House postpones healthcare vote after attack on Giffords

[Janice]

House postpones healthcare vote after attack on Giffords
The Hill [Washington, DC]
by Russell Berman

House Republicans are postponing a vote to repeal the healthcare law scheduled for next week after the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) in Arizona.

Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said in a statement late Saturday that “all legislation currently scheduled to be considered by the House of Representatives next week is being postponed so that we can take whatever actions may be necessary in light of today’s tragedy.”

“Further information relating to a revised House schedule will be released tomorrow,” Cantor added.

SOURCE

Congress halts business for ... this? To "take whatever action ....??

What the heck does that mean? What does congress have to do with this? Do republicans think like democrats now? That the federal government has to intervene in every single facet of our lives now? As if we (locally and on the state level) are just sooo grievously helpless and incompetent? Really???

Are we to halt all government business now every time some looney toon strikes? Is that the precedent we want to set for other loons in the future?

Somebody please tell me this is joke.

[GOP Congress]

I have to disagree. This was an assassination attempt at one of the members, so a security audit is warranted.

Normally, I am one for not dilly-dallying, especially when it comes to getting a vote against Obamacare before the State of the Union, which may not happen now. But frankly, I don't see postponement out of line.

[Revolution]

Assassination attempt on her, but wasn't one of her advisors murdered as well? That would qualify as a successful assassination. I absolutely cannot stand Obamacare, but I think this temporary halt is indeed in order. I haven't seen, or don't ever remember seeing something like this in my 23 years here on earth.

[formerlurker]

I have to disagree. This was an assassination attempt at one of the members, so a security audit is warranted.

Normally, I am one for not dilly-dallying, especially when it comes to getting a vote against Obamacare before the State of the Union, which may not happen now. But frankly, I don't see postponement out of line.

I agree.   Very bad timing to go forward with vote now.

I hope that as a country we aren't that desensitized to violence that the murder of 6 individuals (one being a federal judge) and the assassination attempt of a sitting Congressman is just another tricky day at the office.

[Ptarmigan]

Assassination attempt on her, but wasn't one of her advisors murdered as well? That would qualify as a successful assassination. I absolutely cannot stand Obamacare, but I think this temporary halt is indeed in order. I haven't seen, or don't ever remember seeing something like this in my 23 years here on earth.

The last time there was an actual assassination would be Ronald Reagan in 1981.

Does anyone remember Congressman Leo Ryan? He was the California Congressman that investigated People's Temple in Guyana because members were held against their will and human rights violation. After Ryan and 5 other people died, Jim Jones and 911 other people committed mass suicide in Jonestown. He was the only sitting Congressman to be killed.

[Evil_Conservative]

I am perfectly fine with Congress halting all voting this week. 

[Janice]

Guess I stand alone on this one.

No problemo.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Guess I stand alone on this one.

No problemo.

Even if it were a purely symbolic gesture there is nothing wrong with symbolism. However, the liberals are whipping themselves into a frenzy by chanting their blood libels. A democrat was shot but I have a sick feeling in my gut the GOP is about to pay a price in backlash so a review of security protocols, regardless underlying initiator, is required.

However, to appear eager to rush through any major legislation even though a member of the opposing party had been shot and several others murdered or wounded is a degree of callousness I would expect from the Pelosi/Reid faction, and not from a statesman attempting to set the proper level of decorum for the body representing a civil society.

[Janice]

I well imagine that our system would go on no matter what. Having said that, our current 'system' is to demonize republicans no matter what they do. I dont mind if we take a moment, catch our breath, express sympathy and then get on with the business of initiating the defeat of Obamacare. But does anyone think that if a tragedy of this kind had happened when Zippy was ramming Obamacare down our throats that congress would have in any way postponed the vote on that monstrosity?

What got my attention was the phrase "take whatever actions may be necessary". As if tragedys like this have never happened before and nanny state congress is suddenly going to make murder against the law now or some such sop (Im thinking - any excuse to further infringe upon our liberties will do). Heck, not to seem insensitive but two days after Kennedy's assassination the NFL played all their games and it helped bring normalcy to the country.

It took just one atheist to remove prayer from our schools. It took just one creep with a bomb in his shoe to cause us all to be molested at airport security screening stations. Now, it took just one deranged kid with a gun to bring Congress to a screeching halt. A Federal judge was killed by this gunman. Will they close all courts this week as well? A 9-year-old little girl was murdered by this gunman. Will they close all elementary schools this week as well? America used to have backbone, looks like someone stole it to make PC soup.

The Republican leadership should let it be known that they will not be held hostage by the democrat media. They are going to do the work their constituents sent them to do, the media be damned. The media btw are NOT their constituents. Whats the old bromide? Once shot, twice shy. That about sums it up for me. I dont trust congress as far as I can spit. They can say all the most wonderful things my ears want to hear ... but actions speak louder than words. So far its been all hat and no cattle. We have 2 more elections to weed out the talkers from the doers.

Long live the tea party!