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Behind the House Health Care Vote
The American Thinker ^ | November 12, 2009 | Andrew Foy and Brenton Stransky

Posted on 11/12/2009 2:59:36 AM PST by Scanian

Where was the American people's representation on health care reform in Washington on Saturday night? Or better, why did our representatives in Washington move so hastily to advance an inclusive health care reform bill that will permanently alter 1/6th of our economy and affect every citizen when most Americans don't support it?

Despite the fact that the bill that was introduced only eight days earlier, has 1,990 pages (and nearly as many words as Tolstoy's War and Peace), House majority leader Steny Hoyer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi strong-armed 220 votes in favor of the "Affordable Healthcare for America Act" (HR3962). That includes one vote from a Republican in name only: Joseph Cao of Louisiana.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: arrogance; congress; popularwill; representation

1 posted on 11/12/2009 2:59:37 AM PST by Scanian
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To: Scanian
He mentions several good points, but leaves several out:

- Democrats know that once they control health care in people's lives, citizens (of all classes and ages) will be under their thumb

- Minorities, unions, women's groups, and "have nots" lobbied (and are lobbying) with incredible energy to pass this, as it is a massive transfer of wealth where Washington can "give" something away for "nothing" to an underclass that keeps voting for them

- Obama and Michelle are obsessed with taking care of "their people" (which means African-Americans) who they believe are deserving free health care

2 posted on 11/12/2009 3:14:23 AM PST by SkyPilot
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To: Scanian

I still think we may be stuck with Obamacare well beyond 2010. If BHO signs a bill this year, or even early next year, the 118 new positions and bureaucracies in the bill will be in place by November of next year, and we’ll need veto-proof majorities in both houses to undo BHO’s evil. Retaking either body would be a major achievement. Gaining veto-proof majorities in both? I’ll pray and try, but....


3 posted on 11/12/2009 3:36:19 AM PST by JohnQ1 (Pray for peace, prepare for war.)
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To: SkyPilot
You are spot on. They are breeding a ton of resentment and tearing the country apart. The ‘have nots’ are not a homogeneous group. Nor are the ‘haves’. This simplistic splitting of society into the Ebeneezer Scrooge side and the Tiny Tim side is arbitrary and based on nothing accurate. It is, however, based in some of the worst human traits, like envy and hatred. Make NO mistake. It's the same type of hate and group think that led to the destruction of Jewish businesses in Germany before the war; that led to the cultural revolution in China; that led to the deaths of 100s of millions in the USSR; and that led to 9/11.

The time for PC is absolutely over. That may be one of the only good things to come out of Obama’s presidency. We need to start talking about why there are ‘have nots’. For some it's because they've had very hard lives and never caught a break. For others it's because they never had the motivation to better their lives, despite opportunity.

Why is the rate of welfare, illegitimacy, single parent households, school drop-out, and crime so high in the inner city? Is it the fault of someone in the suburbs who worked hard, got an education and landed a good job? Should they then be punished? Is it because the schools don't have enough money? How much is enough money, and how will that ‘fix’ these problems. Is it because there aren't enough parks, basketball courts or baseball fields? Is it because everyone else benefits by having disaffected people who depend on public assistance? If so, how does that work?

I'm so sick of the perpetuation of myth in this country that ‘fits’ an ideological world view. We can't progress, or even sustain as a society if we can't even have an honest conversation.

4 posted on 11/12/2009 3:46:23 AM PST by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: JohnQ1

You don’t need veto-proof majorities to undo this while waiting for a conservative president. If a conservative Congress had the political will, it could simply not fund the program. Just like it can deny funds to the executive branch for all his czars. IF...it only had the political will.


5 posted on 11/12/2009 4:04:00 AM PST by henkster (0bamanomics: The "Final Solution" to America's "Prosperity Question.")
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To: Scanian

Nancy Pelosi strong-armed 220 votes,wonder how they will feel in a year from now?.


6 posted on 11/12/2009 4:05:25 AM PST by Vaduz
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To: Vaduz

Pelosi EXEMPTED HERSELF from this trash.


7 posted on 11/12/2009 4:11:26 AM PST by Waco (Stay as bootiful as ya are Karvile.)
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To: Vaduz

It was reported yesterday by Carl Cameron that Pelosi with the House leadership is punishing their members who voted no for Obamacare. They allow absolutely no dissent and that is a trait the Republican Party had better adopt if they want to gain and keep the public’s trust.

I doubt there was as much pressure placed on the Dems to vote for the bill as we have been lead to believe. Socialized medicine has been on the agenda for 80 years and getting that pushed through was priority #1 even if the price paid was being forced out of power for decades. House Democrats gladly fell on their swords.

Saturdays midnight vote was all or nothing, consequences be dammed. I even doubt if the Dems really considered the possibility of true consequences for forcing through their agenda. The GOP has shown for decades a reluctance to stand against or to reverse anything the Dems shove through. Pelosi, Obama, Reid etc assume this trend will continue. The question really becomes how far do the Dems push the American people before we push back?


8 posted on 11/12/2009 4:28:30 AM PST by Brytani (Support Lt. Col Allen West for Congress - www.allenwestforcongress.com)
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To: Scanian
That comment by Barney Franks seems to be proof positive that he suffers from "shaken baby syndrome".

His brain is obviously in his posterior and the repeated impact of various male members in that area have induced some sort of brain damage.

9 posted on 11/12/2009 5:52:14 AM PST by Redleg Duke ("Don't fire unless fired upon, but it they mean to have a war, let it begin here." J Parker, 1775)
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To: pieceofthepuzzle
"We need to start talking about why there are ‘have nots’. For some it's because they've had very hard lives and never caught a break. For others it's because they never had the motivation to better their lives, despite opportunity."

An excellent post! I submit that while there are those who have had very hard lives, the vast preponderance of them are those who have been told all of their lives, over multiple generations since the "Great Society", that the man owes them everything for free and they are and always will be victims.

10 posted on 11/12/2009 5:56:31 AM PST by Redleg Duke ("Don't fire unless fired upon, but it they mean to have a war, let it begin here." J Parker, 1775)
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To: Vaduz
"Nancy Pelosi strong-armed 220 votes,wonder how they will feel in a year from now?"

Hopefully, about to be unemployed.

11 posted on 11/12/2009 5:57:19 AM PST by Redleg Duke ("Don't fire unless fired upon, but it they mean to have a war, let it begin here." J Parker, 1775)
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To: Redleg Duke

I think it was Bill Crystal that said the congressmen who voted for the healthcare bill better enjoy the WH Christmas tree this year for it’s the last they will see it as a congressman.


12 posted on 11/12/2009 6:11:29 AM PST by Vaduz
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To: henkster

I want to believe you’re right. If we could take more than a dozen Senate seats — not 10 or 11, but more to bury some RINOs — and more than forty House seats (same reason), and if we could prevent the taxes, fees, and other theft mechanisms in the Health Care bill(s) itself/themselves from funding the mess without congressional approval....

I don’t know, but I do still want to believe you’re right.


13 posted on 11/12/2009 9:42:55 AM PST by JohnQ1 (Pray for peace, prepare for war.)
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