Open thread: Cloture vote on stimulus coming soon; Update: Cloture, 61-36
posted at 4:50 pm on February 9, 2009 by Allahpundit
The final floor speeches are airing on CSPAN2 as we speak. Teddy’s in town and ready to rock; The One’s dusting off his old knocks on McCain for the occasion. Zero hour is 5:30 p.m. If the vote’s any more or less than 61-38, it’ll be a stimulus-sized shock.
While we wait, here’s a snippet from Obama’s town hall in Elkhart today. Three weeks after the apotheosis at the Capitol, this is what’s become of Hopenchange. Read MKH’s report from one of the cult’s house parties over the weekend, too. Exit quotation: “We’re supposed to be the ones convincing other people. We can’t do it if we can’t explain it.”
Update: 61-36 (I forgot that Judd Gregg chose to abstain). The first bite of the crap sandwich is taken. Tomorrow they’ll take another by formally passing it at noon, then it’s on to conference committee to chew it up good.
Blowback
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AKA the bend over and take it vote.
Neo on February 9, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Every American should note each name in the yea column, remember it, and take revenge in November 2010.
Vashta.Nerada on February 9, 2009 at 4:53 PM
The democrat/Union/special interest stimulus bill. How sweet it is.
portlandon on February 9, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Obama: My stimulating package is not perfect, but it is the right size.
Disturb the Universe on February 9, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Will Teddy Kennedy be there in his iron lung?
Jim62sch on February 9, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Looking forward to Barry’s roadshow to China to get them to lend him the trillion bucks for this.
Maybe Biden can first warm up the Commies with a card trick and a dirty joke.
Chuck Schick on February 9, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Arlen Specter: “….we must swallow.”
carbon_footprint on February 9, 2009 at 4:55 PM
This is already a defeat for this worthless mother-fuc*er. If he had to stand in front of these Elkhart retards to sell this piece of crap to some Senators, then he is already a huge failure.
Jaibones on February 9, 2009 at 4:55 PM
The market is down – they believe it will pass as well.
Vashta.Nerada on February 9, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Sorry. The average Americans attention span doesn’t last longer than an episode of American idol.
portlandon on February 9, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Praying.
This is a sad, sad day for our Nation.
stenwin77 on February 9, 2009 at 4:55 PM
We are going to need to apologize to the next two generations, whose wealth we are stealing.
rbj on February 9, 2009 at 4:56 PM
I’m not sure if I should move dinner to 4:30 and run the risk of vomting or 6:30 and not be able to keep anything down. Either way digestion will not be easy.
Gird your loins. I have a feeling it won’t be pretty.
milwife88 on February 9, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Look who Obama had sitting right behind him.
MayBee on February 9, 2009 at 4:57 PM
Bing.
That’s what got us here, after all. It’s not clear to me what sins the GOP committed such that the solution was a bunch of liberal Democrats and a socialist from Hyde Park, but that’s how this thing is supposed to work.
Jaibones on February 9, 2009 at 4:57 PM
21st Century Version of Neville Chamberlain? check
The New Deal 2: Electric Boogaloo? check
Psychotic leader elsewhere blaming Jews for everything? check
Increase in Antisemitism everywhere? Check
Russia heading down the commie path again? Check
bunch of “no matter what, peace” people in charge of countries? Check
wow, we really are back in the 1930′s
mjk on February 9, 2009 at 4:59 PM
MayBee on February 9, 2009 at 4:57 PM
Are you referring to the military members? I just want to be clear be4 I comment.
milwife88 on February 9, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Teddy will be there but Mary Jo Kopechne couldn’t make it.
sdd on February 9, 2009 at 4:59 PM
“Doing nothing is not an option……..”
“……Cause I’ve got people that need to get paid mutha f*cka”
/sarc
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 9, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Army chicks or the guy with the pornstache?
mjk on February 9, 2009 at 5:00 PM
At least that is what the teleprompter tells him.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 9, 2009 at 5:01 PM
All right the messiah has spoken, just accept it and shut up. Once you lived in the United States of America and now you live in the Socialist States of America; once individual initiative and the free market were good and now they are bad: once your were rewarded for you hard work and planning and now the nanny state will take care of all that for you. The bottom line is that you can say goodbye to a once great Republic and say hello to the Walden Two world of B. F. Skinner. And don’t ever forget, we owe all of this to the enlightened voters that comprise about half of our late Republic.
rplat on February 9, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Or Dick Cheney’s twin brother?
MDWNJ on February 9, 2009 at 5:02 PM
God help us.
Key West Reader on February 9, 2009 at 5:02 PM
The audacity of hope was for his campaign
Fear and damnation will be for his reign
His candidacy was as a Houdini
His presidency will be as a Mussolini
MB4 on February 9, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Troops are allowed to cheer on partisan causes in uniform?
amerpundit on February 9, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Upbeat Collins telling us that the entire US economy has collapsed and evaporated.
Weight of Glory on February 9, 2009 at 5:02 PM
That wasn’t a speech. It was the first campaign stop for the 2012 election.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 9, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Maybee
If you are referring to the military, here is the guide line set forth by the DOD.
Military Members cannot appear at political rallies in uniform. Military members are allowed to vote and support for whichever political party they choose, but they must not do so in uniform. Appearing in uniform would suggest a branch of service or the military endorses that particular candidate.
Someone needs to find out who their commander is.
milwife88 on February 9, 2009 at 5:02 PM
I’ll tell ya one thing that burns me up almost more than this stupid stimulous…and that’s positioning those Soldiers behind him during this rediculous speach. That’s all Soldiers are to these people…pawns to be positioned.
Youngs98 on February 9, 2009 at 5:02 PM
O/T but related…anyone just a bit concerned that Obama intends to take the census away from Commerce and place it under the control of Rahm Emanuel in the WH? Should that happen, forget any suspense on votes in the House and Senate in the years ahead.
AmericanUnderground on February 9, 2009 at 5:03 PM
I’ve got my — “you are an idiot and it is now my mission in life to see that you are never elected to another office in my state again” email ready for Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) MO.
F*cking crazy-ass witch!
JAM on February 9, 2009 at 5:04 PM
More worthless pablum from “the great orator.” Sounds like Norman Lear wrote this speech.
It almost feels as though we’ve gone back in time to the 1970s with this
presidentman.Mr Gus on February 9, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Filibuster
ctmom on February 9, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Stimulus as nationalized healthcare via wizbang
phreshone on February 9, 2009 at 5:05 PM
I thought that was Barney Frank…
right2bright on February 9, 2009 at 5:05 PM
That is such an excellent point.
Key West Reader on February 9, 2009 at 5:05 PM
is he hinting that there’s going to be another recovery bill?
Phoenician on February 9, 2009 at 5:05 PM
The Manchurian President strikes.
Mason on February 9, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Where’s the inevitable “I’m always good for a beer [with Sean Hannity]” post?
YYZ on February 9, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Technically, this is not a political event. They are sitting behind their Commander in Chief during a policy speach.
Now if they showed up to participate in a primary event or a debate in uniform, that’s another story.
No need to call their commander.
Youngs98 on February 9, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Holy Shit.
The bill’s health rules will affect “every individual in the United States” (445, 454, 479). Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by a federal system. Having electronic medical records at your fingertips, easily transferred to a hospital, is beneficial. It will help avoid duplicate tests and errors.
But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446). These provisions in the stimulus bill are virtually identical to what Daschle prescribed in his 2008 book, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.” According to Daschle, doctors have to give up autonomy and “learn to operate less like solo practitioners.”
marklmail on February 9, 2009 at 5:06 PM
First of all those of us Americans that DIDN’T for Obambi clearly understand the bill is not perfect, rather the bill is in fact a crap-tastic socialist handout that will not solve the economic crisis we’re in…but then again those of us that DIDN’T for for Obambi have half a functioning synapse and figured that one out without THE ONE telling us it’s not perfect.
So as far as I’m concerned when Obama says “it’s not perfect” he was speaking strictly to the brain dead Obamatrons…
Liberty or Death on February 9, 2009 at 5:06 PM
You sure about that, Jai? He’ll be a worthless failure who rammed through a significant amount of very poor legislation (albeit virtually without any Republican support). Republican support is good for his legacy, but this thing will pass with the full force-of-law regardless of how many vote against it, as long as it’s 50% +1
gryphon202 on February 9, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Oh yeah, check out the 3rd hour of Rush… The dashcle health care plan is imbedded into Porkulus…
Expect seniors to be put onto the ice flows… hopefully AARP has actually read this one… they may just switch sides….
phreshone on February 9, 2009 at 5:07 PM
More love for Big Labor
Brat on February 9, 2009 at 5:07 PM
¿¡Porque!?
El_Terrible on February 9, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Conspicuous lack of applause on some of those applause lines.
“I can’t say this will work, but we better do this fast.”
obladioblada on February 9, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Or “Speech” I should say.
Youngs98 on February 9, 2009 at 5:08 PM
collins pleading her case… what a joke
gatorboy on February 9, 2009 at 5:08 PM
If I put my hands over my ears and say “LA LA LA LA LA” does Obama and his package go away?
upinak on February 9, 2009 at 5:09 PM
If collins and snowe could just have a spine for 7 days…
Then the Senior Citizens will kill this bill dead…
phreshone on February 9, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Nah. Barney Frank “The package is big, and it is in a real tight squeeze, and we need to grease……”
MDWNJ on February 9, 2009 at 5:10 PM
I would expel the three Senators from the party. This is the most critical fiscal vote in memory and they are selling out a solution.
patrick neid on February 9, 2009 at 5:10 PM
I watched the delivery to the Elkhart crowd. They booe’d the one or two folks who dared stand against the messiah.
On the tough questions, he said, “oh, that’s for future legislation”. The still applauded.
Loved the guy who said “please, just send a check to my house”. “I voted for you. Not the fat cats. Where’s my check”.
Key West Reader on February 9, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Youngs98
Read this link. Paragrpah 4.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=51612
They cannot be in uniform.
milwife88 on February 9, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Get ready for the US government to start micromanaging your health care. HR 1 EH creates a National Coordinator of Health Information Technology who is tasked to do just that. Bloomberg has the details:
Read the entire article. Your health care will be monitored and rationed by the US government.
Kim Priestap on February 9, 2009 at 5:11 PM
does collins always have such an annoying and shaky ‘please do this to me… this is the first time I’ve ever done this’ edge to her voice?
gatorboy on February 9, 2009 at 5:11 PM
“Obama signs an executive order encouraging stimulus projects costing more than $25 million to use union-only project labor agreements.”
Did you see that DTMH? Yeah, b/c you have your finger on the pulse of the electorate. I guess private contractors don’t need any stimulus $$. Hack is the word for you.
Thanks, Brat. That was from an early thread where the resident troll was defending union only porkulus spending. Idiot.
JAM on February 9, 2009 at 5:11 PM
This was a bad week to run out of KY.
Old Hippie Vet on February 9, 2009 at 5:12 PM
How Presidential.
BadgerHawk on February 9, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Senate debates on CSPAN2; Sen. Collins (R Maine) bragging about how much of an increase for education is in the bill ~45 billion (with a bee).
Skandia Recluse on February 9, 2009 at 5:12 PM
The liberals are full of sh*t and the conservatives are sh*ting themselves. We’re absolutely scroomed by all sides.
Schadenfreude on February 9, 2009 at 5:13 PM
shovel-ready projects… ready to break ground in 2010-2012… great…
gatorboy on February 9, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Remember when Rhodesia was the breadbasket for Africa?
Now we get to remember when America was the world’s economic engine.
I leave the similarities to the rest of you.
jukin on February 9, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Wait for the pace with which illegal aliens will get citizenship. I see that battle beginning in May.
madmonkphotog on February 9, 2009 at 5:14 PM
From a comment in an Ace of Spades Italian Terry Schiavo post – (Rush commented on this in his third hour)
Having the government make your end-of-life medical decisions is only a “Stimulus” away!
Daschle: “Hey, you know what we could do without? Medical advances!”
The stimulus bill does that, and calls it the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (190-192). The goal, Daschle’s book explained, is to slow the development and use of new medications and technologies because they are driving up costs. He praises Europeans for being more willing to accept “hopeless diagnoses” and “forgo experimental treatments,” and he chastises Americans for expecting too much from the health-care system.
What if Fleming had been willing to “accept hopeless diagnoses” like an infected toe rather than developing “new medications” like… penicillin?
Can Tom Daschle name a single, solitary technology that has improved mankind’s standard of living that was not at one time experimental and expensive?
Steam engines, telephones, refrigeration, automobiles, computers, X-ray machines… At one point, all of these things were experimental, expensive and available to only a few. How much did an MRI cost in 1985? THANK GOD that we had greedy people who wanted to *gasp* get rich(!) an therefore found ways to make these things better, cheaper and more available.
phreshone on February 9, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Posted a message to you over at Manly’s. Got my tickets to Sitka.
BadgerHawk on February 9, 2009 at 5:14 PM
That was actually a misprint from the original text.
MB4 on February 9, 2009 at 5:15 PM
I forgot, I took $50K out of the bank and bought silver today.
jukin on February 9, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Oh sure!! This porkfest is such a hit I am sure we will have porkfest II & porkfest III. What countries is Obama planning to invade & enslave? Oh, he already did it.
Amerislaves
izoneguy on February 9, 2009 at 5:15 PM
how does one ‘get off the grid’ medically speaking?
gatorboy on February 9, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Porkfest aka Obamapalooza World Tour
gatorboy on February 9, 2009 at 5:16 PM
The sermonizer in Chief.
The work that needs to get done=long over due (according our liberal destiny) social engineering and justice.
Now, would be a great time for the USDOJ to start frog marching the Democrats responsible for the excuse this Pres. is using to usurp our freedom and institute serfdom as the new model for the American lifestyle.
Speakup on February 9, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Daschle says health-care reform “will not be pain free.” Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them. That means the elderly will bear the brunt.
ctmom on February 9, 2009 at 5:18 PM
yeppers and I responded.
upinak on February 9, 2009 at 5:18 PM
The Twilight Zone will continue until 2012.
DL13 on February 9, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Blame Elkhart.
BHO Jonestown on February 9, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Hey, who me worry?
Never fear folks. Those of us blessed to have been born with a brain and the guts to use it will figure out a way to fly over the smoldering ruins our economy will soon resemble.
As my old pappy used to say “Those who will, will. And those who won’t, won’t. And people don’t change”
DrW on February 9, 2009 at 5:19 PM
There will be a lengthy list of, you know, royalty exceptions however, just like with the ban on lobbyists.
MB4 on February 9, 2009 at 5:19 PM
collins “Proud of the bi-partisan work we have done the past 10 days”…
ha ha ha
gatorboy on February 9, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Can Tom Daschle name a single, solitary technology that has improved mankind’s standard of living that was not at one time experimental and expensive?
phreshone
Yeah, but who cares about all that spending on experimental Green Technology? That isn’t expensive, right?
My BP is thru the roof! I gotta calm down.
We’re all gonna die…
JAM on February 9, 2009 at 5:19 PM
“Get off the grid”??? Silly peasant!! ;)
ddrintn on February 9, 2009 at 5:20 PM
If this passes, we might as well kiss America goodbye.
Ryan Gandy on February 9, 2009 at 5:20 PM
The Pelosi/Kerry amendment will specifically exempt Botox.
MB4 on February 9, 2009 at 5:20 PM
I used to work in the RV factories of Elhart. Decent place. Wonder if they still sell those awesome pork fritter sammages at the A&W on the bypass?
DrW on February 9, 2009 at 5:21 PM
It looks like they cut out the $15,000 tax credit for home purchases too–thanks to the “moderates” who thought that provision, the one that would actually put money back in taxpayer pockets instead of ACORN’s and all…that one is too expensive.
the tax credit that would have encouraged people to buy homes and reduce the inventory of repo homes etc…Spectre and the rest cut it out.
funky chicken on February 9, 2009 at 5:21 PM
Excuse me, but did anyone else catch the irony of Obama speaking in Indiana today at the RV capital of the world?! Even Obama Democrats can’t be so stupid as to not understand that a luxury item like a gas guzzling RV will be the first to go, (not to mention their ginormous carbon footprints) so it’s little wonder that there is such high unemployment in Elkhart if half the community worked in the RV industry- The Libs have been b*tching and moaning about things like RV’s for years! The balls on this man are astounding!
anniekc on February 9, 2009 at 5:21 PM
What a sad day for our country. :( I am sick to my stomach over this.
Brat4life on February 9, 2009 at 5:22 PM
I read it…all. I’ve read it before and the intent of these rules is to govern behavior at politcal events prior to elections. Again, this is a policy speech by their Commander in Chief….not a campaign event. If they were doing this on November 3rd, totally different story.
Youngs98 on February 9, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Unless Botox works to lower BP, your scroomed.
MB4 on February 9, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Spector was on Hannity’s radio show, trying to defend himself. He sounded like the idiot that he is…with Kennedy there to cast his vote, only 2 GOP senators are needed to pass this death-to-the-US bill…that was one of the reasons he told Hannity that he wouldn’t change his vote. He basically said a “no” vote from him wouldn’t matter with Snowe and Collins voting yes…
ladyingray on February 9, 2009 at 5:23 PM
Plus: “I’m not going to tell you this bill is perfect.”,
RE: “First, let me cover my butt.”
kirkill on February 9, 2009 at 5:23 PM
Ha! Love the MKH piece. I’ve never seen such disillusioned acolytes to a Messiah. What’s next? A bubble bursting for the Goreacles?
Buy Danish on February 9, 2009 at 5:23 PM
The Twilight Zone will continue until 2012.
DL13 on February 9, 2009
What happens in 2012?
artist on February 9, 2009 at 5:24 PM
“This is a bad bill”
Translation: “I’ve got to pay off the left, so fuck you and you’re children and their children. Remember, I won.”
GarandFan on February 9, 2009 at 5:24 PM
If they won’t filibuster this, I don’t think you could get Senate Republicans to filibuster a damn thing.
CP on February 9, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Having listened to Specter on both Ingraham’s and Hannity’s shows, I’m convinced he’s made a deal with the Dems regarding his upcoming run for re-election. He’s made a back room deal with the Dems.
The man sounds uninspired and uninformed. He made an incredibly weak defense of the bill he’s supporting.
PA GOP won’t get a nickel more of my money if they give this man the nomination. If Specter wants to run again, let him run as an independent.
petefrt on February 9, 2009 at 5:25 PM
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