According to CNN, Ted Kennedy is too ill to return for the vote, and that means one vote lost from the previous tally…

Explain that, atheists.

;)

So with great regret is that I will not be able to support this package. And now I look forward to seeing the final outcome come because we have not all read the bill yet. And when I do read it, I will again analyze it to see if the component parts are there in a way that will allow me to support it. But unfortunately it appears clear to from the information we have on the package that will, in fact, not be the case.

He’s obviously not going to have time to read it unless they vote next week!! I’ve called several numbers to confirm, but haven’t been able to reach anyone yet.

I am sure this will pass noone has time to read it and Nancy wants to go to Rome. Hopefully they will keep her there. UGH!

Brat4life on February 13, 2009 at 11:16 AM

Someone please tell me that they are still holding “games” in Rome replete with Gladiator and Christians being fed to lions? After all, Nancy is a member in good standing of the Catholic Church. Someone call ahead and give them a “head’s up”…

I thought I heard Huckabee say this morning on Fox News that the three turncoats were actually going to vote against the stimulus. Can anyone confirm?

ice princess on February 13, 2009 at 11:23 AM

No. But we have to watch out for retiring RINOs flipping – Martinez and Voinovich come to mind. They could be the deciding votes and give the GOP Three cover to flip back. Can’t think of a third retiree right now.

DC phone: (202) 224-4254
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Harrisburg phone: (717) 782-3951
Harrisburg fax: (717) 782-4920
Emails to contact:
Scott_Hoeflich@specter.senate.gov
Maria_Plakoudas@specter.senate.gov
Christopher_Bradish@specter.senate.gov
thomas_dower@specter.senate.gov
seema_singh@specter.senate.gov
corene_ashley@specter.senate.gov
regina_campbell@specter.senate.gov
gayle_mills@specter.senate.gov

Jim Gerlach doesn’t need to vote for this right now. He can easily say that he is perfectly willing to vote for a bill AFTER he has had some time to read it, discuss its ACTUAL CONTENTS with his constituents and understand how will or will not help them, etc.

The Philadelphia area reps had better be careful about this. The stealth provisions on health care could be ruinous to the economy here.

If Arlen Specter, Susan Collins, or Olympia Snowe change their minds, Reid winds up with an embarrassing loss, and Pelosi has to go back to the drawing board.

If this doesn’t happen, I think God has officially abandoned the US. It’s all on us now.

bilups on February 13, 2009 at 10:50 AM

My sense is that he’s grown tired of watching the same act over and over. He’s nudging us to move on to the next act.

Stop the madness. Vote NO!

I have a question…. Why doesn’t McConnell force the clerks to read this whole monstrosity out loud before the vote? We’d finally get to hear what’s in it, we’d probably buy ourselves 10 or 12 more hours, and we’d drive Reid insane. At this point, what other option does the GOP really have? This should be discussed legitimately.

Mayhem on February 13, 2009 at 10:30 AM

Aye to that. Isn’t it just a tad bit insane that these people can get away with voting for something they haven’t even read? I wouldn’t try that with my employer lest it jump up and bite me in the a$$ later. These people act like they could care less. sigh.

In the unlikely event they do reject the money, authority for spending the cash would revert to State legislatures, who would likely be under even more political pressure to spend it than chief executives.

“Our governor has repeatedly expressed political and philosophical aversion to using federal assistance as we work our way out of the economic conditions that are visiting significant difficulties upon businesses and families throughout our beloved state,” Clyburn said after the House vote.”

Hardball.

getalife on February 13, 2009 at 10:47 AM

I saw this at Human Events. This language is clearly and very specifically aimed at Sanford. Give him 45 days to accept the money (under what would be impossible public pressure) and then, if he doesn’t, give power to accept to the state legislature. House Whip? Mr. Clyburn from the South Carolina lowcountry, it almost ensures that South Carolina will take the money rammed down their throats regardless of if they want it by swapping out a governor for the state legislature.

Constitutional violation? Maybe, my friends and I are tackling this now. Since SC’s budget is set by a 1950 law creating the Budget and Control Board, does this conflict with the 10th amendment? Anyone with constitutional law experience know?

There is also a huge political risk for the Republicans if this bill passes and the economy does recover. Obama and the media will loudly and frequently proclaim that the only reason we aren’t eating sticks and twigs is because of their bill. Which will mean that the Republicans will have no choice but to vote for anything and everything Barry proposes from now on.

There’s also a risk if this bill passes and the economy doesn’t recover. Then all of Washington will be in the crosshairs of some very angry citizens, who will want to know why they are paying ever higher taxes, yet the economy continues to sink.

If Arlen Specter, Susan Collins, or Olympia Snowe change their minds, Reid winds up with an embarrassing loss, and Pelosi has to go back to the drawing board.

If this doesn’t happen, I think God has officially abandoned the US. It’s all on us now.

“A devilishly clever last-minute insert to the House version of the stimulus bill has made it through the conference report — a requirement that governors spend their stimulus allocations within 45 days.

The provision isn’t likely to have a real-world impact, but it forces Republican governors who opposed the stimulus (e.g. South Carolina’s Mark Sanford) and many other GOP governors who sat on the fence for fear of bucking their party — to publicly accept or decline the aid. And when they do accept it — and it’s hard to see a scenario where they wouldn’t given their deficits — Democrats get to call them craven or hypocritical or both.

In the unlikely event they do reject the money, authority for spending the cash would revert to State legislatures, who would likely be under even more political pressure to spend it than chief executives.

“Our governor has repeatedly expressed political and philosophical aversion to using federal assistance as we work our way out of the economic conditions that are visiting significant difficulties upon businesses and families throughout our beloved state,” Clyburn said after the House vote.”

Hardball.

He will vote for anything put before him and well before he reads the first of the 1000+ pages (if he reads at all).

I just hope Fox News will start labeling an idiot just that. People like Specter do not deserve any respect.