Are There At Least 5 No Votes For The Cat Food Commission Report?

[Me.]

Baccus, Ryan and Shakowsy have already said ni publicly.5 Votes stops it from coming to a vote. And why on earth did dem leaders agree to this especially as the deal is no amendments can be offered.

“Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill had vowed to bring the panel's plan to a floor vote by the end of the year if 14 members signed on.”

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/03/debt.commission/

[MadHound]

1. Two days ago, the vote count was at twelve. Durbin just announced he'll vote yes,

That means we're sitting at thirteen yes votes right now. I imagine that Bowles and Simpson have that fourteenth vote in their backpocket somehow. They're not going to get this close to their wet dream of destroying the middle class, only to see it fall short.

[BzaDem]

5. So which of the 6 confirmed no-votes are lying? n/t

[emulatorloo]

13. I'm surprised at Durbin. Illinois DU'ers need to get on the Phone with him. n/t

[lldu]

2. How can they vote? The commission should have disbanded by 12/1

according to the bylaws there is no commission now.

[madmax]

3. Don't be silly we've reached

the point that it's a free for all in D.C. and anything to do with corporate America. They make the rules up as they go. :mad:

[Me.]

7. They Keep Moving The Goalposts

The last couple of days they are saying a majority would be good.

[BzaDem]

4. There are 6. 3 Republican House members (with Ryan), Baucus, Shakowsky, Stern, and possibly 2 others

[Me.]

6. I Read Yesterday That There Were 9 Confirmed Yeses

But couldn't find the names of the nos. The no amendment part of the agreement really bothers me. Why would Nancy agree to that?

[MineralMan]

8. I predict it will not get the 14 votes.

[pinboy3niner]

10. Conrad just said they have 11 votes

Becerra (D-CA) speaking now, announced he'll vote no.

[MineralMan]

12. Good. The failure to get 14 votes will mean that it doesn't

go directly to Congress. Excellent!

[dkf]

9. I suppose we all think we can balance the budget by getting rid of the defense budget and taxing the

Rich right?

In the end I expect the IMF will have to come in and move the retirement age up starting now. Then the cat food commission will seem like a good deal.

Take a look at Europe because that is what the IMF will do to us if we can't get our act together.

[eShirl]

11. *Reducing* the defense budget and taxing the rich.

[starroute]

14. And spending to get the economy back on track

Pushing demoralizing talking points right now is not particularly useful. It might be more to the point to say, "You're fools if you think the invisible government is ever going to agree to cutting defense or taxing the rich. Your only choices are between going to bed without supper now or having a pound of flesh cut out of you tomorrow."

And then we could have a good argument about ways to get genuine power back into the hands of the people.

But offering defeatism as the default position is a non-starter.