So many people will be writing about the House of Representatives passing the Waxman-Markey cap-and-tax bill on Friday afternoon that I will for now keep my comments relatively brief.

First of all, this may not be a bad thing because it’s a tremendous weapon to use against many Democrats and the 8 Republicans who voted for the bill. (More on that in a minute.)

I think it’s 50/50 whether the bill will even get a vote in the Senate. There’s no chance they’ll get 60 votes for it which means that the Democrats might try using the “reconciliation” process, normally reserved for budget items, which can with 50 votes get a bill passed without the possibility of a filibuster. However, that would be an extremely risky tactic politically and I think they’re not better than even money to be able to round up those 50 votes.

Instead of fulminate about how disastrous this legislation would be were it to come into effect, let me simply say that 219 people just voted for what would be the biggest tax hike in history during our worst recession in many years, and with essentially zero expected improvement in “global warming", the primary stated goal of this monstrosity.

Over the next couple of weeks, I plan to read much or most of the bill and offer you several-times-weekly tidbits of just what the House approved. For example, did you know that the bill has a provision about getting real estate appraisers to boost the appraised value of homes that meet some sort of “green” standard? Nice understanding of a free market, eh? Not really a surprise for the party of Fannie Mae and expensive homes for people with bad (or no) credit.

The main point I want to make today is that the Republicans who voted for the measure must be punished. I urge everyone who lives in the district of any of these traitors to let them and others know (by contacting their offices, by calling into radio shows and writing to newspapers, and by talking to your friends and colleagues) what you think of their votes. Furthermore, I urge everyone, regardless of where you live, to support any truly pro-liberty primary challenger to these spineless turncoats.

Here is the wall of shame:
(Thanks to Michelle Malkin for the graphic)

Mary Bono Mack (CA) (202) 225-5330
Mike Castle (DE) (202) 225-4165
Mark Kirk (IL) (202) 225-4385
Leonard Lance (NJ) (202) 225-5361
Frank LoBiondo (NJ) (202) 225-6572
John McHugh (NY) (202) 225-4611
Dave Reichert (WA) (202) 225-7761
Chris Smith (NJ) (202) 225-3765

I note in particular that Mark Kirk, whom I’m embarrassed to say I supported in his very first campaign based on a Club for Growth recommendation, is said to be considering a run for the Senate. I DO NOT CARE IF HE IS MORE LIKELY TO WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION THAN SOME OTHER REPUBLICAN. Any Republican who would vote for this bill deserves our everlasting enmity, much in the way that George W. Bush does for “abandoning free market principles to save the free market” and giving the Obama Administration the moral high ground in continuing bailouts which Bush unforgivably began.

These traitors are trying to thread the needle, to be “moderate” during a time when “moderation” means caving in to the destruction of our nation. As Dante said, the hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who in time of great moral crises maintain their neutrality. If I believed in Hell, I’d be certain that these 8 Congressmen have just made their reservations. And while I don’t know where they eventually will go, I hope everyone who cares about the economic future of our children and grandchildren will do whatever they can to make sure those people do not return to Congress.