Things Are Getting Heated On The Hill


Posted by Aaron Gardner (Diary)

Thursday, March 18th at 3:30PM EST

56 Comments

I distinctly heard the sound of a switchblade opening there.

This is it, the battle has taken shape and the lines have clearly been drawn. The Republicans, apparently led by the more conservative members, are turning up the heat.

Those in the House should think long and hard as to whether this is the road they wish to travel.

For the sake of the Nation, I hope they choose wisely*.

Aaron B. Gardner


* That said, if the Democratic party wishes to commit hari kari, then who am I to stop them.


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It's. About. Time. -nt-

eburke (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 3:44PM EST (link)

“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

Unified Patriots

How telling is it that McConnell ain't the one that made this announcement. -nt-

eburke (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 3:45PM EST (link)

“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

Unified Patriots

It's War

GJ Merits (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 3:46PM EST (link)

n/t

I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents….James Madison

If you want to go fast – go alone. If you want to go far – go together.

To win against tyranny you must embrace not only novel solutions, but fear of the unknown as well.

 

Um

Neil Stevens (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 3:47PM EST (link)

Do we have to be calling out Republicans *now*? In *this* thread?

Come on guys.

RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules

Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.

“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder

Absence of the Ostensible Leader:

houstoneagle (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 3:51PM EST (link)

Fair Game for Comment, Mr. Stevens.

“We preach the conservative gospel of individual liberty and choice and point out the only choice the Democrats want you to have is whether or not to kill a baby.”–Erick Erickson, D-Day 2010

Just shows what your priorities are

Neil Stevens (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 3:56PM EST (link)

Some people want to fight Obama and the Democrats on Obamacare.

Some people just want to attack Republicans.

I know where my priorities are. Where are yours?

RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules

Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.

“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder

It was a valid observation.

Cargosquid (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 4:08PM EST (link)

One would think that McConnell WOULD be the one to challenge the Democrats. Its HIS JOB.

And it wasn’t so much of a denigration. If the shoe fits…..and all that.

good cop bad cop

streiff (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 4:10PM EST (link)

Tom Coburn saying this doesn’t have the impact of McConnell saying it. It doesn’t mean he is without support.

“What keeps me here is the reek of beer, the ladies and the craic”

Coburn has MD after his name,

tngal (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 4:29PM EST (link)

making him more than qualified to give the message since many news organizations will pick up the story and read out he’s a doc. Anytime we have a doc on our side giving our message its good stuff. Anyone ould have given the message, but he makes the best choice.

 
 

Actually, it wasn't a valid observation.

mbecker908 (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 4:17PM EST (link)

In any organization, leaders pick specific people for specific jobs. Coburn is obviously better qualified for going after the Ds than McConnell and it makes sense for him to stay somewhat above the fray. Personally I’d have sent out DeMint, but having Coburn deliver the message is quite good enough and quite effective.

I’m no particular fan of McConnell, I’d much rather see DeMint in his job, but right now he’s the army we’ve got and that’s what you go to battle with.

The idea that McConnell is not exercising leadership by sending out Coburn is nothing more than another example of the idiot from Texas exercising his right to show off stupidity in public.

 

You want validation? Talk to Stuart Smalley

Neil Stevens (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 4:35PM EST (link)

I don’t care if it’s valid. I’m interested in directing activist energy to where it can do good.

That is, against a government takeover of a major industry.

RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules

Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.

“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder

yeah but it would be nice to know he's got 40 others on his side

bk (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 6:24PM EST (link)

and not that it’s going to be 5 GOP senators against 95 who prefer the status quo. McConnell seems more interesting in preening before the cameras and hoping to regain the chair in November than in fighting tooth and nail now.

 
 

I checked with McConnell's office

streiff (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 6:57PM EST (link)

McConnell’s press office released the video clip so I think it’s safe to say that Coburn isn’t alone on this

“What keeps me here is the reek of beer, the ladies and the craic”

 
 

He doesn't have priorities Neil, just an axe to grind. nt

mbecker908 (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 4:10PM EST (link)

Ummm...first of all, I have lots of priorities, Mike.

eburke (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 4:29PM EST (link)

One of which has been supporting financially the same candidates that you and Neil are promoting, emailing, calling and writing my ass off, and deposing a sitting RINO state senator at our district nominating convention so I now get a vote at the state and district conventions to choose the GOP candidates for all state-wide offices and our CD. So…I’ve got lots of priorities.

Not to mention, IIRC, you posted no shortage of shots at McConnell leading up to the Christmas vote when the Republicans didn’t fight with every weapon at their disposal.

The Its.About.Time. statement was meant has a ‘attaboy’ for Coburn taking the gloves. Sorry if you didn’t take it that way.

I have yet to see McConnell do anything publicly except play nicey-nice with Reid. Considering the volume of FPers and regulars who have excoriated McConnell for his utter lack of spine, I’m not sure why this comment is so over the top.

And if the “nothing more than another example of the idiot from Texas exercising his right to show off stupidity in public” was directed at me, I’m not going to even dignify that with a response.

“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

Unified Patriots

Great reply, eburke

houstoneagle (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 5:10PM EST (link)

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Becker has it out for me because he thinks I am ignorant. So he is trolling my posts and calling me names now. Sorry you had to get caught in his line of fire. I hope that a moderator will take it up with him about the name calling.

“We preach the conservative gospel of individual liberty and choice and point out the only choice the Democrats want you to have is whether or not to kill a baby.”–Erick Erickson, D-Day 2010

Actually, I didn't realize I was getting into the line of fire.

eburke (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 5:26PM EST (link)

I thought that the comments were being directed at me ’cause I’m the one who made the first ‘anti-McConnell’ comment (and I grew up in TX).

Everybody’s pretty tense right now ’cause there’s a LOT at stake here in the next few days so I may just take a break and look into my bottle of Basil Hayden until I can see bottom :-)

“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

Unified Patriots

 
 

eburke I wasn't talking about you.

mbecker908 (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 6:57PM EST (link)

And for houstoneagle, I’m not trolling your posts, I don’t waste my time with droll, ignorant fools. Stating the obvious is not name calling.

Thanks, becker.I didn't do a very good job of following

eburke (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 8:44PM EST (link)

the thread ‘upthread’.

I blame it on being tired and weary from this seeminly interminable battle against the forces of evil that *is* the Democrat party.

“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

Unified Patriots

Well, we're standing together on this one too.

mbecker908 (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 9:27PM EST (link)

I wasn’t clear at all and I apologize to you.

Franz saw my comment and growled at me.

Well, tell Franz all is well and that I still love ya!

eburke (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 10:05PM EST (link)

Ya never want to piss off the Prince of Dogness.

“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

Unified Patriots

 
 
 
 
 
 

I appreciate your priorities, Neil

houstoneagle (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 5:15PM EST (link)

I’m with you 100%. It’s not an attack on McConnell to point out that it would have been nice to see him standing up there, emphasizing our unity as a party against this bill by any reasonable means we can.

“We preach the conservative gospel of individual liberty and choice and point out the only choice the Democrats want you to have is whether or not to kill a baby.”–Erick Erickson, D-Day 2010

 

It's a valid comment.

writeblock Thursday, March 18th at 7:45PM EST (link)

The gentlemanly, courtly approach is dead. People like McConnell, Hatch, Grassley, Bennett–are relics of a more civil, bygone era. I’m not saying they are not good Republicans. But over and over they pull their punches. We need to fight fire with fire. Reid and Pelosi have pulled out all the stops. Why shouldn’t we?

Once again, the important thing is to

mbecker908 (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 9:41PM EST (link)

have the “right” person standing up at proper time.

Given that we know (see streiff’s comment above) that McConnell is on board with this, it’s absolutely correct to have Coburn – or DeMint – make the announcement.

It shows depth in the bench and it shows the willingness of the leadership to assign high profile tasks to specific folks.

Honestly, one of the biggest problems the Dems have in the Senate is Reid and his total visibility on every part of every issue. Same for Miss Nancy. If they were assigning some of the recon-by-fire tasks to others in their conference they’d be more effective. Right now the faces on every piece of legislation is Obama/Reid/Pelosi. That gives us a consistent target and makes fighting legislation relatively easier because they, as a group, are decidedly unattractive. Get more people involved in the front line action and you make it more difficult to identify the enemy, not to mention that any number of people would be better spokespersons than R&P.

The one thing that should have happened up front and didn’t is that it should have been made more apparent that the full leadership was signed on to the strategy.

 
 
 
 
 

That was an ex-MD presser

CowboyUp4419 (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 7:16PM EST (link)

Look at the people in the background of that clip. Those are all current Republicans members who were medical doctors before being elected. The purpose of that press conference was to have doctors criticize the health care reform bill. McConnell didn’t belong there any more than Boehner did.

Didn't McConnell just have...

writeblock Thursday, March 18th at 7:47PM EST (link)

…a social event serving cheese and crackers to make nice with the opposition across the aisle? Or was that just a rumor? I hope it was.

 
 
 

Share this video AND STOP OBAMACARE!

vidsweet Friday, March 19th at 12:00AM EST (link)

Bring it on!
BTW…Love your signature quotes, eburke!

STOP OBAMACARE! Share my video SPOOF of ObamaCare using the iPhone/Android commercial–show everyone how terrible it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwGqtHX6Pxs

 
 

"cause Mackie's back in town"

ajhjack Thursday, March 18th at 3:47PM EST (link)

I hear Bobby Darin in my head but he looks like Tom Colburn. “Mack the Knife” for the youngsters.

 

HEaring crys from the left of obstructionism

Leopard1996 (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 3:59PM EST (link)

In 3….2….1. Personally don’t care this is great. But I still think their mentality if this passes is that they are sacrificing the Queen, the king side bishop and the queen side knight being the 2010 elections, but will still checkmate us for 2012 onward because of the new entitilement.

I don’t know if that is true or not, but I can see what their plans truly are.

“The accumluated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout, “Save Us!”….and I’ll look down and whisper, “No”…The Watchmen

They probably will, but it won't make a difference

Kyle-MI (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 4:35PM EST (link)

Not only is Coburn doing this against an unpopular bill, he is making a threat that will resonate with the average voter. I can’t imagine that vote buying is popular. People know in their gut that it is unseemly, to say the least.

Very True,

Leopard1996 (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 5:37PM EST (link)

Right now supposedly my Rep, (Steve Driehaus) is currently against this bill because of the abortion language, but he was a lapdog on cap and trade. We’ll see if he wants to be sent home packing despite his support from P&G

“The accumluated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout, “Save Us!”….and I’ll look down and whisper, “No”…The Watchmen

 
 

Nothing but taxes, fees, surcharges, and penalties

renny (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 8:21PM EST (link)

prove Obamanationcare has passed until after the 1212 elections, so I don’t think the “benefits” for the middle class masses this concoction is supposed to be an entitlement for really will show up positively and generate great pol. response for many years.

In the meantime, people will know their pockets are being picked by O taxes and Bush’s lapsed taxes.

People don’t like taxes. So, little o prob. has set himself up for more bashing even if the mess becomes law because people will still hate it before, as Pelosi says, they get to see what’s in it and love it.

 
 

Coburn's comments have "gravitas"

RedBeard Thursday, March 18th at 4:10PM EST (link)

To use the media’s most overused word of a few years ago.

Standard-bearer for grouchy curmudgeonry since, oh, 1975 or so.

 

Finally. Some courage. Thank you, Sen. Coburn.

ColdWarrior (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 4:19PM EST (link)

Thank you, Sen. Coburn. Exactly the kind of message that needs to get out into the Lame Stream Media over and over and over. Nothing but these kinds of comments. The moderate Republicans don’t realize that the vast majority of Americans would unite with them if they all spoke with a single message along the lines of:

“We Republicans are fighting for every individual American’s inalienable right to make their own decisions about what kind of care their doctors will give them without government interference and for the right of the children of America, and their children, to not be saddled with more trillions of dollars of debt under a 2,300 page “healthcare scheme” that we haven’t even been able to read let alone analyze.

“We will continue to fight for the individual American, 85 per cent of whom are happy with their health care and who do not want to see the federal government destroy that system that is the best in the world.

“We hear you loud and clear and we will fight with you to stop this insane attempt to foist socialized medicine, which kills people by rationing care, upon you and your children and their children.”

Or something like that.

Thank you.
ColdWarrior
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Learn how to GOTV at The Concord Project and at Procinct and Unified Patriots.

 

Isn't Coburn a doctor? That may be why he was picked to make this announcement.

Teresa in Fort Worth, TX (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 4:30PM EST (link)

Are folks heading up to D.C. for the weekend?

Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride…..

 

McSwine Gramnesty Clock

wayneepalmer Thursday, March 18th at 5:55PM EST (link)

We need to set up a countdown to the moment when either or both of those swine McCain or Nancy Graham will step up and try to find some compromise that screws all the rest of us real Americans to make peace with PharoObama and the Demoncrats.

Every time we get close to open warfare on real Constitutional principles, one or the other of those two twits kneels and makes us all swallow the sausage for TEAM AMERICA – and hands evil another victory.

True peace between two enemies has only ever been acheived when one side has utterly defeated the other…if you doubt this truth visit Nagasaki sometime.

If anybody it would probably be Graham

Leopard1996 (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 6:09PM EST (link)

McCain doesn’t want to open that wound for Hayworth in November, but Graham won’t see reelection until later on, but I do think Demint might have the pull to tell him to sit down on this one, or else he will make damn sure that he endorses his opponent in the primary, and considering how Toomey and Rubio are doing right now, Demint is not the guy you want as an enemy.

Again this is my amatuerish analysis of things.

“The accumluated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout, “Save Us!”….and I’ll look down and whisper, “No”…The Watchmen

 

I take a backseat to *no one* (w/the possible exception of mbecker)

eburke (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 8:48PM EST (link)

in my disdain for John McCain but I heard a clip of him this afternoon commenting on the Slaughter Solution and he sounded so pissed I thought for a moment he was talking about a conservative Republican.

I think his dander is up on this one.

Grahamnesty? Who knows.

“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

Unified Patriots

eb I'm proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with you on that one.

mbecker908 (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 9:25PM EST (link)

Or, come to think of it, about anything.

Thanks, becker. Seriously, the only times I've *ever*

eburke (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 10:04PM EST (link)

Johnny Mac sound that pissed was when he was ripping on a conservative Republican. It was like, ok…so who put Tom Coburn inside of John’s body.

For whatever reason, I think he’s genuinely hacked off at this (probably because Hayworth’s within 7 of him in the last Ras poll but hey, who cares)

I’m still waiting for you to drop Franz off at his office to see if he could ‘find’ a new chew toy :-)

“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

Unified Patriots

 
 

Quote of the day!

Cargosquid (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 11:30PM EST (link)

“…but I heard a clip of him this afternoon commenting on the Slaughter Solution and he sounded so pissed I thought for a moment he was talking about a conservative Republican.”

I about spit my drink all over the keyboard! That’s a great line!

 
 
 

Senator Coburn,

bigredone Thursday, March 18th at 6:01PM EST (link)

You have just been absolved for your vote on TARP!

Who says there is no forgiveness?

If he follows through, it will be awesome!

 

Can he do this?

earlgrey (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 6:02PM EST (link)

Could Obama just put them in as recess appointments?

I am not sure

Leopard1996 (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 6:12PM EST (link)

But if the GOP gets the majority in November they can do what Reid did and keep the Senate in session so no recess appointment can happen. However, if they don’t have control, I am not sure if they may be able to object to the recess and keep the senate open for business throughout.

“The accumluated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout, “Save Us!”….and I’ll look down and whisper, “No”…The Watchmen

 

Recess appointments...

writeblock Thursday, March 18th at 7:49PM EST (link)

…are never permanent.

The Big 0's position is permanent either, but that doesn't

The_Gadfly (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 9:40PM EST (link)

mean the damage he means to cause won’t be. Same thing applies to recess appointments.

 
 
 

Now THAT'S my Senator!

Locked and Loaded (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 6:10PM EST (link)

Lucky SOB; Don't suppose you'd want to trade him for Franken would ya?

eburke (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 8:49PM EST (link)

Didn’t think so.

“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

Unified Patriots

I think we could talk him into it IF

The_Gadfly (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 9:46PM EST (link)

it was scheduled for oh, about 4 years from now. I can’t see Franken winning re-election in Coburn Country. They might be willing to put up with the pain for the sake of their country, or maybe even just to serve him up a double helping of crow pie.

 
 
 

I'd prefer to see Coburn say he's going to block every nomination he can period

bk (Diary) Thursday, March 18th at 6:26PM EST (link)

and McConnell saying the GOP will filibuster every nomination period.

It’s better than nothing, but it’s not clear by how much.

If you try that, it will "look" obstructionist.

Section9 Thursday, March 18th at 7:13PM EST (link)

This way, Coburn, et al, look like they are fighting the Corruptocrats, people who sold their votes for Thirty Pieces of Silver.

Coburn looks principled, and doesn’t end up in the same position as Gingrich in 1995.

You never, ever want to pi** away an effective majority the way Gingrich did.

“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”-Winston Churchill

 
 

Betsy Markey switches from no to yes

mavericktime Thursday, March 18th at 6:58PM EST (link)

According to Denver Post.

What did she get for her vote?

Section9 Thursday, March 18th at 7:11PM EST (link)

As Mike Royko famously wrote of the Chicago Democratic Organization: “Ubi est Mea?” – “Where’s Mine?”

“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”-Winston Churchill

 
 

Fox reports that Sen. Conrad ND told the House

obladioblada Thursday, March 18th at 7:14PM EST (link)

to remove the Bismark Bribe. Conrad also said explicitly that reconciliation will take months and that the Senate will need to revise the bill that’s received from the House.

How does this effect the House’s calculus?

 

Share this video AND STOP OBAMACARE!

vidsweet Thursday, March 18th at 11:59PM EST (link)

STOP OBAMACARE! Share my video SPOOF of ObamaCare using the iPhone/Android commercial–show everyone how terrible it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwGqtHX6Pxs

 

Back to Washington D.C

rsexteriors (Diary) Friday, March 19th at 12:34AM EST (link)

for the 3rd time this Saturday (March 20th).

Steve King and Michelle Bachmann are asking for people to come to Washington D.C one more time for a rally and hopefully visits with House members. They want a million people.

They can’t just keep ignoring us and get away with it. I know it is hard to drop everything and go to D.C. Most of us have JOBS. I have two jobs, but the country comes first. I swore an oath to the Constitution when I entered the Military and although I am no longer in the military I still take that oath seriosly, unlike Obama and many of our representatives.

Think about it. Take off and drive down to Washington D.C.

The best thing I have found is not to drive into the city. get on the washington D.C website and look up the Metro. It goes well out of the city in every direction. I drive from PA down to Maryland and get on the first stop (redline) in shady grove MD. They have parking for 5000 cars. Just costs a few dollars for the 30 minute ride right to Union Station. Get off and walk right over to the Capitol building.

http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm

When I went down on 9/12 it took three hours to drive to metro station and 30 minutes into Union Station. I stayed a few hours got back on the metro and boom home in 3 1/2 hours just in time to make my sons football game.

Take the time and lets do this

 

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