5 Repugs toss Paul Ryan under the Crazy Bus

Ryan Budget Fails in Senate; 5 Republicans Defect


The Ryan budget plan just failed by a vote of 40 in favor and 57 opposed. Senate Republicans voting "NO":

Scott Brown
Susan Collins
Lisa Murkowski
Rand Paul
Olympia Snowe

Dick Lugar and Orrin Hatch, both facing potential primary armageddon from teabaggers, both voted in favor of eliminating Medicare. No Democrats defected.

By David Nir | Sourced from Daily Kos
Posted at May 25, 2011, 3:04 pm


http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/598534/ryan_budget_fails_in_senate%3B_5_republicans_defect/

nt

It didn't go far enough, though how much farther it should have gone is beyond me.

Libertarians won't be happy until Americans are dying in the streets without food and medical care. I think of them as the "Soilent" Green party!

Mwanwhile ReTHUGS are getting ready to eat one another on TV :rofl:

I thought he drove the crazy bus?

...for holding that vote today. It forced Republicans to cast a very uncomfortable vote and put 40 of their senators ON RECORD as having voted to eliminate Medicare. Had Reid waited to hold the vote a week or two from now, many more Republicans would have probably voted against Ryan's budget. Good job, Sen. Reid. You always get the job done!

Lisa Murkowski is the Joe Lieberman of the GOP - she's still pissed at them for supporting Joe Miller.

These seats, currently held by "Class 1" republicans (up for re-election in 2012, though Hutchison and Kyl won't be running) who voted "yay":

Barrasso, John (WY)
Corker, Bob (TN)
Hatch, Orrin G. (UT)
Heller, Dean (NV)
Hutchison, Kay Bailey (TX)
Kyl, Jon (AZ)
Lugar, Richard G. (IN)
Wicker, Roger F. (MS)

Are these all "safe" districts for republicans? Even if they want to end medicare?
Have any democratic candidates announced yet?

Heller (in Nevada) was appointed to fill Ensign's seat. He's never before run a statewide campaign, and the Ensign scandal may tarnish the whole Republican brand.

Corker (in Tennessee) won a fairly close race last time -- the only close Senate race that the Republicans won in 2006. I don't know whether the Democrats have a strong challenger, though.

Lugar (in Indiana) may be vulnerable from the right. There's been talk of a possible Tea Party opponent for him in the primary. Presumably, his anti-Medicare vote is an attempt to insulate himself against that possibility. It's probably a correct political calculation (from the point of view of pure self-interest as opposed to, oh, say, caring about your country). If he makes it to the general election ballot, he'll be the heavy favorite.

Incidentally, I think Hutchison (Texas) didn't vote "Yes", but rather was absent. As you say, though, it doesn't matter if she sticks to her announced decision not to run.

the others would be tough but after the NY-26 race - anything can happen!