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Stunner: Steve Lynch (D-MA) Leaning Towards Voting Against The Senate Bill

By: Swamp_Yankee (Diary)  |  March 18th, 2010 at 08:51 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Stunner.

Steve Lynch is a loyal South Boston Democrat. He is also one of Nancy Pelosi’s floor whips. He has just publicly stated that he will probably vote against the Senate bill and urged the Democratic leaderships to avoid a deem and pass tactic.

So what’s different about Lynch? Two things. South Boston takes Saint Patrick’s Day very seriously. Lynch has been in South Boston all week participating in many public events. And the people have been giving him an earful. He hasn’t been sequestered in Washington.

Also, Scott Brown stunned the Massachusetts Democratic establishment by carrying South Boston. Lynch considers himself part of the old guard and he knows his supporters are flocking towards politicians like Tim Cahill and Scott Brown. His base is evaporating.

Losing a couple of loyal Democrats like Lynch could be the final nail in the coffin. Lynch’s stand may embolden other skeptical Democrats including Michael Capuano and Richard Neal of Massachusetts.

COMMENTS

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  • Mary Beth

    If not…then that is a stunner indeed.

    I keep hearing how this is going to be a squeaker…but I’ve always felt that if it falls, it’ll fall big.

    • Swamp_Yankee

      But Pelosi is having such a hard time with the handful of moderates and Blue Dogs, she doesnt have the time to for this. Even if people like Lynch are just holding their hand out, it is doomed. There is no way to negotiate that many deals before the weekend is up. Lynch is one of her own whips. Devastating.

      • Mary Beth

        But one should expect that from a party whip so I doubt he was ever considered to be a possible flip before.

        Perhaps he portends the dam breaking if he’s legit.

        But you know, he’d almost have to be legit at this point because wavering at this late date can’t do Pelosi any good at all and can pretty much only signal cracks in the foundation.

        • IJB

          …And so has decided to get out in front of the ‘No’ wave.

          If that’s what’s going on, expect the weekend vote to get cancelled within the next 24 hours.

          • Mary Beth
    • zerodefects

      “How can you tell when a politician is lying? His lips are moving.”

      I wouldn’t trust any of them as far as I could throw ‘em.

      I want this bill in the trash can with some tobacco-spit on it.

      • cwilson

        At that point, our only worry will be what a vengeful lame-duck 111th will do in December.

        • houstoneagle

          Lame ducks quack loudly!

        • sarg01

          The only reason HCR isn’t dead is the Senate passed *something* before Brown’s election.

  • JadedByPolitics

    LEMMING that is picked off because of their desire for self preservation is a WIN for America and a WIN FOR FREEDOM!

  • Mary Beth

    …I’ve got the same bridge to nowhere that Obama and Biden voted for twice to sell to you at a bargain price!

    • partyof1

      excellent RS post here that lays it all out

      http://www.redstate.com/ahffgeoff/2010/03/20/cbo-obamacare-at-least-100-billion-in-deficit-spending-over-10-years/

  • RealQuiet

    This would be GREAT!!!!

  • Spartan4Life

    I do have one thing to say that won’t be very popular here. I think if this bill goes down, these courageous Democrats who are standing up to Obama and Pelosi will have to be rewarded with our gratitude.

    If the bill passes, screw them all, regardless of how they voted.

    • Swamp_Yankee

      But there are a couple who reallt stuck theirneck out. If this goes down, patriots owe a debt a gratitude to Stupak. He is one of the few that did real yeoman’s work. He just gave an interview where he stated that his life has been a living hell. The other pro-life Dems dont wantto stick their neck out ofr fear of retribution, who he is taking the arrows for them all.

      • Spartan4Life

        Let’s face it….this can’t be easy. How would you like to have the menopausal ice queen up in your grill 24×7?

        I oppose what the Democrats are doing on principle, not because I am a Republican hack. Listen, the GOP has left us holding the bag far too many times for me to make this about party.

        I think those that are truly for smaller government need to let weak kneed Democrats that they will be doing themselves a favor by being part of the effort to scrap this job killing monstrosity and that they will be rewarded in their re-election bids for having helped defeat it.

  • makemyday

    used to show the rest of us how stupid you are.

    If this passes that bumper sticker just made you a target!

  • RealQuiet

    Per the Hill:

    Lynch (who was not a GOP target) has been flipped to NO in The Hill Count

    Says he will vote no. Proponent of Stupak language. Has major problems with ?deem and pass? strategy. Told Politico, ?I don?t buy the argument that he?s done if this doesn?t pass. He?s got three more years. He can recover.?

    • IJB

      If all those 37 stick to “No”, we only need a 38th, and this bill won’t pass.

      And if it gets to 38 “No” votes, there won’t end up being 38 “No’s” – there will be more like 50+ “No’s”, and the bill won’t even get to 200 “Yes” votes.

      • RealQuiet

        n/t

      • eburke

        just as loudly as they’ve been trumpeting all the undecided previous yes’s who have flipped to……yes.

        ::Rolling Eyes::

    • Jack_Savage

      Who would have thought?

  • hickorystick

    What’s triggering MA Politicians to actually act on their independance? The Rep to the south of my district mouths being independant, is capable of thinking for himself, but just caved into agreeing to vote for healthcare when he knows it’s a bad idea. His name is Adam Smith (ironic, I know). If their is something you know that gets people off the fence, I’d like to know it. It could be useful in a North-West city.

    • Swamp_Yankee

      I definately have some ideas on that subject though.

      • hickorystick
  • Swamp_Yankee

    So all those early reports came before Lynch’s big meeting with Obama on the Oval Office. Some, like FDL, kept Lynch as a leaner because they thought he may be angling, and that Obama could persuade.

    Obama worked the old iron worker for 40 minutes. His response to Obama

    ?I am firmly a ?no? vote.?

    http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view/20100318lynch_strong_no_on_health_bill_despite_talk_with_prez/srvc=home&position=1

    • Mary Beth

      I saw a few reports…from Fox and others…saying that Pelosi is within 5 votes.

      How is this possible? Last I checked, she was way down, and of those declaring she has a net loss (or at least that’s my perception).

      So how could they be reporting she’s so close if so far the momentum has been against her?

      (I keep trying not to flip out over every whip count but right now…I’m at my wits end and I just wish they’d stop doing this to us.)

      • Swamp_Yankee

        Can’t control that. All we can control is our own sphere of influence.

        Nothing to do, but keep working House members and their bases

        Lynch flipped. No one saw that.

        I’m going to work on Tierney, and Capuano Friday.

        • Mary Beth

          I’ve had a shaky day… I’m not always this iffy. :)

          I just had to remind myself yet again that it’s not a matter of can we beat them, but we MUST beat them…and that when we hit setbacks or when the enemy tries to tear down our spirits, we must push onward for the sake of our republic.

    • redneck_hippie

      What is with his vote of support on today’s resolution on Slaughter?

      • Swamp_Yankee

        He explained it on the radio. That was not the vote on the important vote on Slaughter. He is firmly opposed to Slaughter. People are reading too much into that vote.

  • AndrewHyman

    I just want to say that, if the GOP does manage to pull this off on Sunday, I would really appreciate if GOP leaders would do something. Focus really really really hard on sincere and substantial measures to bring down health care costs, getting more primary care physicians into the workforce, making insurance more portable and transferable without risk of losing coverage for pre-existing conditions, eliminating waste and fraud in the existing Medicare and Medicaid programs, et cetera, et cetera. If the GOP wins on Sunday, gloating is not an option.

    • Finrod

      All we can do is wave our bills that Dem leadership won’t consider and make noise.

      • AndrewHyman

        n/t

  • http://thesandsinstitute.org Vassar Bushmills

    He is a s Christian after all.