Posted on 07/31/2011 2:23:47 PM PDT by Gondring
Senator Scott P. Brown broke ranks with fellow Republicans today in a procedural vote for a Democratic proposal to raise the nation’s debt limit and avert a default this week, while high-level wrangling continues between the top GOP senator and the Obama administration.
Brown was the only Republican to vote for cutting off debate on the plan from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat. Brown had previously indicated that he could support the proposal, though had also said he approved of another, rival plan from House Speaker John A. Boehner, which Democrats considered dead on arrival in the Senate.
Brown crossed the aisle to vote with his fellow Massachusetts Senator John F. Kerry and 48 other Democrats, but Reid lacked the 60 supporters he needed and the 50-49 vote stopped the bill in its tracks.
[...]
Brown said his concerns had been put to rest about Reid’s proposal, which will eventually be replaced by the plan being negotiated between McConnell and the White House.
“A lot of the things that I’ve been concerned about… they’re taking it into consideration,” he said. “It obviously steps us back from default, it doesn’t increase taxes, it has realistic cuts, and it will hopefully be a bipartisan bill.”
Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, Republicans who occasionally vote with Brown in a moderate Senate bloc, voted with the rest of the Republicans. All three withheld their signatures from a letter released yesterday stating the signers’ opposition to the plan.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
When has he ever “joined” ranks with fellow Republicans?
I bet he can't wait to become Mitten Romney's go-to guy for compromise.
I don't want to hear the “it's the best we can do for a GOP senator” from the MA crowd, either. Brown's constant crossing over to the Dems does the GOP/conservative movement no favors at all. I remember when FReepers were sooooo excited about Brown. Why, he could even be President someday! I just wish he'd get it over with and switch parties at this point.
When he was elected, he promised to be the 41st vote in the Senate against Obamacare. Unfortunately the Dems. went around the usual legislative process to get it passed. Since then he’s been more of a liberal northeastern Republican. Snowe, Collins, and Brown are the three “RINO” types from the northeast.
Now, Pubbies, do not be too hard on Sen. Scott Brown. He is not the brightest in the group but, he is in the Republican caucus!!! And...we want him to stay there!!!! All we need is to convince four Democrats to join the Pubbies caucus by switching Parties, and...we can stop Obama cold and maybe even impeach him!!!! One can dream, can’t he or she??? Obama is useless and must be thrown out of office. if the Dems hang with him, they will go down to massive defeat in November, 2012. Obama is really a traitor to our nation, and....should be treated as such!!!
And this is the best the NE Tea Party(s) and NE GOP can come up with? =.=
When his vote means nothing either way, Brown is let loose to vote the way of his constituency.
You don’t hear his fellow Republicans running him down. I think his vote would be there if it was absolutely needed.
Instead fellow Republicans run down solid conservatives like Toomey.
And I should be surprised....why?
I think that Chris Christie in New Jersey has shown that a conservative Republican can indeed be elected in some of these more liberal states. And he has shown that he can achieve some strong results in a liberal place.
The goal should be to elect strong conservatives in all states. We should not be told that we have to settle for liberal Republicans in liberal states. Conservatives will not win every election, of course that’s impossible to expect. But the efforts to elect them should be made.
A Republican from one of the bluest of blue states is a BIG bonus. What absolutely needs to be done is elect GOP Senators from the red states. Let the chips in the blue states fall where they may.
If every GOP leaning state elected GOP Senators, Dems would be in the minority for a while.
Scott Brown can go F*k himself.
Exactly.
A voice of reason.
Brown is from Massachusetts. It’s absurd to think he’ll vote like a Republican senator from Oklahoma.
Take what we can get and quit the griping. I never expected much from Brown, other than the exceptional pleasure of seeing a Republican in Teddy’s seat.
Like Brown, Mitt is from Massachusetts. He is cast in the same liberal mold.
If good for the Bay State, bad for America
Amen.
And to think I contributed to Brown`s “money bomb.” I`d just as soon donate to his opponent`s campaign, because with MA dem, you don`t expect to be fooled. You know what you get. When has Brown ever voted with Repubs on any major legislation?
And no, I won` give to any Dem ever... but I sure as hell won`t contribute to Brown again.
Well, the money wasn’t in vain, because regardless of getting Mitt Jr. in the Senate, Brown’s election to replace Ted Kennedy was symbolic and did help into the fall of 2010.
I’m just not sure what else he adds to the conservative movement, and if the GOP picks up a bunch of Senate seats next fall, but not enough for a supermajority, I’d gladly sacrifice Scott Brown if it means getting a conservative in Arkansas or Missouri, for example.
May I please have my $10 back?
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