While surfing my usual haunts in cyberspace, I came upon this article from keenobserver.blogtownhall.com. OMG!!! It was posted on Tuesday, but, of course, we heard nothing from the slobbering, leg-tingling MSM about this. It details what some of those who voted for this travesty got in return for voting to support the largest tax to be introduced to the American people yet.
Changing her vote from "nay" to "yea" was Debbie Halvorson (D-IL). She swore up and down that she would "never cave in to pressure from Obama to vote yes on cap and trade." Shortly, after a brief conversation with Barry..."I had a nice chat with the President this morning, and I'm fine with the bill." One of two things happened at that "chat": Chicago thuggery politics or she was promised pork for her district beyond anything she imagined. Nonetheless, she needs to go if she can't stand on principle.
Next, Henry "The Nostrils" Waxman, co-sponsor of the bill (or should I say DRAFT that was voted on) cornered Alan Grayson (D-FL) who comes from a Republican area in Central Florida. It is Grayson's first (and hopefully last) term in the House. After a spirited discussion, Grayson got a "pledge of support" from Waxman in exchange for his vote. What was behind Door Number One? $50 million pledged to a new proposed hurricane research facility in Orlando, which just happens to be part of Grayson's district. BUH-BYE!!!
John McHugh (R-NY) was next to put his tail between his legs and promise his support "in the name of bipartisanship". He's up for Secretary of the Army, so he won't be back in Congress. Thank Heaven for small favors, and pray for the Army.
Blue dog Democrat Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) went from adamantly decrying the measure to an enthusiastic thumbs -up after being promised a seat at the table when joint negotiations begin on a final version should it pass the Senate. Time to weed out THAT yellow rose!
From a heavily-industrialized part of Ohio, Tim Ryan (D-OH) went against his constituency and voted "yea". He said that without this hideous legislation, we would continue to be energy-dependent on those who want to "fly airplanes into our buildings." Guess what? They still want to do that, you twit! I say we tell them to pound salt and DRILL FOR OUR OWN!!! Let's see if any earmarks make it to Northeastern Ohio.
Also from the Buckeye State, John Boccieri (D-OH) voted against what his district of Canton wanted and put his vote in the "yea" column. Boccieri told of waiting in long gas lines as a child (Carter years) and "this bill reduces foreign oil imports." Didn't anyone tell him that the oil companies are predicting having to mothball their domestic refineries and up refined oil import levels? Maybe he's been promised earmarks or a job should the Republicans win in 2010. Whatever he may have been promised, he's got to go.
By Thursday evening (June 25), Pineapple Princess and company were still 22 votes short for Friday's vote. Obama decided to invite a group of rookie Democrats, who had sworn to their constituents to stand up and vote "no", to the White House luau to tell them how he understands that they have to run every two years. They then get a call from Rahm "The Fisherman" Emanuel, who advises them that if they vote the wrong way, there will be no support (i.e. party funding) from the White House. Kinda sounds like bribery, eh? Well, that put 10 more votes into Pelosi's lap.
At 3 a.m. Friday morning (June 26), the 325-page addendum was tacked on. In it, the agriculture area undecideds were promised federal subsidies on ethanol and "sweeteners" for fertilizer production. Conservative Democrats struck deals on farming offsets and CO2 allowances. The coal states were promised that the cap and trade energy tax would be postponed until 2020. Even then, they left enough loopholes to allow western coal industries to not have to scale back their emissions.
According to the piece, Pelosi checks Patrick Kennedy (D) out from a drug rehab hospital at about 8 a.m. Friday morning so he can vote on this measure . The vote is set for noon, but Pelosi postpones it until 7 p.m. when she finds she's still short.
In the late afternoon of Friday, June 26, Obama calls Republicans elected from heavily-Democratic areas and tells them that if they vote "yea", the Democrats won't run anyone against them in 2010. In addition, the majority of their state's pork will be diverted to their home districts for whatever they want to use it for. Presto chango!!! These were the last eight votes needed to make the Pineapple Princess happy.
To the Democrats who joined most Republicans in voting against this piece of garbage legislation: Thank you for seeing it for what it is and voting on the side of the American people.
To those who voted "yea": We here in the blogosphere won't let people forget. I hope selling your souls to this regime was worth it. Maybe you can think about it when you're no longer a member of Congress.
The Right Stuff: Cap and Trade: The Price of a Sell Out
