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**Cha** · 01-21-2011, 03:23 PM

>snip<

MURKOWSKI: "I don’t believe that there are votes sufficient in the Senate to repeal health care reform….We’re in this situation where there is some messaging going on…The real question is how much time do we as a Congress spend on this messaging? We’ve got a situation where our economy continues to be in the tank, the longest extended period of high unemployment since World War II….As important as making sure that we’re reigning in our health care costs — spending a lot of time on the messaging vote? I don’t think that’s what the American public wants us to do. …I don’t think what people want is kind of the messaging that’s going on."

Indeed, following the House passage of repeal, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who controls the Senate schedule, condemned the repeal and reiterated — through a spokesperson — that he would not bring the measure to a vote. “This is nothing more than partisan grandstanding at a time when we should be working together to create jobs and strengthen the middle class,” he said in a statement (voicing a sentiment that Murkwoski apparently agrees with).

"Murkowski has been on a bit of an independent streak after being disavowed by the Republican party for mounting a successful re-election campaign as a write-in candidate. At the end of last year, she was the only Republican “to cast votes on all four items on President Barack Obama’s wish list: a repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” a tax-cut compromise, the START deal and cloture for the DREAM Act."

>more & video at link<
http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2011/0...aging-hcr/

**Andy823** · 01-21-2011, 05:06 PM

I think there are probably others who agree with Murkowski, but they are afraid to speak out for fear of a teabagger challenging them come their next election. McConnell is wasting time trying to kiss up to the teabaggers so they won't run a candidate against him! The teabaggers have him scared, along with many other republicans. I hope at least some of them decide to do what is right and follow the lead of Murkowski by standing and speaking out!

Republicans are painting themselves further and further in to a corner, and if they keep on kissing up to the teabaggers, they will find a lot of other moderate republicans getting ticked off at them. They can't please everyone, so who will the pick?

The more they cater to the crazies in the tea party groups, the less they will be doing to fix this country, and the more they will be showing the rest of the country just how little they can do when they have control of the House, and how they actually have NO plans at all, they just plan on doing the same thing they did the last two years, waste time!

**Cha** · 01-21-2011, 07:06 PM

(01-21-2011 05:06 PM)Andy823 Wrote: I think there are probably others who agree with Murkowski, but they are afraid to speak out for fear of a teabagger challenging them come their next election.

And, Murkowski has been there done that~ Joe teabagger who? roflmao

**Tarheel_Dem** · 01-21-2011, 05:08 PM

Murkowski just might find herself in the catbird seat when she comes up for re-election. I'm sure she has some new progressive fans up in Alaska, and combine that with her Repub base of support, and she just might be a permanent fixture. I'm liking her new "independent" streak.

**Willinois** · 01-21-2011, 05:18 PM

Murkowski busted them out for playing political games. Awesome!
Maybe Murkowski will balance out the new Joe LieberManchin from West Virginia since he's turning out to be such a disappointment.

**Cha** · 01-21-2011, 07:11 PM

(01-21-2011 05:18 PM)Willinois Wrote: Murkowski busted them out for playing political games. Awesome!
Maybe Murkowski will balance out the new Joe LieberManchin from West Virginia since he's turning out to be such a disappointment.

Joe Manchin before Country? That Joe Manchin? I hope we're wrong..I'll be all ears to hear him prove me mistaken.

**Willinois** · 01-21-2011, 07:26 PM

(01-21-2011 07:11 PM)Cha Wrote: Joe Manchin before Country? That Joe Manchin? I hope we're wrong..I'll be all ears to hear him prove me mistaken.

Manchin's violent rhetoric about coal during the election could come back to haunt him. If there's violence against mountain protectors in West Virginia he won't be the new Lieberman of the party. He'll be the new Sarah Palin.

I hope national Democrats aren't put in the position of having to support this guy in 2012 in order to maintain the Senate majority.

**Cha** · (This post was last modified: 01-21-2011 07:46 PM by Cha.)

(01-21-2011 07:26 PM)Willinois Wrote:
(01-21-2011 07:11 PM)Cha Wrote: Joe Manchin before Country? That Joe Manchin? I hope we're wrong..I'll be all ears to hear him prove me mistaken.

Manchin's violent rhetoric about coal during the election could come back to haunt him. If there's violence against mountain protectors in West Virginia he won't be the new Lieberman of the party. He'll be the new Sarah Palin.

I hope national Democrats aren't put in the position of having to support this guy in 2012 in order to maintain the Senate majority.

"Oh, yeah, I'm tough..Dead Aim" Blahblahblah

Empty headed rhetoric.

**Julie** · 01-21-2011, 05:33 PM

This is interesting to watch.

Julie

**jaxx** · 01-22-2011, 04:55 AM

I'm glad to hear Murkowski speak out.....I bet she made McConnells chin tremble. Those teabaggers can look at her and know what will happen to them if they stay out there in right field. Pockets of this country are fanatical rightwing fringe, but the mainstream isn't and the mainstream is what elects Presidents. Let the pubs feed the baggers, they'll not do well in the next two years with that message.

**Hekate** · 01-23-2011, 12:43 AM

Murkowski must be feeling rather liberated by her win. This should be fun to watch -- anybody for Popcorn

?

**Cha** · 01-23-2011, 09:16 PM

(01-23-2011 12:43 AM)Hekate Wrote: Murkowski must be feeling rather liberated by her win. This should be fun to watch -- anybody for ?

Sorry, I started without you.. Popcorn

**The Desperate Blogger** · 01-23-2011, 10:53 AM

Personally, between the Tea Partiers and Murkowski, I'm looking forward to watching McConnell's version of 'herding cars'...

**Cha** · 01-23-2011, 02:10 PM

(01-23-2011 10:53 AM)The Desperate Blogger Wrote: Personally, between the Tea Partiers and Murkowski, I'm looking forward to watching McConnell's version of 'herding cars'...

You mean "cats"? Wave

**RoyGBiv** · 01-23-2011, 07:25 PM

(01-23-2011 02:10 PM)Cha Wrote:
(01-23-2011 10:53 AM)The Desperate Blogger Wrote: Personally, between the Tea Partiers and Murkowski, I'm looking forward to watching McConnell's version of 'herding cars'...
You mean "cats"?

While he may have meant cats, I find the image of McConnell running around in the middle of a demolition derby track trying to "herd cars" to be limitlessly amusing.

roflmao

**Cha** · (This post was last modified: 01-23-2011 09:13 PM by Cha.)

(01-23-2011 07:25 PM)RoyGBiv Wrote:
(01-23-2011 02:10 PM)Cha Wrote:
(01-23-2011 10:53 AM)The Desperate Blogger Wrote: Personally, between the Tea Partiers and Murkowski, I'm looking forward to watching McConnell's version of 'herding cars'...
You mean "cats"?

While he may have meant cats, I find the image of McConnell running around in the middle of a demolition derby track trying to "herd cars" to be limitlessly amusing.

I thought of him herding cars too. roflmao

But, "demolition derby" is apt analogy. roflmao