Multiple sources tell me the National Rifle Association is planning to endorse liberal Harry Reid against pro-gun champion Sharron Angle.
Two weeks ago, I told you about the carveout the NRA received in exchange for their support for the DISCLOSE ACT deal.
Then this week, RedState broke the story of the “gag order” the NRA issued to members of its Board on the Kagan nomination.
Now, I’m getting credible reports that the NRA is leaning toward endorsing Harry Reid, even though the NRA is finally saying it will score a vote on Kagan — something that was not a sure thing.
Why would they do this? Why would they go out of their way to protect a Senator who has demonstrated a repeated hostility to the Second Amendment in his votes and his leadership?
Well, I thought perhaps the NRA carveout in the DISCLOSE Act might be the answer. But, there is more. It turns out, Reid secured a $61 million earmark for a gun range in Clark County, Nevada.
Click here for the rest of the story.
Rasmussen Reports 2010 Oklahoma Senate General Election Poll (link)
Tom Coburn (R) - 52%
Brad Henry (D) - 40%
Some other candidate - 2%
Not sure - 5%
Favorable/Unfavorable
Tom Coburn - 63%/31% (+32%)
Brad Henry - 63%/33% (+30%)
Job Approval (approve/disapprove)
Gov. Brad Henry - 64%/34% (+30%)
Pres. Barack Obama - 38%/62% (-24%)
Poll of 500 Likely Voters, February 24, 2010, with a MoE 4.5%
If ever the people of the United States rise up and fight over passage of Obamacare, Harry Reid must be remembered as the man who sacrificed the dignity of his office for a few pieces of silver. The rules of fair play that have kept the basic integrity of the Republic alive have died with Harry Reid. Reid has slipped in a provision into the health care legislation prohibiting future Congresses from changing any regulations imposed on Americans by the Independent Medical Advisory Boards, which are commonly called the “Death Panels.”The rest of this post can be read here.
It was Reid leading the Democrats who ignored 200 years of Senate precedents to rule that Senator Sanders could withdraw his amendment while it was being read.
It was Reid leading the Democrats who has determined again and again over the past few days that hundreds of years of accumulated Senate parliamentary rulings have no bearing on the health care vote.
On December 21, 2009, however, Harry Reid sold out the Republic in toto.
Upon examination of Senator Harry Reid’s amendment to the health care legislation, Senators discovered section 3403. That section changes the rules of the United States Senate.
To change the rules of the United States Senate, there must be sixty-seven votes.
Section 3403 of Senator Harry Reid’s amendment requires that “it shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider any bill, resolution, amendment, or conference report that would repeal or otherwise change this subsection.” The good news is that this only applies to one section of the Obamacare legislation. The bad news is that it applies to regulations imposed on doctors and patients by the Independent Medical Advisory Boards aka the Death Panels.
Section 3403 of Senator Reid’s legislation also states, “Notwithstanding rule XV of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a committee amendment described in subparagraph (A) may include matter not within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Finance if that matter is relevant to a proposal contained in the bill submitted under subsection (c)(3).” In short, it sets up a rule to ignore another Senate rule.
Senator Jim DeMint confronted the Democrats over Reid’s language. In the past, the Senate Parliamentarian has repeatedly determined that any legislation that also changes the internal standing rules of the Senate must have a two-thirds vote to pass because to change Senate rules, a two-thirds vote is required. Today, the Senate President, acting on the advice of the Senate Parliamentarian, ruled that these rules changes are actually just procedural changes and, despite what the actual words of the legislation say, are not rules changes. Therefore, a two-thirds vote is not needed in contravention to longstanding Senate precedent.
The Conservative View
by Russell Turner
Who's Got The Crystal Ball?
Most of us have watched old movies about individuals that prey upon people who want to know what their departed loved ones from beyond the grave would tell them. The fortune tellers would often use a variety of means to accomplish their task of communication. Some would use some type of cards to convey the message while others would gaze into a crystal ball. Far too often the mediums are someone who has the ability to size up their clients and tell them what they want to hear. It seems to me that the fortune tellers and many of our politicians have a lot in common.
In the next few days there will be bills before the US congress concerning the health care debate in this country. It seems like the politicians have read many of the American people and are merely telling them what they want to hear. In America we have some of the most advanced medical treatment in the world but it can be very expensive. Many people want the advanced care but they want someone else to be responsible to provide and pay for it. The responsible people in our country understand that you don’t get anything for nothing. I can remember that there were campaign promises to post new legislation on the internet for the Americans to review and voice their opinions on the issues. We understand that these proposed laws will have costs and someone will have to pay for them. Recently there was a request for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) version of Obamacare to be posted for the American people to view his proposal. Government should be open and transparent, after all our system is supposed to be a government of the people and by the people. 40 Senators signed a letter asking Reid to make all materials he sent to the Congressional Budget Office public. Senator Reid responded, but not with transparency. Sadly he refused to make public any of the proposals that were sent to the Congressional Budget Office.
Some estimates project that the cost of the healthcare reforms to the American taxpayer will be as much as $1.4 trillion over the next 10 years. I have also noticed that very seldom will the cost projections cover the actual costs. Since Mr. Reid doesn’t believe in transparency, we can always go back to the fortune tellers and look into the crystal ball and get more information.
Report: Blagojevich to name Obama successor this afternoon
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
Gov. Blagojevich today is expected to name former state Comptroller and Attorney General Roland Burris to Illinois' vacant U.S. Senate seat, a knowledgeable source said this morning.
A news conference is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, 71, had lobbied the governor for the position in recent weeks.
Burris made a previous attempt at the Senate seat in the past -- unsuccessfully. In 1984, he was beat out for the Democratic nomination by Paul Simon.
However, Senate Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid says he will not seat a Blagojevich appointee.
This will be interesting to watch unfold. Tune in at 2pm (CST) for the press conference.The action comes despite warnings by Democratic Senate leaders that they would not seat anyone appointed by the disgraced governor who faces criminal charges of trying to sell the post, sources familiar with the decision said.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada previously warned Blagojevich, following the governor's Dec. 9 arrest, that Senate Democrats would not seat any appointment the two-term Democratic governor made. Reid's warning was contained in a letter signed by all 50 sitting Democratic senators, including the No. 2 Democrat in Senate leadership, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois.
