Comments on: Asserting independence?

By: NATIONAL

NATIONAL — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 17:12:10 +0000

Showing his true (blue) colors…

While this is about my local Congressman, I think he’s a case study in the political machinations Democrats (and sadly some Republicans) make in voting in such a manner to keep their jobs.Oh, the tangled webs politicians weave. You know,……

By: monoblogue » Blog Archive » Showing his true (blue) colors

monoblogue » Blog Archive » Showing his true (blue) colors — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:59:49 +0000

[...] opponent as many Republicans were. But he knew we on the right would give him kudos for doing so, even I did earlier this [...]

By: Marc

Marc — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:52:35 +0000

I’m almost certain that Gilchrest voted for SCHIP, although I’m too lazy to look it up right now.

Regardless, you are performing an important service. In 2010 Kratovil will campaign for Republican votes while highlighting a few high-profile breaks with Pelosi, like the stimulus vote. We need to remind voters that while he may get a few votes right, Kratovil also gets many wrong. We can do better than him as a Congressman and I’m looking forward to having a Republican Representative from CD1 sworn in on Jan. 3, 2011.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:20:05 +0000

On that count I would say you’re mostly correct; however I’d have to look up how Gilchrest voted on SCHIP because I think he voted against it – my memory could be incorrect there though.

And yes, one could argue that Kratovil voted with the Republicans x percent of the time on the whole, since there are some issues which passed with little to no opposition, like one vote congratulating the University of Florida for winning the national championship in college football. This is why I wrote the article as I did, taking into account a few votes where thoughtful Democrats broke party lines but he didn’t. or votes where his conservative district may have differed in their assessment, like the Amtrak amendment – a classic case of I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine, never mind if it’s a subsidy that puts one entity at a competitive advantage for no reason aside to give Joe Biden a ride to work.

By: Marc

Marc — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:06:14 +0000

Given Gilchrest’s record, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that on the important votes, Kratovil is more conservative than Gilchrest. A lot of votes are procedural and don’t really mean much, so Kratovil voting along party lines isn’t all that important. But Michael did a good job of illustrating how Kratovil voted during the important roll calls. Those are the votes that really matter. Kratovil has been reasonably conservative so far. I don’t think we’d see the same from Gilchrest. For instance, I’d guess that Gilchrest would have voted for the bailout.

I’m not real pleased with having Kratovil as our Congressman, but I do think he’s more conservative than Gilchrest. I also think that we can do better in 2010 and get a real conservative in there.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:24:32 +0000

No, we wanted someone who would be a reliably conservative vote. I TOLD you people he would vote pretty much as he’s done so far. Yes I was pleasantly surprised on the bailout but look how he played it both ways on the TARP bill – typical politician.

So hopefully the lesson IS learned and the First District elects Andy Harris (or a reasonable facsimile) to Congress in 2010.

By: ShoreThings

ShoreThings — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:07:38 +0000

I guess that maverick Wayne Gilchrest looks pretty good to you now. The Republicans bit off more than they could chew when they flew off the right wing with Andy Harris. Instead of Gilchrest voting 68% with the Republicans, you now have a congressman that votes 86% with the Democrats. Lesson learned. Be careful what you wish for.