Count Every Vote

Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell ponders Dem prospects for passing health care reform by way of reconciliation and leaves us puzzling over this:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said that opposition to using a maneuver to bypass filibuster rules would be bipartisan, but hedged as to whether it would be strong enough to block such a tactic.

"There'll be a lot of Democrats who will vote against it," McConnell said during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday" about the controversial budget reconciliation process. "Whether there will be 11 Democrats who will vote against it is not clear."

Eleven?  I thought Scott Brown was "41"!  Since when does it take 52 votes to win in the Senate?

Comments

[Clarice]

Would those who believe the Pelosi and/or Reid counts re controversial legislation please raise your hands. ScamInc.'s Account Representatives have an attractive offer to make to you and need contact information.

[Jane]

Calling spell check.

I don't think they have the votes. It's a scam.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Cout?

[Clarice]

I told you it was catching.

[centralcal]

Scam, Inc. I like it!

SOS to JOM cooks. It is another rainy day in California, forcing me to stay inside. I am craving spareribs. I bought a lovely rack of St. Louis style ribs and am looking more for oven cooking technique than recipe. (I have the dry rub stuff and the wet sauce stuff that I favor.)

Anybody got a really good oven method to share with me?

[Gmax]

reconciliation was set up specifically for an exception to the filibuster rule on fiscal matters, spending and taxes. Not new programs and laws.

It requires a Senate parliamentarian ruling that something is "germane" or it can not pass by a simple 51 vote majority. Since it looks more and more likely that we will get to 50 or 51 in 2010, let them nuke the one tool that the Democrat Party will have at the disposal when the voters relegate them back to the minority.

[DrJ]

Cout?

But of course. At the inlet you have Cin.

[Soylent Red]

I bought a lovely rack of St. Louis style ribs and am looking more for oven cooking technique than recipe.

1. Soak them for as long as is possible in Coke.

2. Boil for about 10 minutes

3. Cook low and slow for as long as possible to bring the core temp up to safe range.

4. Turn and reapply sauce every 20 minutes or so.

[Soylent Red]

BTW...thank God for the return of the formatting toolbar. Frickin' BBCode was driving me buggy.

[Carol Herman]

The proposed Blair House 'plan,' introduces a TAX PLAN. So, you tell me, how do you start a TAX PLAN in the senate? Where's the House? And, what about the PUBLIC OPTION? You mean to say the magician doesn't have a plan to pull this out of the magic hat?

If I had a fake gun, and walked on stage with it. And, then pulled the trigger. The audience would "know" what happened, because a red flag unfurls, reading BANG.

Oh, and Harry Reid just went on a money run to Vegas. Why? I have no idea! The hotels that remain standing are broke. Oh, yeah. And, then he swung into California, also on a "re-elect me" need for dough. What he collected are the real numbers. That Americans want a new tax? I don't think so.

[Danube of Thought]

When asked about what means were available to stall the reconciliation process, McConnell was pretty much non-responsive. I confess I am very uncertain (ignorant) on that score.

I can't figure the dems' thinking on this. Do they really thinkn the threat of this procedure will cause the GOP to compromise with Obama on whatever he unveils tomorrow? What piece of legislation will they try to pass? Obama's? Somethng of their own? Will the house have to vote again?

I just can't figure how they plan to pull this off?

[macphisto]

i wasn't expecting a sort of electrical engineering joke inquisition.

[Porchlight]

My hope is that whatever McConnell is planning, he is keeping it close to the vest. Usually the GOP can't manage not to telegraph their intentions so I'm skeptical about this, however.

[DrJ]

Nobody expects the Engineering Inqusition! Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, and an almost fanatical devotion to Newton, and nice red uniforms.

[Boatbuilder]

Is McConnell playing with their heads? I.e., please don't keep trying to ram this really ugly and deeply unpopular radical overhaul of the American health care system through, Br'er Bear. Because then we Republicans will have no way to stop it other than by reminding the American public that this is the same exact piece of garbage that they tried to put over on you several months ago, and all we got out of that was about a 30% drop in Obama's approval numbers, Scott Brown in Ted Kennedy's seat, and a whole slew of Dem congresssional resignations. We would really hate it if something like that happened again.

[MikeS]

I am confused about whether the House must vote again. I understand that would be part of the normal reconciliation process.

Some how the idea got planted in my mind that the Senate was trying to massage the House bill in such a way that the House would not have to vote again.

Does anyone here know about that?

[centralcal]

Thanks, Soylent. But, I don't have any Coke - only Dr. Pepper! lol.

[davod]

Obama will be able to peel off squishy Republicans. Dems will not vote for the bills only if there are stil sufficient votes to pass them.

[centralcal]

On topic - I am trying really hard to trust in Clarice and Jane and their instincts that Dingy Harry doesn't have the votes. I just am not confident of that yet.

It is like those movies where the villain refuses to die, even after being beaten to pulp, stabbed repeatedly, shot multiple times, and drowned or suffocated - and yet they keep going.

[Clarice]

Dr Pepper will do--any sugar cola will.

I have a wonderful recipe for Asian style ribs made in an oven but you seem to want a more traditional recipe and soylent's sounds good.
Online, I found two more recipes from a guy named Michael Chu whose site is cooking for engineers:
For pork ribs that literally

fall off the bone, I use an oven to slowly cook the ribs.

The recipe is quite simple: mix 18 oz. of barbeque sauce (1 bottle) with 1/2 cup orange juice. Pour into a 9x13 pan. Place ribs in pan and flip using tongs so ribs are coated. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake in a 300°F oven. Total cooking time can be as short as 2 hours or as long as 4 hours. Flip ribs over halfway through cooking.

Cooking the ribs for 2 hours will result in meat almost falling off the bones. If you cook for four hours, the ribs may be hard to lift out of the pan because the meat will be on the verge of falling off the bones under slight pressure. The cartilage will also be soft and practically melt in the mouth.

After the ribs are done cooking, remove th aluminum foil and continue to cook for about 10 min. per side to thicken the sauce.

A variation on this recipe is to make Chinese cinnamon spare ribs. Usually this dish is made on a stovetop with spare ribs cut into small pieces. This recipe will work for both whole ribs and for cut ribs, but I prefer the whole ribs.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup soy sauce, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup sherry, 1 tsp. cinnamon, and 1 tsp. ground black pepper. Pour into 9x13 pan and bake in same way as previous recipe.

Oven Baked Spare Ribs
Barbeque sauce
1 bottle BBQ sauce whisk
1/2 cup orange juice

Chinese Cinnamon
1 cup soy sauce whisk
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sherry
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground black pepper

Bake at 300°F for at least 2 hours, flipping ribs halfway.
Uncover and bake each side for 10 minutes to finish.

[Sue]

The key to tender ribs in the oven is cooking them slow and wrapping them tightly with aluminum foil.

[Clarice]

Hmm--that link is a bit confusing--it really is two different recipes-A standard with BBQ sauce and orange juice and one with Chinese flavorings--both use the same cooking method.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Grill the ribs, with the rub on, on High, just enough to sear them.

Throw them in a coverd roaster into the lowest heat level oven you can muster.

5+ hours ride time for best results.

Don't even think about opening that oven.

And buy extra napkins, you'll need them.

[Clarice]

OTOH, Obama may g down in history as a not bad war preswident (how's that working for ya Al Asad and Cleo?)
Lucianne:
Major Taliban operative captured in Pakistan, two senior U.S. officials tell Fox News
·

[Clarice]

Exclusive: Major Taliban Operative Captured

Justin Fishel

Mulvi Kabir, the former Taliban governor in Afghanistan's Nangahar Province, and a key figure in the Taliban regime was recently captured in Pakistan, two senior US officials tell Fox News. Kabir, considered to be among the top ten most wanted Taliban leaders, was apprehended in the Naw Shera district of Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province by Pakistani police forces.

A senior U.S. military official in Afghanistan called Kabir a “significant detention”.

The intelligence that led to Kabir's capture was gathered from Mullah Baradar, the Taliban’s second in command, who was picked up roughly two weeks ago in Karachi, Pakistan by a joint CIA and Pakistani intelligence operation.

Baradar’s capture has been followed by a series of major detentions within the Taliban’s ranks in recent days, individuals U.S. officials are describing as “shadow governors” who operate from the safety of Pakistan’s frontier and tribal regions. Aside from Kabir, Mullah Salam of Afghanistan’s Kunduz province and Mullah Mohammad, who reportedly controlled the Baghlan province, are two of the most notable captures since Baradar was detained

(Excerpt) Read more at liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com ...

[Jane]

Anybody got a really good oven method to share with me?

Is it too late?

Take off all the fat on the back. Put them in a pan in beer and cook at 250 degrees for hours, until the meat is falling off the bone tender.

Then take out and either BBQ or broil with BBQ sauce.

[Sue]

Mel,

I do mine the opposite. Cook them then grill them. I'll have to try your method next time.

[Jane]

Oh yeah I forgot the most important part. Put Saran wrap tightly over the pan, and Tin foil on top of that.

[macphisto]

re: the Bill That Would Not Die, i'll quickly allude to Rasputin on my way to Churchill's quote: "enbalm, cremate, bury at sea. Take no chances."

[Janet]

Readers of the Washington Post have no idea that passing the health care bill is back on.
The most uninformed readers on our glorious planet earth!

[BobS]

I'm not sure about Senate rules, but was McConnell expressing his numbers based on Biden's potential vote? I don't think they will get this through reconcilliation though, but it will be interesting to see which Senate Dems against it. I'm guessing that Leiberman will not go along this time. Neither would Landruei, Lincoln or Ben Nelson. Bayh has been sending mixed signals, but I think he would be against it. The Republicans will stay together as I think Olympia Snowe is really pissed off at the Democrats on this. I think she beleives she got tooled on the stimulus now, too.

[Janet]

All this rib discussion is making me hungry. My husband got me a pin that says "Meatatarian By Choice!".

[Rob Crawford]

Cout?

cout << votes << "\n";

[Melinda Romanoff]

Jane-

No offense, but I'm not a big fan of the taste of grilled Saran Wrap.

[Old Lurker]

BobS...trouble is if all those names are as you predict, they sail through. Biden not needed.

[centralcal]

Mel: The reason I asked for an oven method is because it is raining on my grill right now ;(

Basically, long slow (covered) in low to moderate oven seems to be the consensus of all the recipes. So I dumped a can of Dr. Pepper on the ribs (after removing shiny membrane on the back) to marinate. Will check back here before they go into the oven.

Jane: I have used the beer recipe before (a favorite method of my ex-husband.)

Thanks all - and, Clarice, I printed yours out for next time since I didn't have orange juice. I liked the recipe and wish I did have juice or some oranges handy.

[Clarice]

Mel, you never heaard of sous vide en wrap?

[DrJ]

RC, what language is that? It looks like a simple shell script, but it wouldn't work on either sh or csh. How about "cat votes >> cout"? Granted it does not fit the title as well...

[Charlie (Colorado)]

But of course. At the inlet you have Cin.

Oh my.

Everyone who understood that joke, raise your hand.

[Sue]

C-cal,

When I cook ribs indoors, I use the broiler on my oven to "grill" them.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

cout << votes << "\n";

count ++;

[Charlie (Colorado)]

DrJ, that's C++. It's roughly the same as "printf("%d\n",votes);"

[DrJ]

Chaco, it was obscure indeed. Cin and Cout are common notations for inlet and outlet concentrations in Chemical Engineering.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

By the weay, I've got a new ClimateGate piece up: Climategate: The World’s Biggest Story, Everywhere but Here.

We've got something relatively big coming Tuesday morning, too.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Chaco, it was obscure indeed. Cin and Cout are common notations for inlet and outlet concentrations in Chemical Engineering.

Obscure and managed to pun from Chem Eng to programming. Not bad.

[Thomas Collins]

MikeS stated:

"Some how the idea got planted in my mind that the Senate was trying to massage the House bill in such a way that the House would not have to vote again."

MikeS, the Senate and the House must pass identical bills before POTUS can sign the bill into law.

[centralcal]

Okay here is my game plan (Please yell at me soon if it ain't the right plan):

Ribs marinating in Dr. Pepper. (who knew?)

Paper towel moisture off.
Season with dry rub.
Place under broiler to render off excess fat, turning once.

Transfer to roasting plan (with wet sauce at this point or toward the end?), tightly cover and put in 300 degree oven for a couple of hours.

[MikeS]

Thanx TC.

[BobS]

ChaCo: Wonderful PJM piece today. Above the fold, too. Can we call your point a "Reverse Pulitzer"?

(ChaCo's piece LUN)

[DrJ]

Thanks, Chaco. I never did learn C++, though I'm fine with C. Clearly it was "Unixy" in its syntax.

[Frau Rippchen 'R Uns]

A great pork experience combined with simplicity is had with James Beard's recipe: ribs,salt,pepper and roast in the oven. Not that I would refuse it, but I don't think ribs always need all that sauce.If the ribs are meaty (back ribs) more time is necessary. LUN

[Old Lurker]

Great piece, Charlie.

You and Valerie nailed it in the comments.

[Clarice]

Chaco, I have to dash over there.
It may not be a big story here, but you are certainly one of the big names on it here. And it is certain to seep out..remember Edwards was only a story on Mickey Kaus for ages.

[Porchlight]

centralcal, if it were me I would leave off the wet sauce until the end.

One benefit of that method is that the fat roasts with/into the meat, rather than melting off into the sauce.

Also, at the end you can see how delicious the ribs are w/o the sauce and depending on the result, give diners the choice of how much sauce they want.

But it sounds like you are off to a great start...and the more time you have, the better they will be.

[Janet]

My hand was NOT raised.
ChaCo, your articles are so good.

[Clarice]

I think Porch is right.

Chaco-Instalaunch!

[Pagar]

Reference the great new piece Charlie has up over at PJM. Back a few years ago, CNN had a high official (Eason Jordan) admit that CNN did not publish stories from Iraq that would upset Saddam. Now we have the entire MSM in the US saying we are not going to publish stories that upset the American AWG leftists. Eason Jordan was forced to resign because of the efforts of a lot of people, many of them bloggers. Surely we can defeat the MSM the same way. Charlie Martin has given us the perfect article to do it with. We just need to spread the word to every American.

[centralcal]

Thanks, Porch - just in time. I popped them under the broiler. Won't put any sauce on. Will wait until they're done to see if I want sauce or not.

Congrats Chaco on the Instalaunch.

[Danube of Thought]

Sounds like they waterboarded Baredar.

[Jane]

Chaco,

You really have become the go to guy on this story. Congrats!

[Sue]

Interviews with members of the US hockey team from 1980 coming up after the hockey game on now. Miracle On Ice. If anyone is interested.

[It's over. And our media has no clue.]

Nice Charlie. Incidentally, I may be overoptimistic, but I'm expecting a blockbuster from Andy Revkin. I think he's beginning to doubt, and I've a fair amount of faith in his curiosity and intellectual integrity. He's been a true believer for at least 20 years, though.
===============================

[RichatUF]

cc-

It is like those movies where the villain refuses to die, even after being beaten to pulp, stabbed repeatedly, shot multiple times, and drowned or suffocated - and yet they keep going.

Rasputincare?

[glenda]

Well, this thread will make you gain 10 lbs!! Ribs, tomorrow...

off to PJM, to read Charlie. :)

[Danube of Thought]

Here's my understanding, concerning which I solicit corrections from any and all comers:

(1) If the Dems are thinking about passing whatever it is Obama is going to unveil tomorrow, both houses of congress have to vote on it. If Reid decides that it is a budget reconciliation bill, he needs only 50 votes plus Biden, but delaying tactics are available, and he has to persuade the senate parliamentarian that the process is appropriate, item by item.

(2) Ditto if they have in mind passing a new bill that has recently been worked out in private between leaders in both chambers.

(3) The house could pass the previously-passed senate bill verbatim and send it to the president for signature. They can't do this unless they get the promise of the senate to pass several significant amendments, and even at that there may be enough of them for whom such promises are too uncertain. In the event they go this way, I don't know whether or not the senate can use reconciliation to pass the promised amendments.

[spentfest]

Maybe getting the US army to guard a little girls school was a mistake.

Os and Hilaries council on women and girls says they should be advanced in all areas of government. Do you think that includes spies and immigrants?

http://afghanistan.unifem.org/jobs.php

We already passed health care overseas, it's an entitlement in Africa. Even the male babies get circumcised now like the females to stop AIDS. So, why did Peolosi up about the healthcare? because it's no longer just treatment and 100s of billions for office buildings, etc. and government employees. We just email the cash from treasury and the governments there do the rest. We could do this in the US soon too.

We win(we leave soon too)!

[Manuel Transmission]

Well, Choco, I raised my hand. but for a different joke: every analog circuit and every power supply stage has a Cin and a Cout.

Congrats on the steady drumbeat of AGW demise.

[Jane]

Plus doesn't any budget bill passed under reconciliation have to lower the deficit?

[3&3/4 300 02212010]

Analog is for little girls. How much are those anyway?

'...people are tired of being made fun of..'

Valerie is speaking truth to power again. Ya' know, it's just like group think, all CIA.

[Jim Miller]

Andrew Revkin? Well, I hope you are right about his journalistic integrity. But when I searched back through my archives on his name a few weeks ago, what I noticed was his willingness to bend journalistic rules in order to support leftwing causes with "science".

For instance, he has treated the Union of Concerned Scientists as a legitimate scientific group. (You don't have to be a scientist to belong to the organization; you do have to be "concerned", where "concerned" means that you adhere to leftist causes.)

I'm not saying that he has always been biased, but he has been biased often enough so that I read his stuff with considerable suspicion.

Oh, and if you are having lousy weather, don't look at my home page.

[Danube of Thought]

"Plus doesn't any budget bill passed under reconciliation have to lower the deficit?"

I think that's the case, but they'll jigger the thing as dishonestly as necessary in order to get a good CBO score, then add stuff like the doctor fix at their leisure.

[Thomas Collins]

Jim Miller, the Seattle trees are announcing their approval of Pete Carroll becoming Seahawks head coach! :-))

[But he could be broadcasting his doubt, and he isn't doing so.]

Jim, you have a good point, and he's been an influential journalist for the cause of AGW. However, I interacted with him for nine months at DotEarth, such that some of the bitter alarmists called it DotKim, and I believe he is fundamentally honest.

There are notes in the released emails from alarmist climatologists warning him of his increasing doubt. One told him he was about to get 'The Big Cut-off', meaning no more sources.

I suspect his leaving the highly successful DotEarth was over editorial direction.

The quote from Charlie above shows that he has some insight into the bias at the NYT. He's had another skeptical quote recently that drew the wrath of the alarmists.

I'd like to tell him to reread all my comments from 2008. They were prophetic. I can't help but believe I had some impact on him.
=============================

[PD]

I never did learn C++

If tempted otherwise, hold firm.

[Extraneus]

Sounds like they waterboarded Baredar.

Do the Pakistanis take the time to waterboard?

[PD]

Do the Pakistanis take the time to waterboard?

It gives them cover?

[Murray H]

"Plus doesn't any budget bill passed under reconciliation have to lower the deficit?"

There's an easy workaround...large tax increases to offset incremental spending.

[Extraneus]

They have Democrats?

[DrJ]

every analog circuit and every power supply stage has a Cin and a Cout.

I did get that!

I never did learn C++

If tempted otherwise, hold firm.

That has been my impression. Powerful language if one has 10 or 15 years to devote to it.

[Rob Crawford]

I never did learn C++

If tempted otherwise, hold firm.

Not to tempt a language war, but, yes, avoid all unnecessary exposure to C++.

[Sue]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/2/19/838452/-MoveOn,-HCAN,-SEIU-join-us-for-massive-Feb.-24th-1,000,000-Voices-for-HCR-mobilization>The Kos kiddies are doing a virtual march on Washington. Link is to Kos.

1,000,000 VOICES FOR HEALTHCARE REFORM: A VIRTUAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON

We'll do this via calls, faxes, Tweets, Facebook, emails, telegrams, balloon drops and carrier pigeons. Whatever. It. Takes.

I wonder if Sarah can get her army to counter this one?

[Neo]

I am reminded of a telecast of the British House Of Commons on C-SPAN about 20 years ago when a backbencher droned out in a loud voice the single almost-onomatopoeic word ... "TEDIOUS"

Methinks the Democrats have discounted too much the tedious effect that the health care reform sojourn has had on the populace. One more round isn't going to win them any new friends.

[Danube of Thought]

This really is an amazing site. We all sit around batting the breeze about politics in general, but whenever some complex specialty is implicated, there are sure to be several people who have extraordinary knowledge.

How the hell did JOM not make the top 100 conservative blogs?

[Porchlight]

centralcal, hope the ribs turn out great! You must report back and tell us...

[Porchlight]

Wow, a Kos "virtual march." Those guys sure are hard workers.

[Old Lurker]

If we got got that attention, DoT, there would be more trolls.

[Frau Rippchen 'R Uns]

Sue, that's the worst thing I've seen today. The KozKidz will be the death of our country if they're not stopped.

[glasater]

Jane--

This link might be a useful resource for your new web site.

And

The Week In Review has a great link to an article on reconciliation.

[sbw]

I never did learn C++

If tempted otherwise, hold firm.

Heh! On a vacation flight over the last several days I have been looking at Apple's XCode videos for the iPhone and for Cocoa, which uses Objective C. Nice tools.

My wife is not sure it constitutes vacation material.

[Thomas Collins]

Speaking of Jane and web sites, one of her web sites has material on a fascinating story unfolding in Central Falls, RI, in which the fed up School Superintendent is attempting to fire all teachers for not complying with what seem to be pretty reasonable additional job requirements. See LUN.

[Jane]

Thanks Glasater.

I think it is hysterical that all Kos can muster is a "virtual march". We had 2 million people on the mall with no organization at all.

[Jim Miller]

"Since when does it take 52 votes to win in the Senate?"

When Harry Reid is counting the votes?

(Or, to be serious for a moment, McConnell might be anticipating losing one Republican, though I think it more likely that he just forgot to count Senator Brown. How many Democratic votes you need gets even more complicated when you try to figure out how healthy Lautenberg and Byrd are.)

[glasater]

McConnell mentioned the amendment process today in his interview.
If Zero is going to hang the healthcare bill on the budget bill--my question would be if there would be any amendments allowed in either bill. And how many votes up or down on each amendment are required.

[02212010pukmagnate]

KOS blew it selling what couldn't get done in the States overseas. It's all government jobs now. The army can march all day the States know what they done.

Solid.

[Jimmy Carter]

I believe the price controls Obama's will propose tomorrow on the health insurance industry is an excellent idea.

[PD]

Anyone know why the driver of the US 1 bobsled team wears a bag on his head until just before they launch the sled?

[Melinda Romanoff]

O/T-

Patty Murray is on the ropes in Washington. Dino Rossi polling ahead, The Perfessor links here.

Personally not pleased they have shaved the "Combined" (Alpine) to Super G and Slalom, from Downhill and Slalom. No breadth to the sport.

[Frau Rippchen 'R Uns]

Sheesh, I miss the old days when our Bubba-in-Chief just wanted to have eight years of fun, period. Teh Light Bringer wants to mess with our country and our heads.

It's raining down my way, too. I join glenda in saying "ribs tomorrow."

[Frau Rippchen 'R Uns]

Mel, your news flash about Patty "Sneakers" Murray has left me with some hope for brighter tomorrows. Breitbart's Brigade will need to keep a sharp eye on the returns in King County, however; the slogan must be, "Count Every Legal Vote."

[Jane]

I've been thinking about the 39% rate hike by Anthem in CA and come to the conclusion that this wasn't the ham-handed tone-deaf political failure that most people think it is.

If healthy subscribers are leaving the system due to the recession and layoffs while sick people stay on the rolls, their margins are going to be compressed. One way of getting the healthy subscribers back would be to pass the Dems bill since the mandate requires everyone to have insurance.

You have to assume that the guys in the C-level offices at Anthem aren't complete idiots and that they were aware of the political repercussions of announcing that rate hike during a critical juncture in the health care debate.

They would have had a dozen internal meetings about any decision to jack rates up an eye-popping 39%. And you have to assume that their considered opinion led them to the conclusion that triggering outrage against insurance companies is somehow in their interest.

They want the bill to pass because they want to force people to buy coverage.