Local Blogs Pressure House Conservatives

With the children's health insurance override vote set for next week, the progressive liberal blogosphere is as fired up as I've ever seen over a domestic policy issue. Local bloggers in particular are stoking the pressure on key House members.

Pharyngula [1] tees off on Minnesota's Michele Bachmann:

The story is that Cruella de Ville Michele Bachmann was one of the conservative drones who voted to let poor children suffer; worse, she afterwards tried to claim that she was actually a supporter of SCHIP, that the bill would have benefitted the wealthy so she really wasn't trying to hurt poor kids, and that her critics should "bring it on". The Star Tribune editorialized against her position, and there have been vigils outside her office to try and persuade her to change her vote and override the president's veto.

The argument that this bill would have advantaged the already rich means Michele Bachmann has joined the ranks of the repellent Republicans who gleefully attack children.

Nevada bloggers have Rep. Dean Heller in their sights.

Nye -- Gateway to Nevada's Rurals [2] makes the case:

According to the MoveOn.org, Nevada has one of the nation's worst rates of uninsured children in the nation, with more than 100,000 not covered by any policy. About 34,000 children in Nevada are covered by SCHIP.

Heller refuses to override the Bush veto. Nevadans should refuse to return Heller to Congress in 2008. Heller has three children of his own; Harris, 17; Drew, 15; and Emmy, 10. Their daughter, Hilary, attends Arizona State University according to his website. Fortunately he isn't poor and doesn't have to face the plight of poor families when their children need medical help.

Reno and its Discontents [3] adds:

When do the thinking and feeling citizens of this nation finally turn their backs on such disgusting tactics? It will only change if we manage to communicate that we want it to change. Its time to make those who participate in such politics of hate feel our wrath. You can start by calling Dean Heller’s office

And My Silver State [4] chimes in on Heller.

Blog CCP [5] is informing readers that Rep. Sam Graves is on the opposite side of the issue than his prospective opponent former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes:

Northeast Missouri voters (and 10% of those votes also come from Eastern Jackson County) have a black and white decision; do we want to support kicking kids off health insurance (vote for Graves) or do we follow the lead of [GOP] Senator Kit Bond and vote for health care for poor kids and Mayor Kay Barnes.

Blue Jersey is pressuring Scott Garrett [6], Jim Saxton [7] and Rodney Frelinghuysen [8].

Tondee's Tavern [9] in Georgia has been putting [10] a full-court press [11] on conservative Dem Jim [12] Marshall [13].

And aTypicalJoe [14] sees Marshall severely miscalculating in choosing this issue to break ranks with his party.

On the Road to 2008 [15] rips into Washington State's lone opponent to SCHIP:

Doc Hastings is showing that he is just as out of step with his constituents as Bush is with the nation as a whole. Even prominent Republicans with more sense and compassion have abandoned him on this issue. Fortunately, come next year, and not a moment too soon, voters in the 4th [congressional district] will be able to dump Hastings just as he has dumped, and dumped on them.

Fellow Washington State blogger Mccranium [16] has a few words for Hastings too:

The point is that the 4th CD needs some real representation with real priorities instead of empty GOP rhetoric while absolutely nothing gets done. There are no real feathers in Hastings cap. Just a bunch of hot air and sChip is another prime example of that. If Hastings won’t listen, we need to toss him out.

The Lincoln Observer [17] is tracking Florida's Lincoln Diaz-Balart:

Here in Miami-Dade our Chairman Joe Garcia criticized Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21) with a rather mild comment on the Republican congressman, who votes against SCHIP for American children but then enjoys publicity for helping handicapped Ukrainian youngsters. The congressman's taxpayer-financed office ripped into Joe as 'pathetic and pathological.' Well, goodness, such heat. They must be so nervous as they see oblivion ahead -- the permanent minority status that their cold ideology deserves.

Left of Ohio [18] and Ohio Daily Blog [19] are pressing Rep. Steve Chabot.

Square State [20] is calling out Rep. Marilyn Musgrave.

Left in Alabama [21] is rallying locals against Rep. Robert Aderholt. (UPDATE: More from Left in Alabama on Rep. Jo Bonner [22] and others from the Alabama congressional delegation. [23])

Loaded Orygun [24] doesn't care for Rep. Greg Walden.

The Pennsylvania Progressive [25] is targeting Rep. John Peterson.

VB Dems [26] don't think very highly of their Rep. Thelma Drake:

"Ask Congresswoman Thelma Drake to think again." Whoa, is that a loaded statement! How can she think again when she didn’t think in the first place. Never has, never will. That’s why there are rubberstamps, eh Thelma?

UPDATE: Michigan bloggers are out in full force.

Blogging for Michigan writes: [27]

Why haven't Republicans Dave Camp, Peter Hoekstra, Joe Knollenberg, Thad McCotter, Mike Rogers, and Timothy Walberg spoken out against the vile smear attack directed at Graeme Frost and his family by right-wingers? Are they so desperate to defend Bush's SCHIP veto that they're willing to stand by while a child gets smeared?

Michigan Liberal has its sights on Reps. Tim Walberg, Joe Knollenberg [28] and Peter Hoekstra. [29]

Michigan Class Notes [30] says of Knollenberg:

So why would Knollenberg want to be isolated on children's health care? Who is he trying to convince to support him with this vote? It seems clear that Knollenberg's loyalty to the failures of the Bush administration are stronger than his concern for children.

And over in California, Calitics [31] is calling on its governor to "actively lobby to garner the final 16 votes needed in the house to override this veto. In fact, there are enough votes in California alone to override."