What the hell happened in the House last night?
Remember?
“This leadership team will create the most honest, most open, and most ethical Congress in history” – Speaker-Elect Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Press Release, November 16, 2006
And now, watch via Rep. Eric Cantor:
The backstory via Politico:
In a massive flare-up of partisan tension, Republicans walked out on a House vote late Thursday night to protest what they believed to be Democratic maneuvers to reverse an unfavorable outcome for the majority party. The flap represents a complete breakdown in parliamentary procedure and an unprecedented low for the historically divided chamber. The rancor erupted shortly before 11 p.m. as Rep. Michael R. McNulty (D-N.Y.) gaveled close the vote on a standard procedural measure with the outcome still in doubt. Details remain fuzzy, but numerous Republicans argued afterward that they had secured a 215-213 win on their motion to bar undocumented immigrants from receiving any federal funds apportioned in the agricultural spending bill for employment or rental assistance. Democrats, however, argued that the measure was deadlocked at 214-214 and failed, members and aides on both sides of the aisle said afterward.
One GOP aide saw McNulty gavel the vote to a close after receiving a signal from his leaders – but before reading the official tally. And votes continued to shift even after he closed the vote – a strange development in itself. Whatever the final tally, acrimony quickly exploded between lawmakers on either side of the aisle as Democratic leaders tried to plot a solution while parliamentarians on either side argued over protocol. Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) eventually offered a motion to reconsider, according to floor staff on either side, ostensibly giving members a chance to recast their votes.
But the maneuver sparked a chorus of angry protests from the Republican side of the chamber, with members yelling “Shame” at the party in power, while Democrats returned fire with angry volleys of their own. When Democrats finally moved to consider the spending bill as the last vote of the night, Republicans left the chamber en masse to protest the maneuver, furious with what had transpired. The House eventually recessed at 11:18, but Republicans quickly discovered that there was no longer any record of the controversial vote and immediately charged Democrats with erasing the bad result. “Obviously, the Democrats don’t want to stand up against illegal immigration – so much so that they’re willing to cheat in order to win a vote,” Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) said in an e-mail. “They’re desperate – and it shows.”
Allah tries to sort through the procedural mess. Kathryn Lopez: “That’s the last time I fall asleep early.”
Way to clean house, Nancy. Heckuva job!
***
FWIW, here’s the NRCC’s take:
In clear violation of yet another campaign promise, Democrats manuevered last night to forcibly reverse the outcome of a vote that would have barred illegal immigrants from receiving taxpayer-funded benefits. After a majority of the House initially passed the measure barring illegal immigrants from receiving taxpayer funded handouts, Democrat leaders stepped-in to strong-arm their politically vulnerable members into switching their votes in order to defeat the measure and deliver benefits for illegals.
Unfortunately for those Democrats who switched their votes, their actions were caught on tape. Hoping that nobody was watching them in the dead of night, Democrats Nick Lampson (TX), Harry Mitchell (AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), and Zack Space (OH) were all caught getting their arms twisted by their leadership and voting against the measure after initially supporting it…With the Democrat-led Congress’ approval ratings sagging to all-time lows, it is no wonder why the American people have grown so tired of business as usual in Washington. On an issue as simple as keeping taxpayer benefits from going to illegal immigrants, Democrats refuse to put partisanship aside. When will they finally start getting the people’s work done?
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After reading this story on Politico, the part I find AMAZING is how the records of this vote have disappeared – or never were established.
Keep it up, Nancy – as a conservative voter, I grow more and more confident for 2008 with every move the majority makes.
Too bad the MSM will never cover this.
Yep, jrlingreenbay. They really are a spectacular failure.
By the way…is your name a nod to Green Bay, Wisconsin?
I always like to find fellow conservatives in the Dairy State. Seeing as it seems we’re as rare here as low-fat cheese.
Twice I send a link, twice it becomes a post. woohoo!
Though odds are REALLY good it was being done already.
Don’t remind me of that. Allow me my joy.
Yes they will, taylor. And it’ll all be the Republicans’ and Bush’s fault.
They can’t win if we don’t let them cheat.
Yes, Englishqueen – I’m in Titletown. Actually, I live in the Appleton area – but I work here in Green Bay.
For all of those voters who sat out the last election: This is what you get. Maybe next time you’ll think twice about skiping an election.
The commentary at Politico is unbelieveable to me. It’s a travesty that this occurred, but all the liberal voices there have to say is “enjoy the minority”.
That it’s a blatant, and gross violation, doesn’t even occur to them. That it was done (apparently) to overturn a done-deal vote on an issue for which polls show the majority of American citizens would have favored the original outcome is scandalous.
I didn’t know that could be done in the House. Shamnesty continues, just away from the phone and fax lines this time.
This Congress I hearby name the Chavista Congress of ‘07. Fairness Doctrine and whatever else they can get away with. What’s next, nationalizing health care? Big Oil swallowed by Big Government?
I don’t want to hear anymore bashing the Iraqi parliament. These guys have no room to criticize anyone, anywhere. Nobody is shooting at them.
They don’t mind cheating, as long as it is their side that benefits. Erasing the vote record is something that I’ve never thought could be done. I guess you learn something every day.
You just made my rotating sig-file…
Come to think of it, they tried to erase the record in 2000. The record of votes by troops overseas, because they lost. Never got over it, either.
Lesson: Never be suprised by big government liberals.
Ed at Captain’s Quarters:
They don’t like being called Stalinists. Guess the truth hurts, huh?
Ethics, Nancy style. They can’t win if they don’t cheat.
lol liberals.
In Democratic Party, vote choose you!
From “The Capitolist” website, an anonymous forum for Hill Staffers:
Staffer 1: “The Democrats are going to regret that. It was late, the day before recess, and they just got sloppy. This will be perfect for GOP talking points.”
Staffer 2: “yeah, cause Main Street cares about the rules of the House….
…Keep telling yourself that, though. It will make you feel better.” ( Some comments deleted due to profanity )
This is the liberal mentality – they THINK that Main Street America doesn’t care about these flagrant violations of rule and decorum and ethics.
They think that, because the GOP has, in the past, done their own trampling of the minority – that it’s payback time.
The problem with that thinking is that, even though they won in 2006, they ran on ELIMINATING this type of politics. They ran saying they’d create an ethical congress, and do away with the Politics as usual. They ran saying they would do the people’s business, not mire down in endless investigations.
Lies – lies – lies. But they think the American people are too stupid to see what’s really going on with the Democratic leadership.
“Oh, look, they raised the minimum wage! What? They erased evidence of a vote they were losing? Ahh…who cares.”
We’re not blind, stupid or forgetful.
That is the strength of conservatives. We remember – and we wait.
The GOP is sticking to their guns on this. I say good for them.
Dear Speaker Pelosi,
Ethics are just something that happens to other people, aren’t they.
I’m in Milwaukee, jrlingreenbay…next to Madistan, we’re the most liberal part of the state. The only thing keeping Milwaukee Co. sane is its supervisor – Scott Walker. A good man.
I’m not very savvy on all the rules of the House, but it’s clear the Democrats are worse than a do-nothing Congress. They’re a corrupt, cheating, unethical Congress.
Americans need to know about this because, with the exception of the moonbats and lefties, most won’t stand for this.
It’s childish behavior. My five-month-old son has a better grasp of levity and decent behavior than Pelosi & Co.
I thought Nancy was going to clean up the congressional swamp not, make it larger!
Good job Dems! Keep this up and we can have our Republicans back sooner than we thought PLEASE!
Pelosi “Most ethical Congress EVAH!!!”
/channels Montoya “you keepa usin dat word…”
LOL… I don’t even have to finish it do I?
Republican house members are addressing the media now. They have talked about a bunch of bills that have already been passed which included goverment aid to illegal aliens. This latest bill was a Agriculture bill which included food stamps for illegal aliens.
The Dems have placed so many benefits for illegals in other bills that have already passed that it is no wonder our damn budget is out of control.
The Republicans need to keep hitting this point and get it into the antique media. When Americans find out how much the Dems have handed to the illegal population congress is going to think that little dust up over the amnesty bill was a pillow fight.
This is the header and first paragraph from The American Thinker:
That’s a headline you won’t see in the MSM.
Dirtiest trick ever played? Hey, what about the Gingrich who stole Christmas from all the little children?
This is more like what we’ll see from the MSM:
House Republicans storm off floor in protest of Democrat plan to save poverty stricken little children
WOW! I was sure a fist fight was going to break out. It was like watching Parliament in Hong Kong or something.
Point of note: You have to keep in mind that when Pelosi talks about ethics, it is all open for interpretation. Dems practice moral relativeness. There is no black or white. There is no right or wrong. To them there is always an exception to the rule when it comes to morality.
‘Morals, we don’t need no stinkin’ morals’.
Well my message has been sent to my representative David Scott (D) GA.
I doubt he reads it but at least I made an attempt to contact the person who is supposed to represent me.
I’d say it’s more of a “well, THEY did it first, so ETHICALLY, we should be allowed to do it” mentality.
TERM LIMITS!!! Our only saviour.
More like “If we are doing it, it’s ok. If they do it, it’s evil”
If I knowingly destroy records required by Federal law and/or Air Force Instructions I lose my job and stand a very good chance of going to jail. I guess those above the law get a magical do-over now. Most ethical Congress every, Ha! You just can’t make this stuff up.
Two terms. . one in office, one in jail.
It’s 2000 all over again. Nutroots have been claiming Bush stole the election for the last 7 years but that’s exactly what the Democrats were trying to do. Wait to see how it turns out. If you don’t like the income, count again or keep counting or throw out some old ones until you get it just where you want it, THEN SLAM! The vote is over and the Democrats win. Since we didn’t let that happen in 2000, they say we stole the election. Now we’ve got this 2000-ish absurdity going on all over again inside the House. It’s childish, abhorant, etc… but what else should we expect from Democrats?
God help me but I have been watching CSPAN this morning. Right now they are replaying the “discussion” that happened this morning on the floor about last nights debacle. How do you keep a straight face while referring to the other guy as “My good friend”.
Are any of us surpised? These slimy “law makers” will go to almost any lengths to get what they want. Unfortunately, our Republican reps are not much better. I’ve said it many times…hold these bastards accountable! Jeeze, we have a rep that was caught with thousands of marked bills in a sting, and he was re-elected and still sits in Congress….how ridiculous is that…and please, don’t give me that, innocent until proven guilty….only an idiot would say he’s innocent…yeah, about as innocent as OJ…at any rate…these slime bags use the courts to circumvent the will of the people…just “modifying” parlimentary procedures isn’t that much of a step for them…time for another revolution….throw all the bums out and start from scratch…term limits and accountability….and long jail terms with huge fines for those found abusing their power…
I watched this diabolical with the Democrats side last night. I mean they where like a bunch of spoiled kids. God please safe our great country and us from these weasels! Oh the vote did not go our way, so lets change the out come. The Democrats must have gotten taught very well from thier friends Fidel and Hugo. What we need is TERM LIMITS!
Democrats can gets away with erasing votes in Congress if they don’t get the result they want!?! This is insane!
Good afternoon (on the East Coast), I don’t support this kind of tactic. And, yes Republicans have done similar stuff while in the majority.
Here’s the question: If the Dems do things properly and above board, when the GOP regains control, will they follow suit? Not bloody likely. That’s the problem with this tit for tat, it goes on forever.
jferr49; my thoughts exactly! I can’t remember what Republican was speaking at the time I was watching last night when the Democrats started shouting, I’m paraphrasing what he said something like, it now sounds like the English Parliment in hear. I mean these Democrats could care less about this great country. I mean they are so power hungry, it makes the great white look tame in a feeding frenzy.
I have been saying it for a long time, it is time to get all of these professional welfare recipients out of office and lets start with a new crew across the board. At least it should take them a few years to learn all of the back door tactics of circumventing the rules to line their pockets and get in bed with all the different special interests groups.
The Senate is nothing but a bunch of doddering old AARP members who can’t remember a speech they made 10 minutes ago and only want to get to the bar for Happy Hour and the House sure ain’t representative of any part of the country I have seen. Well okay cept for Pelosi.
Copied from my Hot Air post
I saw an interview by Pelosi on the first 8 months as Speaker and it was appalling. She is nothing more than a mouthpiece saying whatever you want to hear.
The guy asked her about Congress’ poll disapproval rating (after she railed on the Bush polls), she commented that ‘We don’t legislate on polls’. But without taking a breath she said that the Democrats were doing much better in POLLS in favorability (she said double digit lead). So much for polls not meaning anything to her. They only mean something if they help her case.
Then the interviewer said so you mostly consider yourself a leader of the Democrats in the House. And she responded indignantly with ‘no, I’m the Speaker of the entire House’. What a tool. Ethical compared to WHAT?!
I’m always leary of those who have to tell you how good they are. If someone is good, or they do something good, they don’t need to harp on it themselves all the time. Pelosi was talking about everything the Congress has done as ‘historic’. I said before. . . what a tool!
*Investigate* the Speaker of the House and Impeach.
The Soviets back in the Cold War, whenever they did something to outrage public opinon in the West, had a saying to describe how they could just wait things out and the outrage would go away: “Coming out of the water dry.”
The Democrat Party has a similar philosophy when it comes to their own political shenanigans. Let their buds in the major media build the “box of silence” around the story, and eventually it’ll go away.
Cheating and flouting the rules are things Democrats do because they’ve rationalized that “The Greater Good”(TM) requires that they do whatever it takes to be the ones in charge. And as self-appointed guardians of that over-valued ideal, what is acceptable in its defense or advancement inexorably comes to include “By Any Means Necessary” tactics.
So it’s OK to lie and to cheat and to steal and erase votes, as long as those devices are used in the service of opposing Republicans – which is itself the ultimate expression of “The Greater Good.”
What happened in the House last night was simply a symptom of Democrats feeling more comfortable being back in the majority. Expect to see more of this kind behavior as the Democrats become more comfortable, and as long as they continue to believe that they can do anything and “Come out of the water dry.”
I wonder if the Dems can see what their doing is like a guy in the old west watching and listening to them build his Gallows waiting to be hung? Or are they actually this blind and think that Americans (not just republicans) arent watching and taking notes as to how pathetic they have been since Januaury?
January…opps
Republicans have never done this. This is unprecedented in the history of the House. It’s just plain cheating. They are going to these lengths for illegals, not even Americans! Most ethical Congress, evah!
These are the same people that talk about Bush abusing his power. What a crock.
What happened last night is akin to a referee in a football game calling it over when the home team gets ahead, nevermind how much time is on the clock. That guy tried to bang the gavel in between votes when it seemed his side was either ahead or tied. This is pure chutzpah.
If Moronitude was taxable, those on the Left could wipe out the National Debt, all by themselves.
I would use the NBA referee throwing games for his own profit. That’s more like this. Something happens you don’t like, just blow the whistle and call foul!
The Dems get a freethrow.
So we now resemble the Tiawanese House. Soon we will descend to that of Iraq. All because Pelosi is corrupt.
Maybe this sealed the DEMS fate for 2008.
Their festering sores are becoming widespread. Bandaids just won’t do the trick much longer.
The REAL culture of corruption resides on the left. The debate is over.
@Regulus
JK Rowling – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows…
the things you learn from children’s books
I kinda doubt it. After all, Obama is still in the running for President even after his patently ridiculous foreign policy statements of the last few days.
If the Stupid Party was smart, they’d get a web ad up NOW reading:
“After losing a vote that would have given American taxpayers’ dollars to illegal immigrants, the Democrat House Leadership ordered the voting to continue until they changed enough votes to win and allow this giveaway. When Republican representatives protested, the Democrat House Leadership erased the original vote from the official record, rewriting history in their favor as if there wasn’t a video record of their cheating. Is this what Nancy Pelosi meant when she promised ‘the most honest, most open, and most ethical Congress in history’? Call the Democrat Leadership and remind them that they’re supposed to represent the citizens of the United States and that we are a nation of laws and rules. If they’re willing to do this in front of cameras, what are they doing in secret?”
No blather about technical jardon and motions to recommit; no yammering about inside baseball machinations; just simple, clear talk about the Dems naked abuse of power in plain sight and how they’re acting against the peoples’ interests in violation of the rules. Let the Dems twist themselves into Kerry-esque knots trying to explain the nuances of the situation and the tech-babble. As people’s eyes glaze over, they’ll smell the rats.
That’s what the Stupid Party would do if they were smart. Alas, they aren’t smart. That’s why they’re called the Stupid Party. They’ll let the Treason Media sweep it under the rug or come off as babies (hiya Newt!) and life will go on as before under the Dems jackbooted foot.
What I don’t like is they’re voting and passing bills like this after the American People already stood up and said NO to the illegals. So now you want us to continue to pay for them. Why can’t they deport these losers…..
Wow they are willing to pay for them to be here illegally but, not infrastructure we need amazing. The American People need to start paying attention to what these theives are doing with our tax dollars. Per the constitution “we the people run this country” and have a right to question votes such as this.
It was the Montreal Screwjob all over again
Has anyone checked for greencards in the Senate&House lately? These clowns aren’t for the American people, that’s for sure.
#59 LOL
Well it is surely the jobs they keep talking about that americans won’t do!
You know what? I have no problem with spending taxpayer money on illegal immigrants.
…
…
What? Deportations ain’t FREE ya know…
I believe our Congress is infested with the “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”.
They cannot be real human beings.
No conscience, no principals, a void where the soul should be, for most anyway.
Another meltdown today.
On C-span now
That’s simply not true. For five years the Republicans had unassailable majorities in both houses of congress and the presidency. Had they resorted to this kind of bannana republic strong-arm crap then their entire agenda would have been enacted and all their judges confirmed, which obviously didn’t happen.
The shamnesty supporters always bleat, “You can’t deport X million people.”
Sure you can. It’s easy and if you’ve seen “Sea of Love”, you’ll recognize the method. Announce that benefit checks must be picked up at the office. When they show up, you load them on the bus and ship ‘em out! Problem solved!!!
And for the bleeding hearts like Geraldo who weep for the anchor babies who are left alone here when their invader parents are sent packing, I’ve got one question: WHAT’S KEEPING US FROM SENDING THE KIDS ALONG WITH THEM?!?
We can keep families together easily. We just need to will to keep them together in their native lands, not our conquered territory.
Unfortunately, I seem to remember a vote in the Senate (some time in ‘05 or ‘06?) where the voting was kept open for an inordinately long amount of time while Senate leadership encouraged fellow Republicans to vote for something they weren’t enthusiastic about voting for. It sounds similar enough for many to think it sounds like the same thing. However, AFAIK, there was no effort to get Republicans who had already cast their vote to change it—an important distinction, to me anyway.
What I don’t get is that the original vote has been reported as 215-213, and the final official vote as 212-216 at House Rollcall Record, but MM lists four House members who changed their votes. Did someone change their vote in the other direction? (I’ve checked, and all four representatives named above are listed as finally voting Nay.)
That is absolutely NOT that same thing.
That was a vote kept open.
This vote was ended. ENDED. and then the Dems tried to change the outcome. And when it wasn’t what they liked, they removed it from the record.
HOW is that even REMOTELY like what you described??
swj,
It’s in the voting record. It’s in the voting record as a Republican loss, 212-216. It seems that when the vote was almost complete, a few Republicans who’d voted against it switched their votes, and they were enough to change it from failing to passing. At first, the presiding Democrat tried to stop the voting by banging his gavel, but after that, four Democrats who’d voted for it were allowed to switch their votes—after the voting had been ended! So, I agree with you, it’s very different from what the Republicans did in the Senate. However, to many, it will sound like the same thing.
Do you remember how Bush did not call for a recount in New Mexico in 2000? He made that decision because, to many members of the general public, the details wouldn’t have mattered, and they would have concluded he was a hypocrite for being against what was happening in Florida while calling for a recount in New Mexico.
When I was in college the “Mandatory Student Activity Fee” was up for renewal. This was a “tax” all students had to pay that would go to the student governemt to distribute among various student clubs and organizations.
There was a big campaign against it. When the election happened, the fee failed to pass. The student government invalidated the election and set up a revote. The Treasurer was witnessed saying “I don’t care how many times we have to vote as long as it passes.”
I wondered whatever happened to them.
The dems are getting even bolder in their lying, cheating and stealing. It’s astounding, and yet they believe they can have their way no matter how the house votes.
This was not an insignificant vote. The dems were sneaking in the legalization of welfare for illegal aliens and the Republicans were trying to block it.
“It’s in the voting record. It’s in the voting record as a Republican loss, 212-216.”
That was the vote on the unconstitutional CAFTA treaty. The RNC bribed their members with billions of dollars to change their votes. One vote was changed without the permission of the representative which allowed it to pass. Do a google.
On congress and President have become so corrupt that is makes me sick.
This is not the American that I fought for and was brought up in the 1960’s.