How often do I actually applaud RINOs? Usually, they’re the scourge of the GOP, going across the aisle for the worst legislation and doing nothing but stabbing their constituents — and their party — in the back. Our two RINOs from Maine are the immediate examples that come to mind, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, although you also have to be wary of Scott Brown, Lindsey Graham, and John McCain. Just hearing their names sends an angry little shiver down my spine! However, this week they pulled through, and so, bravo to them for finally doing the right thing.
Harry Reid was trying to force the DISCLOSE Act through the Senate this week before Congress recesses. And what exactly is the DISCLOSE Act? Well, it’s basically the only thing that Reid, Pelosi, and Obama had to pacify their radical liberal constituents, who are furious right now. We sent more troops into Afghanistan. Gitmo is still open. Gay marriage has not been legalized. There wasn’t a public option in Obamacare. Yeah, liberals are pissed, and while conservative voters are rallying, liberal voters are at home pouting. They thought their savior was getting elected, and that they had their dream Congress. And so far, it’s been a disappointment to them. Reid was throwing the liberals a bone, and it failed. Boo-hoo. DISCLOSE would have punished grassroots organizations, while unions and large establishment groups would be able to get around its limitations. It was the usual Democrat pandering to the unions, and thank God it actually failed. The unions need to be taken down a notch.
Reid’s liberal dream didn’t come true, thanks to a united GOP front, and the bill failed 57-41. Hot Air has the rundown of how Reid’s dream crumbled. First, Reid lost the support of Susan Collins, who announced Sunday that she wouldn’t be voting with Reid. Then he lost not only Lindsey Graham and Scott Brown, but Joe Lieberman as well, who didn’t even attend the vote. The last hope for Harry Reid was Olympia Snowe, who said no as well — and apparently, Reid had lost Dianne Feinstein’s support, too!
This bill was a typical Democrat disaster. As usual, it was shrouded in secrecy, rammed through in closed-door committee hearings, and catered to pander to unions, left-wing lobbyists, and extremist liberal voters. Thank God that, for once, the RINOs in the Senate actually did the right thing.
Oh, but let’s not celebrate too much yet. Chuckie Schumer is vowing to bring this Frankenstein back to life.
Chris in NC says: Yet another vote from Scott Brown that we would not have had if Kennedy were still there. He may not vote with the GOP every time, but her sure as heck is better than Kennedy. My fellow right wingers should remember this next time he doesn’t side with us. Instead of calling him traitor to our cause be thankful for the votes we’ve received from him that we would never have received had Kennedy been there.
Glad to see a decent united front here. January ’11 is almost here (only 5 and a half months until next congress is sworn in). Just need to hang on a bit longer.
I should point out that Senator Lieberman could not attend the vote because he had a family funeral to attend. Fox News had a news story that the Senator would have voted for cloture (but against the bill) had he been able to attend the vote. The cloture motion failed 57 – 41, and would still have failed 58 – 41 had Lieberman mad it to the vote. I do not think that he deliberately attended the funeral in order to avoid the vote.
I also saw a news story that Senator Reid voted against cloture, once he saw that it would not pass in order to give himself an opening to bring it up for a vote later. According to the report, if Reid had voted yes on cloture, he would not have been able to bring it up for a future try. Even if Lieberman had shown up to vote yes, and Reid had voted yes, it would still have failed 59 – 40. Thus, the 57 – 41 vote was not as good as it could have been.
I’m pretty sure Feinschwein’s only objection to the bill was that it exempted the NRA. Of course, any version of the bill that doesn’t exempt the NRA will face a very different opposition that may sink that legislation by an even greater margin; that carve out was there for a reason. As to Graham, I think his recent call for a constitutional ban on anchor-baby citizenship calls his RINO credentials into question.
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