BULLETIN: DEMS DON’T HAVE THE VOTES
From a top level source in the House comes the news that the Democrats are still short of the 216 votes they need to pass Obamacare. They have decided, however, to go for broke on Sunday and attempt to pass it whether or not they have enough support. They feel that only by forcing a vote can the force members off the fence. They hope that by employing all means at their disposal, they can round up enough votes for passage. But, if they don’t have the votes, they will allow the measure to be defeated. One source called it a “suicide run.”
WE PICK UP A VOTE! MIKE ARCURI SWITCHES TO NO!
In the film version of Edwin O’Connor’s book The Last Hurrah, Spencer Tracy, playing Mayor Curley of Boston, exits the booth after voting for his own re-election and meets the WASP banker who is spearheading the reform opposition who is entering the voting area. In his best Irish brogue, Tracy says “I just nullified your vote.”
That’s who we feel after Utica, New York’s Congressman Mike Arcuri, who backed Obamacare last time, announced his conversion to the opposition, nullifying Cleveland Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s switch from no to yes after his Air Force One pep talk from President Obama.
IF OBAMACARE PASSES, WHAT WILL HAPPEN BY ELECTION DAY
If the House Democratic majority passes Obama’s health care proposals, one of two things will happen by Election Day, 2010 – and neither one will be healthy for the Democrats seeking re-election.
Either the Medicare cuts will take effect or they will be postponed by a terrified Congress.
NEGATIVE ADS TO HIT DEMS WHO VOTE ‘YES’
Published on TheHill.com on March 16, 2010
The Senate Republicans need to make it crystal-clear that they will not vote for any reconciliation amendments to Obama’s healthcare bill.
Not for any they disagree with. Not for any they agree with. Not for abortion restrictions. Not for repeal of special breaks for Nebraska, Florida or Louisiana. Not for a fix on the tax on high-end health policies. Not for any reconciliation changes. None.
OBAMA’S PLAN TO CRIPPLE EDUCATION REFORMS
To date, the only area in which we have found ourselves in agreement with President Obama was over his announced intention to enforce strict and elevated education standards and move toward paying teachers based on merit.
Now, Obama has retreated from his position of principle and embraced a mealy-mouthed compromise designed to placate school administrators, teachers unions, and their political acolytes at the expense of educational standards.
THE PERILS OF PELOSI
During World War II, Winston Churchill warned of the danger of fighting a land war against Japan in Asia. “It is like going into the water to fight the shark,” he said.
That’s about what it is like fighting the Speaker in the House of Representatives.
ANDREW NAPOLITANO’S BOOK WILL GET YOU MAD!
One of the funniest moments in the White House with Bill Clinton came on President’s Day in 1995. He arrived late for our private meeting in the East Wing residence and began, as usual, by cataloging the events of his day by way of apology for his tardiness. “A reporter asked me ‘Today, on President’s Day, if you could ask your hero, John Kennedy, one question, what would it be?’” he began.
Clinton giggled and confided “I wanted to ask: ‘How did you do it? Is there some doorway or stairway I don’t know about?’” Disappointed, he added “But I couldn’t, so I said I’d ask ‘What was it like to be president before Americans became alienated from their government?’”
NEWS FROM THE HOUSE: LEAGUE ADS ARE WORKING
In the past few days, nineteen House Democrats who previously voted yes have moved closer to voting no according to the latest Republican whip count. Ten of those nineteen are at the receiving end of League of American Voters ads. So the ads are definitely working! Let’s keep piling on!!!
On his website, Hannity.com, Sean Hannity is publishing a whip count on the House votes on Obamacare. He is drawing on Republican sources in the House and press reports, so it’s not as accurate as Pelosi’s count, but it gives us an idea of what is going on.
