It's Up To Stupak's Bloc Now

FDL's whip count has 207 confirmed no votes, and then the ten remaining members of the Stupak bloc leaning no.  Jim Matheson and Zack Space have come down on the no side from undecided when Pelosi literally didn't have anyone else she could lose.  That gives to no votes 217.

That is enough to kill the bill unless Pelosi can break the bloc.

This one may be dead after all.  It's in Bart Stupak's hands now...but wait.

On the other hand, Greg Sargent is reporting that Space and Matheson folding now means that the GOP is conceding that the Stupak bloc has been broken.

Two key House Dems, Jim Matheson of Utah and Zack Space of Ohio, just announced that they’re voting No. Matheson, a former No who Dems had hoped to flip to Yes, said that he was “saddened” that the legislation “contains too many special deals” and “does not contain health care costs.”

But in a sign of which way this is headed, the news of their vote — which had been hotly anticipated only 24 hours ago — caused barely a ripple. And even Republicans say they’re interpreting these No votes as a sign that the Dem leadership has the votes and is now in the process of releasing some Dems and allowing them to vote No.

“The fact that Space and Matheson are peeling is a good sign they have the votes or are close to getting them,” one GOP aide emails.

If Space and Matheson really were the final nails in this bill's coffin, the GOP would be crowing right now.

They are not.

Things are moving quickly now here in the end game.  And the GOP is finally, fatally desperate.

Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.) claimed Saturday that healthcare protesters at the Capitol directed racial epithets at him Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) as they walked outside.

Carson, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus along with Lewis, told The Hill that protesters called the lawmakers the N-word.

Tea Party protesters held a rally outside the Capitol on Saturday, which included speeches by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and actor Jon Voight, and then proceeded into the halls to lobby members at the 11th hour.

Lewis was one of the leaders of the civil rights movement alongside Martin Luther King. Jr.

Asked if racial epithets were yelled at him, Lewis responded, "Yes, but it's OK. I've heard this before in the '60s. A lot of this is just downright hate."

Hate.  It's all they have left.  They've lost and they know it.  And they are furious.  Expect a lot more of this as the finish line approaches...