Posted on 03/20/2010 1:02:50 PM PDT by Uncledave
They Still Don’t Have the Votes [Jeffrey H. Anderson]
The most likely explanation for the breakdown of talks between Rep. Bart Stupak and Speaker Nancy Pelosi is not that Pelosi decided she didn’t need Stupak and his crew in order to have enough votes to pass Obamacare. Rather, it is that Stupak — who is increasingly emerging as this drama’s Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart’s heroic character in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) — held firm in insisting on language that would truly prevent taxpayer-funded abortions, and in insisting that such language be passed by the Senate before the bill could become law.
In turn, Pelosi either decided that by accepting the language, she would lose more votes in the House than she would gain, or else knew that Democratic senators, with their strong preference for taxpayer-funded abortion, would never go along with this concession to the views of the vast majority of Americans.
In any event, by all accounts, Pelosi is now trying to pass the bill without the pro-life Democratic vote — or at least without Stupak. As of now, it doesn’t appear that she has the votes. I currently count 208 leaning in favor of Obamacare and 214 leaning against, with 9 undecided. Here they are — with the margin by which the presidential vote was won (by one party or the other) in their districts over the last three elections:
• Marion Berry (D., Ark.) (GOP +8) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Henry Cuellar (D., Tex.) (Dem +1) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Bill Foster (D., Ill.) (GOP +4)
• Jim Matheson (D., Utah) (GOP +30) — with nearly two-thirds of his constituents having supported GOP presidential candidates over the last three elections, a “yes” vote on Stupak, and an earlier “no” vote on Obamacare, a “yes” vote would mean that, for the rest of his days, he would be remembered as the guy who sold his vote for the price of Obama’s having just nominated his brother to a federal judgeship
• Michael Michaud (D., Me.) (Dem +7) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Solomon Ortiz (D., Tex.) (GOP +1) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Earl Pomeroy (D., N.D.) (GOP +21) — pro-Stupak Amendment — yes, that’s GOP +21
• Nick Rahall (D., W.V.) (GOP +6) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Zach Space (D., Ohio) (GOP +12) — pro-Stupak Amendment
Also, here is a partial list of some particularly key members who are leaning “no”:
• Christopher Carney (D., Pa.) (GOP +15) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Dan Lipinski (D., Ill.) (Dem +22) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Kathleen Dahlkemper (D., Pa.) (GOP +3) — pro-Stupak Amendment
• Glenn Nye (D., Va.) (GOP +9) — “no” last time
Does anyone have the phone numbers to call those on this list?
Matheson is a dem.
If needed he will vote yes.
Loaded with JHP's or something like Black Talon!
The bozo on the right (Romneycare), is speaking at the WA State Republican Convention in June...BARF! I’m a delegate...dunno what I’ll do - any suggestions? :)
He hasnt looked as tan. He is so busy he cant make it to the tanning salon. Have you noticed that?
I said his demeanor, not his tan. I don’t give a damn about his tan.
Me Too, and the more I think about it...
Every Lib I know pays absolutely no attention beyond a 1/2 hour max a day of NPR on the way to work of communist propaganda.
Beyond that, if there is a controversy, they always just side with the Dems without any intellectual curiosity whatsoever.
Thats why the patriot act was an outrage but a White House snitch web site was fine, and you were a paranoid fool if you had a problem with it.
This strategy has potential.
There are some NO's that are going to come out VERY late IMO.
I’m thinking Nye and Space may be the guys to pound on a little extra then the others....
Glenn Nye
Phone: (202) 225-4215
Fax: (202) 225-4218
Zack Space
ph: (202) 225-6265
fax: (202) 225-3394
fax: (202) 225-3394
si needs all thirteen to win. There have been others that still say they are undecided but have really given strong indications of how they will vote, and almost all of those are the “leaning yes” types. So Pelosi could still lose one or two that we don’t expect. Of these true undecided, though, the first five voted “no” last time, and this would be a flip. I feel very confident about Nye, who has consistently made signals that sound like “no,” and he is in a very tough re-election fight. I’ve also been counting Space, who told Democratic leaders yesterday that he was strongly leaning towards a “no.”
Loaded with JHP’s or something like Black Talon!
What do you mean? English, please.
Your obsession with Mitt Romney seems to be getting just a wee bit unhealthy.
The best ammo for the job!
My question remains: To what purpose? He is trying to convince house dems that political suicide for them is the only way to save him.
Bookmarked. Interesting.
Something makes me think you’d have to be pretty clever to pull this off. I don’t think the RATS at the precinct and LD meetings could get past the clothespin on my (or anyone trying this) nose! :):)
I expect the bill to pass easily - simply because they will buy how many ever they want, or need - no matter what the cost.
Despite the media circus and the “triumphalism” on TV at these Dem meetings, they are short and they don’t know what Boehner’s doing.
Maybe some of the surprise “no” voters know that Boehner will do what he can to protect them from Pelosi’s wrath until he becomes Speaker.
I sure did. Can’t watch this bs. The dems should kill the bill if they give a sh^* about the USA. Of course we know they don’t
I turned off Fox News today.
Latest from firedoglake.com
Favor-204
Lean Favor-0
Oppose-205
Lean Oppose-10
Hence, 204 Yes votes vs 215 No/Leaning No Votes with 9 Unknown
No story, but it was updated at 3:44 pm ET, 3/20/09.
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