Mitch McConnell Throws House GOP Under the Bus

If Mitch McConnell was hoping to be the Senate Majority Leader again, he just made that much less likely for once again backing Obama in a political fight against Speaker John Boehner and the House GOP (Disclaimer, this piece written by a liberal Washington Post columnist):

If this doesn’t break the logjam, nothing will: Senator Mitch McConnell is now calling on John Boehner to come in from the cold and pass the Senate payroll tax extension plan...

What this means: McConnell has now explicitly endorsed the compromise that Senate Dems have been offering House Republicans: You pass the Senate two-month extension; and we’ll enter into talks over how to compromise on the year-long extension you want. Coming from McConnell, this statement knocks the legs out from the primary House Republican argument: That we must not pass the two-month extension, because we need to pass a year-long one for the same of “certainty” to the American people. As McConnell sensibly points out, these two things are not “mutually exclusive.”

This statement again underscores just how isolated House Republicans have become in this fight. Earlier this morning, House GOPers held a press conference in the Capitol to dig in further. As Chris Van Hollen put it a few moments ago at a subsequent presser, the only people that don’t want the Senate bill passed are the House Republicans who held that presser today. That the Republican Senate leader issued his statement calling on House Republicans to acquiesce to the Dem approach only moments after they mounted their last stand of sorts only reinforces that picture.

The bias kind of shines through, doesn't it.

Boehner has been fighting for a year-long resolution to bring some stability to the job market and the economy.  He's right to hold out for a better deal, and if it means those tax breaks expire on January 1st, so be it.  If Boehner caves on this deal he certainly won't get a better one in two months.  In fact, instead of fighting for a year-long tax deal the GOP will end up defending against a new millionaire's tax which is what the Dems and their #Occupy minions really want.

And I think it's time the Senate GOP picked a new leader.  McConnell is simply not a team player.

Harry Reid's Nuclear Bomb

Read this headline from Say Anything - it's like Bizarro World:

Harry Reid Goes “Nuclear” To Punish Republicans For Trying To Vote On Obama’s Jobs Bill

And yet, that's exactly what happened. Read the whole story at Say Anything.

Harry Reid has just bet the farm that either the Dems are going to hold both the Senate and White House next year, or he knows they're going to lose and he's going to use the new Senate rules to pass a host of things that couldn't otherwise get past a filibuster, such as the Dream Act.

If the former is true and Harry has bet wrong, Obamacare is dead even if it survives the Supreme Court.  If the GOP has 50 Senators and a President, under these new rules there will be nothing to stop the Senate from repealing Obamacare.  Without the ability to filibuster the Dems will be lame ducks under a GOP Senate, and if they think they're getting the old rules back...well, unfortunately some Republicans are just stupid enough to do that and give them back their power.  But if McConnell wants to be Majority Leader, that better not happen.

I'd like to hear the GOP go on record with the Dems and tell them that however long these rules in effect while the Dems are in the majority, they'll be in effect at least that long under a GOP majority

Harry Reid is going to regret this because it will be a factor in every Senate election next year.

Sen. McConnell: "Let's Vote on the Jobs Bill." Harry Reid: "That's a Political Stunt."

Harry Reid got played by Mitch McConnell yesterday:

On a day rich in political maneuvering, Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell announced he was ready for an immediate vote on the bill, even though he opposes it. Reading aloud on the Senate floor from a copy of Obama's speech, he said, "I do think the president makes an important point that he is entitled to a vote."

The request was blocked by Reid, who called it a "political stunt" and said he would make sure the bill comes to the floor this month. Aboard Air Force One, White House press secretary Jay Carney accused Republicans of gamesmanship.

Why wouldn't Harry agree to an immediate vote? After all, that's what the president says he wants.

Very simple - Harry doesn't have the votes. He can't even get his own caucus to line up behind this mess, let alone the GOP.

The same article says Reid is planning to propose a 5% surcharge on millionaires.  That's not gonna pass either.

All You Need to Know About How Bad Mitch McConnell's Plan Is

I think this pretty much sums it up:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Wednesday praised Republican Leader Mitch McConnell for putting forth a plan to raise the debt ceiling, calling it a “serious proposal” that he’s continuing to study.

There's no way Harry Reid will support anything that's good for the country.

UPDATE:  Nancy Pelosi piles on:

Asked about GOP plan to allow President Obama to raise debt ceiling, Pelosi said "Bravo for Senator McConnell"

If that doesn't kill the McConnell plan stone dead nothing can.

Brave Mitch McConnell

The Daily Caller takes on Mitch McConnell's astoundingly bad idea:

 Brave Mitch McConnell, he bravely ran away-- If at first you don't succeed, give up! Associated Press: "With compromise talks at a vituperative standstill, Senate Republicans unexpectedly offered Tuesday to hand President Barack Obama new powers to avert a first-ever government default threatened for Aug. 2. Under a proposal outlined by Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Obama could request — and likely secure — increases of up to $2.5 trillion in the government's borrowing authority in three separate installments over the next year, as long as he simultaneously proposed spending cuts of greater size. The debt limit increases would take effect unless blocked by Congress under special rules that would require speedy action — and even then Obama could exercise his authority to veto such legislation. Significantly, the president's spending cuts would be debated under normal procedures, with no guarantee they ever come to a final vote." TheDC's Amanda Carey has the latest: "Debt limit negotiations took a surprising turn Tuesday, when Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell offered a backup plan that essentially gives President Barack Obama the authority to unilaterally raise the debt limit. The move prompted a swift and furious backlash from conservative groups, politicians and commentators... For his part, McConnell defended his unusual move by saying that he has essentially become convinced that an acceptable deal on spending cuts and revenue raises cannot be reached, and that Republicans and Democrats have come to an impasse... But on Capitol Hill, McConnell's plan sent shockwaves through conservative offices. One senior GOP staffer told The Daily Caller in an email, 'I really could not have imagined a plan this bad.'" Hey, if a guy won't negotiate with you and does nothing but lie and threaten and obfuscate, your only option is to give him MORE power. Otherwise, you'll be blamed for everything by the people who will always blame you for everything anyway. 

Erick Erickson at Red State was even less charitable:

"Mitch McConnell Just Proposed the 'Pontius Pilate Pass the Buck Act of 2011.'"

Well put.

Mitch just guaranteed a challenge to his leadership position in the Senate, because what he just showed was anything but leadership.

Dear GOP: Quit Playing the President's Game

What's the matter with these people?

Congress and the White House could raise the debt limit for a few months while they seek a comprehensive, long-term budget deal, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said on Sunday.

The Obama administration has warned it will run out of money to pay the nation's bills if Congress does not raise the $14.3 trillion debt limit by August 2 -- a prospect that could push the country back into recession and upend global financial markets.

Congressional Republicans, particularly in the House of Representatives, have balked at raising the debt ceiling unless it is accompanied by significant spending cuts.

McConnell said on Sunday the ceiling could be raised enough to last a few months so that negotiations can continue on a larger deal that would include changes to so-called entitlement programs like Medicare.

"The president and the vice president, everybody knows you have to tackle entitlement reform," McConnell said on CBS's "Face the Nation."

Democrats had all last year to submit a budget. They never did. Democrats controlled congress from 2007-2009, and controlled everything from 2009-2011, and yet did nothing about Medicare and Social Security. Giving them more time is just playing their game and not fixing anything.

Don't raise the debt ceiling. Make them fix this stuff now.

Energy Quote of the Day

From Sen. Mitch McConnell, responding to Obama's energy speech:

“Over the past two years, the administration has undertaken what can only be described as a war on American energy. It’s cancelled dozens of drilling leases. It’s declared a moratorium on drilling off the Gulf Coast. It’s increased permit fees. It has prolonged public comment periods. In short, it’s done just about everything it can to keep our own energy sector from growing. As a result, thousands of U.S. workers have lost their jobs, as companies have been forced to look elsewhere for a better business climate.”

McConnell indicated that he sees limited prospects for bipartisan support for a strategy designed to deliver energy independence, saying “Tell a Democrat in Washington that gas prices are too high, and, as if on cue, they’ll throw together a speech or a press conference to suggest that we open an underground oil reserve that was created to deal with calamities, not market pressures; they’ll take you on a tour of some alternative car plant that promises to have one of its $100,000 prototypes to market 25 years down the road; or they’ll quietly release some report to the media about how energy companies aren’t working hard enough to extract oil — while schizophrenically claiming American reserves are minuscule and that more production isn’t the solution.”

Obama knows that as long as he says the right things the media will never examine his actions and compare them to his words. That way he can claim to want to increase domestic production while doing everything he can to thwart it.

Getting Religion on Earmarks

Mitch McConnell is the latest convert to the idea of banning earmarks in spending bills:

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) announced Monday that he would join a GOP effort to ban congressional earmarks, a stunning turnaround that reflects a huge victory for the Tea Party movement.

A senior member of the Appropriations Committee, McConnell has been one of the Senate’s strongest proponents of local pork, but watched the practice fall into disfavor amid growing public anger over Washington spending that fueled GOP victories in this month’s midterm election.

“There is simply no doubt that the abuse of this practice has caused Americans to view it as a symbol of the waste and out-of-control spending that every Republican in Washington is determined to fight,” McConnell said Monday in a speech on the Senate floor.

“And unless people like me show the American people that we’re willing to follow through on small or even symbolic things, we risk losing them on our broader efforts to cut spending and rein in government,” he said.

Banning earmarks will not necessarily reduce the budget because the funds will still be appropriated in large blocks. What the banning of earmarks does is prevent lawmakers from directing funds to their favorite political cronies and contributors, or to unnecessary projects that benefit their district. Half of West Virginia is named after Robert Byrd because of earmarks. The Airport to Nowhere in Pennsylvania, which has state-of-the-art facilities but only a couple of flights a day to Washington D.C., got there because of earmarks from John Murtha.

The voters said to knock it off, and McConnell is wise to listen.

GOP Establishment Can't Control Tea Party Energy

And it drives them nuts.  That explains, better than anything, the outburst by Karl Rove on Fox News when Christine O'Donnell won the nomination in Delaware, and the groanings from people like David Frum who just want us all to get along with Democrats.  People like Rove and Frum were upset when Tea Party candidates won the nominations in Delaware and Nevada because they saw those as easily won seats with the "right" Republican.  However, without the Tea Party many other seats might not have been possible at all:

If the GOP picks up eight Senate seats and loses Delaware and Nevada, the establishment will blame the Tea Party for losing the majority. But that ignores the fact that the Tea Party -- and not John Boehner or Mitch McConnell -- has provided nearly all the energy for the GOP takeover.

Were Republican voters as well behaved as Frum would like, Senate seats in Washington, Wisconsin, California, and West Virginia would not be within reach. Without the enthusiasm ginned up by the rowdy conservative populists, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio, and North Carolina would not look as good for Republicans as they do now.

Had conservative leaders somehow tamped down -- rather than stoking -- the Tea Party flames, the GOP would be looking at a three- to five-seat gain including Delaware and probably Nevada. Instead, Republicans will gain six to 10 seats this fall -- with a much more conservative caucus.

In other words, the Tea Party may mean we get Sen. Coons instead of Castle, but it also probably means Marco Rubio instead of Charlie Crist, Joe Miller instead of Lisa Murkowski, Mike Lee instead of Bob Bennett, Rand Paul instead of Trey Grayson, Ken Buck instead of Jane Norton, and maybe even Ron Johnson instead of Russ Feingold -- just to name a few.

Rove and Frum would somehow like the energy of the Tea Party without the willfulness. They want the force of the flood, but they want it to go in a direction of their choosing.

Rove and Frum are smart people, but they don't understand the conservative rage in the electorate. They'd still like to be able to pull the strings and move voters in the direction they wish them to go, but conservatives are tired of being told what to do by people who don't always share their values.  Rove hurt himself with conservatives with his rant on Fox and he'll have a hard time getting them to listen to him again.

Senate GOP Fires the First Shot on Taxes

Obama may have thought he got a concession on taxes from John Boehner, but Mitch McConnell ratcheted things up a bit:

Republicans in the U.S.Senate poured cold water on Monday on hopes for a compromise with President Barack Obama that would have allowed Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans to expire.

Taxes have become a flashpoint going into a Nov. 2 election in which Republicans are seeking to wrest control of Congress from the president's fellow Democrats. Obama says the cost of keeping the tax cuts for the rich is too high as the United States emerges from recession with a massive budget deficit.

The uncertainty over tax policy is hanging over the slow economic recovery and is keeping investors guessing about what will happen to taxes on capital gains and dividends.

Prospects faded for breaking the deadlock when Republicans gave a cool reception to a signal on Sunday by John Boehner, their party's leader in the House of Representatives, that he might be willing to bend.

In a political gambit, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell proposed a freeze on all tax brackets, insisting that cuts for wealthier Americans, as well as for the middle class, must be kept in place.

"I'm introducing legislation today that ensures that no one in this country will pay higher income taxes next year than they are right now," McConnell said on the Senate floor.

It's going to be hard for Democrats to argue that certain Americans should pay more in taxes next year while others do not. People understand the concept of equality and class warfare rhetoric doesn't fit that concept.

Villains of the Day

As appointed by David Plouffe, former campaign manager for Obama:

“Mitch McConnell and John Boehner are bad enough, but they’re not the real Republican Party,” Mr. Plouffe said. “It is Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. That is the power. All of these Republican candidates have to pledge allegiance to them, their intolerance and their backwards thinking.”

If only that were true.

Funny thing is, the Republicans who are listening to Rush and to a lesser degree Palin are winning. The Republicans who are trying to play it down the middle are losing.

The Democrats are completely out of ideas.  The only thing left is demagoguery, name-calling, and trying to scare voters by creating bogeymen out of people who don't even serve in elective office.

Pretty funny, actually.

Washington's GOP Inner Circle Getting a Bit Smaller

Those wascally conservatives keep ousting RINO Senate incumbents:

Sen. Lisa Murkowski's apparent defeat in Alaska's Republican primary isn't just a defeat for the Republican establishment and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which -- in keeping with standard practice -- backed her renomination.

The Alaska result is above all a blow to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. As with the primary defeat of Utah's Bob Bennett in the spring, challenger Joe Miller's likely win replaces a close McConnell confidant with an unaccommodating conservative.

McConnell, since becoming minority leader in 2007, has built his own "kitchen Cabinet," consisting of two or three official "counsels" -- senators, handpicked by him, who attend GOP leadership meetings along with the elected party leadership. Both Bennett and Murkowski are in this inner circle. And both lost their primaries this year to conservatives running against Washington.

Hello Mitch, it's the Tea Party calling. We're not interested in getting along with Democrats. We're interested in defeating them and implementing conservative policies and governance. Time to get on board or we'll be looking for a new majority leader.

Former NY Times Editor Has Breakdown Over Fox News

Boy, Roger Ailes and Fox News really has gotten into the heads of the lefties. Today in the Washington Post former NY Times Executive Editor Howell Raines suffers a breakdown:

One question has tugged at my professional conscience throughout the year-long congressional debate over health-care reform, and it has nothing to do with the public option, portability or medical malpractice. It is this: Why haven't America's old-school news organizations blown the whistle on Roger Ailes, chief of Fox News, for using the network to conduct a propaganda campaign against the Obama administration -- a campaign without precedent in our modern political history?

Let's pause here just for a moment. "Without precedent in our modern political history?" How about the relentless efforts of the NY Times, under Raines leadership, to destroy the Bush Administration through political attacks and the leak of secret information and plans? And let's not forget ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC and most every other major newspaper in the country that joined in.

Getting back to the rant:

Through clever use of the Fox News Channel and its cadre of raucous commentators, Ailes has overturned standards of fairness and objectivity that have guided American print and broadcast journalists since World War II. Yet, many members of my profession seem to stand by in silence as Ailes tears up the rulebook that served this country well as we covered the major stories of the past three generations, from the civil rights revolution to Watergate to the Wall Street scandals. This is not a liberal-versus-conservative issue. It is a matter of Fox turning reality on its head with, among other tactics, its endless repetition of its uber-lie: "The American people do not want health-care reform."

Fox repeats this as gospel. But as a matter of historical context, usually in short supply on Fox News, this assertion ranks somewhere between debatable and untrue.

The American people and most of our great modern presidents have been demanding major reforms to the health-care system since the administration of Teddy Roosevelt. The elections of 1948, 1960, 1964, 2000 and 2008 confirm the point, with majorities voting for candidates supporting such change. Yet congressional Republicans have managed effective campaigns against health-care changes favored variously by Presidents Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Clinton. Now Fox News has given the party of Lincoln a free ride with its repetition of the unexamined claim that today's Republican leadership really does want to overhaul health care -- if only the effort could conform to Mitch McConnell's ideas on portability and tort reform.

Portability and tort reform are just about the only things that would actually reduce health care costs without destroying our health delivery system. Mitch McConnell has it right - Raines and the Democrats have it very, very wrong. Republicans are absolutely right to stand up against a government takeover of health care that will only increase costs and debt and reduce the quality of care.

Howell Raines was an idiot at the NY Times, and it's clear that time away from that lefty newsroom hasn't fixed that.

Obamacare May Have a Problem in the Senate

The Senate Parliamentarian has thrown a bit of a monkey wrench in the Obamacare negotiations between the House and the Senate:

The Senate Parliamentarian has ruled that President Barack Obama must sign Congress’ original health care reform bill before the Senate can act on a companion reconciliation package, senior GOP sources said Thursday.

The Senate Parliamentarian’s Office was responding to questions posed by the Republican leadership. The answers were provided verbally, sources said.

House Democratic leaders have been searching for a way to ensure that any move they make to approve the Senate-passed $871 billion health care reform bill is followed by Senate action on a reconciliation package of adjustments to the original bill. One idea is to have the House and Senate act on reconciliation prior to House action on the Senate’s original health care bill.

Information Republicans say they have received from the Senate Parliamentarian’s Office eliminates that option. House Democratic leaders last week began looking at crafting a legislative rule that would allow the House to approve the Senate health care bill, but not forward it to Obama for his signature until the Senate clears the reconciliation package.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) moved Thursday to put Senate Republicans on the defensive over health care, sending a letter to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in which he dared the GOP to vote against reform.

Ooo, a threat from Harry Reid. I'll bet McConnell laughed his head off when he got that. I'll take that dare.

Some folks, like Gabriel Malor at Ace of Spades thinks the Parliamentarian's decision will spell the end of Obamacare. I don't think so. According to Senate rules the Parliamentarian can be overruled by the President of the Senate, and that's Joe Biden. I wouldn't put it past him.

This bill will be the unkillable zombie that keeps coming back in different forms.

Senate Dems Decide to Go Ahead With Reconciliation

From Politico:

Sen. Tom Harkin told POLITICO that Senate Democratic leaders have decided to go the reconciliation route. The House, he said, will first pass the Senate bill after Senate leaders demonstrate to House leaders that they have the votes to pass reconciliation in the Senate.

Harkin made the comments after a meeting in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's office including Harkin and Sens. Baucus, Dodd, Durbin, Schumer and Murray.

I'll repeat my advice from yesterday to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell:

Shut down the Senate. File holds on every Obama nominee, refuse all requests for unanimous consent, make them read every bill every time. Use every Senate rule at your disposal to make Harry Reid's life a living hell.

And then tie Obamacare around the necks of every Democrat running in November, whether they voted for it or not.

This, of course, assumes that Nancy Pelosi can bully enough Democrats into voting for the Senate bill, and that's not a sure thing at this point. Interesting days ahead.

Obama Will Go Nuclear on Health Care

From ABC News:

White House officials tell ABC News that in his remarks tomorrow President Obama will indicate a willingness to work with Republicans on some issue to get a health care reform bill passed but will say that if it is necessary, Democrats will use the controversial reconciliation rules requiring only 51 Senate votes to pass the "fix" to the Senate bill.

In the words of Bugs Bunny:

"You know, of course, this means war."

Here's my advice to Mitch McConnell: Shut down the Senate. File holds on every Obama nominee, refuse all requests for unanimous consent, make them read every bill every time. Use every Senate rule at your disposal to make Harry Reid's life a living hell.

And then tie Obamacare around the necks of every Democrat running in November, whether they voted for it or not.

Harry Reid Wants Reconciliation for Public Option

In a follow-up to last night's post, anyone who thinks Obamacare is dead needs to keep an eye on Harry Reid:

Senator Reid has always and continues to support the public option as a way to drive down costs and create competition. That is why he included the measure in his original health care proposal.

If a decision is made to use reconciliation to advance health care, Senator Reid will work with the White House, the House, and members of his caucus in an effort to craft a public option that can overcome procedural obstacles and secure enough votes.

Mitch McConnell had a reaction:

“Using reconciliation would be an acknowledgment that there is bipartisan opposition to their bill, another in a series of backroom deals, and the clearest signal yet that they've decided to completely ignore the American people.”

And this headline should be an important message to Democrats, especially those facing re-election this year:

Passing ObamaCare Won't Make It More Popular

Passing it through reconciliation will make it toxic.

McConnell Surrenders

This bugs me. I heard Mitch McConnell on the radio earlier talking about "his good friend Harry Reid" and how he was working on a compromise so that the Senate could go home early. McConnell has surrendered, and Erick and Red State offers this via Twitter:

Mitch McConnell surrenders. Allows an early vote on health care AND allow Dems to vote on increasing debt ceiling all b/f sun sets Xmas Eve

Good thing George Washington wasn't a wimp when it came to crossing the Delaware in an ice storm on Christmas Eve. McConnell could learn.

If GOP is going to throw in the towel early, they shld leave en masse and not even be there for the final vote. Make the Dems own it alone.

I agree with that last point 100%. There's clearly no reason for the GOP to be there - go home and let the visuals be 60 Democrats passing this government takeover on their own. However, there's no good reason to let the Dems go home one minute earlier than Harry Reid's schedule. If they want to play these games with 1am votes and all that nonsense, make 'em stay.

And while they're home, I hope constituents of all the Senators let them have it.

Cliffs in the News

Cliffs are playing a role in the news today. First, this headline from L.A.:

Torrance Man Convicted of Throwing New Wife Off Cliff

He's got some 'splainin' to do.

And this from the Senate GOP:

@Senate_GOPs: McConnell: "There's a good chance [Dems] will not be able to get their members to lock arms & walk off a cliff."

Harry Reid has some 'splainin' to do.

Mitch McConnell Rips Harry Reid a New One

As I write this the Senate is preparing to go into a midnight session after adjourning several hours before. It's all about rushing a vote on the Defense Appropriations Bill so they can turn around and rush the Obamacare bill, with a possible vote scheduled for Christmas Eve.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement today ripping Harry Reid and the Democrats a new one, and it's worth putting the whole thing here:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Thursday regarding the importance of getting it right on health care reform:

“Senators on both sides acknowledge that the health care bill we’re considering is among the most significant pieces of legislation any of us will ever consider.

“So it stands to reason that we’d devote significant time and attention to it.

“Indeed, some would argue that we should spend more time and attention on this bill than most — if not every — previous bill we’ve considered.

“The Majority disagrees.

“Why? Because this bill has become a political nightmare for them.

“They know Americans overwhelmingly oppose it, so they want to get it over with.

“Americans are already outraged at the fact that Democrat leaders took their eyes off the ball. Rushing the process on a partisan line makes the situation even worse.

“Americans were told the purpose of reform was to reduce the cost of health care.

“Instead, Democrat leaders produced a $2.5 trillion, 2,074-page monstrosity that vastly expands government, raises taxes, raises premiums, and wrecks Medicare.

“And they want to rush this bill through by Christmas — one of the most significant, far-reaching pieces of legislation in U.S. history. They want to rush it.

“And here’s the most outrageous part: at the end of this rush, they want us to vote on a bill that no one outside the Majority Leader’s conference room has even seen.

“That’s right. The final bill we’ll vote on isn’t even the one we’ve had on the floor. It’s the deal Democrat leaders have been trying to work out in private.

“That’s what they intend to bring to the floor and force a vote on before Christmas.

“So this entire process is essentially a charade.

“But let’s just compare the process so far with previous legislation for some perspective. Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve done and where we stand:

• The Majority Leader intends to bring this debate to a close as early as this weekend — four days from now, on this $2.5 trillion dollar mistake

• No American who hasn’t been invited into the Majority Leader’s conference room knows what will be in that bill

• This bill has been the pending business of the Senate since the last week of November — less than four weeks ago.

• We started the amendment process two weeks ago.

• We’ve had 21 amendments and motions — less than two a day.

“Now let’s look at how the Senate has dealt with previous legislation.

“No Child Left Behind (2001):

• 21 session days or 7 weeks.

• Roll Call votes: 44

• Number of Amendments offered: 157

“9/11 Commission/Homeland Security Act (2002):

• 19 session days over 7 weeks.

• Roll Call votes: 20

• Number of Amendments offered: 30

“Energy Bill (2002):

• 21 session days over 8 weeks

• Number of Roll Call votes: 36

• Number of Amendments offered: 158

“This isn’t an energy bill. This is an attempt by a majority to take over one sixth of the U.S. economy — to vastly expand the reach and the role of government into the health care decisions of every single American — and they want to be done after one substantive amendment. This is absolutely inexcusable.

“I think Senator Snowe put it best on Tuesday:

‘Given the enormity and complexity,’ she said, ‘I don’t see anything magical about the Christmas deadline if this bill is going to become law in 2014.’

“And I think Senator Snowe’s comments on a lack of bipartisanship at the outset of this debate are also right on point.

“Here’s what she said in late November:

‘I am truly disappointed we are commencing our historic debate on one of the most significant and pressing domestic issues of our time with a process that has forestalled our ability to arrive at broader agreement on some of the most crucial elements of health care reform. The bottom line is, the most consequential health care legislation in the history of our country and the reordering of $33 trillion in health care spending over the coming decade shouldn’t be determined by one vote-margin strategies – surely we can and must do better.’

“The only conceivable justification for rushing this bill is the overwhelming opposition of the American people. Democrats know that the longer Americans see this bill the less they like it. Here’s the latest from Pew. It came out just yesterday.

“A majority (58 percent) of those who have heard a lot about the bills oppose them while only 32 percent favor them.”

“There is no justification for this blind rush — except a political one, and that’s not good enough for the American people.

“And there’s no justification for forcing the Senate to vote on a bill none of us has seen.

“Americans already oppose this bill. The process is just as bad.

“It’s completely reckless, completely irresponsible.”

They think they can sneak this one past the voters. If this passes, in this rushed manner, the GOP won't even have to run ads to take over Congress in 2010.