Even as congressional democrats evince doubts of their own, the president is crisscrossing the country in constant campaign mode. This week’s work is an attempt to convince an increasingly skeptical electorate that the federal government has the intellectual chops to manage one-sixth of the gross domestic product. All he’s really asking for, he says, is an an “up or down vote” in Congress,
If Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) gets her way, he won’t get it:
In the Slaughter Solution, the rule would declare that the House “deems” the Senate version of Obamacare to have been passed by the House. House members would still have to vote on whether to accept the rule, but they would then be able to say they only voted for a rule, not for the bill itself.
Steve Schippert is not happy, to put it mildly:
This is not simply tyrannical in nature, it is absolute political cowardice.
Whether any American likes or dislikes any bill – any bill – none of us are governed under a Constitution nor any Congress within a Constitution that affords for an individual in an elected body to “deem” anything. We elected you, for better or worse, to vote on legislation, whether we like the specific outcome or not. There is a process within both the letter and spirit of the Constitution.
The notion of anyone “deeming” anything “passed” without going through the actual voting process of real passage is the kind of governance seen in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq or Bashar Assad’s Syria or Castro’s Cuba.
Few things in this lifetime have inspired such furious rage as this brazen attempt to undermine the legislative process as set forth within the Constitution of the United States.
Using a procedural rule to enact the most sweeping legislation in decades rather than openly vote? It does kind of chap those who swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Which, for those keeping score at home are not merely the military crowd, but also each member of Congress.
Support our president: Tell the House to vote on Obamacare!
I don’t recall an expiration date on my oath, either, regardless of having put away the uniform for the last time several years back.
You know what scares me? The aftermath if some harebrained, unconstitutional and idiotic thing like Rep. Slaughter’s idea succeeds. There is a tipping point. A point beyond which well armed, well informed, constitutionalist type Americans say enough is enough. When you game out the point of no return for normal, law-abiding citizens like myself and the regulars on these pages, it gets real ugly, real fast. The areas in which the vast majority of Americans who have taken that oath, feel that our current government is outside the prescribed bounds of their constitutionally granted powers, are multitude. Something has to give. Only a fool doesn’t prepare for all possible scenarios. I find myself dwelling more on scary option preparations than at any other time in my well-informed lifetime. Well, I guess this comment puts me on Napalitano’s possible terrorist watch list. But, if you have to be on a list, what better company could you possibly be listed with than a bunch of constitution supporting veterans.
A Boy Scout Salute to you, Sir! (That’s a threeper joke, and yes I too do some not entirely antagonistic reading at Sipsey Street.) I will state now for the record that I do not own a rifle of an electoral caliber.
We elected you, for better or worse, to vote on legislation, whether we like the specific outcome or not.
Is Schippert suggesting that the Congers should — *gasp* — do their *job*? The one we *pay* them to do?
What temerity! What audacity! That’s truly beyond the pale, sirrah!
Ummmm — what? Time for my meds? So soon?
So we’re down to semantics. Well, if someone votes for the rule, I’m going to deem them to have voted for the bill. Apparently, the really believe their constituents are stupid. How does a 5-yr old explain it. “Well, you see, I didn’t knock the lamp off the table, I pushed Billy into the table and he knocked the lamp off the table. So it’s not my fault. Why are you getting the paddle?”
“Political cowardice” and “semantics”. Much like the Germans arguing that they only supported the “Final Solution” and gosh, oh no, not the mass murder of Jews/gypsies.
We have provided them the rope, but they will hang themselves.
I believe that this legislator has her branch of government confused. According to the definition of the word “deem”: to come to think or judge; to have an opinion or believe.
Isn’t “to deem” the job of the judicial branch of government? I would assert that this approach, albeit gutless at its base, is therefore un-constitutional. To have an opinion and yield a judgment is definitely the purview of the judicial branch.
The word “deem” has its etymology in the Old English and may even be traced back to the Old German languages. It was done by those “in charge”, either Kings or Judges. Rep. Louise Slaughter needs to read her job definition as a representative of the people.
King O says, “I deign”, our reprehensibles say “I deem”, but hopefully, our supremes say, “I deny”.
Exactly right, PeterGunn & TheBastige; this problem began heading for the tipping point when it became common to hear the press and the people referring to our “government leaders” or our “elected leaders.”
Things started teetering on the precipice when those in government started believing that tripe.
They are elected servants, not leaders. It appears to be fast approaching time that they get abruptly reminded of that fact. Most hopefully, via the ballot box.
If not, the Constitution does preserve the methodology for and the Declaration the assertion of the right of a people to pursue other means.
Ah Ms. Slaughter. She’s the one who offered the stunning contribution to the “health care summit” that she had a constituent who lacked health insurance, so therefore had to wear her dead sister’s dentures.
Sarge,
I take your point and agree with the concept, but disagree slightly. They are indeed our leaders. As representatives in a Republic, they must take the lead and make decisions for their constituents. However as most of the commenters on this blog realize, a good leader exhibits many aspects of being a servant to his followers.
What galls me to know end is, somehow these reprehensible cretins think they are our RULERS! And, by god, that will not stand! I agree that the tipping point if dangerously close and am concerned about November. With luck, sensible voters and the Almighty’s grace, this country will back away from this precipice peacefully, but……..
So in an attempt to convince the American people to support Health Care, Obama is going from one hermetically-Democratically-sealed auditorium to another? Looks like his is just trying to convince himself that he still has the old razzle-dazzle, and the American people outside the bell-jar have nothing to do with it.
The courts have held that recall elections do not apply to US Senators, they being Federal officials under Article 1 Section 1, holding this back in 1967 against Frank Church, well after the 17th Amendment made election of Senators by popular vote.
So it would seem we’re stuck with what we have, unless a case could be made for impeachment (and given the majority party is the one trying to ram this through, that’s not going to happen). But by using underhanded tactics such as these, it’s possible the law could be challenged and found void later.
It’s just a whole lot more satisfying to change the composition of the House and Senate very significantly come November. And again two years hence.
– Max
If Congress is not going to honor its Oath and is going to deem legislation passed by fiat of the supernumerated in charge of the Dhimmicrat party, then my Oath to defend the Constitution has found the domestic enemies of which same document speaks, and therefore, forceful, and violent action against those who violate the Constitution in the pursuit of power for themselves at my countrymen’s expense is absolutely, completely, and in all ways, justified.
I’m sharpening my knives and loading my cartridges. I’m just about there. After I’m in jail or dead, don’t let me down, Men.
Subsunk
Wasn’t there a phrase in out oath that goes something like “I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic”?
Aren’t we getting pretty close to the definition of “domestic”?
This is incredibly dangerous for our country. This is the tipping point of tyranny, of direct rule and the Constitution being meaningless. Yet again, the irony amazes. Those who spoke in great angst a few years ago of “shredding the Constitution” over issues like the Patriot Act and the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, are now all to happy to really and truly do so. They are nothing but a bunch of lying, theiving, corrupt, hypocrites.
And that’s on their good days. This is the most incompetent Congress and Administration this nation has ever seen. They believe in nothing but their own ideology and their own aggrandizement. It would be hilarious if it weren’t so deadly serious.
I have subscribed my name to the Florida Voter’s Oath, swearing thereby to protect and defend the Constitutions of the United States and of the State of Florida, among some other things. No problems with the former, it’s a wonderful document. With the FL one, I’m required to protect and defend pupils/teacher ratio, high speed rail, and comfortable quarters for pregnant pigs. Really. You can look it up.