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Reconciliation…are we being bamboozled?

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As I understand President Obama’s plan, what will now happen is as follows.

The Senate version of Obamacare has already been passed.  But, the House of Representatives does not like many provisions in the Senate bill.  So, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, is now scurrying around trying to draft, and obtain support for, what I will call a “fix it bill”. 

Her plan is as follows.  First, the House passes the Senate bill, and then it passes the “fix it bill”.  The “fix it bill” will need to go to the Senate where reconciliation is needed to obtain the votes to pass it.

Meanwhile, we have lost sight of the fact that both the Senate and the House have passed an identical bill,  and, thus, that bill  goes to the President for signature.  No need for reconciliation on the “fix it bill”, we have Obamacare.

I’m not a House or Senate parliamentarian, but, I am a cynic.

That was then, this is now

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The more I listen to the Obama administration and the current Democratic legislature, the more I am convinced that this is the very real slogan of the Democratic party.

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No worries Tea Party folks: Democrats just won’t learn … their funeral

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I am stunned at how quickly the lessons of last night have been forgotten, or is it never learned? Just keep plowing ahead on the ultra liberal, big government, tax and spend agenda, and ignore the message from Democrats and independents in the Commonwealth. Read more

Like Rats Abandoning a Sinking Ship…

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Apparently, there has been a crisis of confidence of late within the ranks of the Democratic party, with recruited candidates backing out of their races, even in putatively “safe” districts.  From “The Hill:”

“Democrats have lost yet another touted recruit, this time in Kansas.

State Sen. Laura Kelly (D) just announced her withdrawal from the race to face Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.). She becomes the fifth formidable recruit to bow out in recent weeks.

“I have been forced to make a decision between honoring the pledge I made to the people in my Senate district and my firm conviction that the people of the 2nd congressional district deserve a truly independent voice in Congress,” Kelly said in a statement.

“This has been a very hard decision, but it is the right one.”

Kelly joins several recent dropouts, including businessman Jack McDonald, a well-funded challenger to Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) who announced last week that he wouldn’t run. The others are Ohio state Rep. Todd Book, who was running against Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio); former Tennessee Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Paula Flowers, who was running for Rep. Zach Wamp’s (R-Tenn.) seat; and Solana Beach City Councilman Dave Roberts, who was running against Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.).”

Just as rodents seem to know then a rotting vessel is about to go under, I have to wonder what it is that these recruited and, in some cases, touted candidates know that we don’t.

Democrat Senators vote to pad Federal paychecks. Hold Defense Department hostage

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I’m telling ya, you lefties are in for a shock come November. And please, don’t ever, ever call the show when the Republicans take over, and complain about spending. This is world class. Read more

Adding illegals to the Democrat’s health care plans

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Well at least they’re honest about it. More importantly, had the American people not spoken up … this is where they most assuredly would go. At this point I think its just politicking, since I am not sure this has any chance of getting through … but then again. They are pretty “waskally wabbits” when left to their own devices.

“Legal permanent residents should be able to purchase their plans, and they should also be eligible for subsidies if they need it. Undocumented, if they can afford it, should be able to buy their own private plans. It keeps them out of the emergency room,” said Rep. Michael M. Honda, California Democrat and chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Oh and now might be the time to visit this from the Obama joint session speech.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ika76JqcpkE

Make you mistake … as my poor Dad always said, when you shake a politicians hand … check to make sure you still have your watch.

Social Security strained to the limit: Democrats cheer

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Big job losses, early retirements and SSA finds itself suddenly paying out more in a year than it collects. Trust me folks this is just a preview of coming attractions. It’s only going to get worse as the baby boomers flood the system. And before you sneer at the boomers, know this … these are the “kids” who have been supporting SS benefits for decades as Congress (as they did last week), in an attempt to buy votes, generously raised benefits to unsupportable levels.

The deficits – $10 billion in 2010 and $9 billion in 2011 – won’t affect payments to retirees because Social Security has accumulated surpluses from previous years totaling $2.5 trillion. But they will add to the overall federal deficit.

Applications for retirement benefits are 23 percent higher than last year, while disability claims have risen by about 20 percent. Social Security officials had expected applications to increase from the growing number of baby boomers reaching retirement, but they didn’t expect the increase to be so large.

I know … you must think it’s Bush’s fault. But think back to 2004 and 2005 when George Bush begged Congress to enact Social Security reform. Personal retirement accounts for a portion of social security contributions. Congress couldn’t get the votes it needed in either the House or Senate and the Democrats cheered. Nice move.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mqSXsNJzRM

If I were the Republicans I would be playing this a lot next year

Rollins to Specter: Game On

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He better bring a lot of cash … cause if Ed Rollins, Reagan’s former campaign chief is right the Republicans will make Arlen Specter political public enemy number one. Donna Brazile kicks this clip off answering Wolf’s question “Will Specter get the Democrat nomination in Pennsylvania?” Pay back … on two fronts.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtvp91s2hXw

Think this is principle? Watch the glee on his face when he’s asked about his seniority. Principle? Nope. That’s his seat people … voting is just a formality.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_XEfDxw9jo

Obligatory Specter goes Democrat post – GOP did NOT move right UPDATE: Video

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Sen. Arlen Specter (R/D/Who Cares-Pa.) will announce(d) that he’s going to run on the Democrat ticket in 2010 which leaves the Republican nomination open to Pat Toomey. You must give credit to Specter for one thing and one thing only. He’s not pulling this crap right after he is elected.

That said, this is decision based on his continued quest for power. He must have seen the polls or something. The last time Specter went up against Toomey, Specter got the nomination by a narrow 2 percent, and recent polls did not look good for the incumbent. From Jake Tapper at ABC News…

In a Quinnipiac poll last month among registered Pennsylvania Republicans, Specter trailed Toomey 27-41 percent. That poll showed that Specter had a 29 percent favorability rating among Republicans, compared with 60 percent among Democrats.

Uhh, yeah. What would you do?

UPDATE VIDEO (Jim): Here’s Specter in his own words. But allow me to sum it up. Who do the people of Pennsylvania think they are? How dare they? This has nothing to do with a principled stance. He was getting clobbered by the good Republican people of Pennsylvania. This is all about saving a job that he, like all other Senators, believe is theirs.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=345ErwNrzHs

We now return you back to Steve. The article continues…

The precariousness of Specter’s political position — a Republican in a Democratic-leaning state — was on display earlier this year when he was one of three GOP senators to back President Obama’s $787 billion economic stimulus plan. That vote was strongly condemned by conservative Republicans and Toomey used that vote as the launching pad for his candidacy.

The GOP moved to the right? Are you kidding? To invoke Reagan just ticks me off since Reagan left the Democrat party because the party left him. Nice try senator, I’m not buying. That stimulus porkapoluza that you voted for has nothing in common with conservative principles.

Standing question that Specter better step up and answer. Sen. Specter, can you provide specific examples where the GOP moved to the right?

specter-wikiMore at Michelle Malkin’s place, Volokh Conspiracy (noting future Obama judicial nominations), Campaign Spot, and Hot Air (no change on card check).

Damn, Wikipedia trolls are fast – but they got it wrong of course. They list him as a Democrat starting in 2009, but it will not be official until he runs in 2010 (in office 2011), at least that is how I read it.

Update: I did remember hearing that Specter ruled out switching parties earlier this year.

He [Specter] said in an interview with The Hill that the role of the Republican Party in Washington is too vital for him to switch to the Democratic side.

“I’m staying a Republican because I think I have a more important role to play there,” he said. “I think the United States very desperately needs a two-party system. … And I’m afraid that we’re becoming a one-party system, with Republicans becoming just a regional party.”

At the same time, Specter said he is open to the possibility of running as an Independent with the understanding that he would caucus with Republicans, just as Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) did with Democrats in 2006.

Though he left that option on the table, he suggested it would be a last resort.

Last resort huh? What a liar. “I’m staying a Republican because I think I have a more important role to play there”?

It’s all about him and the power. No convictions at all.

House Democrat lives in Maryland, represents California

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Pet Stark (D-Calif.) represents California’s 13th district including most of the west side of San Francisco Bay from the Alemeda/Oakland area south. But that does not mean he claims the Golden State his home. Tax records indicate his primary residence is in Maryland.

This may be perfectly legal, but what kind of system do we have where politicians need to spend so little time in their home districts that they no longer even have a home there?

By listing his primary residence in Maryland, Stark pays lower income taxes on his congressional salary of $174,000. The California income tax – which is not graduated – is 9.3 percent. Maryland’s income tax is about 6.25 percent, which saves Stark 3 percent right off the bat.

Maryland also dings non-residents an additional 1.25 percent, and if you consider that property taxes and living expenses are higher in the Bay area as compared to his “six acre waterfront estate” in Maryland, Stark is able to reduce costs and keep more of his own salary. (Really it’s our money but…)

Although residing in Maryland, Stark and his wife retain an address at his in-law’s home in San Lorenzo so he can vote in California. I wonder if his bedroom has it’s own private bath…

In effect, Stark has outsourced his home and living expenses to another state to save money. I say good for him. As long as the residents of California’s 13th don’t mind the fact he does not actually live in the area he represents, why not?

What do you call a reverse carpetbagger?

Stark is in his 19th term, which equates to more than 36 years working for places like Oakland in the nations capital. Will district residents continue to support Stark as long as he brings home the bacon?

The LA Times is reporting this as another Democrat tax scandal, referencing a piece at Bloomberg News…

A senior member of the U.S. House’s tax-writing Ways and Means Committee from California has been taking advantage of a tax break for a home in Maryland that he claims as his principal residence.

Representative Pete Stark, the second-ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means panel, in 2007 and 2008 saved a total of $3,853 in state and Anne Arundel County taxes on a Maryland waterfront home that he claims as his primary residence, according to Maryland tax disclosures.

Maryland officials, contacted by a Bloomberg reporter about the tax break Stark received, said they plan to look into his eligibility for it.

Homeowners in Maryland qualify for the tax credit for residences they use “for the legal purposes of voting, obtaining a driver’s license, and filing income tax returns,” according to the Maryland Assessment Procedures Manual.

Stark, 77, confirmed in a telephone interview last week that he and his wife, Deborah, are registered to vote in California’s 13th congressional district using the address of her parents in San Lorenzo, about 25 miles southeast of San Francisco. Stark also said both he and his wife have California driver’s licenses.

LGF is reporting another Democrat in trouble. No statement from Stark on his House Web site. Monitor Google’s news search to see if this becomes a bigger issue.

Since the Bloomberg story was published on March 19, I’m wondering if he took any questions about the subject at the town hall meeting scheduled March 21 (Saturday) in Alemeda?

I wonder if he spent the night at a Holiday Inn Express?