Democrats Had Agreed To Work Through Christmas

h/t Instapundit. Byron York asks and answers the question, Who made the Senate vote at 1 AM? Was it Reid, or the Republicans?

Some history on the issue to go along with that. Obama announced the goal, or perhaps gave the marching orders, in this case. In any event, it was as much his, as Reid's.

The goal, President Obama recently said, is for the Senate to pass legislation by Christmas -- though opposition from Republicans could derail the hope.

Even so, Democrats had already agreed to work through the Christmas recess. Some even canceled Christmas plans in their home states. The 1 AM vote was completely unnecessary, but driven by Obama and the now socialist Democrats. And what nerve Harkin displays in invoking the troops below.

These same people clashed with Bush over a previous Christmas deadline in 2007. But that one only involved funding our troops while they were on the front lines in Iraq. Then it was, what's the big rush? And that's all the more galling due to the longer-term history of the body. See below.

Only war, Kennedy's assassination and one government shutdown ever kept them in session before. They didn't even agree to it during the Great Depression. Obviously, Democrats today do not share the sense of priorities of America's past, not even her past Congresses.

Senate Democrats have agreed to work through the Christmas recess if necessary to complete work on a health-care reform bill, Harkin said Friday.

It’s likely the Senate will knock off Dec. 24 and leave Washington for a long weekend if they haven’t approved the proposed health-care legislation.

“But it’s not beyond the realm of possibilities” that senators will be debating Christmas Day, he said. “Someone said the other day that our troops are on the line Christmas Day. They don’t get the day off.”

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, said last week that he canceled plans with family in Vermont -- and even decided to ship a Christmas tree to Washington -- out of fears that there would be deliberations over the holiday break.

Senate Historian Don Ritchie said it's not unusual for the Senate to work until Christmas Day.

"In recent years, they've stayed until the 23rd, but it's quite possible they could work right through to the day before Christmas and come back the next week," he said.

According to Ritchie, who cited the Congressional Record, the House and Senate were in session during the holiday recess in the following sessions:

• 96th, because of a government shutdown (1979-1981)

• 91st, during the Vietnam War (1969-1971)

• 88th, after President John F. Kennedy's assassination (1963-1965)

• 81st, because of the Korean War (1949-1951)

• 77th and 76th, because of World War II (1939-1943)

In one notable case, Ritchie said, Congress fought a president's push to stay in session.

"In 1932, President [Herbert] Hoover tried to talk Congress into spending their Christmas break [in Washington] because he felt that there were a lot of Depression-era needs. And the Congress said, 'Well, we waited for a whole year for you to call us into a special session and wouldn't do it, so we're going to take our vacation.' "

 

Comments

[Maurice]

Dems don't give a crap about religion anyway. Certainly Obama doesn't, at least not any kind of Christianity; Rev Wright's "church" doesn't cut it, but then, I'm a racist Nazi (though my grandparents were gassed in Auschwitz by actual Nazis...screw the Dems for their hate and lies). And it's the Dems that have warred against Christmas, trying to blot out religious symbols (and yes, I"m a religious Orthodox Jew, and no, creche scenes and saying "Merry Christmas" and carols, even in public places, don't bother me one whit. Liars and fools that are out to enslave us by rushing through a truly horrible bill, one that will lead to Federally funded abortions, govt. bureaucrat rationing of care (death panels, Palin was correct to call them that, it's exactly how it's worked out in Britain), higher costs, higher taxes and less accessibility...now, THOSE bother me.

The vote last night, or early this morning, was akin to watching vampires...who come out at night to suck the blood of their victims.

[mojo]

I thought Lieberman voted with his feet? Didn't he go home?

[WPE]

Since you mentioned troop funding, look, Republicans filibustered a Democratic bill to fund the troops.

http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00381

[pagar]

Bill to fund the troops or build a memorial to Sen Kennedy? Not a single American should have voted for that bill until it contained nothing but military money that is needed to defend America. Every senator that voted for it, voted to defraud the American people and the US military.

"Defense spending bill contains an earmark that has nothing to do with national defense, $20 million for an institute honoring late Senator Ted Kennedy"

http://biggovernment.com/2009/10/02/pork-report-october-2-2009/

[pagar]

Just went one thinks Democrat Senators can not sink any lower.
Here's the record of a Democrat Senator voting on funds for US troops. Quoting from Sen Whitehouse:

" "The lowest of the low was the Republican vote against funding and supporting our troops in the field in a time of war. As a device to stall health care, they tried to stop the appropriation of funds for our soldiers. There is no excuse for that. From that there is no return. "

In May 2007, Whitehouse was only one of 14 Senators to vote against the Iraq war funding supplemental to support the troop surge, at a time our troops were fighting al-Qaeda in the field in a time of war. Whitehouse also was one of 10 co-sponsors of a bill to cut off funding for the troops in Iraq unless troop withdrawals started within 120 days.

http://legalinsurrection.blogspot.com/2009/12/sheldon-whitehouse-voted-to-defund.html

[North Dallas Thirty]

Why pagar, certainly you can't be accusing Obama Party members of doing exactly that which they attacked Republicans for doing, and far more directly. That would be RACIST.

Who wants to bet WPE never comments on this thread again? Paid talking points repeaters like him tend not to stick around when the antics of their massas are put in historical perspective.

[bilberry plus]

We Americans work hard every day and are sick and tired of working and then having to watch every step our supposed representatives are taking trying with every breath to take away our freedoms, money and destroy our republic! We should be able to enjoy our Christmas holiday without having to worry about you idiots meeting in the dark basement of the senate on Christmas Eve to kill our country!.

[Darth Venomous]

"Since you mentioned troop funding, look, Republicans filibustered a Democratic bill to fund the troops."

Yeah, they did. And we know why they did it, too. What of it, dumbass?

[WPE]

Seems like it was just last-year when filibustering a troop-funding bill was only done by America haters.

[Darth Venomous]

"Seems like it was just last-year when filibustering a troop-funding bill was only done by America haters."

Seems like it was just last year that leftist skanks were a bunch of cowards who wouldn't say that to our faces.

Oh, wait - y'all still are.

[WPE]

Tough Guy Darth - sitting behind a keyboard using a pseudonym posting anonymous physical threats.

Just curious, how old are you anyway? - that's chronological age, not emotional, where you seen to be stuck somewhere between 12 and 18.

[templar knight]

Uh, WPE, nice straw man. The Republicans in the Senate have a long history of supporting our troops in the ME, while many of those on your side don't, including the latest turd without a shine Sen. Whitehouse.

[WPE]

Straw Man, hardly. The only reason it passed was three of your beloved RINO's voted with the Dems and two independents. Otherwise Republicans would have successufully blocked funding for the troops.

33 No votes, all Republican
4 not voting, all Republicans
58 Dems + 2 Independents + 2 RINOS (Collins, Snow) + 1 lame-duck Republican (Hutchinson) voting For.

[Darth Venomous]

"Tough Guy Darth - sitting behind a keyboard using a pseudonym posting anonymous physical threats."

1008 Skyline Dr, #1521
Arlington, TX

Anytime you're ready, chickens**t.

[pagar]

It should have never passed with the garbage that was included. Pass clean bills or no bills.

[WPE]

"Anytime you're ready, chickens**t."

Violence, the sociopath's answer to all things.

[Darth Venomous]

"Violence, the sociopath's answer to all things."

Hiding and hoping it goes away - the coward's answer to all things. 'Specially since I called your little pansy-assed bluff, huh?

Come spew your BS to my face, nancy-boy. Let's see those papier-machés of yours, assclown.

[WPE]

That's hilarious. How old are you anyway?

[Darth Venomous]

Old enough to teach a pussy like you when to keep your piehole shut, coward. Come out from behind your daddy's skirt, show up on my doorstep and I'll give you a demonstration, chumpette.

[WPE]

You seem to have an anger problem. I'd advise counseling:

http://www.apa.org/topics/anger/control.aspx

[Darth Venomous]

You seem to have a cowardice problem.

I'd advise staying behind your daddy's skirt. Besides, he seems to like your rim jobs.

[Darth Venomous]

"You seem to have an anger problem. I'd advise counseling"

OTOH, this is the classic response of the chickenshit who attempts to play the "who's got bigger _cojones_" game, gets his bluff called and has to slink back behind his keyboard.

I told you where you can find me, dared you to come call me your little names to my face - and like every leftist twat with whom I've ever dealt, you suddenly realized your mouth had written a check your body wasn't anywhere _close_ to being capable of cashing, and thus these little bleatings like "Violence, the sociopath's answer to all things" and "You seem to have an anger problem. I'd advise counseling" are now all to which you, the sniveling little wuss girl, have been reduced to offering.

The guess from here is that "WPE" stands for Wanker Pussy Extraordinaire. I have exposed you for the little yellow skank you are, and that just sticks in your craw, doesn't it? (guffaw)

[WPE]

Marry Christmas, Darth. Peace on Earth

[Arpie]

I think it's really crappy of the Democrats to do this. I was a delegate for Obama to my county convention and I deeply regret my choice at this sad hour. No one likes it when their government takes away choices and says "No, Really, It's for your Own Good! Look! We're making a sacrifice to force you to give insurance companies your money!" I feel stupid.