Democrat's Steal Votes: House Goes Bizzerk
House erupts in chaos
In a massive flare-up of partisan tensions Republicans walked out on a House vote late Thursday night to protest what they believed to be Democratic maneuvers to reverse an unfavorable outcome for them.
The flap represents a complete breakdown in parliamentary procedure and a distinct low for the sometimes bitterly divided chamber because members of one party have rarely, if ever, walked off the floor without casting a vote.
The rancor erupted shortly before 11 p.m. as Rep. Michael R. McNulty (D-N.Y.) gaveled close the vote on a standard procedural measure with the outcome still in doubt.
Details remain fuzzy, but numerous Republicans argued afterward that they had secured a 215-213 win on their motion to bar undocumented immigrants from receiving any federal funds apportioned in the agricultural spending bill for employment or rental assistance. Democrats, however, argued the measure was deadlocked at 214-214 and failed, members and aides on both sides of the aisle said afterward.
One GOP aide saw McNulty gavel the vote to a close after receiving a signal from his leaders – but before reading the official tally. And votes continued to shift even after he closed the roll call - a strange development in itself.
Whatever the final tally, acrimony quickly exploded between lawmakers on either side of the aisle as Democratic leaders tried to plot a solution, while parliamentarians on either side argued over protocol.
Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) eventually offered a motion to reconsider, according to floor staff on either side, ostensibly giving members a chance to recast their votes. But the maneuver sparked a chorus of angry protests from the Republicans, yelling “shame” on Democrats, while they returned fire with angry volleys of their own.
When Democrats finally moved to consider the spending bill as the last vote of the night, furious Republicans left the chamber en masse to protest the maneuver. The House eventually recessed at 11:18 p.m. But Republicans quickly discovered that there was no longer any record of the controversial vote and immediately charged Democrats with erasing the bad result.
Roy Blunt Gives Democrats Hell
“Obviously, the Democrats don’t want to stand up against illegal immigration – so much so that they’re willing to cheat in order to win a vote,” Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) said in an e-mail. “They’re desperate – and it shows.”
The official House website did not show a record of the vote as of 1 a.m. Friday.
Story Here
UPDATE:
Dems resort to paper-ballot voting (c. 1938) as House electronic system undergoes mysterious 'engineering problems'...'The tally board is broken. Members can't see how colleagues voted or how much time is left,' says source... Drudge Is Reporting
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I would pay to see a real good brawl in the House or Senate at this point.
In a massive flare-up of partisan tensions Republicans walked out on a House vote late Thursday night to protest what they believed to be Democratic maneuvers to reverse an unfavorable outcome for them.
The flap represents a complete breakdown in parliamentary procedure and a distinct low for the sometimes bitterly divided chamber because members of one party have rarely, if ever, walked off the floor without casting a vote.
The rancor erupted shortly before 11 p.m. as Rep. Michael R. McNulty (D-N.Y.) gaveled close the vote on a standard procedural measure with the outcome still in doubt.
Details remain fuzzy, but numerous Republicans argued afterward that they had secured a 215-213 win on their motion to bar undocumented immigrants from receiving any federal funds apportioned in the agricultural spending bill for employment or rental assistance. Democrats, however, argued the measure was deadlocked at 214-214 and failed, members and aides on both sides of the aisle said afterward.
One GOP aide saw McNulty gavel the vote to a close after receiving a signal from his leaders – but before reading the official tally. And votes continued to shift even after he closed the roll call - a strange development in itself.
Whatever the final tally, acrimony quickly exploded between lawmakers on either side of the aisle as Democratic leaders tried to plot a solution, while parliamentarians on either side argued over protocol.
Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) eventually offered a motion to reconsider, according to floor staff on either side, ostensibly giving members a chance to recast their votes. But the maneuver sparked a chorus of angry protests from the Republicans, yelling “shame” on Democrats, while they returned fire with angry volleys of their own.
When Democrats finally moved to consider the spending bill as the last vote of the night, furious Republicans left the chamber en masse to protest the maneuver. The House eventually recessed at 11:18 p.m. But Republicans quickly discovered that there was no longer any record of the controversial vote and immediately charged Democrats with erasing the bad result.
“Obviously, the Democrats don’t want to stand up against illegal immigration – so much so that they’re willing to cheat in order to win a vote,” Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) said in an e-mail. “They’re desperate – and it shows.”
The official House website did not show a record of the vote as of 1 a.m. Friday.
Story Here
UPDATE:
Dems resort to paper-ballot voting (c. 1938) as House electronic system undergoes mysterious 'engineering problems'...'The tally board is broken. Members can't see how colleagues voted or how much time is left,' says source... Drudge Is Reporting
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would pay to see a real good brawl in the House or Senate at this point.
posted by Marie's Two Cents | 10:36 AM
11 Comments:
The Democrats have never been above cheating, and this certainly proves it! The words I want to write about them in this instance are unprintable, Marie. I'm with you... I would pay to see a good brawl too. The Dems deserve it. They are such cowards they wouldn't stand a chance!
I dunno, Marie. After fistfights broke out in the New Zealand parliament, the assembled Solons voted to cut off the video feed.
Maybe the Wal-Mart will have a big sale on pitchforks and torches, y'think?
It wouldn't be the first time a brawl happened in Congress. It happened back in 1858;
A bloody melee broke out on February 8, 1858, that brought fame to Wisconsin congressman John F. Potter . The House was engaged that day in a heated debate over sectional issues. Northern representatives outnumbered those from the South and they pressed their parliamentary advantage, infuriating the few Southerners present. A fist fight between two members quickly turned into a general brawl, and during the fray Potter pulled the wig off an opponents head. At this, a cry went up in the gallery that Potter had "taken a scalp."
Quite frankly though, cheating on the vote tally to win for a bill is above and beyond. The republicans when they were in control acted arrogantly at times but they never pulled a stunt like this or changed rules in the middle of vote. It's time for the grownups to take back control of congress. Nancy Pelosi has no moral authority and has lost control as Speaker of the House and should be removed from the position.
you know Pelosi has a handgrenade under her skirt to lob at the GOP leadership. The upside the Democrats would withdrawl to the Pacific Rim under the leadership of Murtha
At this, a cry went up in the gallery that Potter had "taken a scalp."
lol, that is funny Jennifer! Thanks for the history lesson.
so now were havin fistfights eh!..dang and these are our leaders Marie..pfftt!!
There is also this:
May 22, 1856
The Caning of Senator Charles Sumner
Caning of Sumner (NY Public Library)
On May 22, 1856, the "world's greatest deliberative body" became a combat zone. In one of the most dramatic and deeply ominous moments in the Senate's entire history, a member of the House of Representatives entered the Senate chamber and savagely beat a senator into unconsciousness.
The inspiration for this clash came three days earlier when Senator Charles Sumner, a Massachusetts antislavery Republican, addressed the Senate on the explosive issue of whether Kansas should be admitted to the Union as a slave state or a free state. In his "Crime Against Kansas" speech, Sumner identified two Democratic senators as the principal culprits in this crime—Stephen Douglas of Illinois and Andrew Butler of South Carolina. He characterized Douglas to his face as a "noise-some, squat, and nameless animal . . . not a proper model for an American senator." Andrew Butler, who was not present, received more elaborate treatment. Mocking the South Carolina senator's stance as a man of chivalry, the Massachusetts senator charged him with taking "a mistress . . . who, though ugly to others, is always lovely to him; though polluted in the sight of the world, is chaste in his sight—I mean," added Sumner, "the harlot, Slavery."
Representative Preston Brooks was Butler's South Carolina kinsman. If he had believed Sumner to be a gentleman, he might have challenged him to a duel. Instead, he chose a light cane of the type used to discipline unruly dogs. Shortly after the Senate had adjourned for the day, Brooks entered the old chamber, where he found Sumner busily attaching his postal frank to copies of his "Crime Against Kansas" speech.
Moving quickly, Brooks slammed his metal-topped cane onto the unsuspecting Sumner's head. As Brooks struck again and again, Sumner rose and lurched blindly about the chamber, futilely attempting to protect himself. After a very long minute, it ended.
Bleeding profusely, Sumner was carried away. Brooks walked calmly out of the chamber without being detained by the stunned onlookers. Overnight, both men became heroes in their respective regions.
Surviving a House censure resolution, Brooks resigned, was immediately reelected, and soon thereafter died at age 37. Sumner recovered slowly and returned to the Senate, where he remained for another 18 years. The nation, suffering from the breakdown of reasoned discourse that this event symbolized, tumbled onward toward the catastrophe of civil war.
And we think politics today is savage and uncouth? Whew!
I'd of paid to watch either one of those incidents Joanne. The heat was turned way up when it came to "States Rights" and slavery as well it should. I still don't understand how the Southerns thought they were going to keep slavery when 24 percent of the nation was against it.
I visited Congress last Wednesday. The tally board seemed to be working fine - the House was voting on the SCHIPS program when I was there.
Very interesting all around. Bush actually won this weekend with the passage of the terrorist surveillance bill, so there's actually some good legislation coming out of Washington.
Have a great week!
Since the Democrats have been in power the only major legislation they have gotten passed has been increasing minimum wage. I guess the only way they can get major wins in their column is to hi-jack the votes!
Any guesses what the Dems would be saying had the shoe been on the other foot while the Republicans were in majority?
I'm proud to say that Roy Blunt is a congressman from my state of Missouri!!
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