The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

“It just wasn’t right,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch

Posted on | February 13, 2014 | 51 Comments

by Smitty

What a stinking crock of ObamaCare (emphasis mine):

McConnell and top lieutenant Sen. John Cornyn (Texas) reluctantly backed ending debate after it became clear that no one in their conference wanted to cast the deciding 60th vote.

Sixty votes were needed to overcome a filibuster by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who complained that Congress was raising the debt ceiling without demanding any curbs on Washington’s spending.

With the upper chamber’s Democrats and Independents all voting yes, Senate Republicans needed to muster five votes to overcome Cruz.

Yet during an hour of tense floor conversations, it appeared they might fail.

The vote started late, as Senate Republicans huddled behind closed doors. After meeting for roughly an hour in private, the conference still did not know whether it could conjure up the needed votes.

On the floor, the procedural vote ran on for another hour, with Republicans slow to offer support.

Cornyn and McConnell, who is the most vulnerable Senate Republican up for reelection in 2014, then voted to end the debate, making it clear the procedural motion would be approved.

After their dramatic votes, another group of Republicans met in a room off the Senate floor. They returned, and several switched their votes from no to yes.

Some members said they switched their votes to give cover to McConnell and Cornyn.

I didn’t want this to come down to just be a criticized vote for just a few of our people. It just wasn’t right,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who fought off a primary challenger in 2012 and is serving his last term.

What’s actually wrong here is that voters have tolerated such an egregious evasion of responsibility for so long. Our representatives, one might have been tempted to think, are elected to do mature, adult work on tough issues like budgets. And here we see a ‘clever’ system whereby the cloture vote is the one that matters, and the simple majority vote on the legislation is an afterthought, so that Senators can do their foul deeds while piously claiming to vote against them.

This pattern is not dissimilar from one a couple thousand years ago involving the Sanhedrin and the Romans.

Why is this November’s election not a sure thing for the GOP? Because it’s entirely unclear that, given majority power again, the GOP would be any less wretched than Reid, Pelosi and crew.

You are correct, Senator Hatch: this wasn’t right, it hasn’t been right for a very long time, and it’s high time we had some no-kidding reform. Would there was a party that could be relied upon to deliver it.

Comments

51 Responses to ““It just wasn’t right,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch”

  1. Josh_Painter
    February 13th, 2014 @ 8:12 am

    RT @smitty_one_each: “It just wasn’t right,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch http://t.co/ShtsrrhwuB #TCOT

  2. rmnixondeceased
    February 13th, 2014 @ 7:13 am

    Here we call them corrupt pussies …

  3. Shawny
    February 13th, 2014 @ 8:00 am

    Time to kick McConnell’s ass to the curb and elect a real conservative.

  4. ThomasD
    February 13th, 2014 @ 8:21 am

    That the vote was even an issue for these Senators shows what an impact the TEA parties and the other grassroots efforts are having.

    Corker needs to be made to eat this one.

  5. RS
    February 13th, 2014 @ 8:24 am

    Gee. It’s almost as if the Founders were right, leaving the election of Senators to state legislators and not popular vote. Who would’ve thought a bunch of old white guys could’ve foreseen crap like this.

  6. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    February 13th, 2014 @ 9:04 am

    Here is the problem: We need to win back the Senate. It is that simple. With the media against us, it is a very difficult balancing act. Ted Cruz was right, but ultimately we need to get to November and win 6+ seats.

    That does not mean I agree with McConnell, or Hatch, or other Establishment Republicans…but I know we have to kick Harry Reid and the Democrats out of the majority to do anything.

  7. Quartermaster
    February 13th, 2014 @ 10:20 am

    Alas, taking back the Senate also means getting rid of morons like McConnell, Alexander and Cornyn.

  8. CrustyB
    February 13th, 2014 @ 10:29 am

    And they scratch their heads wondering why the Tea Party was created.

  9. Finrod Felagund
    February 13th, 2014 @ 10:34 am

    Don’t forget Lindsey Graham, one of the biggest RINO morons of all.

  10. Quartermaster
    February 13th, 2014 @ 10:36 am

    I agree. The 3 I listed are just examples. Without them gone, we will not have taken the senate back even if all 100 were GOP.

  11. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    February 13th, 2014 @ 11:02 am

    I agree, but probably not all of them this cycle (unless you have someone who can beat them at the primary and then win the general). If the choice is winning the majority with a few useless tools in the case, I will take that over remaining the minority party.

  12. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    February 13th, 2014 @ 11:05 am

    I do not want to go back to a Karl Rove W majority (that is a big reason why we are in the weeds now) but step one is get Harry Reid and the Dems out as majority leader. If you can replace a few RINO’s on the way, by all means do it but make sure the candidates win their races against the Democrats.

  13. Alan Markus
    February 13th, 2014 @ 11:08 am

    Bloggerlady has it right – need to win back the Senate. Why target the “RINOs” and take a chance on turning over the Senate and House to more Democrats? Need a two step process here – First get as many Republicans (including the “RINOs”) as possible in the House & Senate.. Once that is accomplished, then proceed with “cleaning house” – you might even find that the “RINOs” will be motivated to cleave to the more conservative side at that point.

  14. WarEagle82
    February 13th, 2014 @ 11:23 am

    So they saw that they were “winning” on the cloture motion and couldn’t have that and thus preemptively surrendered and gave Obama what he wanted?

    They all need to go!!!

  15. Old rod
    February 13th, 2014 @ 11:35 am

    RIGHT!

  16. richard mcenroe
    February 13th, 2014 @ 12:43 pm

    What’s the over/under on when Ace turns on Cruz?

  17. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    February 13th, 2014 @ 1:02 pm

    I do not agree with Ace on a lot of things (and I am a big Ted Cruz fan), but Ace is not the problem right now.

  18. ChelieinTX
    February 13th, 2014 @ 1:04 pm

    Cornyn is toast in Texas now.

  19. Daniel O'Brien
    February 13th, 2014 @ 1:32 pm

    Time to repeal the 17th Amendment.

  20. smitty
    February 13th, 2014 @ 2:04 pm

    And the 16th, and overhaul the Federal Reserve Act.

  21. smitty
    February 13th, 2014 @ 2:05 pm

    If we merely return the Republicans to power, without a Sword of Damocles over their heads, it’s all moot.

  22. DaveO
    February 13th, 2014 @ 2:53 pm

    Devil’s Advocate: the pattern has been for the GOP to fight a finance battle, e.g. debt ceiling, while a major Obama scandal dies from lack of attention. Examples of this: Fast & Furious, Benghazi, DOJ refusing to enforce laws, and aspects of Obama’s behavior with regard to Obamacare.
    Custer may have cost us the 7th Cavalry for a few months, but Sitting Bull died on a reservation. The debt limit is an artificial construct, much like a person who reprograms his alarm clock. The real fight is the collapse of law – that is the vehicle to bring the TEA Party to the polls over the resistance of the IRS, FBI and other federal agencies.

  23. Da Tech Guy On DaRadio Blog » Blog Archive » Cornyn & Davis A Tale of Two Texans
    February 13th, 2014 @ 3:05 pm

    […] Update 2: Smitty is not happy and his unhap­pi­ness is not restricted to Cornyn: […]

  24. Quartermaster
    February 13th, 2014 @ 3:10 pm

    We can hope

  25. Quartermaster
    February 13th, 2014 @ 3:12 pm

    We won’t get all of them this cycle. But, we can get enough to place the rest on notice that we are gunning for them and are quite serious.

  26. Quartermaster
    February 13th, 2014 @ 3:13 pm

    I think we have some good ones coming up. Still, even with the incumbents, there is no guarantee of re-election and holding the seat. McConnell is a good example of that. I doubt the GOP will hold the seat if he wins the primary.

  27. Quartermaster
    February 13th, 2014 @ 3:14 pm

    Real the Fed Reserve Act. No more private banks determining the value of our money.

  28. Quartermaster
    February 13th, 2014 @ 3:16 pm

    He is not. And all the people said…Amen!

  29. Quartermaster
    February 13th, 2014 @ 3:17 pm

    We call them far worse.

  30. Hillary: The Inner B*tch? | Regular Right Guy
    February 13th, 2014 @ 3:56 pm

    […] “It just wasn’t right,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch […]

  31. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    February 13th, 2014 @ 5:24 pm

    Just pick your targets. You do not want a “victory” in a primary to translate to a defeat in the general.

  32. The Mind Of A Senator In Action | The Camp Of The Saints
    February 13th, 2014 @ 7:27 pm

    […] From The Hill, Erik Wasson reporting, we learn [tip of the fedora to Smitty]: […]

  33. Bob Belvedere
    February 13th, 2014 @ 7:43 pm

    His attitude is, Evi.

  34. xbox361
    February 13th, 2014 @ 9:45 pm

    Slimy McConnell has a primary challenger.
    Need Tea Party, not GOP/Rove types.

  35. Adjoran
    February 14th, 2014 @ 1:29 am

    And who would control the currency?

  36. Shawny
    February 14th, 2014 @ 4:37 am

    Exactly! Our majority in the House has done exactly what for us under the current RINO leadership? We MUST have REAL conservatives or we’re not going to change a damned thing.

  37. rmnixondeceased
    February 14th, 2014 @ 8:33 am

    That is what we call them in ‘polite company’ along with the phrase ‘please pardon my blunt language’. In private the air turns blue with invective when discussing these individuals …

  38. Daniel O'Brien
    February 14th, 2014 @ 9:59 am

    No one if the money had real value.

  39. McGehee
    February 14th, 2014 @ 10:13 am

    Whoever has the most of it — just like now.

  40. Hail Caesar | Rotten Chestnuts
    February 14th, 2014 @ 12:11 pm

    […] we need any more reminders of the fundamental lawlessness of the Obama administration, and the utter fecklessness of Congress, especially the so-called “opposition.”  What hasn’t been […]

  41. Quartermaster
    February 14th, 2014 @ 1:34 pm

    And, who do you think controlled it before the monster from Jekyll Island?

  42. Quartermaster
    February 14th, 2014 @ 1:37 pm

    Agreed. We also need people to work with the candidates so they won’t trip themselves like Mourdock did. Akin, however, did it to himself. MO needs a better system for the primary.

  43. Adjoran
    February 14th, 2014 @ 6:11 pm

    J.P. Morgan, informally, because both Congress and the Executive realized they were unable to do it in a rational, timely, and apolitical manner.

  44. Adjoran
    February 14th, 2014 @ 6:12 pm

    Ah, a gold bug! So you would deflate down to get to the amount we could back, then? ROFL

  45. Quartermaster
    February 15th, 2014 @ 10:16 am

    You’ve repeatedly marked yourself as an ignorant man, but even you can’t possibly be so stupid and ignorant as that.

  46. Lemuel Vargas
    February 15th, 2014 @ 3:25 pm

    That is why it is imperative for us the people to GO OUT AND VOTE!!!!!

  47. Lemuel Vargas
    February 15th, 2014 @ 3:26 pm

    And so all we have to do (Tea Partiers) is to GO OUT AND VOTE!!!!!

  48. Lemuel Vargas
    February 15th, 2014 @ 3:28 pm

    That is why it is imperative to vote Tea Party (the viable 3rd alternative to both the GOPe and the Dems) to a majority in both the House and the Senate.

  49. Lemuel Vargas
    February 15th, 2014 @ 3:30 pm

    We will start the to steam roller both the GOPe and the Dems this 2014 and finish the work on 2016.

  50. Adjoran
    February 17th, 2014 @ 12:55 am

    You call ME ignorant? That’s rich.

    What do you think happened in the Panic of 1907? The entire banking system and economy were on the verge of collapse due to a liquidity crisis proportionately much worse than anything in our lifetimes.

    J.P. Morgan saved the nation by pledging his own personal fortune and banking assets, and convincing the other major bankers and wealthy industrialists to do the same.

    From then until his death in 1913, Morgan personally directed the currency – because he was the only one who could be trusted to do it without stealing, including the Congress.

    If all you have is name-calling, you should spare yourself further embarrassment.