Carolina Politics Online

Heath Shuler (D-NC-11) may be in serious reelection trouble next year for a couple of reasons.  For one, he’s a Democrat representing a district that voted for both John McCain and George Bush and was held by a Republican representative for 12 years prior to Shuler winning the office.  The country has been slowly moving away from Obama and the Democrats after witnessing their destructive policies and radical actions and Republicans are sure to benefit from that growing disdain.  That will work against him right there, but what might put the final nail in his political coffin could be the land deal and his involvement with the decisions made by the Tennessee Valley Authority.  Basically, Shuler lied.

Shuler’s office points out that he has been cleared of wrongdoing in the case by the House ethics committee, federal authorities and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) inspector general. But a report released by that inspector general this week indicates he wasn’t truthful about the matter with the local press.

The report from the inspector general states that, contrary to Shuler’s claims, he contacted TVA CEO Tom Kilgore while the land swap was in progress. Shuler has told the local press that there had been no contact between him and the TVA, according to reports.

“Specifically, if all of this was above board, why did TVA and Shuler feel compelled to tell the media that there was no contact between the congressman and TVA in relation to the Maintain and Gain application?” the report said. “There obviously was.”

The Hill

That was a pretty important detail for Shuler to divulge and yet for some reason it “slipped his mind.”  You don’t forget important details like that in an ethics investigation and you don’t lie about it if you truly believe you have done nothing wrong.  I simply cannot come to any other logical conclusion.  The man had guilt on his mind.  What other reason could there possibly be for his actions?

The RNC is going to beat this to death next year.  If you live in the 11th District you are going to see ad after ad after ad about this land deal.  The RNC will most certainly work to find a top tier candidate, but even a mediocre one may be able to take Shuler out next year as there may be people who will vote Republican as a vote against Shuler more than a vote in support of the GOP candidate.  Either way, I don’t think Pete Sessions will particularly mind what their motivation is.  They’ve wanted this seat back since they lost it in aught six. ( I could have typed ‘06, but I have really been looking for a reason all week to use the word aught.)

This is incredible.

To all who would cast U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as political villain, Heath Shuler had this to say: “She’s the most misunderstood person in Washington.”

Along with questions about health care reform and cap-and-trade legislation, students wanted to know what Pelosi is like as a person.

“She’s very misunderstood,” the congressman said. “She’s a devout Catholic. Don’t get in a Bible discussion with her.”

Asheville-Citizen Times

Wow.  Don’t even start on the whole “devout Catholic” thing.  I am Catholic, while not a practicing one, I was raised in a Catholic home with a Catholic mother and I know that one of the biggest tenets of Catholicism is the respect of life, including that of the unborn.  Abortion is the anathema of the Catholic church and Pelosi is a huge supporter of abortion on demand.  As a Libertarian, I am not completely on board with outlawing abortion even though I consider myself pro-life, but I also would not be described as a devout Catholic.  No devout Catholic politician would protect the right to an abortion.

But that aside, Pelosi may be a Bible “scholar,” but that doesn’t mean that she isn’t the lying, corrupt, sleazy politician that she is.  The woman is manipulative and conniving and she is an extremist left wing socialist by all comparisons.  She is steering this country into a head on collision with disaster and her actions are going to destroy the lives of millions of Americans if her agenda is not stopped.

It’s rather striking to me that Shuler would take the time to even have this discussion.  I mean, I don’t expect him to trash her or say anything negative, but that also doesn’t mean he should be painting her like she is the sugar plum fairy either.  His words tell me very clearly that in the next Congress he will be prepared to reelect her as Speaker.  We can’t have that.  We cannot have the extremist fringe running this country.

I supported Shuler’s reelection last year, but next year I don’t think I can.  He did well his first term, but since he’s survived his first reelection he’s started to slip.

HR 3962, the infamous Pelosi health care bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives last night by a mere five votes.  This doesn’t mean that we’re doomed.  The U.S. Senate still has their own version to pass and then it has to be reconciled with the House bill and both chambers have to vote on the final combo bill.  It is unlikely this will all happen before the end of the year, so there is time for the American people to stop this.

I want you to understand what this bill does.  It is going to cost in excess of $1.2 trillion over the next ten years.  This is all new spending on top of what our government spends today.  Bear in mind, we have a $1.7 trillion budget deficit this year alone an $11 trillion debt.  It’s actually even worse than that, though.  The $1.2 trillion figure is what the House reps are saying.  The CBO has a much, much larger price tag.

Senator Gregg: Updated CBO Estimate of House Bill Pulls Back the Curtain on Majority’s Intent to Grow Government by $3 Trillion

Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH), ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee today commented on the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) more detailed cost estimate of the manager’s amendment to the House health reform bill.

Senator Gregg stated, “The CBO estimate released last night finally sheds light on the smoke and mirrors game the majority has been playing with the cost of their health care reform proposal. Over the first 10 years, this legislation builds in gross new spending of $1.7 trillion – and most of the new spending doesn’t even start until 2014. Once that spending is fully phased in, the House Democratic bill rings up at more than $3 trillion over ten years.

“Additionally, this bill cuts critical Medicare and Medicaid funding by $628 billion, accounts for nearly $1.2 trillion in tax and fee increases and will explode the scope of government by putting the nation’s health care system in the hands of Washington bureaucrats. The $3 trillion price tag defies common sense – we simply cannot add all this new spending to the government rolls and claim to control the deficit.

“If we continue to pile more and more debt on the next generation, they will never be able to get out from under it. The health care system needs reform, but this massive expansion of government, financed by our children and grandchildren, is the wrong way to proceed.”

This bill will fine employers who do not provide health insurance to their employees.  This is a double edged sword.  Many small business, for one, don’t provide it because they can’t.  Of those companies that do, the fine that would be implemented by the Federal government will actually cost less than providing the benefits.  The obvious result is that many companies out there will simply drop employee health benefits and force them onto the public “option.”  Personally, I think this is by design because the Democrats have been very open about wanting a single payer government run health care system and that is exactly the path we will go down.

This bill will make your current insurance policy even more expensive.  Remember how the whole point of health care “reform” was to lower the cost.  Yeah, that’s out the door.  Taxes on medical devices and supplies as well as on insurance companies and mandates requiring them to cover anyone who walks through the door regardless of age or preexisting conditions will raise the price of your insurance.  This will put many more Americans on the public “option” because they won’t be able to afford the premium increase or their company will stop offering the benefits and just pay the fine.  We are headed towards a two-tiered health care system.  High quality health care for the elite rich of our nation who can afford to pay outside the public “option” and a watered down rationed system for the rest of us.

This bill was 1,990 pages long.  Everyone that voted for this bill doesn’t have the slightest clue what is in it.  They haven’t had it long enough to know and many of them have already admitted that they don’t read the bills anyway.

Probably the most destructive part of this bill is the individual mandate.  Never in the history of our nation, one that prides itself of personal freedom and liberty, has our government passed a law forcing the American people to  buy a product.  This is blatantly unconstitutional and I imagine that if the Senate companion bill passes with the same mandate, which it does possess, and this is signed into law there will be Constitutional challenges to this piece.   I want you to understand the ramifications if such a mandate is held up by the Supreme Court.  Going forward our government will have no limitation of powers.  Once they are told by the highest court in the land that they are allowed to tell us what to buy based upon the court’s interpretation of the Commerce Clause or providing the general welfare, they will have complete control over the American people.  Our nation as we know it today will be a thing of the past.  We are heading into a Soviet style government.  Make no mistake about it.

All Republicans in North and South Carolina voted against this bill.  Democrat Congressmen Larry Kissell, Mike McIntyre, and Heath Shuler also voted against the bill.

The following Democrats voted to throw you in the gulag if you don’t buy health insurance.

• G. K. Butterfield (NC-01)
• Bob Etheridge (NC-02)
• David Price (NC-04)
• Mel Watt (NC-12)
• Brad Miller (NC-13)
• Jack Spratt (SC-05)
• Jim Clyburn (SC-06)

Queen Pelosi has set a vote for this Saturday, November 7th for the $1.05 trillion tyrannical health care bill they have pieced together in the House. The Democrats hold 258 House seats; 218 aye votes are needed to pass, which means 41 Democrats need to defect from their party in order to stop this, assuming no Republicans vote for it and I don’t think any will. That might sound like a tall order, but it may not be. The Blue Dog Democrats as well as other more moderate Democrats representing Republican districts are considerably nervous after Tuesday night’s election wins for the GOP in Virginia and New Jersey, so there will be considerable resistance to this bill, mainly on the grounds that it is too expensive.

This can be stopped, but the public has to take action. If your Congressman is a member of the Blue Dog coalition absolutely call their offices and tell them to oppose this bill.  In North Carolina we have two Blue Dog Democrats, Congressman Heath Shuler (NC-11) and Congressman Mike McIntyre (NC-07).

If your Congressman isn’t a member of the Blue Dogs, but still represents a moderate or Republican leaning district, like my Congressman, call them too. They are just as vulnerable to an angry public.  I would recommend contacting Congressmen Bob Etheridge (NC-02), Larry Kissell (NC-08),  and John Spratt (SC-05).  And even if you have an out of touch far left kook “representing” you in Congress, it doesn’t hurt to call them either. You might be surprised. And call the Republicans too, just to be sure.

If you don’t want to be thrown in jail for not buying a government approved health care plan, then you had better take some action. If you don’t you only have yourself to blame when intrusive government comes barreling down on you and your family.

It would appear as if Shuler’s land shenanigans have caught the eye of the House Ethics Committee.

Before he was elected to Congress in 2006, Shuler invested in a real estate development called the Cove at Blackberry Ridge near Knoxville. The investment is worth from $5 million to $25 million, according to his financial disclosure reports. In August 2008, the News-Sentinel reported that the TVA gave the Cove waterfront rights to build a boat dock in exchange for other land the real estate venture owned. The swap was made while Shuler sat on a House transportation subcommittee that oversaw the operations of the TVA, an entity chartered by Congress to manage the Tennessee Valley and its resources.

In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the TVA released redacted pages of a companion inspector general’s report that said the inspector general had determined that the “employee denied knowing Congressman Shuler held an ownership in Blackberry despite evidence [that the employee] was fully aware of his ownership status.”

The TVA declined to identify the employee or provide any more details about the employee’s knowledge of what took place in negotiations over the waterfront parcel, stating that the information was being withheld to “protect personal privacy, witness statements and the deliberative process,” the News-Sentinel reported.

The inspector general’s office forwarded its report to the ethics committee in Washington.

The Washington Post

So the employee who had a hand in negotiating this land swap on behalf of the TVA said he had no idea Shuler had an investment in the property, but then we find out, oops, yes he did.  So was this a special favor to Shuler and if so, what did the employee get out of all of it?  I imagine these are the questions the Ethics Committee will be looking for answers on in coming weeks.

Hendersonville mayor Greg Newman (R) has said that he will run for congress against Rep. Heath Shuler (D) in N.C.’s western-most house seat. Newman was elected mayor in 2005, and before that he was a local lawyer and prosecutor.

“What I think I’m going to have to do to be successful is make myself available in the district and get outside Hendersonville and Henderson County, and really connect with people with both parties,” said Newman, 47.
“I’m just going to have to go out and do what I’ve done as a lawyer for 20 years — get out there and make my case,” Newman said.

The Ashville Citizen-Times

Anyone challenging Shuler has a tough road ahead of them. But if Shuler is going to lose, this is probably the year. Shuler has done a very good job of appearing to be a moderate voice, but 2010 will be the most opportune time to tie him to Queen Nancy and her happy band of goofballs up in D.C.

Attorney Ed Krause has also entered the race as a Republican, but with considerably less fanfare than Newman. Other candidates being mentioned are Western Carolina University Professor Daniel Ostergaard, former state Rep. Charles Thomas, and 2008 candidate Carl Mumpower.  Dr. Dan Eichenbuam of the Ron Paul-ite wing of the party might jump in too.

A TVA employee falsely told the agency’s inspector general that U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler had not contacted TVA about a lakefront development permit, an internal report released Tuesday said.

The employee “denied knowing Shuler held an ownership in Blackberry despite evidence he was fully aware of the ownership status,” says a report released Monday by Tennessee Valley Authority. The employee also “denied Congressman Shuler had contacted TVA about Blackberry’s (dock) application. However, an internal e-mail shows (the employee) knew or should have known otherwise.”

The Cove at Blackberry Ridge, in Roane County, Tenn., is on a lake controlled by the TVA. Under the regulatory agency’s maintain-and-gain program, developers could get waterfront access provided they swapped waterfront land elsewhere that could be protected from development.

Shuler, who invested in the Blackberry development before he was elected to Congress in 2006, later was appointed to the House Transportation Committee’s Subcommittee on Water Resource and the Environment, which has oversight of the TVA.

The IG’s report for the first time says that Shuler had at least some contact with the agency about a lakefront marina permit application submitted by a company that he partly owned.

Times-News

So Shuler said there was no contact between him and the TVA, but now the Inspector General’s report says there was.  What reason would the employee have to lie about it if there wasn’t some kind of malfeasance going on behind the scenes?  So far the circumstantial evidence here isn’t looking very good for Shuler.  He invested in this land development and then after getting elected to Congress chaired the sub-committee that regulates the TVA which has jurisdiction over the water rights that the Shuler’s development sits on.  That presents a clear conflict of interest in of itself. Shuler claims he has kept his name out of any dealings with the TVA, but that is obviously not the case if a TVA employee just got caught lying based on a statement confirming what Shuler said.

What do you get when your name is Heath Shuler and you invest in a waterside land development, run for Congress a year later, chair the subcommittee that regulates the authority that regulates the water along said waterside land development, and fellow investors profiting off of preferential treatment received by dropping your name around?

A nice big scandal in the making.

Before he ran for Congress in 2006, Shuler invested in the Cove at Blackberry Ridge, a high-end development on the shores of a lake controlled by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Because part of its charge is to protect marine shoreline, the TVA allows water access only if the applicant is willing to swap undeveloped shoreline land somewhere else, ensuring no net loss of unspoiled land. After Shuler became a sitting congressman and chair of a congressional subcommittee with TVA oversight, the TVA inspector general initiated an investigation into the Blackberry Ridge application and the regulators’ handling of it.

The inspector general found that an “appearance of preferential treatment was exacerbated by (Blackberry Ridge) representatives dropping Shuler’s name with TVA employees.” The IG “found no evidence, however, that either Shuler or his representatives used Shuler’s position as a United States congressman to pressure TVA to grant Blackberry water access.”

We have expressed in these columns before our view that Shuler’s Blackberry Ridge ownership presents an irreconcilable conflict with his service on a committee with power to regulate the TVA. He has insisted that he had no contact with TVA about the application, and has taken no active role in the development.

The problem he faces now rises from an almost passing reference in the IG’s report: “The second report [not released] contains matters that are being referred to the House Ethics Committee.” This secret report has become, as one might expect, fodder for the Republican Party to raise questions. That they are born of partisanship does not invalidate them. What are these matters that merit review by the Ethics Committee?

Several news organizations, including the Times-News, have attempted to gain access to the report. The TVA has rebuffed our efforts.

Shuler’s office has always treated the Blackberry Ridge issue as an arcane matter of narrow interest to the Times-News editorial board and a few others. But only Shuler can put questions to rest — by making sure the full TVA report is released.

We don’t even know for sure that there is a House Ethics investigation but if there is one, Shuler should waive confidentiality and insist that it be released. By his own description, he has done nothing wrong; there’s no story here; everyone move along.

If that’s true, then he takes no risk in demanding that the Ethics Committee release its report on the TVA deal. The alternative, waiting for the report to become public, only makes it look as if he has something to hide.

The Times-News

Another one down.  Keep up the pressure!

ASHEVILLE — U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler on Thursday reiterated his stance that every American deserves health care coverage of some sort, but he stressed repeatedly that he won’t vote for the health care reform bill currently in the House of Representatives.

Shuler, D-Waynesville, fielded questions from callers for 90 minutes on a local radio talk show, “Take a Stand,” with host Matt Mittan. The congressman repeated several themes: Any health care reform must not add to the deficit, the country needs to focus on wellness programs and prevention, and the health system needs to be overhauled before adding 46 million uninsured Americans.

“It would be easier to start over,” Shuler told the audience of 570 AM, emphasizing the need for sweeping reform. “Reform has to happen. We have to reform health care. We have to make sure that people with pre-existing conditions are covered.”

A member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Caucus, Shuler said his group has pushed to lower the cost of plans under discussion and will continue to do so. The caucus will play a key role in passage of any reform.

Asheville Citizen-Times

Lower cost plans are exactly the way to go, although I don’t know precisely what it is Shuler and the Blue Dogs have in mind.  No taxpayer dollars should enter into factor, period.  Any plan that does that should be rejected.  I also agree with Shuler that every American deserves health coverage and that is what is so great about this country.  Every American has the opportunity to get it if they work for it.  It shouldn’t just be handed out.

Asked if people have a right to health care, Shuler replied, “To certain populations I think it’s a right

No, it isn’t.  It’s a service.  And we don’t have rights in this country to just “certain populations.”  I’m sure that isn’t the way he meant to phrase it.

About 100 members of the grassroots group that opposes government spending and regulation gathered outside Shuler’s office on Saturday to hold their own live, town hall meeting.

The meeting was part of a series of “Recess Rallys” being held nationwide by Tea Party groups in opposition to the current health care reform legislation. “He (Shuler) and a lot of other congressmen held town hall meetings over the telephone and that really isn’t a town hall meeting,” said Gary Shoemaker, who helped organize the event. “We wanted to have the real thing.”

Shuler was invited to the meeting, but did not attend. Shuler’s spokesman Doug Abrahms said the congressman “had other items on his calendar today,” but that he has met with members of the Tea Party recently and is aware of their opposition to the bill.

Abrahms said along with the telephone town hall meetings, Shuler has also been on radio, television and at other venues voicing his own opposition to the current legislation. “I think his view is and has been that the tele-town conference is a more productive way to reach more people in the district,” Abrahms said. “It stops a lot of political grandstanding that you see at public town hall meetings.”

Asheville Citizen-Times

Abrahms does have a valid point.  A telephone town hall allows Shuler to get all of his points across to his audience without being disrupted and shouted down.  However, it also gives him too much control over the venue and does not allow the public’s voice to be adequately heard.  Personally, I think these tele-town halls are a cop out because the Congress is afraid to face the people they work for.

The Club for Growth has released their annual RePORK card that gauges how responsible our Congressional representatives have been with our tax dollars.  The result is usually pretty atrocious and this year is no different, but we do have a few responsible representatives in our states’ delegations.  The ratings are based on 68 amendments introduced in the House that would have stripped wasteful earmarks out of 12 annual spending bills.  Representatives who voted for all of the amendments received a score of 100%.  Those that voted for none received a zero.  So how did our guys and girls stack up?

Virginia Foxx (R-NC-05) was the only member to receive a perfect score of 100%.  However, there were a few others who weren’t far behind her.  Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) received a 99%, voting against only one of the amendments.  Gresham Barrett (R-SC-03) and Sue Myrick (R-NC-09) both received a 97%.  Bob Inglis (R-SC-04) a 96%.  All others were below 90% which means the rest have some work to do, some a little and some are completely worthless.

Two more Congressmen that stood out to me were our two Blue Dog Democrats in North Carolina:  Heath Shuler (NC-11) and Mike McIntyre (NC-07).  Bear in mind that the Blue Dogs are supposed to be fiscal conservatives.  Apparently, these two didn’t get the memo.  Shuler supported only one amendment out of the 68 and McIntyre found the only way to top his poor showing by voting for none of them.

Also on the wall of shame for frivolously throwing your tax dollars away are the following pigs who received a zero score:

• G.K. Butterfield (D-NC-01)
• Jim Clyburn (D-SC-06)
• Bob Etheridge (D-NC-02)
• Larry Kissell (D-NC-08)
• Brad Miller (D-NC-13)
• David Price (D-NC-04)
• Jack Spratt (D-SC-05)
• Mel Watt (D-NC-11)

It’s interesting to note that all the high scoring members of Congress are Republicans and all the ones with the shitty scores are Democrats.  That really illustrates the differing views the two parties have on the role of the Federal Government.

President Obama’s Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel has insisted that a vote on the House health care disaster will take place prior to the August recess.  There is a very simple reason for this.  Obama knows that Americans are opposed to this bill coming out of the House and these Congressmen are going to catch hell when they get home over the recess.  The odds are better for House passage if the vote takes place before they are all confronted with their constituents.

Remember, Obama has lied about being able to keep your private insurance.  The bill clearly states that within five years of passage all employers must switch you over to a government managed health care plan.  If you refuse, you’ll be fined by the Federal government.  It will cost another trillion dollars (we are already $11 trillion in debt now) and still won’t cover every American.

This is one of the most irresponsible monstrosities to ever come out of D.C.  Call your Congressman NOW and tell him to vote against this.  It’s literally your life on the line, folks.

I doubt any of the Republican Congressmen in North or South Carolina will vote for this, but call them anyway.  Also, concentrate heavily on the following Democrats who represent Republican leaning districts:

• Bob Etheridge (NC-02)
• Mike McIntyre (NC-07)
• Larry Kissell (NC-08)
• Heath Shuler (NC-11)
• John Spratt (SC-05)

I live in Spratt’s district and already called his Washington office.  They have told me he is undecided at this point so keep the pressure on him to vote no.

You can get your Congressman’s contact information at the link below:

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt

By a vote of 183 to 247, the Pence of Indiana Amendment to H.R. 3293 which would have defunded Planned Parenthood was defeated in the U.S. House of Representatives today.  All Republican representatives from North and South Carolina voted in favor of the amendment.  All Democrats were opposed with the exception of the Blue Dogs, Heath Shuler (NC-11) and Mike McIntyre (NC-07).

I supported this amendment for two reasons.  One, I think funding Planned Parenthood is an unconstitutional use of Federal tax dollars.  The second reason is that abortion is an intensely emotional and volatile issue in this country and it’s something the government should stay out of.  A person appauled by abortion should not be forced to pay for it through their tax dollars.  Those seeking the abortion should pay their own way.  That seems like a fair compromise to me.

Democrat Congressmen Heath Shuler (NC-11) and Mike McIntyre (NC-07) along with 17 other Blue Dog Democrats sent the following letter to San Fran Nan informing her that she will get no support from them for a public health care bill that allows for the funding of abortions.

June 25, 2009

Dear Honorable Pelosi:

As the debate on health care reform continues and legislation is produced, it is imperative that the issue of abortion not be overlooked. Plans to mandate coverage for abortions, either directly or indirectly is unacceptable.

We believe in a culture that supports and respects the right to life and is dedicated to the protection and preservation of families. Therefore, we cannot support any health care reform proposal unless it explicitly excludes abortion from the scope of any government-defined or subsidized health insurance plan. We believe that a government-defined or subsidized health insurance plan, should not be used to fund abortion.

Furthermore, we want to ensure that the Health Benefits Advisory Committee cannot recommend abortion services be included under covered benefits or as part of a benefits package. Without an explicit exclusion, abortion could be included in a government subsidized health care plan under general health care. The health care reform package produced by Congress will be landmark, and with legislation as important as this, abortion must be addressed clearly in the bill text.

Furthermore, funding restrictions save lives by reducing the number of abortions. The Guttmacher Policy Review, a leading pro-choice research organization noted “that about one third of women who would have had an abortion if support were available carried their pregnancies to term when the abortion fund was unavailable.”

Thank you for taking the time to consider our request. By ensuring that abortions are not funded through any health care reform package, we will take this controversial issue off the table so that Congress can focus on crafting a broadly-supported health care reform bill.

Respectfully yours,

Reps. Dan Boren (D-OK); Bart Stupak (D-MI); Colin Peterson (D-MN); Tim Holden (D-PA); Travis Childers (D-MS); Lincoln Davis (D-TN); Heath Shuler (D-NC) Solomon Ortiz (D-TX); Mike McIntyre (D-NC); Jerry Costello (D-IL); Gene Taylor (D-MS); James Oberstar (D-MN); Bobby Bright (D-AL); Steve Driehaus (D-OH); Marcy Kaptur (D-OH); Charlie Melancon (D-LA); John Murtha (D-PA); Paul Kanjorski (D-PA); and Kathleen Dahlkemper (D-PA).

By a vote of 219 to 212, the House narrowly passed the Cap and Trade bill that will cost us millions of jobs and devastate the American economy even more as it starts going into affect. Just ask Spain how well it went for them?

This still has to pass the U.S. Senate of course and that is nowhere near certain. They need 60 ayes just to be able to vote for it and I imagine there will be Democrat defectors there just as there were in the House.

Those who voted to raise your energy bills by about $1500 a year to “save the planet” are as follows:

• G.K. Butterfield (D-NC-01)
• Bob Etheridge (D-NC-02)
• David Price (D-NC-04)
• Heath Shuler (D-NC-11)
• Mel Watt (D-NC-12)
• Brad Miller (D-NC-13)
• Jack Spratt (D-SC-05)
• Jim Clyburn (D-SC-06)

Those who voted to protect your liberty, labor, and livelihood were:

• Walter Jones (R-NC-03)
• Virginia Foxx (R-NC-05)
• Howard Coble (R-NC-06)
• Mike McIntyre (D-NC-07)
• Larry Kissell (D-NC-08)
• Sue Myrick (R-NC-09)
• Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10)
• Henry Brown (R-SC-01)
• Joe Wilson (R-SC-02)
• Gresham Barrett (R-SC-03)
• Bob Inglis (R-SC-04)

The House may be voting on the Waxman/Markey Cap and Tax bill today.  Congressman Mike McIntyre (D-NC-07) is leaning towards voting no on this bill and Congressman Heath Shuler (D-NC-11) is undecided.  Both are Blue Dog Democrats.  If you live in their district call their office immediately and tell them to vote no on Cap and Trade!

Mike McIntyre
Phone: (202) 225-2731
Fax: (202) 225-5773

Heath Shuler
Phone:(202) 225-6401
Fax: (202) 226-6422

“I am not running for Senate,” the second-term Democrat said after a ground-breaking ceremony for a new building at the Bent Creek Experimental Forest Station in Asheville. “I am not running for Senate. I am not running for Senate. I have said that a thousand times, and I don’t know why they keep coming up (with the idea). Of course they keep coming up and running polls.”

Hendersonville Times-News

Got it?  No!  He is not running!  Not now, not ever, he is not running!!

OK, I don’t know about not ever, but the pressure has apparently been growing to get Shuler to run against Burr next year.  It seems the Democrats are trying to find a more conservative or centrist member of the party to take him on.  I’d say it’s rather clear that Shuler is not interested, though I do think he’d be a good candidate against Burr.

The conventional wisdom among politicos is that Burr is vulnerable, but I don’t necessarily believe that.  The Obama administration is faltering and the Democrat party has been slowly splintering in Washington.  The moderates aren’t overly enthused about the way the far left is taking the country and the American people in general are slowly opening their eyes to what they elected.  If this direction continues then I think momentum will be in the Republicans’ favor next year and Burr will cruise to reelection relatively easily.  Of course, it’s a long time between now and November 2010.

 A few dozen protesters, many of them ethnic Tamils from around the state, marched from City-County Plaza to Pritchard Park on Saturday in opposition to Rep. Heath Shuler’s recent trip to Sri Lanka and comments he made praising the treatment of Tamil refugees there.

Protesters at the demonstration, organized by Tamils Against Genocide, held signs and spoke through loudspeakers, criticizing Shuler’s trip where he visited displacement camps for refugees in the northern part of the country.

Raleigh resident Shanthini Jeyarajah said the trip was no more than propaganda by the Sri Lankan government, who paid for the congressman’s trip, and that Shuler should have used the visit to press the country’s leaders to treat refugees humanely and let them return to their homes.

“One congressman comes back and tells everyone that they are taking care of refugees well and people believe it, and it’s not true,” she said.

The Citizen-Times

A Public Policy Polling poll released today shows Richard Burr with at minimum a decent lead over all potential Democratic challengers, even from his closest challenger.  I was surprised at the polling results with some match ups.  Against Burr, Congressman Heath Shuler only polls at 28% with another 28% undecided and Burr at 44%.  I would have expected that to be a closer match up because of Shuler’s more conservative streak.  Against Elizabeth Edwards it’s Burr 46%, Edwards 35%.  Against Congressman Bob Etheridge, Burr wins 47-31.  You can read all the questions and match ups with other candidates at the link below:

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NC_526.pdf

Now of course, a poll taken a year and a half away from an election with just speculative candidates means absolutely nothing for the most part.  It would only be significant if Burr, as the incumbent, was polling badly.  Otherwise, this is just entertainment for political junkies.