I called my rep-for-the-moment David Wu (OR). The staffer said he did not indicate how he would vote, but that she would relay any message. I acknowledged his “last vote” and his problems, and asked him to exit gracefully by voting this deal down, since it would cause great hardship for me and millions of other people.

I also went to his office in Portland personally on the Day of Action about 12 days ago, right before his scandal broke, and delivered a letter to a staffer there.

Under the circumstances, I can’t help feeling locals here have about .000001% leverage with Wu, even less than the .000003% we have with any member of Congress. I’m probably overestimating.

Sadly Ms Jarrett may not know better. Or may be she thinks he saved it from worse….I think his Super Commission is unconstitutional and is a path of no responsibility and/or powerlessness. She could at least call it for what it is…his word, “compromise”….

Chuck Todd just mentioned Jane Hamsher “on the left” efforts to kill this bill, and Andrea Mitchell asked him when she and he will be able to :…get out of town”.

per Boo Radley downstairs:

Again from a tweet from the HuffPo’s jbendery, the Black Caucus is split. Jesse Jackson will vote “no.” Chaka Fattah is a “yes.”

HCR Redux, Craven Bugaloo

on edit – btw, some ‘blogger lady’ warned us that the HCR debacle was mere preview to the mother of all battles – the safety net

Great…Maybe she should go right now…Guess she is tired of hearing from the “little people” and wants her “life back”…Just do it….

No doubt my “sugar-coated Satan sandwich” representative will fold as he has all along. I’m so disgusted with him. Unfortunately, even though I didn’t vote for him (I wrote in a protest vote for “Medicare for All”) in 2010, he’s in a pretty safe district.

LOL! It looks as though even the bobbleheads want to get out of the spotlight!

Confirming earlier posts about Debbie Stabenow, senator from MI up for reelection – her office does not know how she will vote. I told them I would vote against her if she votes for it or if she waits around to make sure it will pass and then votes against it, same outcome.

I have just called Marcy Kaptur. Her staffer was nice and heard my point, and said that the Congresswoman is undecided on the vote.

as you are painfully aware RO, MI has highest unemployment in the nation, and a purported Dem is non committal about how she’ll vote on something that does not include UEI Extension ?!?!?

Go Jane!

My representative here in Hawaii is Colleen Hanabusa. Her staffer said she’s “in caucus” and no decision has been made, He requested I give my opinion, which surprised me. I said VOTE HELL NO!!!!!

It’s a foregone conclusion that come tomorrow, this disaster will have been concluded with a terrible agreement in place. Wall Street will not allows its DC lackeys to cause any further problems.

I saw that. Hilarious.

When they announced this morning they were moving the vote, I told Jon “I bet it’s because we’re whipping.”

We didn’t say anything about it before this morning, intentionally.

Happy scrambling….

You know, I don’t get that either. I really don’t get why all of us that have already lost their UI Benefits can’t re-up since there is no hiring.

Now that the SC has said that corporations are “people” it would seem that real people are now the serfs.

FWIW, I was just told (1:30 PM, Monday) by the tally desk at my GOP senator’s office that the calls are running against the deal, and by my Dem senator’s office that were all running against it.

All these undecided Dems tells me they’ll wait until the Regressives have enough votes to pass this piece of shit then start voting no to appease the naysayers back home.

Of course they’re “nice.” This is the age of smiley face fascism.

Ding! Ding! Ding!!!!

Just heard VJ on Am lying about SS and MC. AM let her get away with it. This is not a left or right issue this is about the truth and this ceiling being passed on the back of us. 94% on a Guardian poll right now oppose this deal. Maybe we should start contacting the media and tell them to stop lying to the american people that this is not a deal for the american people, and if they keep lying we will make sure that they also lose their jobs

Ding ding ding!

You get the prize.

It is looking that way. However, we are smarter than that and besides the repugs are not going to go off holding the entire blame on this one.

And certainly makes sense doesn’t it…more like the patriarchs, the supers.

Sure seems like a lot of critters are undecided. Funny how that works. They won’t even admit their vote until it’s a done deal.

Just called Nydia Velazquez D-Brooklyn. Staffer says she is undecided. I told her I was a constituent, and please to vote no, put it in the president’s hands.

Come on, Brooklyn, represent!

Washington DC Office
2301 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.4001
Fax: 202.225-5392

call chaka
tell him
we are organizing 55 million angry seniors,who paid into SS

we know it has nothing to do with the debt
and will do utube adds to take down any democrat that votes against us seniors..you too prez0

The “people”, I mean the serfs should just shut the F up and be grateful the job creators are well provided for by Washington.

Ah, my currently facist state has all ready voted (at the state level) to reduce the number of weeks for UE…but Stabenow voted for the bankruptcy bill a few years back and that, to me, showed her true colors

From the previous thread:

Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) – “I spoke with Ryan, gave my name and identified myself from Portland, OR in US Congressional District 3. I said I oppose a “Super Congress” and that I would not vote for Blumenauer if he votes for this as this is unconstitutional. I also stated I wouldn’t vote for Blumenaur if he votes to cut Social Security and Medicare. He said that it was crazy around there and that I was preaching to the choir He did want to know how the term “Super Congress” came about.” 202-225-4811

This indicates to me that calling to oppose the “Super Congress” is a mistake, because it misses the point of what we’re all purportedly opposing. It tells Congress that we’re all up in arms about some procedural trickery rather than about the unnecessary cuts.

I called Merkley, Wyden, and Wu’s offices to tell them, “The President has the legal authority to circumvent the debt-ceiling. Oppose this terrible and unnecessary austerity deal, and force the President to take action on his own.”

Mike Michaud’s (ME) Washington staffer said he couldn’t discuss how the congressman would vote but was happy to take a message. I expressed my dipleasure with a “Super Congress” and mentioned there IS no debt crisis.

the President had “saved Social Security and Medicare.”

Whew! That’s a relief. I was really sweating that one out…

Where exactly are those, “Job Creators”? We’ve given them historic tax breaks, loop holes, subsidies, and degregulation. What else do they want?

call back please
tell her we are organizing,and will run utube adds to tell of their votes
AGAINST seniors and the disabeled,we will look for primary challengers

A “compromise” to “save” Social Security and medicare? From whom? Obama was the one who put them on the couch and already had his pants down. Social Security appears to have been “saved” not by a wise compromise between two parties, but by another strange case of “coitus interruptus”

I’m faxing a photo of myself with a big caption across it:

Vote NO on the debt ceiling! We are Organizing!

I’m pretty sure they’re using the “burn down the village to save it” strategy.

The Social Security checks of the elderly and the infirmed and the shirt off your back.

Tammy Baldwin – Member of Progressive Caucus – 2nd CD WI – her office said that she is undecided. Tammy is considering running for the Senate to replace Herb Kohl. I told her office that she better think twice about that decision as I will certainly spread the truth far & wide if she votes “yes” to abrogate her duties & set up this Super Congress. It is unimaginable to me that anyone calling himself a Progressive would he have to think twice how they will vote on such a terrible bill.

We truly are in Alice in Wonderland territory now – up is down so to speak. I threatened Tammy with an ad in our local paper if she votes “Yes”. I have some discretionary income, and I will run this ad if I’m forced to do so.
I can’t abide such a betrayal of our democratic principles, and our constitution!

Yeah, well I doubt they want my shirt. It says FDL on it. (grins)

perfect!

I say fuck the corporate media and the spokesmodels that pimp themselves in the interests of the status quo and the plutocracy in the name of “centrism” and bipartisanship of course. They should be considered legitimate targets for the wrath of the people.

Carl Levin (senator from MI) does not know how he will vote and is currently reviewing the bill. So I told the person who answered the phone that I had found that politispeak to mean that he would wait and make the sure the bill passed before he voted no. I added that there were millions of seniors out here who will be VERY upset with anyone voting for this bill and to please tell Levin to vote no.

Jane!

Thanks for the update on Kucinch! That’s another one of those fair weather Duds!

I don’t think they’d want mine either. It says “This Shirt Kills Fascists”

Chuck Todd says “interest groups are trying to kill this deal so they moved the vote up.” In other words, they’re not happy about your calls.

Awwwwww. I haz a sad. :-(

hope it didn’t tie up the fax line, tho…..

Heh, I’ve got one with a portrait of Trotsky.

My Congresscritter is Steve Austria (Tea party, for all practical purposes), staffer says he’s “undecided”.

Boxturtle (Given he’s a member of the caveman caucus, I’d suspect he’ll vote NO if he’s not needed)

It doesn’t matter when you call Deb’s office. Six months..six weeks…six days.. six hours……..nobody ever knows nothing about how Stab is gonna vote.

Check it (the highlights). A summary at a glance.

http://youtu.be/Xbt30UnzRWw

Not one ammendment to create jobs or revenue in this bill. Just create a Super Congress to rule over the US, which is unconstitutional and treasonous.

Heh. Send this pic with the same caption.

Tee-Hee! I hope it throws some of the fear back at them and they have irritable bowel syndrome like the rest of America!

Just called Rick Larsen’s (D-WA) office. Chris said “Rick’s reading it right now as we speak.” Is Rick “on the fence?” I ask. Chris, “I dunno.” I tell Chris to let Rick know that if he votes for it, I’m not voting for Rick. Chris: “Okay.”

They all make me puke.

Back to work.

Damn.

Namaste

Yup.

oooohhh! I love Frazetta! Long time fan!

No trouble getting through to Levin’s office. The “comment” will be passed along to the Senator.

I just called Scott Tipton’s DC office and they are not answering the telephone. I called his local office in Grand Junction and an aide says he has not made up his mind.

Hahahaha and I’m sending you a big ((( ))))!

Love it, love it, love it!!

“After the vote, members of Congress will immediately leave town for 5 weeks so they won’t have to face the wrath of the aftermath, per Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC.”

We need to go visit those fuckers when they get back to their districts. Cept I can’t visit my fucker cause he actually doesn’t ever come to my district. Lungren is useless and aims to keep it that way.

Tear it up “left of center”…More power to you!!!

it’s Sheila Jackson Lee’s line as well – apparently she’s presently, “buried in review” of the bill

(202) 225-3816 Phone (202) 225-3317 Fax

@JacksonLeeTX18

Earl Blumenauer Says he hasn’t had enough time to decide.

ROFL. Pathetic.

Good one. Devo it up!

You are wonderful. I’m in Milwaukee and will kick in $20 for the ad.

Jane, this is making me sick to my stomach. I thought your opinion piece yesterday was over the top. Now I think it wasn’t strong enough. I made my three calls. I made my commitment to never vote for a single person who votes for this, regardless of whatever boogy men these guys raise. When De Fazio can’t figure it out! Then these bastards, all of these bastards, have to go.

I had no trouble this afternoon but earlier today I got busy signals.

Blood in the streets as grandma and grandpa die there….

{ he he he! } I love Devo!

he PCCC will be joining soon, sending out emails ; got it but the email link wasn’t working regards providing a phone number and reporting the results; they indicated that they usually don’t ask people to call a Repub congressman-my cross to bear, Brian Bilbray- but to please do so.

Did and Bilbray’s office said they’d realy my objections to the Congressman.

Really says something to me when the PCCC is asking people to call and their linking of info-for phone number,etc.- and reporting of call results doesn’t work.

I’m not even sure they want to save the village

Super Congresses are stupid and evil. Mister Flibble is very cross.

She should not have any doubts…what’s her hold up?

I used the script. And I made it a point to signal that I was reading from a script. I did so because I wanted Jason Altmire’s representative to know that I was calling on behalf of an organized opposition to the bill to be voted on soon. Our Congressmen and woman can ignore some “special interests” when in Congress, talking to lobbyists, their staff and their buddies, they can’t ignore an organized opposition when that opposition threatens their position as members of Congress.

Rant: How in the world can a congresscritter NOT have their vote settled by now? This has been the ONLY subject for weeks, the changes from the last version are minor, and it’s all about ideology at this point anyway.

Frankly, I’d rather have a congresscritter looks me in the eye and say “I’m voting yes” then all this non-decision crap.

Boxturtle (Because I believe Non-decision translates to “just not telling you”)

If he is a slow learned, he should retire.

Called Dingell, Stabenow, and Levin’s office. Got the “they’re weighing their options” bullshit. Stabenow’s office insisted Social Security was “off the table” with this bill. Just goes to show you how much in denial these aides are. I doubt very strongly that much of this opposition is filtered back to the congress people. We need an organized national march on Washington and labor strikes, now!

Welcome aboard!

Rep at Anna Eshoo’s office (CA-14) claimed not to have spoken with her and did not know her position. They asked for my email which I gave, but I said they should blast her entire list and not try to hide. Expressed for relay to her my opposition to the bill as a whole and SuperCongress in particular.

After the vote, members of Congress will immediately leave town for 5 weeks so they won’t have to face the wrath of the aftermath, per Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC.

Are they nuts they go home they have to face their voters who know where they live. I’d rather walk around Chicago in a Klan sheet than go home and tell old people your SS is safe its just your kids who will get the benefit cuts.

My favorite deep dish pizza pie came from a place that sported Franzetta artwork. They offered “the Veggie” and the “the Savage.”

please call back,and tell them ,their 100s of seniors you know,who are organizing and willing to put up adds against him,telling the truth ,that SS doesnt add a penny to the deficit,and has a 22 TRILLION DOLLAR surplus

thanx

Via someone on Twitter, Audio link of Doug Lamphorn (R-CO) talking about this vote as touching a “tar baby,” and that Obama will get the blame. It sounds legit to me.

Lamphorn was careful. He does not actually call Obama a tar baby.

I called Representative Terri Sewell’s (D-AL) office – twice, actually, this morning. Both times, her staff told me she was still waiting to do a final review of the legislation. I expressed my disgust for the bill, and offered up real ways to combat these issues without breaking the back of the working class.

Whether or not this process is all in vain, I have never been this engaged in the political process, and it feels great. I look forward to fighting the battles with all of you in the future. Keep up the great work, Jane!

FAX ALL C CRITTERZ
the jig is up

we will ORGANIZE and REVEAL this to all Americans

$22 trillion Social Security surplus revealed on C-SPAN

When Peter Coy, the Bloomberg Businessweek Economics Editor, appeared this morning on “Washington Journal,” he brought along a chart for his discussion of the magazine’s cover article, “Why the Debt Crisis is Even Worse Than You Think.” But, the chart, purported to show a national fiscal gap, did not match Coy’s talking points. As Coy concluded commenting that cuts would be needed to Social Security and other entitlements, C-SPAN moderator Susan Swain pointed out that Coy’s chart showed a long-term surplus for Social Security of $22 trillion. Coy confirmed as accurate her interpretation of the chart and, after some stumbling, admitted that, “The trust fund is not the crucial issue.” Indeed, his own figures show that it is not an issue at all. So, why did he continue to insist that Social Security cuts are needed?

To watch the interview, go to the video and fast-forward to the 28 minute mark. Discussion of the Social Security surplus occurs around the 30 minutes mark.

Following is my transcript of the interview. (Note: I’ve highlighted in bold the discussion of the Social Security surplus.)

Yeah, that blogger lady, who has this habit of always being right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIKmUUe2a7o

“freedom of choice
is what you got
freedom from choice
is what you want ” pretty much describes the Dems.

OT after making my calls. The HP had a lead earlier that students are selling their bodies in order to pay student loans. Who needs Pell grants and boot straps when you can pull yourself up by your G-string?

Casey (PA) says he’s OK with it.

Sounds like he’s dead to me

please call back,and tell them we seniors 55 million strong are organizing and SS has

$22 trillion Social Security surplus revealed on C-SPAN

When Peter Coy, the Bloomberg Businessweek Economics Editor, appeared this morning on “Washington Journal,” he brought along a chart for his discussion of the magazine’s cover article, “Why the Debt Crisis is Even Worse Than You Think.” But, the chart, purported to show a national fiscal gap, did not match Coy’s talking points. As Coy concluded commenting that cuts would be needed to Social Security and other entitlements, C-SPAN moderator Susan Swain pointed out that Coy’s chart showed a long-term surplus for Social Security of $22 trillion. Coy confirmed as accurate her interpretation of the chart and, after some stumbling, admitted that, “The trust fund is not the crucial issue.” Indeed, his own figures show that it is not an issue at all. So, why did he continue to insist that Social Security cuts are needed?

To watch the interview, go to the video and fast-forward to the 28 minute mark. Discussion of the Social Security surplus occurs around the 30 minutes mark.

Following is my transcript of the interview. (Note: I’ve highlighted in bold the discussion of the Social Security surplus.)

you are in OVERDRIVE! thank you so much for your spirit and infectious determination and optimism!

BHO is the taar baby phillosophically speaking,his ideas are plain awful

sadlyyes!!!

You are rawkin’ it out to the world today!!!!

Called Judy Biggert and her staff member had no idea how she would vote. I mean, the vote is only today, why should he know what she thinks about a bill that 80% of the people don’t want? I told him I’d prefer that she voted know, asked if she understood that she would be giving away her responsibility to a subset of the congress. I’m sure it didn’t mean anything to the staffer. I did say I consider a yes vote a vote to cut social security and if she did vote yes I would not support her or vote for her ever again. I forgot to mention I never voted for her before… but still, zero chance of it happening in the future if she votes yes.

DeFazio (D-OR): “No idea” how he’ll vote. Which suggests to me that he’ll vote for it, or maybe wait until his vote doesn’t matter and then vote “no.” In other words, I’m not optimistic about DeFazio. 202-225-6416

Well he just lost Eugene and any shot at the Oregon Governorship or anything else for that matter.

This is what organization looks like!

it costs 0 to put up a youyube,if i can do it,anybody can…they are stealing from us

ROTFLMAOFF!

How to make Pine Tar:

http://www.maritime.org/conf/conf-kaye-tar.htm

Where to get feathers:

Visit your local farmer

What type of rail is appropriate to run a politician out of town:

Any small tree trunk

please call back and tell her thousands of like minded people you speak with are organizing through adds to take down anyone voting against seniors

X200 sadlyyes x200… Keep up the whipping we must defeat this atrocity!!

perfect i have a nice turd to send courtesy of Harry the cat

someone please ‘splain Kucinich undeclared position to me, isn’t he about to be redistrict’d out of a job, what in bloody hell could he be holding out for ?!?!?

LOL! My Heidi has two hairballs I can shove in an envelope!

Every last crumb outta our breadbaskets and every last ball of lint outta our empty pockets! Duh…

Thanks for being on top of this, Jane and FDL.

My critter wants to be governor. Darcy Burner is already touting him.
I said I was so deadly serious in my opposition to this “deal” that I would not support either his run for gov or his re-election if he didn’t meaningfully oppose it. We’ll see.

And as someone upthread already pointed out–waiting until the “no” vote is of no use won’t be acceptable either. So glad I’ve got FDL as a source of facts and cogent analysis.

Just spoke to Danny Davis’ office and they said that they were still trying to pick this apart to understand what is in the agreement. Staffer seemed a bit uncertain – real sense they do not want to declare on this which is interesting in itself.

I just called Marcy Kaptur’s office and requested a “no” vote.
Staffer of course was nice but who knows whether the message will be delivered.

WHY OH WHY are we not putting the energy in to finding a primary challenge to Obama?

I recognize the party apparatus can be a big impediment BUT, we really need to get one candidate on one ballot to start. Somewhere somehow it has to start.

“Even Dennis Kucinich won’t say he’s voting against the bill.”

No surprise. Remember, he also folded on the hollow HCR bill because he “didn’t want to destroy Obama’s presidency”, or something to that effect. He’s got no more spine than the rest, he just likes to talk tough.

From a Dave Weigel tweet: Question to Pelosi, “can it pass?”

“You’ll have to ask the Speaker, he has the majority.”

Called Jason Chaffetz’ office, the staffer indicated he is definitely voting No. Then I called Jim Matheson’s office (even though he is not my rep) just for shits and giggles and staffer said he had not spokent to Matheson today about the bill, that he is ‘studying it.’

Ain’t it funny how I could get a straight answer from the ‘R’ office but a line of BS from the ‘D’ office.

I told Chris ALL OF THAT. Didn’t seem to faze him.

But….my husband also called Rick’s office, after I did. Rick actually got on the phone with him and gave him a song and dance extraordinaire! I popped off in the background and said LOUDLY “Rick’s just waiting to see if the regressives get enough votes, then he’ll make up his mind.”

Rick said that “Medicare is walled-off and there are no cuts to Medicare or Medicaid.” When asked what that’s supposed to mean, he didn’t have a satisfactory (or logical) answer.

On one point, Rick did concede something — when my husband said that Obama’s “claim that this bill is balanced is nonsense — it’s about as balanced as Fox News.” Rick responded, “You’re right — and he’s wrong.”

My husband and I have worked for Rick in the past. Never again.

A new district funded by the central Democratic party organizations!

spot on

You, Go!

Your critter would probably make a better governor than the one I have. Heck, I could put my three pets in congress and get better representation!

No one will know until after the votes. That’s *just* how it has to be.

It’s really a waste of time to differentiate between Republicans and Democrats, when the vast majority of our selected representatives are nothing more than corporate masks.

I’m breaking out “Losing Our Job” by The Roches for this Administration and the Veal Pen.

Obama wants it – and Pelosi and Reid have weak backbones – indeed the “weak” Obama is a con as he is getting exactly what he wants – as he always does.

House vote during the evening news – maximum PR for the GOP and Obama. – Then the locked Senate vote.

eye opener,huh?

Maximum drama: works for us!

OMG!!!!!!!! That is AWESOME!

It’s just a job….

Remember that, Obama. Just like you feel about our jobs, yours is also in that category at the moment!

I sure hope so. I hope congress is having abdominal cramps and irritable bowel syndrome right now. They have worried and put fear in all of America and this is but a small sample of payback!

ha !

was just listening to Beware of Darkness

today is the 40 Anniversary of the Concert for Bangladesh

Congressman Peter Roskam, IL 6th District:
Jeff – intern – the Congressman has not told his staff his decision, but supported the Boehner plan; so they are assuming he will support this bill and vote yes for it as well. They have received several calls today saying the same thing as us. “Congressman Roskam always tries to do what he personally believes is best” – even though it’s the exact opposite of what his contituents want apparently! Also said the Congressman does what the country wants, even though he obviously doesn’t see or hear that the vast majority of people in this country are opposed to what they are doing.

Thanks.

Unfortunately, I have nominally “reasonable” representation: Inslee, Cantwell and Murray. But our nominally D governor won the local progressive Heartbreaker award for her budget.
IOW: I gots apparatchiks.

Beam me up Snotty: I don’t wanna live in Interesting Times no more!

Bernie Sanders to primary Obama, don’t make me laugh

According to a report on “Democracy Now” last week, there is already a private “super committee” that writes our laws, called ALEC. This must be the legislation that makes it an official government body.

Yes, I’m sure he’s a “good man.”

Thanks. So three confirmed no votes — Chafetz, Mack and Grijalva.

As a general rule, yes, but the House is divided into Ds and Rs and that’s how the votes are counted.

That’s right.

Yeah The Roches are famous for speaking snarky truth to power. The song is also true for the bankstas, too. I didn’t mean to *them* out!

Oh, to have a hidden microphone in some of these closed-door Party caucus plotting sessions…

The House Rules Committee Meeting today, August 1st

Started at about 1:12 p.m. Ended less than ten minutes later, at 1:20 p.m.

Issued the closed rule (providing for exactly one hour of floor debate on the deal, after the hour of debate on the closed rule) that Jane notes in her post, plus one “motion to recommit,” with or without instructions (which provides one legitimate chance to amend the deal). That’s one opportunity to amend the deal more than the Senate will be given, if House “progressive” and “tea party” members could get together – and manage to preempt the Party Bosses – on some language to at least democratize the Joint Select Committee (all meetings open to the public, committee recommendations amendable by at least some number of amendments on the House floor, etc., etc.).

Chairman Dreier opened the Rules Committee meeting with a few brief remarks, noting that Speaker Boehner and Harry Reid had agreed to use yet another “legislative vehicle” for the deal – this time, it’s S. 365. This is the full text of the legislative language of the latest deal, which will be considered in the form of a subsitute amendment to S. 365.

Chairman Dreier said that the legislative language of the final deal had been put on-line by House staffers at 1:45 a.m. this morning (one of those staffers later called Dreier at 3:30 a.m.).

As soon as Rep. Sessions made the motion for a closed rule that Speaker Boehner had ordered, Chairman Dreier asked if anyone had any questions, and the ranking Democrat on the Rules Committee (Louise Slaughter) replied: “We have no questions.” So Dreier immediately put the motion to a voice vote, and announced that it had passed. No Committee Democrat (Slaughter, Jim McGovern, Alcee Hastings, or Jared Polis) called for a roll call vote. Slaughter then asked if Dreier knew when the rule and bill would come to the floor, and Dreier said that he thought it would be soon after three scheduled suspension votes occur at about 2:30 p.m. this afternoon.

[Slaughter indicated that a private House Democratic Caucus meeting started at 11:00 a.m., and was just finishing, and Dreier indicated that a private House Republican Conference meeting was just starting.]

Chairman Dreier then adjourned the meeting, saying “See you after Labor Day.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at 1:58 p.m. today

Reid came to the floor to indicate that the Senate will stay in session until at least 6:00 p.m. – with occasional speeches interrupting fake quorum calls.

Reid said that Senators should expect a vote tonight or tomorrow on the Obama/McConnell deal, which Reid is simply waiting to receive from the House, when passed, in the form of an amendment to S. 365.

Reid also indicated that he expects to “lock in” a set time for that vote by unanimous consent. [Mike Lee has already publicly announced that he will insist on a 60-vote threshold, by withholding unanimous consent without it.]

Reid then indicated that he thought – aside from a few nominations and the FAA situation – that after approving this deal the Senate would be through for the month, saying that Senators (having obediently done Obama’s bidding) “deserve to be able to go home as soon as we can.” Reid said that he’s been missing his Pomegranate and Fig trees in Nevada, and then he left the floor.

The budget and debt “mess” that both Parties have created here, with their fear and distrust of our public Legislature, is what predictably happens when Parties are allowed by their members to ramrod backroom deals through Congress. Deals that have been secretly negotiated by a small group of people, outside normal channels of fair and open legislative process. Negotiations that have deliberately avoided the idled machinery of a democratic, egalitarian legislative body and its established, parliamentary procedures, but which will continue apace, so long as Members of Congress refuse to think and act for themselves as they were elected to do.

As Mitch McConnell made clear Saturday, in all the many off-the-record private talks about the federal budget and debt to which the American people have not been privy, President Obama has repeatedly taken it upon himself to speak for every Democrat serving in the Senate and House, McConnell for every Senate Republican, and Speaker Boehner for every House Republican – with Reid and Pelosi (if anyone bothers to ask them what the Senate majority or House minority thinks) speaking for every Senate and House Democrat only when Obama has not already spoken first. Our representatives in Congress have let this happen, and apparently plan to keep letting it happen. So keep in mind whose opinions and will we’re actually voting for next time we vote for a federal Representative or Senator, as things now stand: We’re in fact voting for one or more of those five people (or their replacements), who have been repeatedly allowed, by incumbent Members of Congress, to privately dictate top-down terms to the entire U.S. Congress on the matters of greatest import to the nation.

Excellent point!

Just called my congressman, Bill Young (R), Florida 10th Dist. Was told “he is still studying the bill” Asked if he would vote to cut social security or medicare this fall if thats what the commission recommended and I was told “Mr. Young will not vote to cut social security or medicare at anythime.” We shall see. If Sanders votes for this crap, I will send my money to anyone on the left who primaries him!

have you seen The Hill’s Whip Count

extrapolating from it, 538 says Fail 212-219

Huh, Boehner, what happened to legislation being online for the public 72 hours before a vote, hmmm?

Thanks powwow!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheet-victory-bipartisan-compromise-economy-american-people?utm_source=080111&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=daily

hahahahaha – here’s the WH fact sheet – I cannot even fathom what this sort of loss in domestic discretionary spending might mean to the economy.
These fools have no idea the fire they are playing with (aside from sadlyyes and the rest of the voters).

All compromise is based on give and take, but there can be no give and take on fundamentals. Any compromise on mere fundamentals is a surrender. For it is all give and no take.
Mohandas Gandhi

Another exercise in futility, keep the liberals busy so they don’t get into trouble (by doing what they should be doing) I’ll say no more.
Does anyone really believe democrats won’t supply the necessary votes for this mess?

Called congressman Ralph Hall [Tx.]. She didn’t say how he would vote. I let them know I wouldn’t vote for him if he vote for this bill, not that I would vote for his repug ass anyway.

Does this bill already have cuts to Social Security and MM in it….

I called Louie “Terror Babies” Gohmert. The young man I spoke with said.

“I haven’t spoken to the congressman about it but that he is taking the views of those who call and take their opinion into account.”

I told him good. I explained to him that cutting ss and medicare is BAD. I further explained that creating a super congress is nothing more than providing a scapegoat for the congressman so he can say “see that nasty super congress did it not me”. I said that was ridiculous because if he votes to create it then he is ultimately to blame for their decisions.

The kid did not seem to like that part. I told him he should vote against this deal. He said he’d relay what I said as well as all other calls to the congressman.

Assuming he is telling the truth and the congressman is really going to listen to those calling I’m going to see if I can get other constituents in my area to call as well.

just spoke with my Rep. Bass’s office. “undecided, will take into consideration your view, blah blah”.

i said if she votes “aye” Bass is handing her vote & her voice over to 12 members of the Super Congress who will be making decisions for 300 million Americans.

in the 3-min KGO interview she posted on her website she states “the entire fight was unncessary”, and i said i agree completely but reject her laying blame on the Tea Partiers, as it was Pres. Obama who rejected a clean bill and demanded a Grand Bargain to include SS cuts.

the staffer was extremely polite and went out of her way to say several times how much she appreciated me calling and that the phones are ringing off the hook. in fact, i was kind of babbling fast cause i thought i was gonna get cut off, but she slowed me down and let me talk for as long as i liked.

Well, signing petitions and making phone calls keeps liberals busy. I don’t think any of them, in their hearts, actually thinks it will make a difference but it keeps them off the streets and out of the bars.

I hope they don’t see the fire until it’s about up to their waists.

no. what it has is provision for what we are all calling Super Congress,
committee of 12 half from each chamber and each party – filibuster proof, no amendments allowed on whatever they offer up

inside baseball consensus is that cutting the safety net is it’s raison debtra

I just spoke with an aide to Rep. Susan Davis (CA) and he said she is currently undecided; wanting to hear from her constituents. He asked how I wanted her to vote and I said ” for her to vote no, a big ,ole HELL NO!”

Actually in the streets is where we should be or organizing a general strike or something other than fuming on-line.

I called my Critter, Mazie Hirono,(HI-2)and I was left with the impression that she’ll vote ‘no’, but, we shall see…!

I called Janice Hahn’s DC office (CA-36, Jane Harman’s old district). Too upset to bother asking how she was voting. Just identified myself as a constituent by city, gave my Dem voting history, and told the guy that if she voted for the Super Congress and this debt limit bill that I would not only withhold my vote from her come re-election time but that I would do everything I could to defeat every Dem up and down the ticket from city council to President. Called the bill a sellout by Obama.

Guy took my name and zip code. Thanked me, said he’d pass it along to her. Now I’m about to call her local office, take the “how’s she gonna vote” approach, see what answer/BS I get.

Agreed but there is no one organizing a movement of direct action, other than signing petitions and blogging even faster. Without boots in the streets the current efforts are instructive of the myth of Sisyphus.

I called Jim Cooper’s office. He is a yes on the debt ceiling vote. He understands that there will be cuts to Social Security and Medicare and that is all right with him.

Jane -

Greg Sargent reporting Dem Leadership is NOT whipping

link

Kucinich won’t say how he’s going to vote, but his staff did find today an appropriate time to post a request on facebook asking people to vote for the 100 most influential vegans… If only today’s House vote was about veal.

Our elected officials are absurd, and Jane is right to say that not one of the progressive representatives seems to stand up for what’s right when the vote actually counts.

Pa democrat Casey Is voting to gut the constitution.

yeah if all they need to deliver is 66, they probably have them.

Which means the GOP delivers 150, and this passes with GOP votes. So all these bastards are staying mum because you’re only their constituents and their loyalty is to leadership.

According to Hahn’s local office, they don’t know how she will vote. She’s been in meetings with the caucus. Took my name and number, said he’d call back when he found out. Stated that if they didn’t stop this bill, I’d convert from 40+ years of supporting Dems to working actively against every Dem at every level. Told the guy this was the line in the sand.

Kathy Hochul is on Martin Bashir saying she will vote for the bill….

Wonder if Hochul appreciates the irony of that.

I called Bob Brady’s office (PA-1). They said he had not decided.

I called Allison Schwartz’s (PA-13) office. They said she had not decided.

Kaptur office would not state her vote. Sounded indifferent to the call. There was little concern in the tone of the individual who took my call. Very much a “going through the hoops,” kind of call.

Couple of articles on Salon about this fiasco. Note how Andrew Leonard, usually a reliable Obama honk, titled his piece.

http://www.salon.com/technology/how_the_world_works/2011/07/31/president_obama_surrender/index.html

Sunday, Jul 31, 2011 23:37 ET — By Andrew Leonard

President Obama’s surrender

A bad weekend for the White House: The Tea Party wins, Democrats lose, and the carnage will be even worse next year

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/08/01/debt_ceiling/index.html

Monday, Aug 1, 2011 10:02 ET — By Glenn Greenwald

The myth of Obama’s “blunders” and “weakness”

Please note the point that “centrism, compromise, and balance” are all the result of a positive sum. A win-win.

This passage will result in negative sum.(Someone loses and gets hurt) Not even zero sum — no win, no lose, no gains.

Negative sum. Thus, it is a lie to call it centrism, compromise or balance.

Great one!

“Is Mark Warner the Designated Social Security Killer?”
By: emptywheel Monday August 1, 2011 10:42 am

Jerrett is full of it. The President, last night, in the little “Nation In Crisis” news blip, stated that the centrism/balance did not go far enough in terms of Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare. If he meant “in protecting them,” that was not the context he shared it in. It was in a context of the cuts for those were not deep enough.

If he meant “protection” he needs a new speech writer.

Will Rogers certainly had it right when he joked: “I don’t belong to an organized political party, I’m a Democrat.”

From The Hill: “Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) will need Democratic votes to clear the bill through the lower chamber. How many remains unclear. A total of 216 lawmakers must vote in favor of the package for it to clear the House, and Boehner will need to rely on members from both parties.”

So, this seems pretty simple. Without a single Democratic vote, the Boehner-Obama bill won’t pass. Therefore, I do not see where a single Democrat would want to vote for it. Since Republican Speaker Boehner has the majority in the House, Democrats should just show up early, vote “No” and go home, leaving Speaker Boehner and his rabid Republican caucus to publicly writhe and squirm up on the big Tote Board, trying to both pass a bill that President Obama wants while trying to pretend that they really hate his black self and everything he does. Don’t the Democrats ever think about the power of spectacular, visible ridicule as a tool for exerting political pressure on their Republican enemies and White House quislings?

It escapes me why the Democrats in the House do not simply let Speaker Boehner and President Obama have this one all to themselves. Even worse for the Democratic Party as an “organization,” each and very Democratic vote for this crap lets a rabid Republican off the hook for the extortion they have perpetrated upon the American people. Each and every Democratic vote for this crap in effect says: “Put a gun to my head and I’ll not only pay up, but promise to testify on your behalf as a character witness should anyone ever accuse you of committing this crime.”

And if the Republican majority cannot pass this stinking pile of shit, then they will justifiably get the blame — by both the voters and Wall Street — for any default. The Republicans know this and so they will pass the bill all by themeselves if they have to. So the Democrats should play hardball and make them have to. Since President Obama pulled another one of his Sheriff Bart Blazing Saddles impersonations, why should the Democrats care one way or the other what happens to him and his swell Republican friends? Don’t they ever have meetings where they discuss and plan strategies for how to maximize the power of their votes — both vis-a-vis the “Third Way” President who has abandoned them and the rabid Republicans who keep kicking Obama’s ass while he begs for more?

It looks to me like even Will Rogers couldn’t think little enough of the Democrats as an “organization.”

http://larouchepac.com/node/18977 The Super Congress is Obama’s latest unconstitutional effort to work with Wall Street and the corrupt credit rating agencies to collapse the U.S. economy. It is unnecessary to sell government bonds to raise capital, when there is a clear directive of the Federal Constitution to have an economic policy based on a credit system. The U.S. government needs a credit system to directly fund the real physical economy in areas of agriculture, industry, transportation, and scientific research.