Paul Kanjorski (PA-11) - Your e-mail system is broken

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-21 18:24:00
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Hey Paul, since your e-mail system isn't working, I'll put my note to your here:

When you believe that an EO can line-item legislation, you are obviously too old to fulfill your duties. When you ignore the Senate leadership blocking review of the House provision that may Point-of-Order it off the Senate floor, you are too much of a political hack to represent us. When you allow the feds to take over college loans at our local economy's expense, you are no longer fit for office.

Goodbye, Paul. The 110th was your last.

Page from Progressive Playbook: Paper every court; target "yes" votes

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-21 18:04:00
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Thank you, Madam Pelosi and your cabal. Dozens of lawsuits are about to be filed to stop this unconstitutional power grab before it can launch its putrid wings across our country. We also have our litmus test for November 2010: Any candidate that did not vote "yes," even if that candidate - as you all so quaintly coined - is a yellow dog. Dozens of states are locked and loaded to attack the very essence of the bill: The individual mandate. No, Barry, it is not like car insurance. We have an option to drive. Further, a driver's license is a privilege, not a right. Conversely, we have every right to live, and mandating that we buy health insurance for the privilege thereof shall not survive. And as Virginia AG Cuccinelli put it so well, it is not interstate commerce ...

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EXCLUSIVE from the floor post-Stupak - Rep Blackburn: Still too close to call; plus more updates

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-21 17:48:00
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Our colleague Steve Schippert just spoke to Rep. Blackburn (TN) from the House floor. Too close to call. Stupak may be hung out to dry if he buys into EO. Hear the audio on our sister site here. Few additional points: According to The Hill, we need 3 out 4 from below: Jim Cooper (Tenn.) * (Y) Has had up-and-down relationship with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Paul Kanjorski (Pa.) * (Y) GOP target. Also voted against education reform bill that will move with healthcare reform in reconciliation Bobby Rush (Ill.) (Y) Surprise addition to this list. Said he was undecided on March 18. The Hill reported that Rush engaged in several discussions with leadership lawmakers after announcing his position. Concerned about bill's impact on hospitals in poor ...

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WaPo: Hey, that individual mandate kinda looks unconstitutional

by: Bill Dupray   posted: 2010-03-21 17:02:00
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Nice of them to do their homework, on the day of the final vote.

But the individual mandate extends the commerce clause's power beyond economic activity, to economic inactivity. That is unprecedented. While Congress has used its taxing power to fund Social Security and Medicare, never before has it used its commerce power to mandate that an individual person engage in an economic transaction with a private company. Regulating the auto industry or paying "cash for clunkers" is one thing; making everyone buy a Chevy is quite another. Even during World War II, the federal government did not mandate that individual citizens purchase war bonds. If you choose to drive a car, then maybe you can be made to buy insurance against the possibility of inflicting harm on others. But making you buy insurance merely because you are alive is a ...

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Official text of useless Executive Order

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-21 16:25:00
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STATEMENT FROM COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR DAN PFEIFFER Today, the President announced that he will be issuing an executive order after the passage of the health insurance reform law that will reaffirm its consistency with longstanding restrictions on the use of federal funds for abortion. While the legislation as written maintains current law, the executive order provides additional safeguards to ensure that the status quo is upheld and enforced, and that the health care legislation's restrictions against the public funding of abortions cannot be circumvented. The President has said from the start that this health insurance reform should not be the forum to upset longstanding precedent. The health care legislation and this executive order are consistent with this principle. The President is grateful for the tireless efforts of leaders on both sides of this issue to craft a consensus approach ...

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Official: Stupak caves

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-21 16:08:00
Viewed 115 times. 4 Comments.

Onto other battles within this war.

Dem Wasserman agrees - EO useless - Fox video

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-21 15:57:00
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Details: BREAKING: “FIX” BILL MAY NOT ADVANCE IN SENATE

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-21 15:52:00
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Senate Democrats Refuse Bi-partisan Meeting With Parliamentarian Until After House Votes WASHINGTON DC – Senate Democrats have balked at a bi-partisan meeting with the Senate Parliamentarian to discuss a rule violation that could doom the entire House reconciliation proposal. DON STEWART, McCONNELL SPOKESMAN: “Republicans have been trying to set up a meeting with Senate Democrats since yesterday to discuss this fatal point of order but have been met with nothing but silence. We suspect Democrats are slow walking us so as to have the House vote first. Since Senate Democrats refuse to meet with us and the Parliamentarian, we’ve informed our colleagues in the House that we believe the bill they’re now considering violates the clear language of Section 310g of the Congressional Budget Act, and the entire reconciliation bill is subject to a point of order and rejection in the Senate should ...

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Stupak, et al.: PLINOs - Pro-life in name only

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-21 14:28:00
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The Stu-Pack, nee the Stupak Twelve, appear in the process of proving to the viewing world that their pro-life stance can be bought for a handful of worthless beans. "These magic beans," President Obama intoned, "can magically grow to strip out any language that offends you in legislation. All I have to do is write the words 'Executive Order' on them!" Bart and his PLINOs looked in amazement, eyes wide and knees in constant movement. To the side stood the pro-abortion congresspeople with arms akimbo. They whispered among themselves: "Are those fools really buying this? Haven't they heard of the Presentment Clause? Didn't they get the Conference of Catholic Bishops memo this morning? It wasn't even two years ago when we crammed Signing Statements down Bush's throat because he got close to this type of crap!" ...

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After the vote: Head-spinning blowback

by: Bill Dupray   posted: 2010-03-21 14:17:00
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So you want a little cheer amid the fear? The Democrats will be yearning for the good ol' days of pitchforks and torches after this abomination. Via Instapundit, but click through and read the whole thing. Well worth it.

In a matter of hours after House passage of the Senate Bill, the state of Virginia will file suit in federal court. The Commonwealth will be joined in the suit by a dozen other states. I expect a flood of additional lawsuits. The suits will be based on the provision that requires every American to purchase health insurance. . . . While the legal battles wage on, expect an enormous public back-lash against the Democrats. Longtime political observers will recall the backlash after Democrats passed a “catastrophic health care” bill in the 80s. That event ...

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Alleged Exec Order on Abortion leaked

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-21 13:39:00
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NRO is publishing alleged draft of Executive Order. As they sum it up: The reality of this or any other text, though is: It is meaningless legally. It has no binding effect. I don't know a single lawyer with a working knowledge of the Constitution, Congress, and the Executive, who says otherwise. Proposed Executive Order Language 1. The Executive Order directs that the Hyde language found in sections 507 and 508 of the Labor HHH Appropriations Bill shall apply to the HR 3590. SEC. 507. (a) None of the funds appropriated in this Act, and none of the funds in any trust fund to which funds are appropriated in this Act, shall be expended for any abortion. (b) None of the funds appropriated in ...

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Schedule of today's House floor action

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-21 13:00:00
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From TPM: House convenes at 1:00 PM. 1:00 - 1:15 PM - One minute speeches 1:15 - 2:15 PM - VOTES - pending suspensions 2:15 - 2:45 PM - Debate Unfunded Mandate Point of Order 2:45 - 3:00 PM - VOTES - Point of Order 3:00 - 3:30 PM - Possible debate Earmarks Point of Order 3:30 - 3:45 PM - VOTES - Point of Order 3:45 - 5:00 PM - Debate rule providing for consideration of Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendments to H.R. 3590 - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and H.R. 4872 - Reconciliation Act of 2010 5:00 - 6:00 PM - VOTES - Previous Question and Rule 6:00 - 8:00 PM ...

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Remember this Stupak: Clinton v. City of New York, Line-item veto is unconstitutional

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-21 11:00:00
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Case summary from Oyez (full opinion here): Facts of the Case: This case consolidates two separate challenges to the constitutionality of two cancellations, made by President William J. Clinton, under the Line Item Veto Act ("Act"). In the first, the City of New York, two hospital associations, a hospital, and two health care unions, challenged the President's cancellation of a provision in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 which relinquished the Federal Government's ability to recoup nearly $2.6 billion in taxes levied against Medicaid providers by the State of New York. In the second, the Snake River farmer's cooperative and one of its individual members challenged the President's cancellation of a provision of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. The provision permitted some food refiners and processors to defer recognition of their capital gains in exchange for selling their stock ...

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Comparing The Hill to FireDogLake Whip Counts - Naming names

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-21 10:43:00
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Running the numbers as of this morning, The Hill claims 37 Dem "no" votes (38 kills it) and 15 Undecided. FireDogLake sees it as 204-209, with 10 leaning "no" and 8 undecided.

FDL is saying that Stupak is still talking to the WH on an EO. Duh? Can anyone say "line-item veto"? Just apply the "smell test": President gets a bill to sign. Says, "OK, I like this and this, but not that. So I'll sign this, but then issue an Executive Order to take 'that' out." Really? Notice how quiet the Dems are on this obvious ruse. Will Stupak cave?

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But on Fox, dems say - "no hard 216 right now." They all lie.

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-21 09:35:00
Viewed 89 times. 4 Comments.

Breaking: Democrats Claim They Have the Votes. We'll see.

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-21 09:33:00
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From Newsreal: House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson says Democrats have clinched the 216 votes they need to pass President Barack Obama’s health-reform plan. “We have the votes now — as we speak,” Larson told ABC’s “This Week.” “President Roosevelt passed Social Security. Lyndon Johnson passed Medicare. Today, Barack Obama will pass health-care reform.” Pressed if some Democrats may lose their seats for supporting health reform, Larson said: “Yes. It’s quite possible.” Leaders expect the vote between 6 p.m. and midnight.

We'll see.

How Obamacare dies: NOT buying health insurance is NOT Interstate Commerce

by: Bill Dupray   posted: 2010-03-20 16:17:00
Viewed 530 times. 8 Comments.

We are big fans of the new Virginia Attorney General, Ken Cuccinelli. He was on C-SPAN and talked about the two unconstitutional provisions associated with Obamacare: Deem and Pass and the individual mandate. Deem and Pass was dropped by the Democrats this afternoon, so that issue is now moot (though Cuccinelli's explanation is well worth the listen). As for the individual mandate, this the clearest explanation of why it is unconstitutional and will likely be struck down by the courts. He explains that the Commerce Clause, allowing Congress to regulate interstate commerce is a limited power, and has been held as such by recent Supreme Court cases. The video is not embeddable - link is here. The money quote is at 4:15.

Not buying health insurance is ...

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Dems confirm how much they suck at leading

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-20 16:04:00
Viewed 195 times. 3 Comments.

Controlled chaos is still chaos, and there is little if any control. Madam Pelosi has lost any semblance of leadership in the these final days of the health-care debacle. She has changed tracks, backtracked, and wandered off the track on every major aspect of bringing this legislation to a vote. It's embarrassing to watch, which is further underscored by the hired choir singing the constant refrain, "We have the votes! We have the votes!" Cut to the chase scene: If she had the votes, there would be a straight line from her mouth to the House floor. The Rules Committee would be have Republicans screaming rather than Democrats. President Obama wouldn't be leaking that he'll issue an Executive Order that contradicts the abortion-heavy legislation that he hopes to be signing. Gee, can he override selected pieces of legislation with EOs ...

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Patriot Room Radio #61: Sheriff Coburn

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-20 09:02:00
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"Dead or Alive, we'll git you." Health care is in the dry-heave stage, with Constitutional violations and back-room deals flying. We also discuss the impact on Senate elections and the Texas curriculum story as chronicled by a lib. Every episode of our podcasts is here and on iTunes. You can subscribe on either site. You can also hear us on the Liberty Pundits Network (on demand) and on Radio for Conservatives (Weekday edition broadcast 8:00PM ET Tuesdays and 10:00AM Wednesdays; Weekend edition at 9:30AM-11:00AM ET Saturdays and Sundays). If you're looking to jump right in, pop over to Liberty Pundits here. Send questions for our next podcast to Bill or Clyde at ...

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Research request: Jan 13, 1967, Battle at Binh Duong, Vietnam

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-19 23:29:00
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A friend forwarded this and asked for posting:

Looking for survivors of a battle that took place on 1/13/67 in Binh Duong Vietnam. If you have any info it would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Terry Downs

terryd@rochesterfamilyeyeclinic.com

Honk to stop Obamacare protest: 32 seconds of noise

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-19 19:36:00
Viewed 331 times. 7 Comments.

Thanks to PR friend Steve for getting this to us. Wow. Just, fricking wow:

Cantor does the math: Nancy is 7 short

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-19 17:16:00
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TO: Interested Parties FR: House Republican Whip Eric Cantor DT: March 19, 2010 RE: Full article...

Source doc - CBO Estimates again: Deficit INCREASE

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-19 16:50:00
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Rep. Ryan asked CBO to give estimates for the changes being considered by the House reconciliation bill, and also for the changes most likely to occur afterward (rescinding the Cadillac tax and implementing the "doc fix," for example). The news is not good for Madam Pelosi. So much for "deficit neutral," Barry. Important chunks: You asked about the total budgetary impact of enacting the reconciliation proposal (the amendment to H.R. 4872), the Senate-passed health bill (H.R. 3590), and the Medicare Physicians Payment Reform Act of 2009 (H.R. 3961). CBO estimates that enacting all three pieces of legislation would add $59 billion to budget deficits over the 2010–2019 period. More ... CBO has therefore developed a rough outlook for the decade following the 10-year budget window. Under the analytic approach described in the agency’s previous ...

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Lying dems: Plan to do "doc fix" later; now would kill deficit picture

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-19 14:07:00
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We've identified this in our podcasts, and now the dems are telling their people to shut up about it. How pathetic: Democrats removed the so-called doc fix from the reform legislation last year because its $371-billion price tag would have made it impossible for Democrats to claim that their bill reduces the deficit. Republicans have argued for months that by stripping the doc fix from the bill, Democrats were playing a shell game. “Most health staff are already aware that our health proposal does not contain a 'doc fix.' … The inclusion of a full SGR repeal would undermine reform’s budget neutrality. So again, do not allow yourself (or your boss) to get into a discussion of the details of CBO scores and textual narrative. Instead, focus only on the deficit reduction and number of Americans covered,” the memo, sent Thursday to Democratic ...

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Purple Reign Ending: The Coming Resignation of Madam Pelosi

by: Clyde Middleton   posted: 2010-03-19 12:46:00
Viewed 2164 times. 9 Comments.

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