Click here to Stop the Obama/Pelosi Government Healthcare Takeover

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced yesterday (March 12th) that final passage of sweeping health care legislation is now just a very few days away.

Obama smells victory in the air…

President Barack Obama is delaying his trip to Indonesia and Australia by three days in hopes of finalizing a health care deal — and will scrap plans to take along first lady Michelle Obama and his two daughters, according to senior administration officials.

On Thursday, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs brushed aside suggestions that the president planned to postpone or cancel the long-planned trip to his childhood home in Indonesia, even as Hill Democrats groused that the excursion came at the precise time he demanded they finalize a deal.

Instead of leaving next Thursday, March 18 — the deadline he imposed on Congress — Obama will take off on Sunday, March 21, officials said, shortening his itinerary to omit all sidetrips not deemed official business.

On Thursday, both Gibbs and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House was close to finalizing a strategy for pushing a previously passed Senate bill through the lower chamber, but that the deal might require a few extra days. By postponing his trip, Obama effectively gives the House some breathing room, preserving the hope that members will be able to depart the Capitol for their Easter break two weeks from today with a deal in their pockets.

Pick up your phones and start calling the following swing Congressman . Let your opposition be known! If the line is busy, keep trying. Don’t give up! Print out extra copies of these numbers and enlist family members and friends to help. Whenever you have a spare moment, CALL.

PLEASE CALL!………DC OFFICE……….LOCAL OFFICE
Harry Mitchell………….(202) 225-2190….(480) 946-2411
Gabrielle Giffords……..(202) 225-2542….(520) 881-3588
Ann Kirkpatrick………..(202) 225-2315….(928) 226-6914
Jerry McNerney………..(202) 225-1947….(925) 833-0643
John Salazar……………..(202) 225-4761….(970) 245-7107
Jim Himes………………….(202) 225-5541….(866) 453-0028
Alan Grayson……………(202) 225-2176….(407) 841-1757
Bill Foster………………..(202) 225-2976….(630) 406-1145
Baron Hill…………………(202) 225 5315….(812) 288 3999
Mark Schauer………….(202) 225-6276….(517) 780-9075
Gary Peters……………..(202) 225-5802….(248) 273-4227
Dina Titus………………..(202) 225-3252….(702) 256-DINA (3462)
Carol Shea-Porter…..(202) 225-5456….(603) 743-4813
Tim Bishop……………….(202) 225-3826….(631) 696-6500
John Hall………………….(202) 225-5441….(845) 225-3641 x49371
Bill Owens……………….(202) 225-4611….(315) 782-3150
Mike Arcuri……………….(202) 225-3665….(315) 793-8146
Dan Maffei……………….(202) 225-3701….(315) 423-5657
Earl Pomeroy…………..(202) 225-2611….(701) 224-0355
Steven Driehaus……..(202) 225-2216….(513) 684-2723
Mary Jo Kilroy…………..(202) 225-2015….(614) 294-2196
Zach Space………………(202) 225-6265….(330) 364-4300
Kathy Dahlkemper…..(202) 225-5406….(814) 456-2038
Patrick Murphy…………(202) 225-4276….(215) 826-1963
Christopher Carney…(202) 225-3731….(570) 585-9988
Paul Kanjorski………….(202) 225-6511….(570) 825-2200
John Spratt………………(202) 225-5501….(803) 327-1114
Tom Perriello…………….(202) 225-4711….(276) 656-2291
Alan Mollohan…………..(202) 225-4172….(304) 623-4422
Nick Rahall………………..(202) 225-3452….(304) 252-5000
Steve Kagen…………….(202) 225-5665….(920) 437-1954

UPDATE from RedState 3/15/10:

The Democrats have made it clear that they are all in. They’ve also made it quite clear that even the Constitution will not stand in their way. A fundamental change to our Country and the principles upon which it was founded is their ultimate pot. They don’t care if it causes them unpleasantness in the short term. Socialized medicine gives them permanent power in the long term.

They also know this is their last hand at the table. They know they will likely be swept out in the 2010 elections. They need to do it now. And they will stop at nothing to do so. The more ludicrous it sounds, the more likely it is that they will attempt it. Remember, this is their end game; they know they’ve over-played their hand. They are now left with one last bet. They *know* they are in deep trouble in 2010, regardless.

Pelosi has been bluffing all week about having the votes. Perhaps that is a way to create plausible deniability when they pull a sneaky move; they can then try to deflect it by saying “we had the votes anyway”. We cannot fall for their bluffs. And we must make sure that no one else does either.

Melt the phones. Call the Democrats in red districts who may care more about their personal re-elections than the ideological pot. Call Republicans and force them to realize that the Democrats are “all in” and to stop with the dangerous “bi-partisanship” and being polite stuff.

The time for polite is over. We must be on guard for any possibility and the GOP must have the fortitude and the spine to stop each one.

Vigilance is what is needed now.

(emphasis mine)

Endgame: Melt The Phones. E-mails By The Millions. Contributions To Key Challengers, Beginning With Tim Burns.

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Governor Mitt Romney and Republican gubernatorial candidate, Meg Whitman, highlighted yesterday’s first day of California’s Republican Party 2010 Spring Convention in Santa Clara, CA. Romney has endorsed Ms. Whitman and was honored to introduce her at last night’s dinner banquet. Also attending were: Andrew Breitbart (publisher and media star) Steve Poizner (CA Insurance Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate) Tom Campbell, Carly Fiorina, and Chuck DeVore (CA U.S. Senate candidates). The convention will be in session until Sunday afternoon.

At an impromptu ‘fireside chat’ after the banquet, Gov Romney was asked to join Meg Whitman on stage. They took questions and discussed how their business experience affects their outlook on political problem solving:

CAIVIN (California Independent Voter Network):

Traditional, non-former actor Republicans having a decent shot at the state’s highest office? Republicans tearing each other to shreds? Jerry Brown back as governor? Welcome to the 2010 California gubernatorial race! 2010 may well come to be known as the campaign year in which anything was possible.

Jerry “Governor MoonBeam” Brown, a former California governor, is jockeying for a return to the office which he left decades ago, but this time, he is joined by a number of strong Republican contenders. This is unusual for California. And yet, 2010 presents the perfect storm of opportunity for Republicans, and candidates on the red side have been quick to seize on the potential for real change on the West Coast.

Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner are the two top Republican contenders for the Governor’s Mansion. If a Daily Kos poll is to be believed, Whitman is well ahead of Poizner, though still slightly behind Brown. In a February Rassmussen Poll (typically better known and more widely trusted than Daily Kos), Whitman and Brown were running in a dead heat, both at 43%. This followed a January poll which found Brown ahead 43% to Whitman’s 39%. Within one month, Whitman caught up with Brown.

In a recent email to supporters, Whitman acknowledged her main Democratic rival, who had only recently “officially entered the race of Governor,” and noted that it will be her goal to “frequently point out our clear differences and though he was quick to criticize my candidacy, I look forward to an important conversation with Californians.”

And an important conversation that must be: with a state budget deficit of over $20 billion, someone needs to start taking action, but more importantly, someone needs to start taking responsibility.

Whitman, the billionaire and former eBay head honcho, has been gaining steam in recent months, racking up endorsement after endorsement. On March 5, Whitman wrote that she had recently been endorsed by former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice: “I was honored when Secretary Rice said I’m the only person running for Governor ‘who can lead the way toward rebuilding our state.’” Rice should be familiar with California and its politics: the former high-ranking cabinet member left a post at prestigious Stanford University when called on by George W. Bush to be a top ranking adviser to his 2000 cabinet.

After her speech, reporters swarmed Meg Whitman:

From the Sacrament Bee:

Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman came out swinging on the first night of the California Republican Party convention as she fought a two-front war against both her primary rival Steve Poizner and Democratic opponent Jerry Brown.

Whitman, the billionaire former CEO of online auction firm eBay, also went into greater detail than before on her policy proposals in an impromptu news conference Friday afternoon.
She laid out how she would change state employee pensions and said she would consider cutting personnel in the state corrections and higher education systems while seeking a 40,000-person reduction in the state work force.

Appearing with former presidential candidate Mitt Romney at a Friday night banquet, Whitman slammed Brown’s first two gubernatorial terms, which began in 1975. Brown is the only major candidate in the Democratic primary.

“You tell me: What has Jerry Brown accomplished in those four decades of political life that should give Californians a single reason to let him get a second shot?” Whitman asked.

“Nothing,” she answered.[...]

Whitman said she “would not be in favor of the children of illegal immigrants or illegal immigrants themselves getting admission to the University of California system or higher education that is publicly funded.” […]

She proposed raising from 55 to 65 the age at which state workers – except public safety employees – could retire with full pensions. She also would increase the length of pension vesting periods for most new employees and increase pension contributions from 5 percent to up to 10 percent of salaries.

During her banquet speech, Whitman drove home her targeting of state employees, sparking enthusiastic applause.

California’s Republican Party video on Jerry Brown:

Jerry Brown, presumptive Democratic nominee, known as ‘Governor MoonBeam Brown’ was the object of a smile-inducing one-liner during Whitman’s speech: “Moonbeams are, after all, fleeting things, and disappear before they can be pinned down.”

California desperately needs a turn-around. Let’s help elect Meg Whitman!

(HT to Bosman for ‘fireside chat’ video.)

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This clip comes via Audible.com, a site that sells downloadable audio content. The segment below touches on education, innovation and entrepreneurialism. It was very interesting to me to see this because I just read this segment this morning. Yes, it was like Déjà vu all over again. This audio segment come from somewhere near the middle of the book, as I am exactly half way through it.

Click here for info on buying the audio book. Total length: 12 hours 15 minutes.

There was also a short and sweet review of the book at Audible.com written by David:

I couldn’t put the book (or ipod, in this case) down. Gov. Romney gives solutions to many of the tricky problems that are facing this great nation of ours. I downloaded with trepidation, not really sure what to expect or how much I would like it, but after reading it I am SOLD on Gov. Romney’s case for a strong America.

God Bless the USA!

Count me as “SOLD” too David. If only I could get everyone to pick it and read it and find out exactly why Romney would be the best CEO of America.

~Nate Gunderson

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MITT!

As you greet fellow Americans and sign copies of your new book in
Sacramento, CA today, we send best wishes and love across the miles for
a joyful, jubilant day!

A metaphorical birthday video for an extraordinary man who truly is
Mr. Fix It:

Birthdays are nature’s way of telling us to eat more cake. ~ Anon

Happy birthday to…the next president of the United States!

Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of ‘you’ to the world.
~ Anon

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Americans are riveted on Obamacare. With just seven days until the March 18th White House deadline for a vote on the Senate health care bill arrives, eyes are glued on Blue Dog Democrats. We are witnessing nearly hourly positioning on Capitol Hill and can almost hear the chest-poking, arm-twisting, and head thumping going on behind locked doors as Obama, Pelosi, and Reid shove and kick to pass their 2700 page health care confiscation scheme.

Hold on to your hospital gowns! We’ll slog through what’s happened in the last three days…

As of yesterday, the latest left-jab to the American people is aptly dubbed the “Slaughter Solution.”

The Slaughter Solution is a plan by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), the Democratic chair of the powerful House Rules Committee and a key ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), to get the health care legislation through the House without an actual vote on the Senate-passed health care bill. You see, Democratic leaders currently lack the votes needed to pass the Senate health care bill through the House. Under Slaughter’s scheme, Democratic leaders will overcome this problem by simply “deeming” the Senate bill passed in the House -- without an actual vote by members of the House.

(emphasis mine)

Two days ago (March 9th), Nancy Pelosi tipped her neck-wringing hand: “But we have to pass the [health care] bill so that you can find out what is in it.”

Taking his health care punches on the road, President Obama traveled to suburban St. Louis, Missouri yesterday. Assured of muscling high schoolers (ticketed with closed doors) at St. Charles High into cheering for his socialized plan as cameras rolled (how hard is that?) he was met outside by 2300 fired-up Tea Party protestors:

Even Democrats shunned the Obama event in St. Louis (March 10th) and Pennsylvania (March 8th):

The Show Me State temporarily became the No-Show State on Wednesday as some prominent Missouri Democrats decided they’d rather be somewhere else when President Obama came to push his massive health care overhaul plan. […]

The same conspicuous absences occurred Monday [March 8th] in Pennsylvania, a state Mr. Obama won by 10 percentage points in 2008. While the president was accompanied by embattled Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter, Sen. Bob Casey and Rep. Chaka Fattah aboard Air Force One, several other Pennsylvania Democrats didn’t elect to join him there, including Reps. Patrick J. Murphy, Christopher Carney and Tim Holden, three incumbents facing tough re-election battles.

Speculation is volatile on whether Representative Bart Stupak and supposed 11 other reps who oppose abortion funding in the Senate bill will succumb to threats of non-cooperation black eyes:

News broke early yesterday morning [March 9th] announcing that Representative Bart Stupak thinks a “compromise” can be reached on the issue of abortion funding in the Democrats’ Senate version of the health care bill. “I’m more optimistic than I was a week ago,” Stupak said in an interview between meetings with constituents in his northern Michigan district.[...]

Stupak had an interview with The Weekly Standard yesterday, where he clarified what was really going on. “Obviously they don’t know me,” Stupak said in his interview. “If I didn’t cave in November, why would I do it now after all the crap I’ve been through? Everyone’s going around saying there’s a compromise — there’s no such thing,” Stupak said. What’s changed between this week and last, Stupak went on, is that he had his first real conversation with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Congressman Henry Waxman about fixing the bill.

As if there isn’t enough padding in health care boxing gloves, we learned today that Democrat leadership is considering stuffing a student loan overhaul into the Obamacare bill:

Democratic leaders met for a second day Wednesday with administration officials, including White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, in the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), but reached no decision on the student loan measure. One participant said a consensus appeared to be emerging that it would be unwise to risk the health-care bill by including the education measure.

The projected cost of Obama’s plan to expand Pell Grants and diminish the role of the private sector in the student loan program has exploded over the past year as more people seek college loans in the weak economy. Meanwhile, the potential savings from knocking private lenders out of the system has diminished as one in five colleges has already turned to government lending.

Rather than saving $50 billion over the next decade, the student loan initiative is now projected to increase deficits by about $5 billion, according to preliminary estimates provided to Democratic lawmakers. Including it in the health-care package could wreck efforts to meet the deficit-reduction goals required under reconciliation, aides said.

Eyes glazed over yet? There’s more…

Meanwhile, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) is staying in the ring by declaring yesterday that he’s going to change filibuster laws:

“The filibuster has been abused,” Sen. Harry Reid said at a reporter’s briefing this afternoon. “But next Congress, we are going to take a look at it. And we’re going to make some changes in it.”

For now, the process seems to be proceeding from the premise that Senate Democrats are fed up with the filibuster. “In baseball,” Reid said in a clipped tone, “they used to have the spitball. It originally was used with discretion. But then the ball got wetter and wetter and wetter. So soon, they outlawed the spitball.” The same, he said, had happened to the four-corner offense in basketball. “And just the way the spitball was abused in baseball and the four-corner offense was abused in basketball,” Reid said, “Republicans have abused the filibuster.”

Republicans will meet the Democrat’s reconciliation onslaught with a combat strategy of their own. Greta Van Susteren and Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) ‘On The Record’ (FOX News) last night:

Senator Kyl: “If you [Dems] are going to use the reconciliation process, we’re going to hold you to the strict limits of reconciliation. And, if you go outside the lines and are not technically correct under reconciliation, we’re going to toss it out on a point of order. And, we have the votes to do that.”

Characterizing Obama’s latest health care sales pitch as ‘snake oil’ and URGING us to keep up the fight by contacting Blue Dog Democrats, House Minority Leader John Boehner released this statement yesterday:

“While the President is visiting America’s heartland today, I hope he will take the opportunity to finally listen to the American people, who are shouting, “stop” at the top of their lungs. They just don’t want out-of-touch Washington Democrats’ job-killing government takeover of health care. They don’t want more than $500 billion in tax hikes. They don’t want nearly $500 billion in Medicare cuts. They don’t want these outrageous kickbacks, payoffs, and sweetheart backroom deals.

The Tea Party Coalition is sounding the trumpet nationwide to take the battle to Washington D.C. this month. Here is video announcing the Take the Town Halls to Washington project. Michele Bachmann @ 1:49 :

We’ve got SEVEN days to put the squeeze on Blue Dog Democrats. Let’s not get trapped into the ‘knocked-out’ way of thinking that we can lounge around while someone else does our work for us. How much effort have you made to contact BDDs in the past week? Each of us must take personal responsibility to get a headlock on Obamacare NOW. For information on who to contact, click here.

Let’s get bustin’!

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In the two videos below, Gov. Mitt Romney is grilled like I can’t recall him being grilled before on national television. In what could’ve been a disastrous moment that hurt Mitt’s chances to Bring America Back in 2012, Mitt actually comes out looking stronger and more equipped to take on the challenges our country faces. Chris Wallace brings up many of the studies and talking points used by the right and the left to attack what Mitt did as governor of Massachusetts to reform health care. Without skipping a beat, Mitt calmly and successfully explains point by point why his plan is different from Obamacare and why health care in Massachusetts still has a ways to go in regards to health care.

This interview may very well be the interview that we can direct people to for years to come whenever the question is raised about health care in Massachusetts. With this interview and Mitt’s recent interview with NPR I love the way Mitt is confronting his detractors head on and isn’t afraid to engage people on liberal leaning news organizations like NPR and MSNBC.

UPDATE: I very much enjoy the analysis at RightOSphere entitled: Hard Questions (You may need to register for the site *FREE* in order to read the article.)

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Mitt Romney continues his media blitz pushing his new book, No Apology: The Case for American Greatness. Here he is on CNBC’s Squawk Box:

Other Interviews that Mitt has done this week:

Mitt Romney on the Today Show, The View, Hannity and David Letterman
Mitt Romney on Morning Joe, Laura Ingraham, and Neil Cavuto
Mitt Romney on NPR

Where does he find the time?

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While Mitt Romney continues to impress Americans during the first week of his whirlwind book signing tour for No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, a date in April is worth noting. On April 9, 2010, Romney will address the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota and sign copies of his new book. Present on the same stage will be a Republican notable who some say could be a potential 2012 presidential rival and who has recently been critical of Romney’s Massachusetts health care plan. Neither men have declared intentions to run for the highest office in the land, but both are giving indications of that possibility. Will Gov Tim Pawlenty have a copy of Romney’s new book tucked under his arm? If so, I’m sure Gov Romney will be happy to cordially sign it for him.

Freedom Foundation:

Former Massachusetts Governor and 2008 presidential candidate Mitt Romney will visit the Twin Cities on April 9, 2010 to speak at a dinner sponsored by the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota (FFM) and sign copies of his newly released book. Joining Governor Romney for the event will be Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. The title of Governor Romney’s book is also the topic of his remarks: No Apology: The Case for American Greatness.

“The Freedom Foundation of Minnesota is both honored and excited to host two of our country’s most influential and important conservative leaders,” said Annette Meeks, CEO of the Freedom Foundation. “Governor Romney has been and continues to be one of the most powerful voices advancing free market policy alternatives. We’re planning an exciting evening where Minnesotans will hear Romney’s public policy ideas first hand.

“We are equally excited that Governor Tim Pawlenty will be joining us on April 9th. While Pawlenty’s public policy leadership is no secret to Minnesota conservatives, this will be the first major event where these two American leaders will appear on the same stage – a spectacular opportunity for the Freedom Foundation to highlight two dynamic American leaders.”

The event will be held at the Hotel Sofitel in Bloomington, beginning with a private reception and dinner. A dessert reception will precede remarks by the two governors with a book signing by Governor Romney to occur at the end of the evening. Registration details can be found at www.freedomfoundationofminnesota.com and tickets must be purchased in advance for all events.

Mitt Romney for President 2012

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Governor Romney is at the top of his game in this interview that is well worth the time to listen. Romney interviews with the hosts of the show and takes several questions from callers. The interview is part of his No Apology Tour, more info at NoApology.com, and http://bit.ly/RomneyBook. A full transcript of his portion of the interview is available below the fold.

PART1:

PART2:

Full Transcript: From NPR.org
Read more…

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Romney continues the rounds with a number of media appearances today to promote his new book. Stops will include the Laura Ingraham radio show, Morning Joe on MSNBC, The Joe Scarborough Radio Show, and Your World with Neil Cavuto on FOX News. I was not aware of any of these yesterday so there may be more. If you know of any please let us know and we’ll post what we can.

Later today Governor Romney is doing a speech and book signing in Huntington, NY. Information here. Full schedule listed here.

Below is video from the segment on Morning Joe. (H/T Jacob at NYforMitt)

IN CASE you missed it: yesterday’s post has YouTube videos of Romney’s appearances at The Today Show, The View, Hannity, and the Late Show with David Letterman. Watch them all by clicking here.

~Nate Gunderson

Addendum: K-Lo of NRO’s The Corner opines on Romney, his book, and his appearance on Letterman:

If you had any doubts about who he is, you’re seeing the real thing now. Watching Mitt Romney on the No Apology tour thus far, he’s talking about what he wants to talk about, what moves him: being a Mr. Fix-It businessman — on the economy, on diplomacy, on health care. He wants to do this because he believes America is great and should and can continue to be. He appreciates — in a firsthand and in a practical, sociological way — that families are the building block of a great country, and he sees how good policies help them. And that’s what he wants to talk about.
…
And so, on Letterman last night, you didn’t see pizazz or stand-up. You heard dorky jokes — the rapper on the plane broke my hair — and a serious guy. That’s who he is. His CPAC speech this year and his book reflect that. He’s uncomfortable changing his emphases to fit Iowa or anywhere else, and he doesn’t pull it off convincingly when he tries it. If he runs again, don’t expect him to.

That, I believe, is the No Apology big picture: This is Mitt Romney.

Read the whole thing here. (H/T Evangelicals for Mitt)

Addendum 2: WSJ book report An interesting read. It’s mostly a review rather than analysis, but has some good summations.

Addendum 3 -- by Ross: Mitt on NPR’s Face the Nation Mitt was on 2:20 today, but if you missed it, listen to the podcast

Listen to Mitt Romney on Laura Ingraham’s radio show by clicking here.

Watch part 1 and 2 of Mitt on Your World with Neil Cavuto here and Ann Romney on ‘Your World’ in the video below:

Fresh Video from Mitt’s Stop in Huntington, NY:

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