ALERT: "They've Cut A Deal With Three Of Our Guys" [Byron York]

National Review ^

[Blue Turtle]

Just got off the phone with an influential Republican senator. I asked how things stood with the stimulus, and he answered instantly, "They've cut a deal with three of our guys. They're delaying us from offering amendments. I suspect that as soon as they've got it written, they will offer it as an amendment, vote on it, and that will be it." He didn't have details on what the deal might be, but most Republicans seem to suspect it will involve relatively small cuts — and very little change in the price tag of the bill from the House version — that will be touted as a major bipartisan compromise. My senator suspects — hopes? — that no more than four Republicans will vote for the bill.

[ishmac]

Wow, that would be great if Toomey could gain some momentum. I remember that he came within an eyelash of beating Specter in the primary. He almost beat a incumbent who was supported by a sitting president. Bush's support for Specter convinced me definitively that Bush wasn't one of us. That was the first time I saw Bush as an adversary.

Anyway, Bush had his plusses. Going out on a limb for conservatives in tough cases was NOT one of them. It would be great if Toomey could gain some momentum.

[janee]

Slackers!

[pctech]

I’ve already been told that Lugar will vote for the porkulus package. It’s common knowledge in Indiana. I sent him an email telling him not to vote for it but he doesn’t listen to the “uninformed masses.”

[Girlene]

I’ve been trying to reach Specter’s office since 0800 and all I’ve gotten was a busy signal.

Have you tried calling sny of Senator Specter's local offices? If you get through to these offices, you can also complain about his phone being off the hook in DC.

[Danae]

"NAMES Tar. Feathers." TORCHES!!! PITCHFORKS!!!!! TRIALS!!!!

[Girlene]

I’ve already been told that Lugar will vote for the porkulus package. It’s common knowledge in Indiana. I sent him an email telling him not to vote for it but he doesn’t listen to the “uninformed masses.”

Have you called any of Lugar's offices? I was informed he hasn't taken a position (IOW's will probably vote for it).

[jennyjenny]

I just called Lugar’s office in DC and got right through. When I told the guy that answerered why I was calling and that I wanted Lugar to vote no, etc., etc., he sounded kind of disappointed.

202-224-4814

[TxAnn56]

I just read that Specter is the ring leader. I’ve been hitting redial for 20 minutes and nothing but a busy signal from his office. He should be tried for treason.

[unkus]

>>How can anybody with half a brain and a conscious vote for this crap?<<

They no longer have souls.

[linn37]

Three republicans does not a bi-partisan compromise make.

[KansasGirl]

Collins office wouldn’t say whether she plans to vote for or against the bill. I’ll assume that means she has caved.

Susan Collins
(202) 224-2523

Olympia Snowe
(202) 224-5344

Arlen Specter
(202) 224-4254

Chuck Lugar
(202) 224-4814

Ben Nelson (Democrat, Nebraska)
(202) 224-6551

[Marathoner]

Hey ... can I play too? Murray and Cantwell.

I'll see your Murray and Cantwell and raise you a Little Dick and Burris (guy who replaced the Messiah)

[Girlene]

See post 124.....try that route. Ask them why his DC phone is off the hook.

[Seaplaner]

It’s still possible he could go “for” it and then come out to say that the bill had been changed therefore, he felt compelled blah blah blah.......

Oui.

Either he was setting us up with some pre-surrender saber rattling, or he's going to try to show us what a Republican he is. (The latter being as laughable as when his buddy McCain claimed to be a "foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution").

I still predict that wobbly Mister Grahamnesty has his surrender flag at the ready; however, I would welcome some pleasent (however fake) courage under fire.

.

[CPT Clay]

We know that Collins, Snowe, voinovich and Spectre are weak links in the republican side of the senate. What about Nelson, Dorgan,Who replaced Sanchez in CO, Hillary’s replacement, Bidens replacement and Burris. They have a chance to make history.

[Girlene]

Thansk, Kansas Girl. It’s Dick Lugar, but he’s sounding more and more like Chuck Hagel, so the name change kinda fits. :-)

[KansasGirl]

Yes, I do believe Specter has taken his phone off the hook. I did get through to Collins and Lugar’s DC offices. Neither office would say how they plan to vote.

[KansasGirl]

HA! Oops, you are right! LOL.

[M. Dodge Thomas]

Well, this deal Obama’s got the better hand: there’s just no way that it makes political sense for Republican Senators from any but the most conservative states to be standing there for any length of time while Obama’s on national television every night saying “This week we lost another hundred thousand American jobs while we waited for the Senate to act.” He won’t even have to mention Republicans - he will stand there, sounding bipartisan - and let the talking heads make his point for him - being tarred as obstructionist was deadly for Republicans when “they shut down the government” during the Gingrich years and would probably even more damaging now.

So a lot of the Republican Senators who will be in front of cameras next week denouncing whatever package finally passes, and who will be appearing on Sunday talk shows to bemoan the Republican defectors who allow the bill to pass pass the following weekend, know perfectly well that those same sellouts took one for the team, allowing Republican senators in conservative states to oppose the bill without the national party paying the political price for preventing its passage.

This is just the down payment in a prolonged battle over stimulus/bailout/tax packages, depending on how the economy goes we are looking - including bailing out the financial sector, which absolutely must be propped up - at a minimum two .$2.5-$3 trillion dollars over the next two years, and if things really get out of control - which they just might - we could be looking at 5 trillion over the next few years.

So both sides are going to be digging in for the long haul.

[PhiKapMom]

Voinivich I am hearing is the 4th one.