The Repeal ObamaCare

The Repeal ObamaCare vote in the House just finished up, with the repeal measure passing by a vote of 244 -185.

House Votes to Repeal Obamacare on Slightly Bipartisan Basis Posted: 11 Jul 2012 01:57 PM PDT (John Hinderaker) The House voted 244-185 this afternoon to repeal Obamacare. No surprise there; the only suspense related to how many Democrats would vote with the Republicans for repeal. In the event, there were five: Mike Ross, D-Ark.; Dan Boren, D-Okla.; Mike McIntyre, D-N.C.; Larry Kissell, D-N.C.; and Jim Matheson, D-Utah. McIntyre and Kissell announced some time ago that they would vote for repeal, and Kissell, at least, has said that he will not support Obama’s re-election. Matheson is running against the dynamic Mia Love in Utah’s new Fourth District and, one can guess, expects a close race in which he didn’t want to be burdened with Obamacare. Ross is retiring, so presumably his vote reflects his actual views on the issue. Having five Democrats on board allows Republicans to say the vote was bipartisan, but my guess is the Democrats are relieved that there weren’t more defections.

All-time Senate giants Posted: 11 Jul 2012 10:05 AM PDT (Paul Mirengoff) Dana Milbank’s dismal column about the alleged absence of “giants” in the current Senate has prompted me select 20 all-time Senate giants. As with most all star teams, halls of fame, and alike, there are no fixed criteria. However, there are two rules. First, current Senators are excluded. Absent this rule, John McCain and Orrin Hatch would rate consideration. Second, ideology isn’t taken into account. A Senator does not make or miss the list because of my view of what he stood for and tried to accomplish. Here’s the list: Henry Clay (Whig-Kentucky) John Calhoun (Democrat-South Carolina) Daniel Webster (Whig-Massachusetts) Thomas Hart Benton (Democrat-Missouri) Stephen Douglas (Democrat-Illinois) William Seward (Whig/Republican-New York) Charles Sumner (Free Soil Democrat/Republican-Massachusetts) James Blaine (Republican-Maine) Roscoe Conkling (Republican-New York) Robert La Follette (Republican/Progressive-Wisconsin) Robert Wagner (Democrat-New York) Robert Taft (Republican-Ohio) George Norris (Republican/Independent-Nebraska) Arthur Vandenberg (Republican-Michigan) Lyndon Johnson (Democrat-Texas) Hubert Humphrey (Democrat-Minnesota) Everett Dirksen (Republican-Illinois) Barry Goldwater (Republican-Arizona) Ted Kennedy (Democrat-Massachusetts) Robert Dole (Republican-Kansas)