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Pelosi Going to Pole Vault and Parachute her Way to Passing Health Care

H/TGateway Pundit

This was just too bizarre a statement, even from Pelosi, to pass up the opportunity to post it.    The video is a clip from a Fox News report featuring Carl Cameron discussing the Democrats desperate efforts to keep the hope alive they might pass health care this year.  Changes to the bill Pelosi believes she needs to pass the bill in the House while the Senate takes the nuclear reconciliation option would cost an additional $300 billion dollars.  As Allahpundit points out, this would take the cost of the bill over the trillion dollar mark using Democrat math which would mean it really costs over  $2.5 trillion by any realistic mathematical assessment.

Passing a bill with this price tag in this political environment would require greater courage than a pole vaulter or parachutist could muster.  Still, Pelosi and a few others persist with the notion they can make this work, it's either stunningly arrogant or stupid or both.  My inclination is not to believe any more of these reports yet reliable sources insist Democrats intend to proceed down this path.  Hugh Hewitt sums up the arrogance of such a move in his intro to the transcript of his interview with Jon Kyl:

Prior to Massachusetts Obamacare was just a terrible bill with disastrous consequences for the American health care system, especially for seniors.

If passed after Massachusetts, Obamacare would become the single most contemptuous act by a Congress towards voters in American history.

Republicans could make passage of such a bill a nightmare by adding endless amendments Democrats would be forced to vote on in this perilous political year.  Perhaps that is the Democrats purpose here.  Knowing that Republicans would make passage so difficult, Democrats would then blame Republicans for being obstructionists while playing up the amount of time spent on amendments when they could have been working on jobs.   Democrats, of course ignore the message voters want the current bill dropped and prefer Congress to focus on jobs and the economy instead.

Democrats seem desperate to commit political suicide with health care.  Now they are going to parachute and pole vault their way over the hurdles before them.  Good luck with that strategy:

Tough Love from Obamalovin' Media

They carried him to election so who better to tell him he's getting a bit too heavy to carry?  Not in terms of his weight surely, but the additional baggage the shameful loss in Massachusetts adds to the administration destined to turn back the tides and heal the planet.  It's getting too tough to spin so a little tough love was in order.  Frank Rich and Bob Herbert, both do a left wing intervention for their beloved Barack. The message "Snap out of it."

Starting with Herbert, who wonders how loud do the alarm bells have to get:

While the nation was suffering through the worst economy since the Depression, the Democrats wasted a year squabbling like unruly toddlers over health insurance legislation. No one in his or her right mind could have believed that a workable, efficient, cost-effective system could come out of the monstrously ugly plan that finally emerged from the Senate after long months of shady alliances, disgraceful back-room deals, outlandish payoffs and abject capitulation to the insurance companies and giant pharmaceutical outfits.

The public interest? Forget about it.

Herbert's advice, get cracking on jobs, though he doesn't expect much in the way of results:

 The Democrats still hold the presidency and large majorities in both houses of Congress. The idea that they are not spending every waking hour trying to fix the broken economic system and put suffering Americans back to work is beyond pathetic. Deficit reduction is now the mantra in Washington, which means that new large-scale investments in infrastructure and other measures to ease the employment crisis and jump-start the most promising industries of the 21st century are highly unlikely.

What we’ll get instead is rhetoric. It’s cheap, so we can expect a lot of it.

Scorch, of course Herbert has to land a few zingers on the GOP but much of the article is directed at the administration and Congress who don't seem to get it.  Frank Rich takes a gentler approach but points out Obama is no JFK:

 Kennedy didn’t settle for the generic populist rhetoric of Obama’s latest threats to “fight” unspecified bankers some indeterminate day. He instead took the strong action of dressing down U.S. Steel by name. As Richard Reeves writes in his book “President Kennedy,” reporters were left “literally gasping.” The young president called out big steel for threatening “economic recovery and stability” while Americans risked their lives in Southeast Asia. J.F.K. threatened to sic his brother’s Justice Department on corporate records and then held firm as his opponents likened his flex of muscle to the power grabs of Hitler and Mussolini. (Sound familiar?) U.S. Steel capitulated in two days. The Timessoon reported on its front page that Kennedy was at “a high point in popular support.”

Can anyone picture Obama exerting such take-no-prisoners leadership to challenge those who threaten our own economic recovery and stability at a time of deep recession and war? That we can’t is a powerful indicator of why what happened in Massachusetts will not stay in Massachusetts if this White House fails to reboot.

Call me crazy Mr. Rich, but Obama has done a lot of calling out to corporate America.  There has been lots of finger pointing but job creation has been MIA.  Democrats surprisingly enough, float new ideas daily on how they might still pass health care.  The pivots to jobs and the economy  has been nothing more than rhetoric, but as Herbert said, talk's cheap.

Roger Ebert Should Stick to Movie Reviews

Because he clearly doesn't get politics or show an inkling of understand what voters in Massachusetts were saying with their vote. Here's Ebert's twitter review:

Massachusetts to Teddy: "F—k you."

I guess he thought a G rating would kill the box receipts.  As he occasionally does in his movie reviews, Ebert missed the message.  The voters may have been saying F' you but they were intending to send the message to those who locked themselves in the Senate until Christmas eve while they bribed and coerced their way to passing a vote on a *really* unpopular bill.  Rasmussen clarifies from his exit poll results:

Health care has been a huge issue in this election. Fifty-two percent (52%) of Brown voters say it was the most important issue in determining their vote. Sixty-three percent (63%) of Coakley voters say health care was the top issue:

• · 78% of Brown voters Strongly Oppose the health care legislation before Congress.
• · 52% of Coakley supporters Strongly Favor the health care plan. Another 41% Somewhat Favor the legislation.
• · 61% of Brown voters say deficit reduction is more important than health care reform.
• · 46% of Coakley voters say health care legislation more important than deficit reduction.
• · 86% of Coakley voters say it’s better to pass the bill before Congress rather than nothing at all.
• · 88% of Brown voters say it’s better to pass nothing at all.

 So clearly the message was don't spend another trillion of our hard earned dollars on garbage legislation we've been trying to tell you through the polls we don't want.  Voters also intended to send the message the Democrats had better stop pretending they were interested in the middle class.  Voters in the  middle income range (40,000 - 100,000) went with Brown.  Coakley led among the poor and the rich.

Congress might want to consider listening to the moderates they've been hemorrhaging all year instead of calling everyone who disagreed with their agenda tea baggers and racists.  Brown led by 13 points among self described moderates and captured 22% of the Democratic vote.   The voters were tired of Congress saying, well, for lack of a more artful description F'' you.

Live Stream Scott Brown Party in Massachusetts - UPDATE: COAKLEY CONCEDES AP CALLS IT FOR BROWN WOOOOOOHOOOOOOO

Live Stream coverage of the events at the Scott Brown party in Massachusetts for anyone who wants to check in to see the events unfolding there live.

Live TV : Ustream

Update adding in another stream since there is different coverage. The audio is not great on this though

Free TV Show from Ustream

Here is a picture of the stage set up for live entertainment from Shane Hayes on facebook. There must be so much excitement there. I wonder if we'll see The Other McCain who also has live stream coverage on his blog.

What's Up With Absentee Ballots In MA?

Election Journal has video of a woman handing out what appears to be blank absentee ballots on election day in MA. Expect more to come on this item




Politico has a report from a Dem operative saying they are stunned by the frequency of efforts being waved off claiming they support Brown.

MSNBC had a report from Nora O'Donnell saying the turnout for Brown is very strong, Operatives for Democrats say while the GOTV machine is strong, they have doubts they will be able to compensate for a 10 point difference in the vote. O'Donnell then implied this is the deficit they feel they are facing. This is nice to hear but I say big pinch of salt rule applies when it comes to Dem operatives. Stay tuned

ADDED: Michelle Malkin has a full report on Isabel Melendez, the woman in the video. Here is a taste:

The deadline to apply for absentee ballots for the January 19, 2010 special election for US Senate was Friday, January 15.
More on Melendez: She’s a “community activist” in Lawrence who has run for public office before.

Christmas For Patriots

Fleming and Hayes want to spread the excitement they feel in Massachusetts.  I have been reading their comments and updates on Facebook for some time but today there is a real joyous feeling about their posts.  Here is a sample:

We've all heard jokes about this being "Christmas for patriots" or "the vote heard round the world" but understand that, for many of us here in Massachusetts, this is the first time our vote has really mattered.  Unless you've made the trip up here to volunteer like so many great patriots have, we thought we try to bring you the next best thing.

They have a very positive feeling but overall they have poured their hearts and souls into this election working  impossible hours yet pushing themselves just a bit more.  They have done a marvelous job and hopefully see the fruits of that today.  Be sure to click the link and see the many pictures and videos they want to share with those of us who can't be there in Massachusetts but are completely with them in spirit.

I will certainly be here clicking my ruby slippers for a win in Massachusetts.

For more excitement, Pundette  has the best Scott Brown story of the day.

Chris Matthews Predicts Double Digit Brown Win

Is the tingle gone? Chris Matthews appeared on Morning Joe to discuss the hot news story that is the Senate race in Massachusetts. Matthews is focused on the bellwethers or "mini Massachusettses" as he describes them. Matthews has recent info from Suffolk University whose most recent poll showed a 4 point Brown lead.  Suffolk was polling as late as last night and found double digit leads for Brown causing Matthews to conclude the election is going to go to Brown.  Matthews spends some time discussing some of the unbelievable Coakley gaffes including her statement Catholics shouldn't work in emergency rooms.

Matthews, clearly hasn't lost the tingle.  He goes on to promote his two hour special tonight "Obama's America:  2010 and beyond.  He will look at the promise of the Obama presidency and Chris, of course, still sees plenty of tingle in Obama's future.  Perhaps he can use those two hours to play the religion card as he does in this clip as well.  You'll find this at the 4:30 marker.

This is a long clip so for those interested in the poll information you'll find that early in the discussion.   Matthews has always said that the trend in the polls from the Thursday before the election predicts the outcome.  In this election the trend is clearly on Brown's side.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

For More:

Ed Morrissey covers more of poll analysis and adds Stuart Rothenberg sees Brown headed for a "comfortable win."
Reaganite Republican has a terrific round up of coverage of polls, the latest from Intrade and more on the election that is shaping up to be the perfect present for Obama on the eve of his one year anniversary as President.

PPP latest poll Brown leads 51-46

Wow Of course as a left leaning pollster PPP suggests Coakley could still pull this out as Democrats have started to take more interest in the race. I think they might be able to stop by the nearest cemetary and dig up the rest of the votes, but I digress. Here are the key findings of the PPP poll:

-Brown is up 64-32 with independents and is winning 20% of the vote from people who supported Barack Obama in 2008 while Coakley is getting just 4% of the McCain vote.

-Brown's voters continue to be much more enthusiastic than Coakley's. 80% of his say they're 'very excited' about voting Tuesday while only 60% of hers express that sentiment. But the likely electorate now reports having voted for Barack Obama by 19 points, up from 16 a week ago, and a much smaller drop from his 26 point victory in the state than was seen in Virginia.

-Those planning to turn out continue to be skeptical of the Democratic health care plan, saying they oppose it by a 48/40 margin.

-Coakley's favorability dropped from 50% to 44% after a week filled with perceived missteps. Brown's negatives went up a lot but his positives only actually went from 57% to 56%, an indication that attacks against him may have been most effective with voters already planning to support Coakley but ambivalent toward Brown.

-56% of voters in the state think Brown has made a strong case for why he should be elected while just 41% say the same of Coakley. Even among Coakley's supporters only 73% think she's made the argument for herself, while 94% of Brown's supporters think he has.

The momentum is clearly with Brown but this will all come down to turnout.  Will update with additional findings after reviewing the crosstabs.  Some initial impressions though, Brown's lead among unafilliated voters has remained consistently high across other polls.  Coakley doesn't seem to have made any inroad with those voters.  Coakley's favorability drop is 6 points yet it doesn't appear she has laid a glove on Brown.   Interesting stuff, but the only poll that matters is the one on Tuesday.

Scales Tip in Brown's Favor?

Politico reports Charlie Cook thinks the Massachusetts Senate race slightly favors Brown though it still could go either way:

"This past Thursday, Jan. 14, The Cook Political Report moved the open Massachusetts Senate seat rating from lean Democrat to toss-up, having moved it from solid Democrat to lean Democratic on Jan. 7," Cook wrote. "We continue to see this race as very much of a toss-up, with Republican state Sen. Scott Brown holding onto a very narrow, single-digit lead over Democratic state Attorney General Martha Coakley.

"Given the vagaries of voter turnout, particularly in lower participation level special elections, this race could still go either way, but we put a finger on the scale for Brown. Last-minute Democratic attacks on Brown have driven his negatives up some and slightly diminished the incredible intensity of support that Brown enjoyed, but it looks more likely than not to hold."

 Ed Morrissey notes the polls have settled yet runs the numbers based on several different turnout models.  Under the best case scenario for Dems, Brown still leads by 4.5 points.

Update II: Reader S averaged the exit-polling data from the 2006 and 2008 races — in which Dems were highly motivated and independents tilted against the GOP — and came up with a 41-18-41 split.   In that best-case turnout model, Brown leads by 4.5 points using the ARG survey responses:

2006-8 Average Model			Brown	Coakley
Dems	246		49.2	174.66
GOP	108		101.52	1.08
Indys	246		142.68	91.02
			293.4	266.76
			48.90%	44.46%

That’s high-end best-case for Coakley, and she’s still losing.

 The POTUS is about to speak in Massachusetts, can he reverse the tide?  It's all about turnout but an interesting note Fox reported the hall for the POTUS/Coakley event is not full.  Still way too early for champagne though.

Strange Purple for Brown Sightings in Massachusetts

Fleming and Hayes have a stunning video of a report by a handicapped SEIU worker who was denied access to the Clinton/Coakley event.  Was it the handicap or was the handicap the fact he actually supported Brown?



Read the rest at Fleming and Hayes who have plenty of photos of some brave SEIU workers who support Brown and are angry at their union for selling them out. They also have video of Clinton leaving the event to chants of , "Thanks for stopping by, Bill, how about you go help Haiti now?" Also, be sure to see the video of a foreign Coakley supporter being taken into custody. What's up with that?

The Other McCain has also witnessed the surprising Purple for Brown phenomenon:

Among the Brown supporters were - believe it or not - rank-and-file members of the Service Employees International Union.

"We're Americans - we have our free choice," said one of the SEIU members, who identified herself only as Michelle and said she drove more than 60 miles from Western Massachusetts - "The stepchild of this state" - to show her support for Brown in Worcester.

 Legal Insurrection is posting photos from the ground in Massachusetts today.  He has a couple of those strange Purple for Brown sightings as well.  Perhaps there is a bit of mutiny among the Cavalry?

Still, the SEIU is all about power and will drop a shower of purple rain in the form of cash on the Coakley campaign.  The GOP is paying attention, a fact which seems to irk the SEIU:

"Here's more proof the Republican attack machine has no answers on the issues Massachusetts voters care about -- jobs, healthcare and fixing the mess left by the previous administration," shot back Jon Youngdahl, SEIU's national political director. "Their biggest concern? That people who work hard for a living might turn out and vote."

No really, our biggest concern is that the people who work *do* come out to vote.  It's becoming increasingly clear, Scott Brown is winning among the people who work for a living.

Team Coakley Takes the Debate Down in the Dirt

Fleming and Hayes have a direct mail piece sent by Martha Coakley.  Here is a sample of Martha's latest efforts to take the final days of the campaign down lower than a reporter from a right leaning publication.  This  is just a sample of the creative ingenuity at work over at team Coakley:

Be sure to see the rest of this mailer as well as some insight from the ground in Massachusetts at the link for Fleming and Hayes.
PS: Brown up by 15?
Linked by Reaganite Republican

Brown Leads by Four in Suffolk University Poll

The Boston Herald reports the shocking findings of a Suffolk University/7News poll showing Scott Brown with a four, count em 4, point lead over Democrat Martha Coakley. It's a Brown out:

Although Brown’s 4-point lead over Democrat Martha Coakley is within the Suffolk University/7News survey’s margin of error, the underdog’s position at the top of the results stunned even pollster David Paleologos.

“It’s a Brown-out,” said Paleologos, director of Suffolk’s Political Research Center. “It’s a massive change in the political landscape.”…

Paleologos said bellweather models show high numbers of independent voters turning out on election day, which benefits Brown, who has 65 percent of that bloc compared to Coakley’s 30 percent. Kennedy earns just 3 percent of the independent vote, and 1 percent are undecided…

Yet even in the bluest state, it appears Kennedy’s quest for universal health care has fallen out of favor, with 51 percent of voters saying they oppose the “national near-universal health-care package” and 61 percent saying they believe the government cannot afford to pay for it.

Here are a few of the highlights from the poll:

• Brown wins among men and is only trailing by 5 to Coakley among women
• Brown has 91% of registered Republicans plus an additional 17% of Democrats
• Most perilous for Coakley who needs voters motivated to come to the polls 64% believe she will win.  This is likely to suppress her vote while Brown's support is highly motivated to show up at the polls.
• Brown has a solid 57% favorability but only 19% unfavorable while Coakley's unfavorables are 41%.  Coakley's favorables are at 49%.  
• Brown's name recognition problem has all but been erased; 95% recognize his name statewide.
• When asked whether Coakley would represent an independent voice 64% believed she would tow the party line.
• 51% opposed the health care plan and 61% believed the government cannot afford to pay for the plan if enacted.  

Charlie Cook tells NRO, Brown just might win

“There is something big going on in Massachusetts,” says political analyst Charlie Cook in a conversation with National Review Online. He tells us that he’s “convinced” that Republican Scott Brown “really might win” the upcoming special election for U.S. Senate in the Bay State. Brown, he says, has run a “flawless, very smart campaign” while his opponent, Democrat Martha Coakley, has been “overly cautious” and run an “awful campaign.”

Earlier today both Cook and Rothenberg  moved the race to the toss up category.  Oh and the poll showed 99% have made up their mind on their vote.  Too early for popping the champagne corks but not too early to  consider putting a bottle on ice just in case.

H/T: Memeorandum

Fear and Loathing in Taxachusetts

John Fund of the Wall Street Journal is dreaming of a GOP upset in Taxachessets.  Though it still is a bit of a climb he could just get his wish.   The latest Rasmussen poll shows GOP candidate Scott Brown within 9 points of Kennedy-anointed candidate Martha Coakley.  This news must surely have sent some fear and loathing to Democrats banking on a Coakley win in the upcoming special election to replace the late Senator Kennedy's seat in the Senate on January 19.

Here is an interview of Brown by CNBC's Larry Kudlow explaining why this vote is so important; hint electing Brown could stop ObamaCare:



Rasmussen's poll shows some real strengths for Brown leading into the last two weeks before the special election:

Twenty-one percent (21%) of those likely to vote in the special election have a very favorable opinion of Coakley, while 22% have a Very Unfavorable view.

For Brown, the numbers are 25% very favorable and 5% very unfavorable.

Special elections are typically decided by who shows up to vote and it is clear from the data that Brown’s supporters are more enthusiastic. In fact, among those who are absolutely certain they will vote, Brown pulls to within two points of Coakley. That suggests a very low turnout will help the Republican and a higher turnout is better for the Democrat.

In 2006, Massachusetts implemented its own statewide version of health care reform which has been cited as a model for the national plan. But just 32% of the state’s voters consider that reform a success. Thirty-six percent (36%) consider the plan a failure, and another 32% are not sure.

Despite the creation of a statewide health plan in part to address rising costs, most Massachusetts voters (54%) say cost is still the biggest problem with health care. Twenty-four percent (24%) cite a lack of universal coverage, while 11% say it’s the quality of care. Just three percent (3%) complain of the inconvenience of scheduling.

Another strong point for Brown is found in his 44 point lead among Independent voters.   Professor Jacobson, who has been covering this race extensively, has been sensing some problems for Coakley:

This is better than I expected for Brown. Coakley has been a statewide figure for years, and has much better name recognition, SEIU and other union support, and the Massachusetts Democratic machine behind her. Obama won the state by over 20%, and Coakley should have had at least a mid-teens lead at this point.

But as I have noted, Coakley's tactic of acting like the election already is over may be backfiring. While Brown was hitting the pavement the past three weeks, Coakley took a six day vacation. Wrong message. Coakley is ducking a one-on-one debate with Brown. Wrong message.

I sensed Coakley was in trouble when her campaign recently overstated the strength of her fundraising, making it seem as if she had far outraised Brown post-primary. It appears that most of Coakley's fundraising strength was pre-primary, when she used the abortion issue to rally the liberal base to contribute. Coakley then went back on her promise not to vote for the Senate health bill if it contained abortion restrictions.

This is still going to be tough, but electing a Republican to replace Ted Kennedy would send such shockwaves to Democrats in Congress that the battle is well worth the effort.  Consider the Karmic justice after Democrats turned Benedict Arlen, counted their way to seating Al Franken and then changed the rules in Massachusetts just so they could ram ObamaCare through without negotiating with Republicans.

Now is the time to click your Ruby Slippers and make some magic in Massachusetts.  Donate to Scott Brown; any amount will help.   Support him on Facebook, he posts there frequently and offers other ways to get involved.  This is the election to step up and get involved, the stakes are high but the reward would be massive.