| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
 Posted - 12/18/2003 : 15:08:40
|
Wow..
HOUSE REPUBLICANS BEND THE RULES, PRESS FOR VOTES DURING WEE HOURS TO ESCAPE THE LIGHT OF ACCOUNTABILITY
WRITTEN BY: U.S. Congressman Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, is the ranking member on the Committee on Energy and the Commerce Subcommittee on Health.
Never before has the House of Representatives operated in such secrecy:
At 2:54 a.m. on a Friday in March, the House cut veterans benefits by three votes.
At 2:39 a.m. on a Friday in April, the House slashed education and health care by five votes.
At 1:56 a.m. on a Friday in May, the House passed the Leave No Millionaire Behind tax-cut bill by a handful of votes.
At 2:33 a.m. on a Friday in June, the House passed the Medicare privatization and prescription drug bill by one vote.
At 12:57 a.m. on a Friday in July, the House eviscerated Head Start by one vote.
And then, after returning from summer recess, at 12:12 a.m. on a Friday in October, the House voted $87 billion for Iraq.
Always in the middle of the night. Always after the press had passed their deadlines. Always after the American people had turned off the news and gone to bed.
What did the public see? At best, Americans read a small story with a brief explanation of the bill and the vote count in Saturday's papers.
But what did the public miss? They didn't see the House votes, which normally take no more than 20 minutes, dragging on for as long as an hour as members of the Republican leadership trolled for enough votes to cobble together a majority.
They didn't see GOP leaders stalking the floor for whoever was not in line.
They didn't see Speaker Dennis Hastert and Majority Leader Tom DeLay coerce enough Republican members into switching their votes to produce the desired result.
In other words, they didn't see the subversion of democracy.
And late last month, they did it again. The most sweeping changes to Medicare in its 38-year history were forced through the House at 5:55 on a Saturday morning.
The debate started at midnight. The roll call began at 3:00 a.m. Most of us voted within the typical 20 minutes. Normally, the speaker would have gaveled the vote closed. But not this time; the Republican-driven bill was losing.
By 4 a.m., the bill had been defeated 216-218, with only one member, Democrat David Wu, not voting. Still, the speaker refused to gavel the vote closed.
Then the assault began.
Hastert, DeLay, Republican Whip Roy Blount, Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas, Energy and Commerce Chairman Billy Tauzin - all searched the floor for stray Republicans to bully.
I watched them surround Cincinnati's Steve Chabot, trying first a carrot, then a stick; but he remained defiant. Next, they aimed at retiring Michigan congressman Nick Smith, whose son is running to succeed him.
They promised support if he changed his vote to yes and threatened his son's future if he refused. He stood his ground.
Many of the two dozen Republicans who voted against the bill had fled the floor. One Republican hid in the Democratic cloakroom.
By 4:30, the browbeating had moved into the Republican cloakroom, out of sight of C-SPAN cameras and the insomniac public.
Republican leaders woke President George W. Bush, and a White House aide passed a cell phone from one recalcitrant member to another in the cloakroom.
At 5:55, two hours and 55 minutes after the roll call had begun - twice as long as any previous vote in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives - two obscure western Republicans emerged from the cloakroom.
They walked, ashen and cowed, down the aisle to the front of the chamber, scrawled their names and district numbers on green cards to change their votes and surrendered the cards to the clerk.
The speaker gaveled the vote closed;
Medicare privatization had passed.
You can do a lot in the middle of the night, under the cover of darkness.
'What can we do to get the people who pretend to care, to pretend to do something?' - Bill Mahr
 Get Noisy! |
|
|
BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 15:14:08
|
We already know Americans are evil.
 "Join the Cult of Dustin / And vanish without a trace" |
 |
|
|
floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 15:36:40
|
| dave just likes to remind us |
|
|
|
STITCHES
= Cult of Ray =
USA
915 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 15:39:24
|
damn canadians. just because you have universal healthcare and natural resources and you say "aboot" that you're better than us
-----------------------
MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA |
|
|
|
Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 16:00:17
|
We are better than you Stitches  |
Edited by - Carolynanna on 12/18/2003 16:00:43 |
|
|
|
Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 02:26:02
|
I don't think people *really* know about these things.
And it won't ever change until people learn about it, and do something.
I don't post these things because 'the US is evil, and i want to rub it in', i post it because i live very close to the US, and i want it to be BETTER. |
|
|
|
BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 08:32:58
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dave Noisy
I don't post these things because 'the US is evil, and i want to rub it in', i post it because i live very close to the US, and i want it to be BETTER.
With all due respect, Dave-- I'm incredibly critical of my own government and I do appreciate knowing info like this. But it doesn't change the fact that these posts come across as condescending and smug. |
|
|
|
ramona
"FB Quote Mistress"
USA
3988 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 09:01:32
|
| I don't feel that way at all. I already find the government here totally fucked up and scary. Old white men just don't represent me or anyone I know. These posts just solidify that and confirm what I already feel. Whether that is good or bad, I don't know but FREE SPEECH is one thing I can and do get behind. So, go Dave! |
|
|
|
STITCHES
= Cult of Ray =
USA
915 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 09:03:17
|
quote:
Originally posted by Carolynanna
We are better than you Stitches
don't be a hoser, eh
-----------------------
MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA |
|
|
|
Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 10:03:06
|
| The current Congress is just business as usual, following the tone set by the Dems during their seemingly endless domination of the legislative branch. Now that they're the minority they've become touchingly sensitive to fair play. During this same session Minority Leader Pelosi inserted SF Bay Area pork into the bill, knowing it would pass, and then voted against the appropriation package, blasting the majority for its priorities. Then she boasts to her consituents about how she's gotten so much for them in a bill she voted against. Dave, knowing that one can find a post to support almost anything, I'm surprised you bother. |
|
|
|
Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 10:58:19
|
Hey BLT - i'm sorry if my postings come across as condescending and smug..that is not my intention.
Don't you agree there is something scary about the article? Do you not think it's worth reading and discussing? Is there a way i could post these items without coming across as condescending and smug to you?
Um..Erebus..did you even read the article? |
|
|
|
STITCHES
= Cult of Ray =
USA
915 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 11:01:40
|
quote:
Originally posted by BLT
quote:
Originally posted by Dave Noisy
I don't post these things because 'the US is evil, and i want to rub it in', i post it because i live very close to the US, and i want it to be BETTER.
With all due respect, Dave-- I'm incredibly critical of my own government and I do appreciate knowing info like this. But it doesn't change the fact that these posts come across as condescending and smug.
it might just seem that way because he's better than you
-----------------------
MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA |
|
|
|
Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 11:44:26
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dave Noisy
Um..Erebus..did you even read the article?
Er, no. Sorry. But I still agree with myself. |
|
|
|
BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 12:30:18
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dave Noisy
Don't you agree there is something scary about the article? Do you not think it's worth reading and discussing? Is there a way i could post these items without coming across as condescending and smug to you?
I don't find it all that sinister really, though the presentation is a little melodramatic. It's probably worth discussing but I've become so jaded and cynical that nothing surprises me anymore. It's probably my own cynicism that bothers me more than anything. |
|
|
|
glacial906
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1738 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 12:46:18
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dave Noisy
I don't think people *really* know about these things.
And it won't ever change until people learn about it, and do something.
I don't post these things because 'the US is evil, and i want to rub it in', i post it because i live very close to the US, and i want it to be BETTER.
I like this response, Dave, it kind of makes it a little bit more understandable why you have such negative feelings toward the U.S. Although I'm not NEARLY as politically-oriented as you, up until now I never really got much out of your posts about all the evil things the U.S. government was doing except a vague defensiveness that someone from another country could do nothing but criticize ours. I liked this response because it kind of got rid of that image for me. Anyway, I think it's good that you try to bring stuff like this to our attention!
If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe.
Carl Sagan
|
|
|
|
STITCHES
= Cult of Ray =
USA
915 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 12:53:25
|
dont go thinking the Canadian government is completely innocent. Let's not forget who was responsible for the Weapon X program.
god I'm a nerd
-----------------------
MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA |
|
|
|
apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 13:08:40
|
Or lumberjacks and Molsen Molson.
 Swedish Chef's "Dumpling of Wisdom": �der tis moodle in der noggin tu smacken der ouchey und vinger-slingers ur to smacken-backen und fix de morkin, y�obetcha! |
Edited by - apl4eris on 12/19/2003 13:09:47 |
|
|
|
Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 14:42:36
|
Erebus - lemme know your thoughts when you HAVE read the article. If you want to make random posts, why not start a different topic? I don't think this really qualifies as 'business as usual'.
BLT - you don't find bullying people as sinister? Extending a vote to record proportions to pass what is clearly not a fair majority?
Glac - thanks. If i live in Europe (and not a short ferry ride from WA) i might not be so concerned.. ;)
haha..Canada definitely has its problems, i won't deny that. Ours don't typically spill out and affect other countries tho. Canada (and no other country) has as much influence on the rest of the world as the US. By being so direct they've invited international criticism, n'est pas? |
|
|
|
BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 14:55:55
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dave Noisy
BLT - you don't find bullying people as sinister? Extending a vote to record proportions to pass what is clearly not a fair majority?
It's definitely not a good thing. But then most politicians are lawyers, so it follows.
quote:
By being so direct they've invited international criticism, n'est pas?
Definitely.
 "Join the Cult of Steve-o / And enjoy the best brownies"  |
|
|
|
SpudBoy
= Cult of Ray =
Equatorial Guinea
649 Posts |
Posted - 12/20/2003 : 07:55:04
|
Personally, I'm scared to death of a government that not only behaves in this manner, but also goes to the degree of drafting legislation (Patriot Act II) stating that the content of that legislation is closed to the public! My largest concern is that the American people have been lulled to sleep through media overload and rampant consumerism. So even if we tell them, they either won't believe it or just don't care. What can combat the CNN crawl, and the Fox news graphics innundation?
 I looked for a cult to join, then decided to just play "Sink". Hey! I sank the LaBrea Tar Pits! |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
