This is the same Earl Pomeroy who was not interested in meeting with his constituents during the August recess, choosing instead a call-screened “telephone town hall” which featured questions from liberal activist groups and labor unions. Gee, I wonder why?
Then there’s Kent “Countrywide” Conrad, who is trying to pull a sneaky one. He’s voting yes on cloture to send the Senate healthcare takeover bill to the floor, yet may get an opportunity to vote against it on the floor of the Senate if they use a trick to make it a 50-vote pass. If that happens, he’ll come back to North Dakota and tell the angry peasants that he voted against the health care bill, then jet back to his million dollar house on the east coast. KFYR, KXMB, and the Forum group will act as dutiful stenographers, and the whole matter will be buried.
Speaking of town halls, Kent Conrad was pre-loading the few events he did, walked out after a couple of questions, and was astroturfing the events with liberal supporters via the BarackObama.com website!
You and I will get stuck with the bill, no matter what the result. It’s interesting; after this House bill was announced today, I was able to download the PDF of the bill and find out that anyone who doesn’t want to participate will be taxed for their choice (Section 501, page 297) in less than five minutes. I’m a pretty quick reader, but that was just with a simple perusal. Imagine what else is hidden therein!
There wasn’t any breaking news about Senator Byron “Skybox” Dorgan relating to the government health care takeover, but there was one interesting story. According to the Fargo Forum, Senator Dorgan is “frustrated” that the Obama administration hasn’t named appointees for a pair of federal positions here in North Dakota. Well, wait a minute. Whenever one of these three guys jet back to North Dakota, throw on a flannel shirt and rub elbows with the peasants, they talk about how much seniority, clout, and influence they wield in Washington. When have they ever displayed it? Have they written and sponsored legislation that has become law? Are they totally unable to sway the White House now that it’s “their guy” who’s running it? You can’t have it both ways, Senator.
Let’s put a stop to this circus. For starters, it’s time to call our congressional delegation and tell our Representative and Senators that this takeover of our health choices is NOT in North Dakota’s best interest. Here are the phone numbers:
Rep. Earl Pomeroy
Bismarck: 701-224-0355
Washington, DC: 202-225-2611
Sen. Kent Conrad
Bismarck: 701-258-4648
Washington, DC: 202-224-2034
Sen. Byron Dorgan
Bismarck: 701-250-4618
Washington: 701-202-224-2551