[rwfromkansas]

How repugnant was that? Are these people so stupid as to think that "not over my dead body" is a slip up? It is not....when he said that I think he did it to emphasize that he will NEVER let them raise taxes.....even if he dies over it (figuratively), even then, he would not let them do so.

[Southern Federalist]

You're exactly right! I've heard people say "Not over my dead body" all my life - it's a more intense form of the saying. "Even if they kill me I'll still keep 'em from doing it."