Via The Hill comes this remarkable piece indicating that Nancy Pelosi is throwing up the white flag in a last-ditch effort to save the Democrat Majority from summary pummeling in 2010:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has privately told her politically vulnerable Democratic members that they will not vote on controversial bills in 2010 unless the Senate acts first.
After a year of bruising legislative victories that some political analysts believe have done more to jeopardize her majority than to entrench it, Pelosi is shifting gears for the 2010 election.The Speaker recently assured her freshman lawmakers and other vulnerable members of her caucus that a vote on immigration reform is not looming despite a renewed push from the White House and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. The House will not move on the issue until the upper chamber passes a bill, Pelosi told the members.
But according to Democrats who have spoken to Pelosi, the Speaker has expanded that promise beyond immigration, informing Democratic lawmakers that the Senate will have to move first on a host of controversial issues before she brings them to the House floor.
“The Speaker has told members in meetings that we’ve done our jobs,” a Democratic leadership aide said. “And that next year the Senate’s going to have to prove what it can accomplish before we go sticking our necks out any further.”
For those who aren’t keeping track, given the total failure of the Senate to accomplish anything on Obama’s legislative agenda other than throw tons of money in the direction of Wall Street Bankers, Pelosi’s decision here comes as a complete surrender of any hope of advancing the liberal agenda. Unlike the netrooters who keep insisting that the House is unpopular because they’re not passing MORE leftist bills, Pelosi can actually read polls and therefore has concluded that she’s not going to sacrifice any more of her pawns unless legislative gains will result.
The Democrats are in a difficult position, here: If they fold up on their legislative agenda, they will have to go back to the voters in 2010 with the message that they accomplished nothing enriching the Wall Street “fat cats” (to borrow a term from President Obama). This won’t please their voting base or even independents who genuinely (if naively) thought the Democrats would do something to fix the economy, end the war, cut the deficit, etc. However, the polling is clearly indicating that the things they would actually like to do would make them more unpopular than they already are. It’s a pickle, no two ways about it.
I feel terrible for Nancy Pelosi, being stuck in this position. I really do.
Moe Lane
Dan McLaughlin
Dan Spencer
Jeff Emanuel
Neil Stevens
Well
Matthew Morris (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 2:38PM EDT (link)I for one don’t.
“I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Ipsum esse subsistens
CongressLemmings
farstar99 (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 7:01PM EDT (link)I propose a new term for Reid and Pelosi’s Kamikaze Democrats – CongressLemmings.
They follow their Pied Piper Rat Leader of Hamelin to their doom.
2010 Congressional Election Update
ringthelibertybell Thursday, December 17th at 12:24AM EDT (link)Here is a snapshot of the 2010 Elections:
U.S. HOUSE: Dems=258, Repubs=177, Republicans need to beat 41 democrats, and lose no Republican seats, to take the House in 2010, and to have the majority of votes needed to elect Republican John Boehner, as the new Republican Speaker of the House, and boot Nancy Pelosi out as the Speaker.
(takes 218 out of 435 seats to make a majority
in the House)
In the 1994 Republican Revolution, House
Republicans picked up 54 seats.
All of the House is up for reelection in 2010,
so all Democrats can be voted out in 2010.
———————————————————
U.S. SENATE: Dems=58, Repubs=40, Independent=2
(Bernie Sanders and Joe Lieberman)
Roughly 1/3 of the Senate is up for reelection every 2 years.
37 Senators are up for reelection in 2010, and
of those 37, 19 are Democrats, and 18 are
Republicans.
Republicans need to lose no Senate
Seats in 2010, and beat 20 Dems (gain 20 Senate seats)to have the 60 cloture-vote margin (filibuster-proof) to pass
legislation, but there are only 19 Democrats
up for reelection in 2010 to beat, so the
other 1 added Senate seat will have to be
done in 2012, if Joe Lieberman, the
Independent moderate, does not caucus (vote)
with them on enough legislation.
If the Republicans pick up all 19 Democrats Senate seats, and lose no Republican Senate Seats in 2010, they will have the Independent Senator Joe Lieberman, who caucuses (votes) with them some of the time, to give them the 60 Senate votes the Republicans need to pass some legislation in 2010.
In the 1994 Republican Revolution, Senate
Republicans picked up 8 seats.
———————————————————
List of the 19 Senate Democrats up for
reelection or retiring in 2010:
-Ted Kaufman (D) of Delaware (Repubs Mike
Castle and Christine O’Donnell challenging)
-Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas (Repubs Gilbert
Baker and Curtis Coleman challenging)
-Barbara Boxer of California (Repubs Chuck
DeVore and Carly Fiorina-rino? challenging)
-Michael Bennet of Colorado (Repubs Jane
Norton, Ken Buck, and Cleve Tidwell challenging)
-Christopher Dodd of Connecticut (Repubs Rob
Simmons, Sam Caligiuri, and Peter Schiff are
challenging)
-Daniel Inouye of Hawaii (Repub Gov. Linda
Lingle possible challenger)
-Roland Burris of Illinois (Repubs Mark Kirk
and Patrick Hughes challenging)
-Evan Bayh of Indiana (Repub challengers
include Marlin Stutzman)
-Barbara Mikulski of Maryland (Repub
challenger Eric Wargotz)
-Paul G. Kirk Of Massachusetts (Special
election held in Jan 2010, Republican
challenger to be announced)
-Harry Reid of Nevada (Repub challengers
include Dan Tarkanian and Sue Lowden)
-Kirsten Gillibrand of New York (Possible Repub
challengers Rudy Gulianni and Liz Feld)
-Chuck Schumer of New York (*NO REPUBLICAN
CHALLENGER YET)
-Byron Dorgan of North Dakota (possible Repub
challengers Paul Sorum, John Heoven, and Duane Sand)
-Ron Wyden of Oregon (*NO REPUBLICAN
CHALLENGER YET)
-Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania (Repub
challenger Pat Toomey)
-Patrick Leahy of Vermont (Repub challenger
Len Britton)
-Patty Murray of Washington (Repub challenger
George Nethercutt)
-Russ Feingold of Wisconsin (Repub challenger
Dave Westlake)
Beat EVAN BAYH => www.GoMarlin.com
redstatesuccess Thursday, December 17th at 1:27PM EDT (link)We have several great candidates running against Sen. Evan Bayh, the DC Millionaire, but Marlin is the one with genuine experience as a farmer and small business owner, a few years demonstrating a conservative record in the Indiana legislature, and the aptitude to put on a statewide campaign, making opportunities not just waiting for them.
Indiana has a RINO senator and “Bayh the Dem” who only gets more conservative when nearing an election year. Bayh doesn’t stand up and fight when it counts, and only puts on a show when he can get some press on his charade.
PLEASE, PLEASE, visit www.GoMarlin.com to donate (or volunteer if you’re in or near Indiana). At the very least, please pass the word along. Marlin put in a lot of hours (and about 15,000 miles) this past year campaigning across the state and building his team up. He has a turnkey foundation for his run against Bayh, but given Bayh’s financial standing we need to give Marlin all the help we can.
We know this is the year. We know the issues are on our side. Let’s push senate candidates like Stutzman (IN), Rubio (FL), and Patrick Hughes (IL) into the foreground.
www.GoMarlin.com
BUt don't all spending bills need to be started in the house
Leopard1996 (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 2:39PM EDT (link)You know that whole Constitution thing and all. But that is just a pesky detail.
“The accumluated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout, “Save Us!”….and I’ll look down and whisper, “No”…The Watchmen
No, just taxing bills.
Loren Heal (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 7:09PM EDT (link)And even there, it’s really just a matter of paperwork. If the Senate has the votes, Reid can sit while Nancy passes something that says to raise taxes. Then Reid attaches his bill to that, and they reconcile.
Or they can be trickier, and Nancy can pass a vapor Resolution Honoring Daisies and Kittens (to be revised and extended), Reid attaches that, and they reconcile.
Just one of many ways our elected officials don’t give a tinker’s cuss about the plain words of the Constitution.
–
Join the Concord Project, and follow @lheal, if you dare.
Thanks for the clarification, -nt
Leopard1996 (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 7:41PM EDT (link)“The accumluated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout, “Save Us!”….and I’ll look down and whisper, “No”…The Watchmen
All they follow is one phrase in Article I Section 5
bk (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 10:24AM EDT (link)“Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings….”
To Reid and Pelosi, this means they get to override anything else in the Constitution.
Deja Vu
briann (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 2:41PM EDT (link)Didn’t Pelosi say this after the Cap & Tax Vote? i.e. before the house voted on the health case bill?
-Bri
You're joshing Leon, right
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 2:44PM EDT (link)You feel sorry for Pelosi for being in the position of not being able to push her liberal agenda forward? Yikes!
You're joshing Leon, right
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 2:44PM EDT (link)You feel sorry for Pelosi for being in the position of not being able to push her liberal agenda forward? Yikes!
Waterboarded?
Castor (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 2:48PM EDT (link)Hey, Leon. Don´t tell me you feel sorry for Pelosi. She was just mentally waterboarded and we all know that that isn´t torture!
Leon, your sincerity is compelling
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 2:49PM EDT (link)I feel terrible for Nancy Pelosi being stuck in this position. I really do.
I feel exactly the same as you do.
And……..that’s what she said.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
Shouldn't we be sending Nancy flowers...
Erick Brockway (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 9:33PM EDT (link)…or something?
You know, there’s one rare one that opens once a year and stinks up the place.
Nahh, she spent enough on floews this year anyway.
Seems to me Pelosi has already started trying to stroke her base by saying “The GOP is the Party of No(tm)” again.
I think she meant to say “know”, but I’m not sure.
Note to lefties;
“Don’t be afraid to see what you see.” -Ronald Reagan
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As if anything they will vote on in 2010
ericstenner Wednesday, December 16th at 2:55PM EDT (link)will be as bad as Pelosicare. Thanks to her there are now 220 reps who have “Voted for health care” on their resumes.
Amnesty Would Be Just As Bad As Pelosi Care (nt)
IJB Wednesday, December 16th at 9:38PM EDT (link)Not even on ObamaPelosiReidCare?
Crowe (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 3:09PM EDT (link)Considering the chances of a bill getting out of the Senate and successfully through a conference committee in a form that would gain a majority in the House and overcome cloture in the Senate and all in the next 6 days are nearly nil, this means either the healthcare bill is dead or she’ll have to break her promise, and in the most caucus-destroying way imaginable…
Delicious.
I don’t even feel sarcastically sorry for her.
“We sleep soundly in our beds only because
rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence upon those who would do us harmDear Leader Obama gives us leave to do so.”Poor Nancy
conservativegeorgian43 (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 3:32PM EDT (link)Awwwww … poor Nancy. My heart bleeds for her problems – NOT!!!
Stall, Stall, Stall
MSU_Charles Wednesday, December 16th at 3:39PM EDT (link)In light of this, the Republicans should use this opportunity to push the Senate vote into 2010. Make them go home and face the voters another time before they vote on this peice of garbage. Maybe we will get lucky and 1 or 2 of them will have a change of heart.
Unraveling
neoavatara (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 4:13PM EDT (link)The entire mess is unraveling. Stall is right. Democrats don’t look to have the ability or will power to pass any large bill now. That basically kills a third stimulus, cap and trade, etc. Immigration reform is also down the drain.
Republicans can’t be the party of ‘No’ if the Democrats aren’t even the party of ‘Yes’.
2010 is going to be fun…
http://neoavatara.com/blog/?p=9100
www.neoavatara.com/blog
On Obam's agenda I want the GOP to be the party of...
erod (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 4:40PM EDT (link)HELL NO!!!
On Obam's agenda I want the GOP to be the party of...
erod (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 4:40PM EDT (link)HELL NO!!!
They need to say they are the party of "know"
ColdWarrior (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 4:58PM EDT (link)In that they want the American people to KNOW what’s in the bills that the Debtocrats are proposing before the actual votes take place, unlike what has been going on since January of this year and which happened again today in the House.
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
As I wrote on Hot Air: Trust in Admiral Akbar....
Section9 Wednesday, December 16th at 4:13PM EDT (link)“IT’S A TRAAAAAAAAPPPPPP!!!!”
I’m sorry, but I can’t help but smell a huge rat here, as if Nancy is throwing up a huge white flag to make things a little easier for Reid, under the direction of the WH.
Am I being paranoid, or is the pressure from the Cannon Fodder Caucus (the Disposable Dems who know they are worthless to Rahm and Nancy) getting to her?
Sorry, but I just remember how things were going our way then we had a snap vote in the House one Saturday night not long ago…..
“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”-Winston Churchill
Hi Section 9...
erod (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 4:35PM EDT (link)I don’t think it’s a trap, Harry Reid is the Detroit Lions of getting legislation done. Think about it, Pelosi in all her glory, was able to ram through a very large, complex piece of legislation that the majority of Americans didn’t and don’t want. Plus she was able to do it with a thin majority of five votes after all the backroom deals and negotiations that lasted a summer.
But, things have started to change now, it looks like we’re not going to get this lump of cancer in our Christmas stockings, actually it’s becoming more and more likely that we may never get it at all, with their base turning against them and the dropping of a public option.
Remember that image of Pelosi laughing and smiling as the House bill was passed? Remember how the MSM and the Dems have told us that this was going to be a slam dunk, done deal?
Well what happens if that doesn’t happen now? Pelosi looks like a fool! Actually I guarantee that as soon as this reform fails, hopefully it does, I will Photoshop that picture and hang it in my room with the words EPIC FAIL on it.
This is the whole point Pelosi doesn’t want another epic fail. She hates losing, Reid can’t get this deal done, he’s a failure, a lame duck majority leader and so is she if this legislation goes down.
Have faith we’re winning, just think if you were a Democrat would you want to be in their position right now?
Thanks for your confidence...
Section9 Wednesday, December 16th at 5:30PM EDT (link)But I assume nothing until this bill is Dead, Dead, Dead.
That said, I hope to Hades you’re right. I’ve just seen the Beltway GOP screw up more times than I can remember.
“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”-Winston Churchill
Section 9...
erod (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 11:37PM EDT (link)It isn’t the GOP that is making this bill go down, it’s both sides of the political spectrum and public opinion, it’s almost time to start getting giddy.
Remember…
“Never, never, never, never give up.” – Winston Churchill
Hi Section 9...
erod (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 4:35PM EDT (link)I don’t think it’s a trap, Harry Reid is the Detroit Lions of getting legislation done. Think about it, Pelosi in all her glory, was able to ram through a very large, complex piece of legislation that the majority of Americans didn’t and don’t want. Plus she was able to do it with a thin majority of five votes after all the backroom deals and negotiations that lasted a summer.
But, things have started to change now, it looks like we’re not going to get this lump of cancer in our Christmas stockings, actually it’s becoming more and more likely that we may never get it at all, with their base turning against them and the dropping of a public option.
Remember that image of Pelosi laughing and smiling as the House bill was passed? Remember how the MSM and the Dems have told us that this was going to be a slam dunk, done deal?
Well what happens if that doesn’t happen now? Pelosi looks like a fool! Actually I guarantee that as soon as this reform fails, hopefully it does, I will Photoshop that picture and hang it in my room with the words EPIC FAIL on it.
This is the whole point Pelosi doesn’t want another epic fail. She hates losing, Reid can’t get this deal done, he’s a failure, a lame duck majority leader and so is she if this legislation goes down.
Have faith we’re winning, just think if you were a Democrat would you want to be in their position right now?
Hear that???
erod (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 4:21PM EDT (link)That my friends is the sound of a Democratic collapse.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Watch out for a Daschle-Special...
larryp Wednesday, December 16th at 7:19PM EDT (link)And that is a frame-work,skeleton bill with noting in it and everything to be added later administratively. This is what DAschle said in his boo thatwas wrong with Hillary Care in the Nineties. Too much info and the voters were informed. So far they have kept us inthe dark fulfilling that comment.
So if they don’t adjourn and the session is kep open then they can vote by phone, perhaps or dash in to vote on a At or Sunday.
Skeleton, Watch for it.
If Nancy is not playing possum
Loren Heal (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 7:27PM EDT (link)then this is her trying to preserve her position at the head of the Congressional Democrats, and Speakership if possible.
She knows that she cannot be seen as the cause of too many lost seats, or she will lose a leadership fight with Hoyer or someone.
If she loses the majority, she loses her Speakership, too, and the USAF plane that goes with it.
Better to sit on her hands, hold on to power, and wait for a time to strike.
–
Join the Concord Project, and follow @lheal, if you dare.
You lie.
itrytobenice (Diary) Wednesday, December 16th at 8:15PM EDT (link)That feeling is not the feeling of sympathy or empathy. That is a feeling of gloating so hard it makes you hurt. You must have not recognized it, as we haven’t had many chances to do so over the last several years.
Proper grammar saves lives.
Let’s eat Grandma.
Let’s eat, Grandma.
Rumor has it, they are going to pass it anyway. It is like watching the Soviet Union or Mao up close
archer52 Wednesday, December 16th at 9:44PM EDT (link)Fox is stating that the Congress is going to pass something for Obama to sign and then go back and amend it to where it needs to be. I think they are right. This is worth way too much power and control to give in.
Pelosi will sacrifice as many people as she needs, and they’ll do it. Reminds me of the good party members in Mao’s China.
These are scary times
Nancy Pants
drfredc Wednesday, December 16th at 10:26PM EDT (link)Sorry Nancy Pants… your ship has already sailed…
Always, Fred C
I'm scared that
wyllyness Thursday, December 17th at 10:20AM EDT (link)the dems will do what’s close to correct to win another election, and then just do more damage after elected again. The American people voted for Obama, for crying out loud, and elected Clinton on a SECOND TERM after what he did.
What are we/they thinking??!!!
Will they all be stuped into voting for the dems again, if they make one single halfway-decent non-vote when the chips are down?
:::shaking:::