Saturday was probably the first time since the U.S. House voted to impeach Bill Clinton that I followed daily machinations leading up to the vote on H.R. 3962. Henceforth, I will affectionately refer to those supporting this $3 Trillion* load of crap as The 220.
As the final votes were being cast, I kept screaming at C-SPAN for “five more votes… five more votes” from the Democrats, which never came. Then there was that one lone vote by Louisianna’s freshman GOP Congressman Cao. Geraldo Rivera was over on FoxNews asking RNC Chair Steele (when he found out who the lone republican vote was) if he’d “take him out to the woodshed”, which gave way to quick banter that whomever it was, they were probably from a swing district. To wit, Geraldo was right, Rep. Cao squeeked by now convicted former Rep. William Jefferson during a runoff last December for LA’s 2nd Congressional District.
As I blogged over at MichelleMalkin.com, should we be upset with him? Sure. Should he be considered another Dede Scozzafava? Heck no. Congressman Cao can be brought around. He might just have a simple out by voting against whatever HealthScare bill comes out of conference.
As for myself, I was more concerned with the other persuadables out of the 219 Democrats who voted for HR 3962. I wrote and made several calls to my own freshman Michigan Congressman Mark Schauer. He still voted Aye. Thus, my last fired off correspondence to him:
Congressman Schauer,
I was deeply saddened and disappointed tonight to see that you voted for HR 3962. You have plainly chosen your leadership over your constituents and future generations of Americans.
Was your appointment Thursday to the Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit the carrot Speaker Pelosi offered you in exchange for your vote?
Regards,
Mr. Smithp.s. May November 2, 2010 be the longest night of your political career. Enjoy your last 420 days in office.
The two strongest contenders to replace liberal Pelosi licker Mark Schauer are former Congressman Tim Walberg and the brother of FL’s Rep. Tom Rooney, Brian Rooney (who has to carpetbag a few miles into MI 7th). I’ll be donating directly to both as I sort out which one I’ll be voting for come the primary.
In the meantime, please push your (or nearest) GOP Senator to back up Oklahoma’s Senator Tom Coburn’s HotAir reported effort to have the entire Health Care bill read on the Senate floor:
If Coburn and other Republicans force floor readings of the bill, that may drift into March or April. If Coburn insists on a floor reading every time the bill gets amended, it may be summertime before they can get around to it. The Senate has other business to conduct, which would interrupt floor readings that would take at least several straight days of floor time to complete for a bill that will run into the thousands of pages. And all it takes is one Senator to withhold the unanimous consent necessary to dispense with floor readings.
In effect, it would allow Coburn to have the bill filibuster itself.
How salacious would it be to have the final democrat HealthScare bill coming out of conference when all these Congressman and Senators are heading into primary and reelection season?
Very.
Daniel Horowitz
Neil Stevens
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Jake Walker
I'm more angry with my Rep. Dumbcrap (D) VA-11 I'm not angry at all with Cao...
DONTREADONME (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 1:55AM EST (link)I am also furious at Owens, I just wonder if Owens will be taken to the woodshed by the defrauded voters of NY-23. I’m furious with the Tom Perrilio or whatever the hell is his name from VA. It is going to be a bloodbath in 2010, it appears the VA democrats have no idea that they are gone next year.
Will Hoffman announce now for 2010?
Hammer2008 (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 2:16AM EST (link)That’s what I’m waiting to see happen in NY23.
After Tuesday’s election results and now after this vote, it’s going to be interesting to see how many GOP challengers announce.
Considering Ralph Reed’s sage advice a decade ago, one needs the support of three in order to be a successful candidate for office, (a) spouse/family, (b) pastor and (c) boss. I’m willing to bet they’ll be a lot more candidates after Thanksgiving…
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Too much noise! “Noise! You’ll have noise enough before long. The Regulars are coming out.” ~ Paul Revere (April 18th, 1775′s eve…)
Well we don't necessarily have to have Hoffman there
Neil Stevens (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 3:28AM EST (link)Any mainstream Republican will do.
RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Well
redtillimdead (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 12:58PM EST (link)He has a countdown till election day 2010 on his website, and Mike Pence endorsed him Wednesday or Thursday. Endorsed him for what? I think that means a 2010 campaign us up
Nancy Pelosi can kiss my asstroturf.
You *Should* Be Angry With Cao
IJB Sunday, November 8th at 10:42AM EST (link)I don’t care if his district is downtown San Francisco! Republicans should NOT vote for socialism. Period.
Cao absolutely be kicked out of the caucus. It’s a no-brainer.
Leaving him in there simply makes the Republican “Big Tent” ridiculously too large, and just encourages Tea Party people to go third party.
It’s one thing to do what Snowe did on a Committee vote. But it’s quite another to vote for a bill like this on Final Passage. It’s inexcusable.
Cao’s got to go. (And the 8 who voted for Cap ‘n’ Tax should be disciplined – they *still* haven’t been.)
Tough call
SteveLA (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 12:03PM EST (link)IJB
I think Cao was wrong, but having said that, he is in Dollar Bill Jefferson’s old Congressional seat, facing enormous pressures when it comes to re-election from the African American community of New Orleans which does support this madness.
In practical terms, what can the Republican party do here in the way of punishment for this vote or for that matter support had Cao voted with the rest of the party in face of support for this nonsense in New Orleans?
I think Cao was wrong on this vote on the facts of the Nasty Nancy Democratic so called health care reform and what it will do to this country, but what is the practical political side of the issue?
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Competency over ideological purity and litmus tests
why should we excuse it for his re-election?
mom2oneson (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 1:17PM EST (link)He should do the right thing now. What is the point of them being in office if they are just thinking of their careers and not bing conservatives. I’m totally disappointed, I thought he was good.
Not saying excuse at all
SteveLA (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 2:54PM EST (link)mom2oneson
I don’t think what I was trying to say is “excuse”, but maybe understand why he did what he did.
Facing facts, there is about no chance that a real conservative could hold a seat in New Orleans and Cao is about as good as you are going to get. The welfare state is real and people in parts of New Orleans are hooked on the narcotic called government handouts. Cao voted once again for the narcotic of free government handouts, which is the glue that keeps LA 2 going.
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Competency over ideological purity and litmus tests
Mom. The Devil called up. Cao couldn't resist. He's just human after all. nt
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 5:46PM EST (link)Oops. Sorry. I couldn't resist either. nt
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 5:49PM EST (link)why should we excuse it for his re-election?
mom2oneson (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 1:18PM EST (link)He should do the right thing now. What is the point of them being in office if they are just thinking of their careers and not bing conservatives. I’m totally disappointed, I thought he was good.
Cao
redtillimdead (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 12:51PM EST (link)Voted against Cap-and-Tax.
Cao would not have cast the deciding vote. He waited until they got the 218 to vote. He was the 2nd to last Republican to vote.
Nancy Pelosi can kiss my asstroturf.
That Makes Little Difference To Me (nt)
IJB Monday, November 9th at 12:46AM EST (link)To all conservatives here: NOW will you become involved in party politics
ColdWarrior (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 2:23AM EST (link)where it matters? Specifically, will you spend a little bit of time and effort to become a precinct committeeman?
Thank you.
ColdWarrior
In 2012, will YOU become a “voting member” of the Republican Party in your precinct?
Where it all started. Twitter @kaltkrieger
Unified Patriots.
Learn how to GOTV at The Concord Project and at Procinct and
ASAP
Hammer2008 (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 2:43AM EST (link)(meaning whenever I retire from the service)
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Too much noise! “Noise! You’ll have noise enough before long. The Regulars are coming out.” ~ Paul Revere (April 18th, 1775′s eve…)
When I Turn 18
scarlos (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 3:17AM EST (link)Just a few more weeks . .
Socialism is Oligarchy in disguise
Everyone who voted for this bill
JustLeaveMeAlone (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 3:01PM EST (link)is a traitor. I don’t care what letter comes after their name.
A traitor to America, and a traitor to our Constitution.
And I will remember it.
“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” Thomas Jefferson
If Cao was elected as a Republican
Scope (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 6:05PM EST (link)then that means there are more Republican votes in that district than there were Democrats. We keep “forgiving” Republicans that vote against us, and, it is to our peril. This morning Van Hollen (D) on Crist Wallace stated that the bill was passed with “bi-partisan” support. One Republican makes the spin Bi-partisan. I could care less what the demographics were/are in Cao’s district. Jindal is the Governor, hasn’t he been considered to be a viable Republican/Conservative candidate in 2012? The Louisana Attornet General just raided the ACORN offices, before they complete their move to Washington. I am tired of hearing that all politics are local. Just like the recent 23rd district election. When you send someone as a Representative or a Senator from your area, it becomes far less than a local issue. Did we not see that last night. They can make or break the future direction of the US, not just their local area. Local politics means who you elect for City Council, Board of Supervisors, School Borard positions etc. Once you are a federal politician, your vote for legislation affects the entire United States.
Dang straight
JustLeaveMeAlone (Diary) Tuesday, November 10th at 2:44PM EST (link)Scope “We keep “forgiving” Republicans that vote against us, and, it is to our peril.”
Amen.
If I wanted to vote for a Dem, I’d do so.
“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” Thomas Jefferson
If Cao was elected as a Republican
Scope (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 6:05PM EST (link)then that means there are more Republican votes in that district than there were Democrats. We keep “forgiving” Republicans that vote against us, and, it is to our peril. This morning Van Hollen (D) on Crist Wallace stated that the bill was passed with “bi-partisan” support. One Republican makes the spin Bi-partisan. I could care less what the demographics were/are in Cao’s district. Jindal is the Governor, hasn’t he been considered to be a viable Republican/Conservative candidate in 2012? The Louisana Attornet General just raided the ACORN offices, before they complete their move to Washington. I am tired of hearing that all politics are local. Just like the recent 23rd district election. When you send someone as a Representative or a Senator from your area, it becomes far less than a local issue. Did we not see that last night. They can make or break the future direction of the US, not just their local area. Local politics means who you elect for City Council, Board of Supervisors, School Borard positions etc. Once you are a federal politician, your vote for legislation affects the entire United States.
If Cao was elected as a Republican
Scope (Diary) Sunday, November 8th at 6:05PM EST (link)then that means there are more Republican votes in that district than there were Democrats. We keep “forgiving” Republicans that vote against us, and, it is to our peril. This morning Van Hollen (D) on Crist Wallace stated that the bill was passed with “bi-partisan” support. One Republican makes the spin Bi-partisan. I could care less what the demographics were/are in Cao’s district. Jindal is the Governor, hasn’t he been considered to be a viable Republican/Conservative candidate in 2012? The Louisana Attornet General just raided the ACORN offices, before they complete their move to Washington. I am tired of hearing that all politics are local. Just like the recent 23rd district election. When you send someone as a Representative or a Senator from your area, it becomes far less than a local issue. Did we not see that last night. They can make or break the future direction of the US, not just their local area. Local politics means who you elect for City Council, Board of Supervisors, School Borard positions etc. Once you are a federal politician, your vote for legislation affects the entire United States.