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BUYING SENATORS

By Charlie Sykes

One of the legacies of  today's votes is the institionalized bribery of paying off Democrat senators in return for a "yes" vote. Now we're just down to haggling over the price. Michelle Malkin has some details.

Here are the top five Demcare bribes. Keep an eye out on bribes/offers for Democrat Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska; Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas; and Evan Bayh of Indiana. Leave comments or e-mail any new info to add to the list.

Here we go:

1) MARY LANDRIEU AND LOUISIANA: $100 million via Jonathan Karl:

On page 432 of the Reid bill, there is a section increasing federal Medicaid subsidies for “certain states recovering from a major disaster.”

The section spends two pages defining which “states” would qualify, saying, among other things, that it would be states that “during the preceding 7 fiscal years” have been declared a “major disaster area.”

I am told the section applies to exactly one state: Louisiana, the home of moderate Democrat Mary Landrieu, who has been playing hard to get on the health care bill.

In other words, the bill spends two pages describing would could be written with a single world: Louisiana. (This may also help explain why the bill is long.)

2) CALIFORNIA: $300 million, via LA Times:

Contained in the nearly 2,000-page House healthcare bill is a little-noticed provision — worth $300 million to California — that would increase federal Medicare payments to doctors in a wide swath of the state in response to complaints that low reimbursement rates have kept them from taking new patients.

3) AARP

a) Via Philip Klein: $18 million in stimulus money

b) The Medigap royalty/kickback scheme

4) THE ABORTION LOBBY, via LifeNews:

Two leading pro-life organizations that have analyzed the new 2,000-page government-run health care bill released by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid late yesterday say the legislation contains massive abortion funding and a fake amendment that does not truly ban it...

5) BIG LABOR

Via Houston Chronicle, Goodies for labor tucked away in health bill

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 11:03 PM @John H wrote ...

Next year's elections may be close, and we Conservatives have the chance of throwing out some of your Sacred Cow Dems - a few (or a few 1000) fraudulent votes could swing the elections - we need voter ID now - ACORN has shown they and the Dems have no respect for an honest electoral process

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Tuesday, Nov 24 at 8:04 PM John H to TWP wrote ...

He is. My point was and still is, money talks and "conservative" Democrats do not vote Republican, until they do you can have all the ID's you want and it won't change a thing in Wisconsin. You will still have your Doyles, Kohls, Feingolds, Plale, Baldwins, Carpenters, Barretts, etc. If you think getting someone to flash a voter ID will change that, you too are a moron. If conservatives want to win, then they should get those who think they are conservative to vote that way.

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Tuesday, Nov 24 at 6:45 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Jordan--I know all I need to. You sit in front of your computer in the dead of night, lobbing idle threats at strangers. Lonely and pathetic.

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Tuesday, Nov 24 at 2:18 PM TWP wrote ...

Er, John... The point of voter ID isn't to change the way individuals vote, it's to stop people who shouldn't vote at all from doing so. Careful tossing around the term "moron".

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Tuesday, Nov 24 at 10:33 AM John H to Maddog wrote ...

Maddog you are simply a moron. So all the voters in South Milwaukee who vote for Plale, if they had to show an ID they would vote for someone else? Are you allowed outside? Conservative Democracts vote Democratic with or without an ID. They do not vote Republican. They talk the game but don't play it. How would an ID change that?

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Tuesday, Nov 24 at 7:23 AM MADDOG To John H wrote ...

"If "conservative" Democrats are voting Republican please explain Doyle, Plale, Barrett, Kohl, Feingold, etc." I sure will explain its called "LACK OF VOTER ID" Get a voter ID law in place and the dems won't win as much anymore. Why do you think they fight voter ID so ferociously? Disenfranchising someone means you TAKE away their right or ability to do something. Making them show ID does not take their right or ability to vote away.

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Tuesday, Nov 24 at 12:16 AM News2Use wrote ...

Rush called Landrieu the most expensive prostitute in History today (she actually said it was more like a $300 million pay-off for her vote - she seems proud to have sold her vote) - OK, go nuts, LIBS - try to defend such public bribery

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Monday, Nov 23 at 9:30 PM John H to KT and Jordan wrote ...

I never said it was right. It is how it is. You can make your own judgment and wring hands from now until hell feezess but money talks. The "conservative" Democrats who talk a big game but then continue to go on votiing for Democrats are the ones you should be upset with not for me for pointing out the obvvious. If "conservative" Democrats are voting Republican please explain Doyle, Plale, Barrett, Kohl, Feingold, etc. The problem is with conservatives who are not conservative.

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Monday, Nov 23 at 7:43 PM Jordan wrote ...

"Jordan--once again, lonely and pathetic.." Ahh, Anonymoron, if you only knew... And nice attempt to refute my point and defend your socialist comrade John H... If shredding stupid and meritless liberal ideas and arguments makes me lonely and pathetic then I'm changing my moniker to Theodore Kaczinski... on second thought he a liberal wasn't he..?

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Monday, Nov 23 at 5:14 PM Dave P. wrote ...

Anonymous - as usual, a coward.

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Monday, Nov 23 at 2:55 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Jordan--once again, lonely and pathetic.

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Monday, Nov 23 at 10:45 AM Mombo Napolitano wrote ...

The most open and ethical administration and party in history. Today’s NeoCom Statist Destructionist Party.

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 11:48 PM Carl wrote ...

transparency ... never mind ...we don't have the votes ... never mind ... votes bought, mission accomplished.

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 11:31 PM That One wrote ...

I can't wait for the Republican Revolution to sweep in because then I know there won't be any lobbyists left in Washington.

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 9:06 PM Jordan wrote ...

And btw, The Saturday Night live open was hilarious. Even libs like Lorne Michaels realize what a treasure chest of comedy Lord BO's admin. is... too bad BO is destroying the country in the process of providing almost writers-not-required skits for SNL

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 7:11 PM Jordan wrote ...

Is John H. Brian H.'s brother or something...? Having two Moron H.'s can get confusing

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 7:03 PM TWP wrote ...

This isn't how democracy "works", it's how democracy degenerates. "When (Americans) discover that they can vote themselves money from the public till, the experiment will be over." - Alexis de Tocqueville.

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 6:49 PM Jordan wrote ...

Wow, thank god.. John H. cleared it all up for us 'neo-cons'... Us Forest Gumps out here have no idea how the political process works. I suppose according to you if $1 trillion was earmarked in this bill to build a solid gold mansion for Mary Landieu (in order to secure her vote for this POS bill) it would be just fine with you, since “everyone gets bribed.” It’s a matter of degree and the importance of the actual piece of legislation being debated you smug intellectual dwarf.

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 5:58 PM Amy P. wrote ...

Anon 5:55 pm: If an executive at a business paid a Senator $100 million to vote a certain way on legislation, that would be considered BRIBERY. Hence, this IS bribery and with OUR money.

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 4:50 PM KT to John H wrote ...

Just because bribes are common does not make them right. I think we all know that junk goes on, but it's really a bad way to be dealing with people's lives. BTW, if you're seriously not concerned about the gov. being in control of your health care, you will be as soon as it impacts you personally.

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 4:39 PM DWIGHT wrote ...

Our big state disaster, THE DOYLE YEARS. WHERE'S THE MONEY?

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 1:12 PM ijeff wrote ...

To the liberal morons like Anonymous, it precisely the reason why government can't be trusted. Apparently as long as it liberals benefiting from the bribes, all is well in their demented little minds. This is precisely why the free market economy works and why government control does not. Once we become as pathetic as all the other failed socialist countries, people mike wake up but it will be too late. Just look at Europse.

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 12:18 PM John H wrote ...

Wow Lizabeth you are quite dramatic. Here is how democracy works, everyone gets bribed, they debate, more bribes, more debate, more bribes, and the side that did the best bribing wins. This cannot be news to anyone. What do you think lobbyists are, they are bribers. Being called a lobbyist kind of takes the stink off it. Everone bribes, that is what politics is. May not like it, but bribing does win votes and does get results. You neo cons cannot be that naive.

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 11:41 AM Elmer Fudd wrote ...

I looked up the definition of "bribe" in the dictionary and it said "See democrat". Hey anonymous: Do you wear a bag over your head too?

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 11:25 AM Troy wrote ...

Since anony won't answer,I will do it for him.If the right did it,it would be wrong,but since the left did it,its OK and needed it to be done.Don't look at what is going on here,there is a war going on and Bush did this and that.Also don't you want people to get health care and you hate poor people.There,I think thats pretty much all the excuses I can think of that a lefty would use.All that doesn't change the fact that its a bribe.Even dressing it up,its still a bribe.

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 10:23 AM tyrone wrote ...

Is it too much off a stretch to call the DC dome the biggest (and most expensive) whore house in the world!

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 9:09 AM jenni wrote ...

They are counting on the short attention span of the American people. Time after time, quasi socialist things have been passed with the people screaming they are not Constitution, only to have them become commonplace. Think abortion. At least two generations have reached the age of majority with abortion being common.

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 6:57 AM Bob in Zion wrote ...

Democrats don't care if they lose congress as long as they get this passed. Like so many other social programs once the ball is rolling it's impossible to stop, or even slow down.

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Sunday, Nov 22 at 12:03 AM KT to @lizbeth wrote ...

I agree, these people are willing to commit political suicide for the sake of increasing gov. control. BO's very willing to throw some congressmen under the bus next Nov. to get control of health care. I'm beyond upset about this huge mess. I've done everything legally possible short of going to D.C., but the Dems continue to turn their backs, put their fingers in their ears, & ignore the people they should represent.

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 11:02 PM Jordan to lizbeth wrote ...

Not only do you have the best female name ever (Elizabeth) you are my new hero.. I'm with you, let's fight...!

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 9:14 PM @lizbeth wrote ...

you're not alone - I'm angry, depressed, and fearful when i think about the USSA my daughters might grow up in - even if this is political suicide by some Senators, it shows that the Left/DEMs/LIBs/Socialists will do anything, however corrupt, to get this monstrosity passed - they know it will likely insure DEMO/Socialist control of the US Government forever, as everyone will be dependent on the Government for Health Care. We've got to fight this with all (currently) legal means necessary

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 9:08 PM Cletus wrote ...

Another over reach by the democrats. BO will destroy the democratic party nationally just as doyle has destroyed the party in our state.

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 8:32 PM Jordan wrote ...

Once again Anonymoron, "If i want your opinion, I'll beat it out of you.."

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 8:20 PM lizbeth wrote ...

I'd call myself annonymous too. Just what do you call bribery* and stealing? *corrupt with money

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 8:16 PM tyrone to anon wrote ...

How in the world can look at this and not call it bribery!thats arrogance squared!And thats realy dim of you to not see it.Take your liberal binders off and see it for what it is.Another nail in the coffin for hard working people of america.The kind that go to work each day and hope that the job last another day because of the tax hell liberals are commited to, you arrogant pri-k

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 8:11 PM lizbeth wrote ...

sorry about the prevous post and errors, I'm really upset

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 8:09 PM lizbeth wrote ...

Its 8:00 pm nearly time for the American people to get the shaft ran in them futher than they ever have. Sorry filks, they just said it passed. they got thr 60 votes. God help us all

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 7:55 PM Jordan wrote ...

I hope Saturday Night Live does something with this... Even though Lorne is a lib, they have been hitting D's pretty hard because it's just so easy... the skits write themselves. I'm thinkin a Huggy Bear outfit for Reid (think Kramer from the “Jiffy Park” Seinfeld episode). A hooker outfit for Landreau. Have a mock-up built of the actual Senate floor and have these sleazebag D’s wheeling and dealing in pimp, hooker, and 'John' outfits… Ahh, I missed my calling, again..

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 7:25 PM Kazman wrote ...

So Anonymous...Please explain how this is not a Bribe...Because it can be done is not a reason, Because it's a Legal "Bribe" doesn't make it right. You Dems & Libs are so Sleaze and back room politics you make Nixon look like a Rookie !!!

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 7:14 PM Troy wrote ...

Does this really surprise anyone?The next time the left tells the truth will be the first.How bad the stimius bill was paying off people,you would have thought the dems would have learned.2010 will be huge and tell what Americans really want from their government.Lets just hope people will see the difference between the 2 parties.

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 5:04 PM MKR wrote ...

344 days 15 hours until the polls open on Nov 2 2010.

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 4:55 PM Paul wrote ...

Assuming this horrible bill passes, this will be a sad day in American history

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 4:52 PM Paul wrote ...

I would hope the voters in these senator's states would realize how they were bought off, but I doubt it. Also, one congressperson already was caught admitting the abortion funding will be put back in the bill after it passes this cloture vote (which, unfortunately. it looks like it will). I don't understand the entire process - I thought Lieberman could filibuster to stop the vote...?

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 4:41 PM R.J. wrote ...

That'll buy a lot of trailers, dental care, and Budweiser.

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 4:00 PM Jim the Fireman wrote ...

Jim, that book is one of my favs. And that money that is paying off the senatorial whores is not "Obama's Stash"--it's our money. And we're receiving and not the giving end of the screwin'.

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 2:52 PM Jim wrote ...

This reminds me of a book title from P.J. O'Rourke: A Parliament of Whores.

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 2:50 PM Billiam wrote ...

What?! Politicians selling themselves like hookers in Vegas?! Say it ain't so! Lefty's think this is just fine. Their angst at this kind of crap only applies when Repubs do it. Hypocrites.

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 1:04 PM JPH wrote ...

Wow this is a big surprise, politicians offering and accepting bribes. What will be next that they don't read the bills they vote on? When it comes to offering or accepting bribes it is no longer red or blue it is simply green.

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 12:55 PM Anonymous wrote ...

The fact that you think this is bribery and stealing shows how incredibly dim you people are.

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Saturday, Nov 21 at 12:50 PM Tom wrote ...

Let's get on Herb and Russ's butts for not getting our share of "Obama's stash". Why should we be left out of stealing other people's money?

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