By Kevin Greene
An article by POLITICO flamboyantly describes Democrat Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln's decision on the days leading to the procedural vote on the health care debate which happened yesterday. In the end, Lincoln placed the final vote on the health care bill, which was (thankfully) just a vote to hear the bill. Lincoln turned out to be the swing vote; the crucial 60th senator to vote to pass the bill.
POLITICO opens their article with this; "[Lincoln] was a day away from casting a vote that could change her political career when she got a phone call from someone who knew what she was going through.
“I know you’re tired, but we need a glass of wine,” Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), the fellow centrist who also had not yet announced her position, said she told Lincoln."
Two other Krat (I'm trying this term out so I don't have to write 'Democrat" all the time. You like?) senators escorted Lincoln and Landrieu to dinner at an Italian restaurant, at which, according to Lincoln, health care was only briefly discussed.
According to POLTICO, she had already made up her mind at that point anyway. However, she reportedly warned Krats that she wasn't a confirmed vote.
It was speculated that she definitely waited too long, as her indecisiveness was used as cannon fodder from her 2010 opponents.
Lincoln would have been the ultimate 'Idiot' from Idiots & Patriots, had she been the swing vote on passing the entire health care bill. Because this was just a bill to discuss the health care plan, Lincoln's vote was merely annoying. Still, centrists never fly with me. Come on, Louisiana! Throw out your moderate centrists and put in a real conservative! Perform the hemorrhoidectomy!
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