Don’t let the door hit ya, Stupidpak…

TPM giving this one to the Rs. Saltonstall to librul for the district according to TPM, fwiw.

Over at HuffPo they are giving the Tea Party all the credit for Stupak’s desire to spend more time with his family. Do you think there was any real pressure coming from the left or would you agree with the HuffPo assessment?

As much as I want to blame Stupak I can’t do it.

He’s pro-life. I disagree, but he’s doing what he believes in.

How many Progressive congressmen can say the same thing? How many of them can say they were willing to tank HCR to do what they thought was right?

Zero.

So I’m happy he’s gone sure, but I’ll not insult the man.

I think after he backtracked and supported the bill, the right turned against him. The left was already against him. I think he was facing the fact that outside of his immediate family, he didn’t have much of a base left.

I think it likely that the Tea Party turning against him was the final nail. Politically, he might have been better off to continue to oppose.

Boxturtle (Smithers, give him a 10 second start. Then release the hounds)

Having done the Vatican’s work Stupak can now leave. Pedophile Central err Rome is busy with other matters for a while.

Maybe Bart Stupak has met his “compadres” on the right and discovered the enemy is “us”

he’s doing what he believes in.

Incoherent though that may be. It’s fine with Stupak if already alive people die for lack of medical care. It’s just the unborn he cares about. Somehow I find it difficult to respect someone like that.

How does it go? ‘What goes around …

well there certainly wasn’t any pressure from DNC – both Hoyer and Pelosi “urged him to seek re election”

thinking there’s a cushy think tank gig . . . and I wouldn’t be surprised if it came via his anti choice buddy Pitts as payment for services rendered

Stupak is not leaving because of death threats. Like most who are retiring now, he’s leaving to avoid an embarassing loss come November.

Right, but I think David wrote a post awhile ago about a Dem challenger (leadership desires notwithstanding). I don’t have time at the moment to look it up, so I was hoping he could add a quick comment to clarify whether that challenger looked legit or whether it was another fizzled attempt as he described in his earlier post about NC.

It’s fine with Stupak if already alive people die for lack of medical care. It’s just the unborn he cares about

need to challenge that. My children and I don’t have coverage, this bill does not provide coverage for us. But when all provisions kick in, if I’m in the same financial category as today, I (and my youngest child) will be except from the mandate, but still not have coverage nor be able to afford it.

it was probably Connie Saltonstall although now I am intrigued by David’s Swing State link – heading over there

As per msnbc – Justice Stevens also officially announcing retirement today as well

I did not mean to imply that HCR provided coverage for all. Not at all. Just trying to contrast Stupak’s double standard.

Will he still get his Family-subsidized housing?

Friday data dump.

What the hell is going on? I don’t agree with Bart Stupak, but the idea that anyone who wants to be a politician in Congress needs to endure a few death threats and get over it is a huge indictment of American society.

We have permanent bans on arrests and bringing charges against politicians in Congress while they are in session because we don’t want threats to keep them from their appointed rounds. If we have politicians being threatened with death to the point of resigning, we have a political culture of the gun. Grow up.

can’t shed much of a single tear for Bart Stupak.

There. Fixed.

he might have been better off to continue to oppose..

..then he wouldn’t have been able to cut that deal he knew was always there at the WH.

Good riddance, Bart. You once were an icon to all the backward, bible-thumping bubbas “up north” in my once lovely, once Progressive state of Michigan, but you’ve always been a disgrace.

No matter how fast you run, karma always catches up with you. Asshole.

Justice Stevens also officially announcing retirement today as well

This should make for some interesting Theater

Apparently John Paul Stevens has announced his retirement.

What Happened To The Big Tent?

Stevens steps on Stupak.

Obama can now demonstrate his bipartisanship by nominating Starr to the SC.

Ha! Yes. Bipartisanship is so important…

I thought it was common knowledge that Conservatives are pro-life right up until birth.

As for him leaving because of Liberals or Tea-Baggers, which of these 2 groups throws bricks through windows or severs gas lines? There’s your answer.

Will the Rethugs try to prevent seating a new justice to give Roberts et all free rein to activate fast and furious?

I love it. And it was probably intentional.

I didn’t say I respect him.

I said I respected that he was standing up for what he believes in and doesn’t care if he tanked HCR.

I wish Progressives had that much spine.

so at most, I respect his spine.

Wouldn’t that be fitting. Saw Starr’s endorsing of Liu yesterday

Wonder no longer

The second-ranking Republican in the Senate suggested on Sunday that the party would filibuster the next appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court, if that nominee were deemed to be outside of the judicial mainstream

I never supported “The Big Tent”. Blue Dogs kept driving tent stakes through my foot, then denying me medical care for the injury……

So Huffpo is pushing the death threat angle. Everything can be blamed on the tea party. If you think it’s something else, you’re not trying hard enough. Since when did Huffpo take Bart Stupak at his word. Is every single progressive blog working off a script. I swear.

You’re backtracking. First you said you’ll not insult the man, now you’re saying you didn’t say you respect him. Spoken like a true Democrat.

We have too many Republics in power and in control of the media.

Aren’t they too busy driving around the tent in those little tiny cars to have time to drive stakes into the ground?

Blue Dogs kept driving tent stakes through my foot,

I like that, hadn’t heard that one before !

It’s called “Banana Republic.”

What spine. He took a crap and now he’s gone.

Is every single progressive blog working off a script. I swear.

Was there a conference call last night?

New post up top…

First, Stupak scored the perfect political play–pissing off everybody but his dog. And, maybe even the dog is not happy with him.

He was finished and he knew it. I don’t think threats had a part in it. All politicians, right and left received threats. Sad, but true. If people quit because of that, there would be no one left. (which might be good).

Second, the difference in your last point is that no one is sitting and, with premeditation, deciding to to end the life of some one without insurance. I mean specifically deciding “YOU, I am going to end your life” (it certainly is living tissue–not any disagreement on that). And, I am going to end it at this time and place exactly.

As someone whose mother was 16 when she had me, and whose father disappeared, literally, just after finding out my mom was pregnant, I’m glad Roe vs Wade was not around then. So, forgive me if I can’t support it. My family was extremely poor, and it made no sense to have me, but who gives a crap about a bad world and hand to mouth existence?

The chance to see Yosemite Valley, the chance to meet a wonderful person and fall in love, the chance to cheer for my favorite team, and the chance to see my own child born–THAT is what it is all about.

Just go ahead and insult Stupak. Why respect him? He’s a misogynist who has no respect for women.

Just call him what he is: a reactionary asshole. Go ahead and do it. You’ll feel better. I know I did.

Agreed. I’m enjoying this immensely.

The sorry, miserable fuck will have a hefty pension and the best of health care for the rest of his sorry miserable life. Far better than he deserves and far better than the majority of the American people.

I’m glad the POS is gone. Not an iota of sympathy here.

The Blue Dogs have to come out of the clown cars eventually. That’s when they pick up the big mallets and give the rest of us the beating of our lives.

Then again, sometimes they play it low key, like Baucus, when he called for “more police” to deal with single-payer advocates at “his” hearing.

Either way, Ringmaster Obama smiles and works the crowd for applause.

I’m just sick and tired of older white men telling me what to do with my body in the name of some holier than thou, I got it from on high because I’m more godly than you, bullsh**. Stupack lived in splendor at C Street and was funded quite well by that BOYZ club (mostly boys only, too, you will note), wherein they allowed their vaunted, holier than thou, brethren to fool around on their wives all of the time – I’m looking at you, John Ensign, and you, Mr. Hiking on the Appalacian Trail John Sanford, and many others of the same ilk – and get up to lots of other political and financial shenanigans under the rubric that the “rules” of the church were for the rubes, uh, “little people,” but not such vaunted, holier than thou MEN as themselves, thank you very much, who were annointed by the big man upstairs to “run the world” if you please.

I mostly “get” what one prior post here says about Stupak allegedly having a “spine” of some sort to stick up for his “beliefs.” Well, yeah, maybe sort of. But seriously: what “beliefs” were those? Those were “beliefs” to keep women down and in their place, frankly, and given the pederasts in Rome sanctioning getting away with criminal actions daily, I have a HUGE problem granting any of these holier than thou, so-called “godly” MEN parading around with their “morals” and “scruples” that they’re foisting on women in the name of “jaysus.” It’s patent crap. It’s about keeping women in their place. It has little to nothing to do with the “sanctity of life” bc if it *really* was about life’s purported “sanctity” then these same lying scum bags would be worrying about life after you’re born. And they just do NOT. I call bullsh** of the first order, and I have NO respect for Stupak’s purported spine or beliefs.

I do have some concerns about anyone in office getting death threats, and it’s a disgrace that somehow rightwingers are permitted and encouraged and directed to behave this way with impunity, AS IF they have some kind of moral right to behave this way. I’m thoroughly disgusted with that. I don’t care who they threaten: it shouldn’t be permitted.

That said, Stupak’s a jerk and liar and a creep. FWIW, Rachel Maddow has kept up a full-court press on him (good for her in this case!) and others who lived at C Street and got very cheap room and board and other services via the “Family;” said “church” continues to LIE about everything, excellent “christianists” that they are.

So, perhaps something was about to “break” with his financial skullduggery, and it suddenly became time for him to spend time with his family. In this scumbag’s case, I recommend following the money, too, and I actually question just how many “for real” people offered in death threats. I believe nothing of what creeps like Stupak say.

Yes, likely, the main reason Stupak quit is that the promised “greeting with flowers” never happened on the health care bill. It’s still a turkey and everyone still knows it.

The ONLY person to benefit is Obama, but, not even him since his rating continues to go down. However; in his mind, I am sure he is GREAT.

Stupak was a back bencher from the sticks that thought he might be the dems Sister Sarah. AMF – don’t let the coat hanger that Neanderthal dick head Pitts gave you whack you in the ass on the way out.

Am I seeing a trend here or is is just my paranoia – Are the tea baggers doing a better job of getting rid of the blue dogs and anti-choicers from the “big tent” than the libs are?

AMEN!!!!! Stupak got HIS, EFF the rest of us.

That is exactly where he’s at. No sympathy whatsoever. Good riddance to a lying POS.

No one in Congress is there to vote THEIR conscience. They are there to represent the people in their district. And Stupak failed miserably. I’m delighted that he won’t be back. He’s a whiny wingnut.

There’s a chance that the DCCC is looking at the same polling we’re seeing, and come November, even a Blue Dog will be preferable and be loved, just maybe

I think you’re on to something. Remember, the teabaggers have always been suspicious of the Blue Dogs because of that (D) behind their names.

The Blue Dogs deliver to the teabaggers on a silver platter, and yet the teabaggers will turn on them and purge them from the political scene in a heartbeat.

There’s a lesson here not only for Blue Dogs, but for Obama and Rahm: you can’t please these people. They’re ignorant and unstable.

It doesn’t pass the smell test. Stupor is going to work for the only company that appreciates him. The catholic crime family. Perhaps he will get to wear one of the pervert’s uniforms to work?

They’re ignorant and unstable.

Not sure if that’s the cause but if it was the Teas that caused his departure, they minimally have some Power.

Which is possibly more than we appear to have

This was cross posted at the comments section in the NY Times Caucus (what is loosely referred to as a blog) Blog. My guess is that the NYY moderator will not post it as it is an indictment on the media and themselves.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/09/rep-stupak-expected-to-retire/?hp#preview

“The Pro-life is the loudest only because the media amplifies their message in all its uneducated glory. If anyone bothered to understand the compromise, this bill that passed is a major set back to access to a legal medical procedure called abortion. Prolifers should be celebrating because it is one step closer to outlawing the procedure as experts believe this is written in such a way to set it up for a Supreme Court challenge. But they know, if they remain silent in this victory, progress toward outlawing a woman’s right to choose will stall.

Thus, they continue their screaming and yelling and the MSM dutifully reports on their tantrums and it drives the coverage and all the inaccurate information that goes with it. It happened so much so that Stupak — who was the one that was instrumental in getting SOMETHING in the bill that greatly restricts abortion through coverage — meaning without him, the Senate might not have had anything in their version — is villified.

Go and read the article again — no where is there a link to the information needed to assess the validity of the anger directed toward Stupak. No where is this article is an explanation of what the Stupak’s amendment was and what the Senate compromise is. Reading this, one comes away thinking Stupak totally caved while in reality, he is the reason there is an abortion “clause” in the bill in the first place. And most MSM coverage has been like this since the bill passed — because the MSM is just an amplifier of this anger from the Prolifers.”

Yes because saying I won’t insult him and respect mean exactly the same thing.

oh no wait..you’re making shit up just like a real Democrat.

I think the man wouldn’t knwo civil rights if they bit him. But he’s willign to say fuck you to Obama and tank his whole HCR if he didn’t get what he wanted.

So stop putting words in my mouth, because I have no problem with insulting you.

I’ve called him a million names already in a million other posts.

At the end of the day he was willing to tank HCR and got what he wanted, while the progressives weren’t.

My anger is saved for fake progressives now.

My anger is saved for fake progressives now

:-)

Spine because he was willing to tell Obama to get bent. Spine because he said give me what I want or I’ll tank your whole damn bill.

I don’t want him gone, Iw ant him to suddnely go “oh..I was wrong, I’ma progressive now!” and use that “fucvk you Obama” spine to pass our issues.

I want the so called progressives to grow that much spine.

So insult me all you want for it, but he was willing to say fuck you to Obama when not a single progressive dared.

Okay, I’m not going to reveal my sources but I have it on good authority that this retirement is part of a deal Obama made with Stupak to get his support on the health insurance bill.

You see, President Obama sees Bart “Bon Vivant” Stupak as the perfect choice for Ambassador to France.

Obama knows Monsieur Bart will win over the French with his political savoir-faire and Northern Michigan sophistication. Many places in Bart’s home state even have French names, and Bart mispronounces them as charmingly as the rest of us Michiganders do.

Bon voyage, Monsieur Bart, et va te faire foutre!

Boo fucking hoo. Pig gets to retire with his cushy pension and health care that covers every little need of his man bits.

Fuck him and good riddance.

That’s funny. Pepi la Pew has more savoir-faire than Bart.

Bart mispronounces them as charmingly as the rest of us Michiganders do.

That’s kind of harsh on the Yoopers isn’t it? :)

The whore is dead; long live the next whore.

Who?

Lieberman’s opposition to health care reform was voting for his constituency; the health insurance industry is based in Hartford.

Jane has a fresh cross-post available: FDL Poll: 92%-97% Want FDL to Support Mariuana Legalization

Exactly my feelings, exactly. Fuck him.

To the Demorat Wimps: If the rightwing nutjob extremists are not trying to kill you, you are not doing your job!

Congress is not Club Med.

I wonder if Bart’s decision to retire may not have been influenced, at least in part, by the fact that the ethics investigation into his cozy living arrangements at a “church” is heating up.

Good riddance to bad trash as far as I’m concerned. I hope his martyr complex has been properly fed now that he’s fallen on his shield for all the fetuses in an overpopulated world. Maybe he can now work full time for Fred Phelps and his anti-abortion hatemongers.

Talk about hoisted on his own petard, Stupak hit the trifecta – he earned the enmity of fellow Dems by gumming up their corporate sellout legislation and then the hatred of his own anti-abortion crazies when he turned around and supported it. Who says there’s no justice in the world?

Despite all the death threats from people who previously supported Stupak’s role preserving the lives of the unborn, we must also credit, I think, Rachel Maddow’s relentless hammering over C-Street, Stupak’s living arrangements, and who pays his rent.

For an 18-year back-bencher, this was an uncomfortably regular spotlight being shined where he didn’t want it: on his continual acceptance of discounted living arrangements from a right-wing group attracted like a moth to a flame to powerful men. He was done.

The real reason he is retiring is that he knows he has no chance of winning his next election… he and other “retiring” democrats are bailing like rats off of a sinking ship.

IF the death threats are the real cause of him choosing to retire from office, it is incredibly stupid of Stupak to admit it. There isn’t a better way to ensure that more and stronger threats will be made. Way to embolden the unhinged, Bart.

On second thought, maybe empowering the TeaBaggers is exactly what he wants to do.

For an 18-year back-bencher, this was an uncomfortably regular spotlight being shined where he didn’t want it:

I find it hard to believe that he didn’t want the spotlight when he hijacked the health insurance bill in the name of rolling back Roe v. Wade. He just bit off more than he could chew.

Stupak sowed the wind as a member of the Forced Birth crowd. I’m happy to see him reaping the whirlwind at the hands of his erstwhile allies. Hopefully that will be the lesson not lost on Democrats who want to blow wind with that bunch.

I wonder if Bart’s decision to retire may not have been influenced, at least in part, by the fact that the ethics investigation into his cozy living arrangements at a “church” is heating up.

That’s where I’ll put my money. Thanks again to Rachel Maddow!

That’s what I was thinking too, C Street rent supports

Man, that “party of life” sure has a problem with living people.

Maybe they don’t like “life” so much after it’s born, and can think and act for itself – I think it’s called “free will”.

Stupak’s position in the 1st Congressional District was a strong one and is evidenced by the fact that only no-names had declared their intention to challenge him for his seat. Since Stupak announced his retirement, the local media is abuzz with speculation about which politicians now serving or haved served in the state legislature may now enter the race.
State Senator Michael Prusi appears to be the pundits favorite right now as he’s term limited from running for re-election and is as pro-gun and pro-labor as Stupak but is also thought to be pro-choice altough he rarely discusses that. He is 60 years old though and the idea of representing a district that’s the 2nd largest in area east of the Mississippi may not be appealing to him.
The other possible Democrat often talked about is State Representaive Mike Lahti who is a Stupak protege. Lahti was with Stupak at his retirement announcement and Stupak mentioned Lahti by name as being one of many Democrats who could do a great job in representing the district.
On the Republican side, 105th District State Representative Elsenheimer, who easily beat Connie Saltonstall in the 2008 election for that seat by holding her to just under 37% of the vote, is also reported to be considering entering the race.