This is nerve-wracking. What should be a no-brainer for dems is turning into a nail biter. I think I'm just going to stay away from the news until tomorrow night.

According to Prince William County Democratic Committee Chair Pete Frisbee, Rep. Gerry Connolly, Va.11th CD, has just announced that he will vote yes.

26 Dems undeclared so says CNN

Capuano, D-MA = Yes

npr seems to think the bills will pass, but perhaps that's to lull me into a false sense of security.

and yes the world does revolve around me

also, this is no more nerve wracking than the 2000 election

or wondering if your dad has cancer

Oh to be a bug in Pelosi's phone

One thing is certain: Pelosi sure is playing her cards close to the vest. I like that. It is a sign of strength. The suspense adds to the charm that is history in the making. The country needed a good horse race...

My prediction: When this is over the words Madam Speaker is going to be written with hushed awe in history books...

I was shocked at the outtakes I saw of raw hate from the TEA Party for the African American community and The Gay Community. We need this Bill passed ,it will save lives .Everyone please call a Congress person tomorrow and ask them for their vote.

The undercurrent was always the main current

patricia: I was shocked at the outtakes I saw of raw hate from the TEA Party...

I'm not. Teabagging have always been about racism. The birther movement of course too. I never bought into the media bullshit that claimed it wasn't so. That these were just ordinary angry citizens with real concerns about the future of their country. Oh please. That interpretation was vanilla-ization for milksops. A complete and utter cultural lie that all concerned hoped might be true...

The real truth was always this: When a teabagger shouted "socialist" he really meant "nigger."
It's been that way from day one. If it is any help we've got a president that can handle all this with incredible aplomb. Of all the things I read in 2009, this paragraph by Atlantic's Ta-Nehisi Coates rang the truest:

But Barack Obama, bourgeois in every way that bourgeois is right and just, will not dance. He tells kids to study--and they seethe. He accepts an apology for an immature act of rudeness--and they go hysterical. He takes his wife out for a date--and their veins bulge. His humanity, his ordinary blackness, is killing them. Dig the audio of his response to Kanye West--the way he says, "He's a jackass." He sounds like one of my brothers. And that's the point, because that's what he is. Barack Obama refuses to be their nigger. And it's driving them crazy.

Pass. The. Bill.
If only because it will: It will drive the racists crazy...

There are too many SPECIAL DEALS???? You sanctimonious putz! Are the SPECIAL DEALS just reserved for you jerks in Congress? Kinda like HEALTH CARE? Oh to live in Ohio in his district...

Obama played this way too soft. Given what was happening in the streets, there is really only one way this should go down. Obama, Pelosi and Clyburn need to stand in front of the assembled caucus and make very clear what is at stake:

"Because we want to help millions of Americans life better, healthier, more economically secure lives, our opponents called the great Reverend Lewis a nigger. Because we want to give regular people -- ironically, like those crassly hyperventilating in the streets -- power over insurance companies, they spit on your colleague. Because we won and election and want to use our position to make his a more perfect union, they called Barney Frank a faggot. Just last week, our opponents ridiculed an elderly man with Parkinsons Disease. The other side has lied, the other side has manipulated, and the other side has obstructed.

Tomorrow's vote is not about health care anymore. Tomorrow's vote is about what kind of country, what kind of people we are, and what we will and wont accept in our civics. Its is about the health of our discourse as much as our people. Tomorrow, you can stand with what is right, or you can stand with those who call a civil rights hero a nigger. You can stand with Senator Kennedy's lifelong cause, or you can stand over a man with Parkinsons, taunting him. The choise is yours. By your votes shall they know you. Tomorrow you can put your stamp of approval on race-baiting, homophobia and deceit, or you can put your stamp on a bill to reform the health care system of this country in a way that extends insurance to 30 million needy Americans. The world, and history, will be keeping track of what side you're on."

Rep. Space sits on the Health Subcommittee and represents some of the most poverty ridden parts of Ohio. I don't see how he is representing his constituents. I wouldn't argue that this isn't the bill many had hoped for. I've yet to see a bill that is. Typically, by the time a bill goes through the various subcommittees and hearings, it barely resembles the original bill. This bill although, not as progressive as many would like, is certainly an improvement and would serve to help many of the individuals Rep. Space represents. Can't wait to hear why he changed his mind. According to his website he even has some advocacy experience with the disability community. Geez. Talk about your preexisting conditions. I know first had the problems with getting insurance. My son is paralyzed. Where is your support now Rep. Space? What would Mother Teresa do?

{{{{Zeit}}}}

Word!

after some of the bile and hatred of today, Rahm E and the whip, and others ought to get the word out - you are either a Democrat, or f*88ing sell out. Which is it gonna be, sweetie

Zeitgeist,
I've always liked all your imaginary speeches that the official ought to have made but this one is THE BEST EVER. I could actually "hear" it, in Obama's voice. The only thing missing was his "let me be clear" :)

thanks! you and MsJoanne are too kind. would have been a smoother read if i hadn't been so sputtering mad that it has a thousand typos!

Tomorrow's vote is not about health care anymore. Tomorrow's vote is about what kind of country, what kind of people we are, and what we will and wont accept in our civics. Its is about the health of our discourse as much as our people. Tomorrow, you can stand with what is right, or you can stand with those who call a civil rights hero a nigger. You can stand with Senator Kennedy's lifelong cause, or you can stand over a man with Parkinsons, taunting him. The choise is yours.

zeitgeist, you have made *the* post of *the fucking year*!

Steve, close the comment section on this. It can't be said any better.

Ignore the public whip counts and watch for scheduling. If everything starts as planned and on time the bill will pass. If there are "sudden delays" or any other oddities then you'll know the votes really aren't there.

There will not be a House vote that fails.

The health care reform voting does not begin until mid-afternoon on Sunday and a few votes are still up for grabs. Following are the list of Congresspeople who we should keep calling to make sure that we win this historic victory on Sunday!

Brian Baird - Washington (Vancouver, Olympia) - (202) 225-3536

Paul Kanjorski - Pennsylvania (Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Mount Pocono) - 202-225-6511

John Tanner - Tennessee (Union City, Jackson, Millington) - 202-225-4714

Earl Pomeroy - North Dakota (Bismarck, Fargo) - (202) 225-2611

Lincoln Davis - Tennessee (Columbia, Jamestown, Rockwood) - 202.225.6831

Marcy Kaptur - Ohio (Toledo) - (202) 225-4146

Mike Michaud - Maine (Bangor, Lewiston, Presque Isle, Waterville) - 202-225-6306

Bill Foster - Illinois (Batavia, Dixon, Geneseo) - (202) 225-2976

Kathy Dahlkemper - Pennsylvania (Erie) - (202) 225-5406

Chris Carney - Pennsylvania (Clarks Summit, Shamokin, Williamsport) - (202) 225-3731

Steve Driehaus - Ohio (Cincinnati) - (202) 225-2216

Stephen Lynch - Massachusetts (Brockton, Boston) - 202-225-8273

Rick Boucher - Virginia (Abingdon, Pulaski, Big Stone Gap) - 202-225-3861

Loretta Sanchez - California (Garden Grove) - (202) 225-2965

Dan Lipinski - Illinois (LaGrange, Oak Lawn, Chicago's southwest side) - (202) 225 - 5701

Joe Donnelly - Indiana (South Bend, LaPorte, Michigan City, Kokomo) - (202) 225-3915

Marion Berry - Arkansas (Jonesboro, Cabot, Mountain Home) - (202) 225-4076

Jerry Costello - Illinois (Carbondale, Belleville, E. St. Louis, Granite City, Chester) - (202) 225-5661

Nick Rahall - West Virginia (Beckley, Bluefield, Huntington, Logan) - (202) 225-3452

Solomon Ortiz - Texas (Corpus Christi, Brownsville) - (202) 225-7742

Alan Mollohan - West Virginia (Morgantown, Wheeling, Clarksburg, Parkersburg) - (202) 225-4172

Didn't see this mentioned on any scorecards, but yesterday, John Hall of Orleans and NY-19 said he'd vote 'yes' on the bill. He was a 'yes' the first time, but had been undecided.

The bill is going to pass.

Got to say that zeitgeists's "speech" really hit the spot. That's pretty much how you inspire the troops in wartime, and somehow it seems appropriate right now.

Bad bill or not, this is really going to piss off the scumbags. If it's just a little thumbtack in the coffins of Beck, Hannity, Palin, Coulter, Malkin, Boehner and all the other shitheads, it's well worth it.

Pass the fucking bill.

26 Democrats undeclared? Sounds about right, just more indecisiveness as people suffer. Just like what's going on in juvenile criminal law: http://lawblog.legalmatch.com/2010/03/17/when-kids-commit-adult-offenses/

"The Senate Democrats' letter, outlining their support for the reconciliation budget fix, has been circulated among House Dems and posted online (pdf)."

There are no signatures on that .pdf. To paraphrase "Jerry Maguire": SHOW ME THE SIGNATURES!!! Otherwise it's total fucking bullshit.

... would have been a smoother read if i hadn't been so sputtering mad that it has a thousand typos! - zeitgeist @ 12:09

And it came through that way, it throughly conveys the thought. I saw through it completely, to the point I was thinking this is the way SB writes on a bad day (typos!).