things I right

5:29pm: Why we're doomed.
President Obama's $825 (maybe more) Billion Spending Debacle is about to pass the House.

In this, the 111th Congress, Democrats have a 79 vote advantage (if you include the two "independents" who basically vote with Democrats anyway), 257 to 178, over Republicans.

A simple majority in the House is 218.

This means NO bill can pass the House without at least SOME Democrats on board: Period.

In debating the 2009 spend-a-thon, an amendment was offered up by Jeff Flake of Arizona. After Ron Paul, Flake's probably the most Constitutional member in the House. Not only did his amendment fail, but 61 Republicans voted AGAINST it.

A 2/3 majority in the House is 290. Democrats barely need to siphon 33 Republicans to get to 2/3. They got 61, nearly double that, to vote against Flake.

The only opposition a Democrat agenda MIGHT see in the House is on something need a 3/4 majority.

10:02pm: Spend-a-thon update
Just before I left for school, the final vote was taken on HR 1.

The total amount capped out at $819 Billion (at least according to C-SPAN).

It passed 244 to 188. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll046.xml

Going by this count, there was one not voting (Ginny Brown-Waite, a Republican) and 2 seats still vacant.

177 of 178 Republicans voted against it along with 11 Democrats.

So, last post's figures were off. There are 255 Democrats and 178 Republicans, but no Independents, according to this roll call. That's Democrats with nearly 59% of the House and 2 seats still vacant. If they get them both, that's 257 or a definite 59%.