The Democrat leaders of the House of Representatives should hang their heads in shame. In a blatant attempt to change a vote that went against them they closed the vote early before the clerk had read the votes and then changed the final vote total. This is one of the most outrageous misuses of power by a political party that I have ever seen.


http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0807/House_erupts_in_chaos.html


August 03, 2007
Read More: Bad behavior
House erupts in chaos
In a massive flare-up of partisan tensions (video link courtesy Breitbart.tv), 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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dgkV6gerTY

In a blatant attempt to change a vote that went against them they closed the vote early before the clerk had read the votes and then changed the final vote total.

Didn't Tom Delay and the Republicans do something sorta similar once upon a time?

Oh yeah, I remember now: it was all about a prescription drug bill, back in 2004. Seems that DeLay extended the roll call for nearly three hours to avoid an embarrassing loss on that vote. The House Ethics Committee whacked 'im upside the haid over it.

This is one of the most outrageous misuses of power by a political party that I have ever seen.

Uh-huh. And what's your opinion of what Delay/the Republicans did? :rolleyes:

There is a difference between extending a vote and cutting a vote short before everyone's vote has been counted. But of course a party hack like you wouldn't be able to recognize that difference.

extending and cutting off are the same thing in the Democrat world.

In Fran's world too.

Wow, the Republicans finally allowed something to get an up or down vote?!?

Amazing! I thought their pathetic partisan obstructionism would never end.

Wow, the Republicans finally allowed something to get an up or down vote?!?

Amazing! I thought their pathetic partisan obstructionism would never end.

Please don't Think {thought} it totally ruins yer expertise at
blathering.
Sometimes to blather is goot.

Nobody blathers better than you Fool.

:rolleyes:

There is a difference between extending a vote and cutting a vote short before everyone's vote has been counted. But of course a party hack like you wouldn't be able to recognize that difference.
They're different actions, but they're both unethical. Unnecessary delay (ha, a pun!) is just as much an attempt to unethically sway the outcome of a bill as preventing a vote is.

I hope McNulty (read it as McNerny at first) gets whacked upside the head by the HEC for this one.

... until the Dems decided they did not like the outcome of the vote... LOL

Both sides of the aisle are full of shit, and are just "playing" with the other. My tax dollar's at work.

What a grand exercise in masturbation.

The key phrase in that whole article:

Details remain fuzzy

Oops?

I would truly love for every human being in this country to have presented to them exactly and in detail every *dirty* political manuever that each of the the two parties has perpetratd, and then let them see if the Repubs or the Dems have pulled more **outrageous misuses of power** than the other.

I would truly love for every human being in this country to have presented to them exactly and in detail every *dirty* political manuever that each of the the two parties has perpetratd, and then let them see if the Repubs or the Dems have pulled more **outrageous misuses of power** than the other.

While it's true that people in power from both parties have used and abused their offices for political and/or personal gain, we've certainly seen more and more outrageous misuses of power from the right side of the aisle in recent history.

I mean....

ALASKA is famous for big bears, big salmon, big mountains; and, increasingly, big legal trouble for its politicians. The state's lone congressman, Don Young, a Republican, is being scrutinised by the FBI for links to an Alaskan company whose two top executives bribed state legislators. Lisa Murkowski, the state's Republican junior senator, made headlines in mid-July when it was suggested that she had purchased property on the Kenai river without disclosing the transaction, as she was legally bound to, in her annual financial statement.

Now comes disturbing news about Ted Stevens, a senator for Alaska for the past 39 years. On July 30th agents from the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service scoured a home owned by “Uncle Ted” in Girdwood, a suburb of Anchorage. The agents removed materials linked to allegations that Mr Stevens's home was remodelled in 2000 as a gift from VECO, a company that builds and manages pipelines and other oil infrastructure. It was two VECO executives—Bill Allen, the chief executive, and Rick Smith, a vice-president—who pleaded guilty in May to bribery. --The Economist (http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9599251)

Ye gods. What the hell is in the Republican water in Alaska?!?

HA! I KNEW you'd fall into your own trap!

There is a difference between extending a vote and cutting a vote short before everyone's vote has been counted. But of course a party hack like you wouldn't be able to recognize that difference.

No there isn't a difference in the slightest. As BorgHunter properly pointed out, both actions are an outrageous abuse of power and completely unethical.

But of course a party hack like you wouldn't be able to recognize that.

How's it feel to shoot yourself in your right-wing gonads for the whole board to see, Frogger?

HAHAHaahahahaaaa! :thumbs: Well done!

They're different actions, but they're both unethical. Unnecessary delay (ha, a pun!) is just as much an attempt to unethically sway the outcome of a bill as preventing a vote is.

I hope McNulty (read it as McNerny at first) gets whacked upside the head by the HEC for this one.

Like Frog boy said :you obviously don't understand the diff between
a courtesy extendiing of time,and a drastic,cutting short.
One is a courtesy and one is an outright infringement.
It won't take mush longer for the Country to notice what
abject scoundrels the Dems are.
Incompetent,petty,lack vision,No balls,highly spitefull.
Y'nose ... like normal round hears,mosy the time.

Like Frog boy said :you obviously don't understand the diff between
a courtesy extending of time....

ROFL...yeah, Delay extended the voting time as a courtesy...

Honestly Foolsworth, do you believe that nonsense?

While it's true that people in power from both parties have used and abused their offices for political and/or personal gain, we've certainly seen more and more outrageous misuses of power from the right side of the aisle in recent history.
That seems to be changing to be both sides equally. The Bush administration is still pushing for idiotic eavesdropping laws which are entirely contrary to the Constitution, and the Democratic majority in Congress seems to be much the same as the Republicans they replaced.

Meet the new boss...same as the old boss...

ROFL...yeah, Delay extended the voting time as a courtesy...

Honestly Foolsworth, do you believe that nonsense?
Nope, I don't believe he does.

There is a difference between extending a vote and cutting a vote short before everyone's vote has been counted. But of course a party hack like you wouldn't be able to recognize that difference.

Frogger, you facetious little toad you, that made me lol...

There is a difference between extending a vote and cutting a vote short before everyone's vote has been counted. But of course a party hack like you wouldn't be able to recognize that difference.

Heck, sometimes the leader of The House (Rep or Dem) won't even allow bills to be put up for a vote.