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Vapor Bill Outrage in the Imperial Senate

How sustainable a political position does this sound like: You can’t see the Senate ObamaCare legislative language and we will not tell you how much it costs.

Here is how the San Francisco Examiner put it in their editorial:

When then-Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama promised not to sign major legislation until it had been posted on the Internet for public reading at least five days, trusting voters took him at his word.

Now they know better. Not only is the actual language of what is likely to become the main legislative vehicle for Obama’s signature health care reform not available on the Internet, it hasn’t been given to members of the key Senate committees or the Congressional Budget Office.

Welcome to the Imperial Senate whose leaders view the public with contempt and the elitist attitude that you should not see the legislative language because you cannot understand it. You should not know how Medicare is being cut, or how you are going to taxed, or how the bill change every health plan in the nation.

We know, and we don’t want you to know — is the Democrats position in the Senate. They are shredding that trust, they are stomping it into the ground and burning it in public.

What are the Democrats hiding in that legislative language? What is in it they do not want the public to see? If the health care debate has taught the American public anything, then its the devil is in the details. But the Senate Democratic leadership says: you don’t get to see the details. We, instead have this new thing called the Vapor Bill: don’t read it (we won’t let you) just support it.

Perhaps this is why political analyst Charlie Cook recently said about the Independent voters: “they hate Congress something awful.” If you don’t believe Charlie Cook, then maybe you will believe this nine-month tracking chart by Gallup.

In order to make the deals they need to make, no one can see the legislative language or the wheels will come off. How can you make a contradictory promise about taxes, the public option, illegal immigrants getting health care, Medicare care cuts and abortion, and expect the legislative language to contain those contradictions? So, in order to keep the wheels on, the legislative language will not be released until after the Senate has already begun consideration of the bill.

The Congressional Budget Office cannot accurately score ObamaCare without legislative language (duh).

Frank Luntz recently said in his in depth interviews with a cross-section of all types of Americans, more than 7 out of 10 said they are “mad as hell and are not going to take it anymore.”

Count me among them.

The arrogance and outright imperialistic nature of the Senate insisting that they can bring a bill without legislative language to the Senate floor — a bill without legislative language is a Vapor Bill — without showing it to the American people, Senators or anyone else is essentially a complete violation of the scared trust between the elected class and the American voter.

The Vapor Bill strategy that Brian Darling of the Heritage Foundation has been warning about for a week was just confirmed by a senior aide to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Reid: he will use a shell bill and bring it up for consideration — a blank. Here is Darling’s new assessment, posted moments ago, titled Congress’ Secret Plan to Pass ObamaCare.

The Senate Majority Leader is politically a dead man walking — he has a 36% approval rating in his own state and is up for re-election in 2010 — can you say Out of Touch? He must know that his Vapor Bill strategy is like pouring gasoline on a blazing fire. His position is clear: the only way Democrats can survive the blaze is to proceed to the Vapor Bill on the Senate floor.

In the meantime Majority Leader Reid will not release any legislative language and will not have an accurate CBO score.

The Democrats are evolving the Vapor Bill into a way to include the public option in the bill, without a filibuster.

Here is a message for the Democrats: If you think you can get away with the Vapor Bill Imperial Senate routine, think again. What you are really doing is taking a 12 gauge shotgun and blowing off your own knee. (Pssst, you are knee-capping yourself).

And until the Dems release the actual legislative language prior to it being considered on the Senate floor, and that has been scored by CBO — the American public will focus their anger on the Dems in the Senate because of their contempt for the public, their arrogance and their Imperialistic attitude.

COMMENTS

  • Scope

    the legislation, but rather, they know that even those that may not understand it, or who don’t have time to read a bill, will have it thoroughly explained to them, in plain english, by more than just the radio show hosts. It’s not a matter of “we’re too dumb”, it’s more a fear of “it will never pass if it sees the light of day.”

    Very interesting that the quoted article comes from a San Fran Nan newspaper. She will probably run them out of town now.

    • Dan Perrin

      I also think they think that if the actual language is released they will not pass it because someone will find something, some where.

      • Scope

        Of course those that voted for/support Obama are in fact to dumb to understand much of anything. My point was that the Conservatives/Republicans that did not/don’t support the Marxist regime are much better informed and aware. They do pay attention to legislation coming out of a Liberal Congress, who has a 21% approval rating. I’d rather believe that they are too dumb to understand just how smart and educated we are.

  • Scope

    Republicans/Conservatives would stop saying that “they think we are so dumb” and chage that to “they know their supporters are too dumb.” Conservatives are among the most politically, and otherwise, educated among the electorate.

    • Dan Perrin

      Obviously they are wrong and elitist, but they are in fact wrong.

  • jimmuy8

    They proved that when they voted for that man.

    • IJB

      Extrapolating from Obama’s election is a hazardous proposition for anyone one either side of The Ditch(tm).

      Just because a majority elected the guy does not mean a majority will just sit back and let these guys roll all over them.

      But Dems are incapable of anything but ‘overreach’. Even losing the House and Senate next year won’t change them.

      • Dan Perrin

        but when even Chris Matthews last night says the President and the Democrats should stop with the health care focus and move to the economy, you know that they must be getting very uneasy.

        • Sunnie57

          Wow, even Chris Matthews realizes that they are acting dumb. lol

          Also, here are the targeted senators to call, folks:

          http://www.rallycongress.com/freedomworks/2435/call-congress-urge-no-vote-on-obamacare/

          Tell them to vote NO! for Obamacare.

  • pythandmoan

    who blog here at Redstate. I have yet to hear any arguments about the legitimacy of a vapor bill. Can a law thus passed and filled in later pass constitutional muster? Who is being represented by a vote on a fill-in-the-blanks bill? I’m just a dumb average voter, but I would think the Supremes might have a thought or two about writing a law after the vote has been tallied. Did I miss some blogs on this?

    • Dan Perrin

      the problem comes down to one of standing and that this is purely a Congressional issue.

      At least that is what I was told and would be open to any other interpretation for moving in the courts on this….

      • pythandmoan

        like when the city council votes to have the comptroller write a blank check for road equipment to the truck dealership which is owned by the mayor’s brother.

  • yoyo

    When faced with this, what can we do?

    I am dead serious. TODAY, what can “WE THE PEOPLE” do? Revolt? There is no Constitutional recourse that I know of to address this. The courts? …as if.

    And please, PLEASE do not tell me to go “Call/write my Senator(s) and Congressman [all three are against it - well, maybe not LO Graham, but who knows with him], so that is an exercise of “preaching to the choir” for me. I know that DeMint and Henry Brown, Jr are against it, all the way. The only other Rep close to my district is the illustrious House Majority (Nancy) Whip(ped), James Clyburn. Hmmph – now THAT call would be an absolute and total waste of my time and oxygen.

    Voting these dung-heaps out of office in 2010 and 2012 does not solve the “Urgency of NOW.” 13 months may be about 11 months too late.

    What can we do NOW?

    • Dan Perrin

      Representative’s office, invite the press, film and post it on youtube and have clearly painted signs with lots of folks.

      This is the next step beyond call or write your Senator or U.S. House Rep.

      • Scope

        After Perriello voted for Cap and Trade in the house, the local tea party held a rally in front of his Charlottesville office. Perriello refused to talk to the people assembled. They held another rally in front of his office in an attempt to have him answer some questions, his office was informed of the upcoming rally. One of his staff members informed the ralliers that he was out of town, yet, it was known that he was just a few miles away, at UVA making a speech. The police showed up, and everyone was asked to disburse, which they did, fearing arrest if they didn’t.

  • dclamage

    The Senate Democrats clearly believe the American people, who stupidly voted a man into the White House who was clearlty unqualified for the job, are also too stupid or uncaring to worry about a vapor bill.

    • Dan Perrin

      “vapor bill” (in quotes) you get about 5,000 hits. Word is getting out and they are beginning to get uncomfortable.

  • closetcon

    There are a number of minor typos in this, but one is particularly apropos.

    You talk about a vapor bill being a violation of the trust between elected officials and the public, however you transpose two letters of “sacred”:

    “…is essentially a complete violation of the scared trust between the elected class and the American voter.”

    Which is exactly how the elected class should always feel about violating the sacred trust!

  • astrolite

    The democrat party hasn’t had any credibility since 1971 when they were taken over by the communists! Under the communist manisfesto—any or subtrifuge is acceptable if it furthers the cause! No agreements or contracts need be kept for the same reason! By now some of the people are “geting wise” these laws are not a mistake— but an orchestrated effort to destroy the USA.

  • novacalif

    Years ago my brother was an aid to a California State Senator. One day will sitting in the balcony of the Assembly chamber a bill came up in executive session. Leo McCarthy, then speaker of the Assembly, when told that the people didn’t want the proposed legislation said, “I don’t care what they want. We know what is best for them and we’re going to give it to them!”

    That is the mentality of most of those who are in Washington.

    novacalif

  • wildbillfromalaska

    If you,like a growing number of Americans are fed up with federal laws/mandates that intrude on your daily lives and constitutionally guaranteed rights,then read the following article and then work on getting your state lawmakers to pass similar legislation for your respective states.

    Michael Boldin
    Tenth Amendment Center
    July 19, 2009

    On Friday, July 10th, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin signed House Joint Resolution 27 (HJR27), sponsored by State Rep. Mike Kelly. The resolution ?claims sovereignty for the state under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States.?

    The House passed the resolution by a vote of 37-0 (3 not voting) and the Senate passed it by a vote of 40-0.

    Six other states have had both houses of their legislature pass similar resolutions ? Tennessee, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma and Louisiana ? Alaska joins Tennessee as the second to have such a resolution signed by the Governor.

    A GROWING MOVEMENT

    Passage of this resolution appears to be part of what is now a growing state-level resistance to the federal government on various levels. Similar 10th Amendment resolutions have been introduced in 37 states around the country, and various states are considering single-issue legislation in direct contravention to federal laws.

    Most recently, the Arizona Legislature passed a measure for public approval on the 2010 state ballot that would give Arizona voters the opportunity to nullify, or opt out, of any potential national health care legislation.

    Since 2007, more than two dozen states have passed legislation refusing to implement the Real ID act of 2005. In response, the federal government has recently announced that they want to ?repeal and replace? the law due to a rebellion by states.

    Pending legislation in states around the country also includes preventing state law enforcement officials from enforcing federal laws, refusing federal gun regulations, refusing to send a state?s national guard to any duty other than what the constitution authorizes, legalizing marijuana for various purposes and more.

    Wild Bill
    Soldotna,Alaska

    • Achance

      Since the Alaska Senate only has twenty members, where did they get the forty votes?

      • Jack_Savage

        Everybody gets two.

        • SteveLA