Still Calling it Right -- Congressional Leadership Drops Another Ball

[Gawain 0]

Okay, I'm not a democrat, but if I were, I'd be calling for the political heads of Sen. Reid and Speaker Pelosi. I can't remember a less effective pair...they haven't been able to deliver on anything. They couldn't even deliver nearly half their party in the House vote today.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad the bill didn't pass. It was too much, in the wrong place, at the wrong time, for the wrong people.

So, those that are on that side of the aisle, are you really happy with what they're doing, because I can't even respect their performance and conduct let alone their record of non-accomplishment.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[grimmie 186]

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll674.xml
you are correct. they delivered two thirds.

[Gawain 0]

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http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll674.xml
you are correct. they delivered two thirds.

Dude...not even. 40% of the democrats voted "noe"...

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[jcd11235 0]

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40% of the democrats voted "noe"...

That's still more than your claim of not even "nearly half."

Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

[likearock 2]

Are you kidding me? You're bitching about the Democrats (who delivered a majority of their votes) when the Republicans couldn't even manage one third? And that, in spite of the fact that Bush, McCain, and Boehner all urged them to pass it?

Give me a break, Max. This is the most disgusted I've ever been with the Republican party ever. And as the stock market continues to tank over the next few days there will be no doubt who is playing chicken with the life savings of the American people.

[quade 4]

I'm sorry, what was the percentage of yeas on the right side?

And yet you also didn't want them to pass it, so, I'm REALLY having a difficult time figuring out where you think anyone is correct here because it seems as if 60% of the Democrats agreed with you personally.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[SpeedRacer 1]

what he said. Bush is supposedly the leader of the Republican party. And McCain is supposedly the future leader.

And yet the Republican members of Congress would not do what those two urged them to do.

It seems to me that you should be more concerned about the Republican leadership than the Democrats.

Speed Racer
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[skydyvr 0]

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So, those that are on that side of the aisle, are you really happy with what they're doing . . .

. . . and the silence was deafening.

. . =(_8^(1)

[Gawain 0]

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So, those that are on that side of the aisle, are you really happy with what they're doing . . .

. . . and the silence was deafening.

Kind of weird...intro, summary and clear question, yet somehow I'm bitching...

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[SpeedRacer 1]

again, what about the Republicans side? Their leadership couldn't deliver either.

Speed Racer
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[likearock 2]

Unbelievable.

12 Republicans switched their bailout vote because their feelings were hurt

Whether you supported or opposed the big bailout proposal rejected by the House of Representatives today, one news item is particularly unsettling. Some 12 House Republicans (according to House leaders Boehner, Blount and Cantor) decided to vote against the bill at the last minute because Speaker Nancy Pelosi said some mean things about Republicans prior to the vote.

Deviating from her prepared text, Speaker Pelosi said:

"When President Bush took office, he inherited President Clinton's surpluses — four years in a row, budget surpluses, on a trajectory of $5.6 trillion in surplus. And with his reckless economic policies within two years, he had turned that around ... and now eight years later the foundation of that fiscal irresponsibility, combined with an anything-goes economic policy, has taken us to where we are today. They claim to be free-market advocates when it's really an anything-goes mentality, no regulation, no supervision, no discipline. ..."

"... Democrats believe in a free market ... but in this case, in its unbridled form as encouraged, supported by the Republicans — some in the Republican Party, not all — it has created not jobs, not capital, it has created chaos."

Look, I admit the comments were poorly timed but, please, twelve Republican House members had their feelings hurt and switched their vote as a result? Let me get this straight - the Dow just dropped 777 points following the House vote, the single largest one day decline in U.S. history, foreign markets will open later today to unknown, but most likely, similar fates, many thousands of retirement age Americans watched their plans to retire go up in smoke this afternoon, U.S. corporations are wondering whether they will be in a position to borrow funds for needed expansion or have to lay off portions of their workforce, and these 12 Republicans switched their vote at the last minute because their delicate egos were bruised by Pelosi's comments?

I have a feeling we will never know the names of those 12 Republicans. But we should.

[kallend 2,227]

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They couldn't even deliver nearly half their party in the House vote today.

.

Pretty mangled English there, Chief. Does that mean they could deliver more than half? WTF DOES it mean?

Did they do worse than the GOP leaders who wanted to pass the bill? NO, they did better.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[kallend 2,227]

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40% of the democrats voted "noe"...

That's still more than your claim of not even "nearly half."

Maybe he means 60% when he writes "nearly half". I mean, 60% is nearly 50% for large values of 50 and small values of 60.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[airdvr 210]

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again, what about the Republicans side? Their leadership couldn't deliver either.

2 out of 3 citizens did not want this piece of crap. By the end of the week we'll have something that makes more sense.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[airdvr 210]

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Unbelievable.

12 Republicans switched their bailout vote because their feelings were hurt

"When President Bush took office, he inherited President Clinton's surpluses — four years in a row, budget surpluses, on a trajectory of $5.6 trillion in surplus. And with his reckless economic policies within two years, he had turned that around ... and now eight years later the foundation of that fiscal irresponsibility, combined with an anything-goes economic policy, has taken us to where we are today. They claim to be free-market advocates when it's really an anything-goes mentality, no regulation, no supervision, no discipline. ..."

"... Democrats believe in a free market ... but in this case, in its unbridled form as encouraged, supported by the Republicans — some in the Republican Party, not all — it has created not jobs, not capital, it has created chaos."

It's just a bit more involved than people having thier feelings hurt. She lays the blaim in the lap of W. What a load of horsecrap! If I'm a Republican in the House I have got to be wondering what it is I'm signing on for. More partisan bullshit spewed by the likes of Pelosi and Reid? I'll take a pass on that crap and support a bill that makes alot more sense.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[Andy9o8 3]

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again, what about the Republicans side? Their leadership couldn't deliver either.

2 out of 3 citizens did not want this piece of crap. By the end of the week we'll have something that makes more sense.

The numbers from the various polls I just scanned differ a bit, depending on methodology, but it does appear that more people who stated an opinion (although a lot were undecided) opposed at least the latest incarnation of the bailout plan than supported it outright.

So yes, it can be said that the No votes reflected the will of those voters' constituents. (Including not just a few Dems, but 90? Hello?? - message there?) And for those who say those guys only voted to keep themselves in office, well...it's the same thing. So even if this was the "best worst" plan, The Powers That Be failed to adequately make their case to the American people.

Is a legislator irresponsible for voting the will of the people if the people "don't know what's best for their own good"? Damned if I know. I guess it's the classic tension between republican (small "r") government and democratic (small "d") government.

[alw 0]

What I find appropriately ridiculous here is that the majority of contrasting views here in this thread have to do with math and grammar. Throw out the completely off target and "well you didn't either" and your left with .

I can understand the angry comments from the right about Pelosi's comments. Somehow I find it hard to stomach being called unpatriotic for representing their constituency. A constituency who by Biden's estimation lacks patriotism because they don't want to pay more taxes. In fact if every fiber of my being was against the bill and 8 to 1 calls and e-mails in my office said it was not what my constituency wanted it wouldn't have taken that much.

But let's get back to the real meat here. Pelosi couldn't deliver 12 votes from her California Democrats (17 voted nay). Franks had enough no votes from Democrats on his committee to swing the vote and he couldn't deliver them. The best they could do as the party in power is to blame the party that was dead set against it it in the first place.

Originally the Caucus of Republicans had 4 ayes. After McCain's effort it was 61 votes higher. How many votes did Obama phone in?

The Democrats just blew it, and I too am glad they did.

Sure the markets will drop. Mortgage loans will be hard to get - that is you will have to actually have a job, a down payment and a good credit rating to get one. College loans will tighten up, or put another way students may have to work, study for scholarships, or maybe god forbid do a hitch in the service and get some veterans benefits. Small businesses will have to actually have a good business plan rather than a great power point presentation.

No I don't think you can blame the Republicans for sticking with their ideology and their constituency. They were lucky to get the ayes they managed. I just think the Democrats have forgotten how to behave like the party in power and thought they'd be safe hiding behind Pelosi's skirts. By the way she has really big ears, did you notice?

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Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

[Gawain 0]

Holy-donkey-batman...

Did anyone read my post?

Has anyone paid attention to the events of the past week (democrat leadership lining up alongside SecTreas, President Bush, beating the drum that something must be done or the end of the world will arrive 50B years early)?

Let me put it simple terms:

In light of yesterday's vote, and previous big initiatives that went down the tubes, if I were a democrat, I wouldn't be very pleased with their ability to lead. So, those that are on that side of the aisle, are you really happy with what they're doing?

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[kelpdiver 2]

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But let's get back to the real meat here. Pelosi couldn't deliver 12 votes from her California Democrats (17 voted nay). Franks had enough no votes from Democrats on his committee to swing the vote and he couldn't deliver them. The best they could do as the party in power is to blame the party that was dead set against it it in the first place.

You're blaming Pelosi for not passing a Bush proposal? If it makes you happy....

[alw 0]

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But let's get back to the real meat here. Pelosi couldn't deliver 12 votes from her California Democrats (17 voted nay). Franks had enough no votes from Democrats on his committee to swing the vote and he couldn't deliver them. The best they could do as the party in power is to blame the party that was dead set against it it in the first place.

You're blaming Pelosi for not passing a Bush proposal? If it makes you happy....

I'm blaming Pelosi for not leading - which is her job. OBTW she took ownership for the "greatly improved bipartisan plan"

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Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

[Trent 0]

Thank you for that post! I can't explain it any better.

I'm glad it didn't pass. I think it's funny how the Dems blame the republicans when they couldn't muster enough of their own members to pass the thing.

Let 'em fail. The good assets will be bought. The bad ones will be bought at huge discounts. People will actually have to work, make down payments, and prove that they're trustworthy to get loans... just like it always should have been.

Oh, hello again!

[rushmc 23]

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But let's get back to the real meat here. Pelosi couldn't deliver 12 votes from her California Democrats (17 voted nay). Franks had enough no votes from Democrats on his committee to swing the vote and he couldn't deliver them. The best they could do as the party in power is to blame the party that was dead set against it it in the first place.

You're blaming Pelosi for not passing a Bush proposal? If it makes you happy....

It now apears SHE did not want it to unless, the vote passed with a majority of R's voting yes.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[kelpdiver 2]

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You're blaming Pelosi for not passing a Bush proposal? If it makes you happy....

It now apears SHE did not want it to unless, the vote passed with a majority of R's voting yes.

Hardly surprising. Such a bill should have bipartisan support, not just that of the President and the Democrats.

[marks2065 0]

polozi wanted to take credit but if it failed pass the buck to the rep party. pretty shady

[kelpdiver 2]

egads! Shady actions 5 weeks before a presidential election. Who could imagine such a thing?

Where is Saint Karl (Rove) to save us?