In the end, Congresswoman Betsy Markey could not say no to Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama and the tax-and-spend lobby.

A couple of months ago during my weekly radio segment with Coloradoan editor Bob Moore, who has a good, working relationship with Markey’s office, I wondered that if push comes to shove, could Betsy Markey say no to Nancy Pelosi?

Bob posed the question to her and reported Markey’s response the following week.  Apparently she said, “I’m a mom.  I’m used to saying no.”

Being a mom myself, I know exactly where she is coming from.  I have said “no” in the face of relentless lobbying efforts on behalf of my three teenagers.  They push as far as possible, but as soon as I shoot them a certain look they know to back off.  The conversation is over; further discussion could lead to unwelcome consequences.

But Markey didn’t do that.  Instead of standing firm, when push did come to shove, Markey proved a pushover.  After voting no (sort of) on the House health care bill, she was one of eight democrats who switched her vote to yes on the Senate bill.

Now, she obediently tows the party line with fairy tale assumptions about this massive expansion of the welfare state such as, “Particularly in the out years there’s significantly more deficit reduction and I have to say this is going to be the largest deficit reduction bill that I will ever vote for.”  Not sure if she meant deficit or debt but I’m sure she is sincere.

In a prepared statement and reported in the Coloradoan she added: “My vote today isn’t about politics. It’s about bringing down health-care costs and doing what’s right for the people of Colorado.”  I believe that statement as much as I believe there are unicorns in my backyard.

The reality is that Markey couldn’t say no in the face of relentless lobbying.  Voting against the majority in the 4th CD, she proved she would rather face the wrath of voters than the wrath of Pelosi.

In November, constituents have an opportunity to cast a vote against her. My guess is she will be out of a job.  With yes votes on unpopular legislation like cap and trade, the stimulus package and health care coupled with her sponsorship of the job-killing card check,  that’s not much of a prediction.  But I do have a bottle of really good tequila riding on it.

The Good:  Late this afternoon Major Diggs Brown dropped out of 4th CD GOP race and endorsed Cory Gardner.  Diggs is an officer and gentleman — and a statesman.  Just a suggestion, but how about a Draft Diggs campaign to challenge Rep John Kefalas.  Diggs for HD 52?

The Bad:  Denver Post reports “Democratic moderates in the House of Representatives face relentless pressure as they juggle personal pleas from President Barack Obama, a multimillion-dollar ad barrage and constituents who are fed up with the congressional process.”  Will 4th CD Congresswoman Betsy Markey, who voted no in November, cave under the pressure? It’s political suicide if she does.  While she would be gone, the historic destruction of health care would remain with us forever.

The Ugly:  Barack Obama called “the process” to pass health care reform “ugly.”  In an interview with Fox News Anchor Brett Baier, Obama said, “Yes, I have said that is an ugly process. It was ugly when Republicans were in charge, it was ugly were in Democrats were in charge.”  Stanford law professor Michael McConnell called  the Dem’s “process”  to pass health care reform unconstitutional.

Results of the Weld County straw poll:

Governor: Scott McInnis 664, Dan Maes 590, John Hickenlooper 1

Senate: Ken Buck 982, Jane Norton 213, Tom Weins 74, Cleve Tidwell 19, Steve Barton 5, Vincent Martinez 1

4th CD:  Cory Gardner 688, Diggs Brown 192, Tom Lucero 159, Dean Madere 54

2nd CD: Stephen Bailey 88, Bob Brancato 56

Once again, I want to extend a big huge thank you to State Rep John Kefalas!  As a mom I can’t imagine how I would “manage” raising my kids without the  Fort Collins Democrat to make my parenting life easier.

According to Colorado News Agency reporter Debi Brazzale, Kefalas’s legislation HB 1147 will make it a crime for anyone under the age of 18 to ride a bike, scooter, skateboard and even in-line skates without a helmet.

The proposed new law doesn’t carry any real punishment.  According to Kefalas the purpose of the law is to provide parents with another idol threat with no real consequence.  Brazzale quoted him, “We’re saying ‘It’s the law. You have to have a helmet if you’re a minor, but we’re not going to punish you.”  I’m sure my kids won’t see through that!

The bill passed the House Transportation Committee and is awaiting second reading.