At least the text of the censure resolution wasn't out of the ordinary, too.

This should be titled the “Joe Wilson Re-election Assurance Act”.

I'd vote for the South Carolina District 2 Economic Prosperity Act. With all the money pouring in from other parts of the country to both Wilson and his opponent it should be a good boost to the economy of his district.

If Nancy put her foot down the others wouldn;t have done anything other than mouth off to the press.

However! The Republicans deserve some public shaming, and they would certainly have raised an even bigger stink if the tables were turned. Remember how Republicans moved Congress to immediately act against MoveOn because of the Betray-us ads?

What I would like to have seen would be for Pelosi in the House and Reed in the Senate to make very strong statements before the next Presidential address about what the expected decorum is, and remind their members that this is an address from President of the United States to Congress and not some town hall meeting.

Certainly those who dislike Obama/Dems/etc., may vote for Wilson in the coming election. But chances are Wilson will lose some of his appointments in the House before the election even takes place. This will hobble his ability to shovel pork. His constituency will note this.

I think the light censure is, as Green Dreams says, a bit of a bulwark. Wilson is unlikely to be trusted ever again by those in his own party, who easily enough made a 'he's in our family' vote today. But, each politician who voted that way, likely did so because their constituency supported that vote, not because they believe Joe Wilson is just fine. And they will conduct themselves in the future as solidifies their own positions, not Joe Wilson's.

just my .02

From what I hear personally from moderate Repubs, they're not taken aback, they are angry at Wilson for splattering all GOP with his crack.

Had the Democrats taken the high road as Obama and Pelosi wanted, Joe Wilson would be seen as a boor and promptly forgotten, but now they've made him a martyr, and we'll be seeing him on every Fox program until a health care bill is passed (or not), at which point he will be tossed out like yesterday's news (appropriately enough).

I have to wonder what the Dems hoped to gain from this vote.

Other than your obvious contempt for Nancy Pelosi, do you have any basis for this statement?

For those of us who have actually been following this story, it is apparent that Pelosi wanted to drop the issue, but was forced to go along with other members of her party.

From the Washington Post:
“A vote (to reprimand Rep.Joe Wilson) would reverse the initial sentiment voiced by the president and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) that it was time to “move on” to the debate on health-care. But the White House and Pelosi yielded to senior black Democrats, led by House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.), and other members of the leadership team, who argued that Wilson's remark was a breach of conduct that must not be tolerated. “

A congressman gives the world a public display of divisiveness in the one forum where our issues are put aside and we are the United States of America, and he gets a slap from a wet noodle.

We have something else in mind. Boycott South Carolina online when shopping this holiday season. Just don't buy anything at all from that state until a heartfelt and sincere public apology is issued. If you're in approval of what he did, then by all means, buy from there. If you aren't don't. We'll let the numbers figure out how harsh of a reprimand that is. Can't be all that bad, the GOP says they have overwhelming support.

We'll see…