HOUSE DEMOCRATS VOTE FULL REPRESENTATION FOR DC-- BUSH VOWS A VETO

Were Abe Lincoln to suddenly be resurrected and decide to run for office as a Republican-- before someone could warn him that his old party had been completely taken over by a cabal of southern racists, self-styled aristocrats and religionist kooks-- he might win an election in the District of Columbia. Short of that, it's hard to imagine any Republican ever getting a significant number of votes from that high-information, predominantly nonwhite district. (Less than 8% of the voters are registered Republicans and Bush only managed to garner 9% of the vote in each of his bids for the presidency.) So when Democrats have tried to give the District of Columbia equal representation, Republicans have fought it tooth and nail.

Yesterday the House finally circumvented obstructionist Republican tactics to pass the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act (HR 1905), 241-177.

Don't break out the champagne yet, though. "The bill faces considerable obstacles. Democrats don't appear to have enough votes in the Senate to avoid a filibuster, and the White House has threatened a veto. If the measure becomes law, it probably will be challenged in court.

Twenty-two Republicans broke ranks with the KKK Party and joined the Democrats in passing the bill. Disgracefully, 6 Democrats voted against it:

* Dan Boren (OK)
* Nancy Boyda (KS)
* Chris Carney (PA)
* Tim Holden (PA)
* Paul Kanjorski (PA)
* Gene Taylor (MS)

UPDATE: ELEANOR NORTON HOLMES SMACKS DOWN REPUG CLOSET CASE DREIER

The compromise bill that passed yesterday was introduced jointly by DC's non-voting Rep., Eleanor Norton Holmes and Virginia Republican Tom Davis. During the debate, hypocritical California closet queen, David Dreier, tried interupting Ms. Holmes making the case. Exasperated, she gave him an answer he wasn't looking for:

Dreier:  Will the gentlewoman yield?
 
Holmes Norton:  I will not yield, sir.  The District of Columbia has spent 206 years yielding to people who would deny them the vote.  I yield you no ground.  Not during my time.  You have had your say, and your say has been that you think the people who live in your capital are not entitled to a vote in their House. Shame on you. 

Watch it on YouTube; it's good.