawaii. I’m not hitching my wagon to anyone who does that.
Ba-bye Huck.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 3:45pm citizenwells
“Huckabee was not my candidate in 2008 and I do not know if I could ever
vote for him.
However, he is intelligent and articulate and is not going away.
He appears to have opened his eyes on the Obama Camp and
he may be trainable.
Does he have the scruples he appears to have?
We will find out.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 4:06pm c.n.d.e. ville II
“At the moment, my litmus test for the salvageableness of any office holder is the eligibility issue. If Huckabee today starts asking questions about o’s background and eligibility for office, I MIGHT move him from my “I want you our of our government immediately” list to my “okay, maybe not immediately, but you had REALLY better mean this” list.
Realistically, since, at the moment, no potential candidates seem to pass my test, I may have to revise my standards. Sigh. lol Story of my life.
I dunno, if we keep settling for the lesser of evils, will we ever get the good (with warts and all, of course)?”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 4:53pm Don
“Huckabee isn’t my first choice. I would vote for him as the lesser of two evils, like I did McCain.
I did NOT like his stance on illegal aliens.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:06pm Maddie
“ARMY DAV—That’s exactly when I took him off the list—we are not right wing loonies.
Mr. Huckabee has now joined the ostriches
with their heads stuck in the sand—
hear no evil, see no evil little “cozy clan!””
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:08pm Magna Carta
“I do not trust Huckabee.There was a rape case or something in his home state and he let the guy out or something that really got some people worked up…THEY DID NOT WANT HIM TO ADVANCE.
Then,he did the Wal-Mart thing with illegals..pushing for DREAM ACT…etc…
Snake-oil salesman in my book.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:10pm Linda from NY
“Huckabee is a likable guy; soft-spoken and not apt to “go off the deep end,” but not POTUS material IMHO.
If he is complicit in the eligibility issue as many of you have said, then I cannot trust him to lead.
The “lesser of two evils” vote never appealed to me…that expression just irks me.
I am looking for the man/woman who is a proponent of the “greater good.”
They have to be more than willing to “talk the talk;” they will have to demonstrate to me they can “walk the walk.”
We need to vote in those who are willing to “fight” for the Constitution to be upheld, and the Declaration of Independence to be respected.
I am certain that will be easy to determine from what we already know.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:13pm Buraq ’08
“I’m not interested in Mike Huckabee in any way, shape, or form.
Firstly, he is much too soft spoken. He sounds like a therapist. A person either has leadership qualities, or he doesn’t. Mike doesn’t.
Secondly, he is a typical republican.
Thirdly, he looks like Gomer Pyle.
Fourthly, I support Sarah Palin.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 6:27pm Buraq ’08
“@ Citizenwells:
Heh, sorry. Sometimes I can get carried away.
Since the 2008 elections. I find that my patience is very thin for certain republicans. What really bugs me the most is that the GOP seems incapable of producing conservative leaders. I am very bothered by what seems to be the GOP’s intention to run the exact same failed candidates from 2008 as if they have learned nothing at all.
If they try to nominate McCain, Romney, or Huckabee again, I think my head may explode.
From my standpoint, Sarah Palin was the only bright spot from 2008.
Ideally, what I would like to see in a candidate is a true conservative fighter, and I really mean a fighter. Mike just comes across as too passive to me. Perhaps I am wrong.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 6:47pm ARMY D.A.V.
“Romney vs Huckabee or RINO vs RINO”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 7:00pm Prairie
“My take on Huckabee. When the country is being taken over by marxists, his show has not tackled one controversial topic outside of abortion. He is the really nice boy in school- that no girl would date. He doesn’t have what it takes to lead.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 8:04pm live oak
“Never Huckabee!!!”
Submitted on 2009/11/14 at 4:04am usapatriots-shout.blogspot.com
“Huckabee is likable but disingenous to me. What specifically turned me against him was his denial about Obama’s ineligibility to be president.
The man or woman who would be our next president will do so if He/she runs on the platform of restoring America to the republic under the Constitution, promising to challenge Obama’s sealed documents, tightening the borders, repealing the health care plan –if Senate passes it and redefining America as a Christian/Judeo country. In my observations I think Palin has the guts to do this. It also may well depend upon who runs with her and if she stays with the Republicans or creates a third party.”
Submitted on 2009/11/14 at 8:46am Portuguese Revolutionary War Hero – Peter Francisco
“COUNT me as a NOOOOOOOOOOO.
We will Not settle for an appeaser and softy. We will not settle for a coneiver and one that conspired with McAmensty during teh election to SCREW Romeny and teh Republicans therefore getting us STUCK with a RINO who hushed, handcuffed and sabotaged his VP candidate and his own candidacy by sticking up MORE for BO than Palin. After the disaster of an INSURGENCY PRESIDENCY we need a STRONG CANDIDATE that we all can support and unite behind someone fromthe Reagan Wing of the Repuke Party otherwise lets start a new party.
Palin and DeMint or Bachmann are my Top Choices and we shoudl start organizing for them strating NOW.
Forget the DISRUPTERS which is what The Huckster is right along with his running mate McCain.
We need someone with Strong Conservative Principles that clearly has the character and the guts to Stand Firm, communicate clearly and take decisive actions. Someone that we will follow without doubts or REGRETS.
Palin, DeMint, Bachmann NO BODY ELSE right now. Even Romney is too weak as a Conservative even though I like him economically, but he has disappeared and that isn’t good.
Romney should run for Kennedy’s Senate seat and maybe in 2020 run for President”
Mike Huckabee, are you going to be a Statesman or a Politician?
We want our representatives to be nice and exercise protocol to the extent that it protects the American public.
John McCain was polite last year but he did not look after the interests of the public. We fault him for that.
Governor Huckabee, are you listening?
Governor Huckabee, will you do the right thing?
137 Comments
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