The American Spectator : My Thoughts on Watching the Dems Stab the Constitution on the Congressional Floor

Text Size

Breaking News

My Thoughts on Watching the Dems Stab the Constitution on the Congressional Floor

By Ben Stein on 3.22.10 @ 9:37AM

This is, tragically, Barack Obama’s America.

1. This is a “bill” that is clearly not really a Constitutionally allowable legislative entity, eligible for signature into law. For it to be that, it would need to be identically passed in both houses. It was not. It was passed as a corned beef hash of vague promises in the Senate. Then a vote was taken in the House to eventually pass the same bill but with a few changes and a further vague promise to reconcile both versions. This is not how the Constitution defines a bill en route to becoming a law. This is just a demand by President Obama to submit to his authority, which the Democrats meekly passed. This is not Constitutional.

2. The slovenly laziness of the Majority to not even read the vague bits of the bill floating around is further evidence of contempt for law and the Constitution.

3. This is not how the U.S. government is supposed to work. This is how a South American junta does its work with a puppet legislature and a supreme Caudillo above law. This is, tragically, Barack Obama’s America. It took a mere 14 months to get us from the government of Jefferson to the government of Trujillo.

4. The supine cowardice of the mainstream media here is almost beyond imagining. To fail to even notice the attack on the Constitution going on here is stunning and discouraging in the extreme.

5. For those of us who still believe in the Constitution, I offer the words of the great civil rights anthem, “We shall overcome, ” and “We are not afraid.” In that spirit, we continue the fight for the return to Constitutional government. Loyal to the nation and the Constitution, but most certainly opposed to the subversion or either.

As Churchill said, “In war, resolution. In defeat, defiance.” And this is a war for Constitutional government. A war of words, to be sure, but a war we must win.

6. One more thought. If Mr. Obama’s goal really is to protect life and health, the surest way to do that would be a right to life amendment to the Constitution. May we expect that proposal from Mr. Obama soon?

About the Author

Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer living in Beverly Hills and Malibu. He writes “Ben Stein’s Diary” for every issue of The American Spectator.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (217) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Peter McGrath| 3.22.10 @ 9:56AM

This legislation will do more to undermine the private sector than anything previously enacted in the past 50 years. The negative impact on productivity, employment, and small business will be catastrophic. We can't wait until November. Something has got to give, now.

code| 3.22.10 @ 12:46PM

While watching the entire sordid drama play out since the Blair House summit invitation was issued, the thought that crossed my mind was THE ENTIRE WORLD IS WATCHING THIS.

Somehow, it just felt almost farcical that America the great defender of Democracy is acting in this manner. How can Americans now be trusted in the international stage to keep their word if their own president is willing to lie to the people who elected him about some bill he wants passed as law.

Should not these countries then distrust the same president when he or his representative speaks? For if he can't be truthful to his own people, why should he bother to speak the truth with those outside his own country and jurisdiction?

The road to repeal is long and will need a majority in the House and Senate and the presidency in 2012.

The road to the legal challenge in court is a non-starter according to Stacy Cline.
http://spectator.org/archives/.....t-recourse

We might like to unite around common causes instead of shooting each other within the tent.
For example, after Sen. Scott Brown's win in January instead of working with his "we can do better" campaign theme, riding the historic parallels of the victory that started with the Boston Tea Party in the Massachusetts Miracle video to present an action plan, conservatives started shooting him down as a RINO. Now, some writer in biggovernment wants to blame McCain for Obamacare. And of course we have Mr. Klein bashing GWBush for the same as well. We will not have time to take on the real foes that encroach upon our freedom if we turn on each other like this.

Obama is already out there with his Organizing for America emails touting the historic gains his administration made. Aside from that, he has the biggest megaphone and show that is the mainstream media be it web, print or networks.

And as we all know, he has no parallel in his mastery of campaigning. He is already on the road talking without end about the benefits of this landmark law. There are many, believe me, but it will cost the middle class more than a pretty penny.

They have a masterplan for every action they take. Remember that the White House offered the Obama interview to Fox News as an exclusive, why? perhaps to create an impression that he was the underdog and had to go to the enemy's pond to fish in order to sell his case.

The conservatives pundits had a field day crowing how Obama was outfoxed, etc. but that was to create the illusion that conservatives were winning. Just like how the White House allowed all the self congratulations to take place during CPAC, then it slammed the unprepared Republicans with a Blair House Summit they knew was a trap, yet somehow could not refuse to attend as well.

So, they have plotted out this whole game from beginning to end, much like how one plays chess.
Their moves include alternatives and the president is the no. 1 POLLitician in this country. He and his team keeps tabs on his poll numbers though he has publicly told Democrats not to listen to the bloggers/news and watch the polls.

Without such a master counterplan, the gubernatorial and MA success won't amount to much because we don't have a united front. When the health care war was on, some 2012 "frontliners" were busy campaigning for themselves in 2010 instead of the RNC, etc. getting their best men and women to face the press, be in the headlines 24/7.

Whenever one of these 2012 people are headlined, the DNC, etc. immediately shoot these people down using two or three big names.

They even provide the attack lines, i believe, bec. most of the time, they are rather consistent in their line of attack such as Tea Partiers being 'ignorant racists and homophobes' (these past two days as highlighted in the press and now echoed by Jesse Jackson).

Someone will have to take up the mantle of leading this motley group, else our efforts will be like feathers in the wind.

Tom| 3.22.10 @ 1:16PM

All the really nice, gentlemanly, civilized people in our big tent should try collecting ears for a change. It may take that to take back America.

Wendy Van Tilburg | 3.23.10 @ 1:10PM

George Washington lost most of his battles, but he WON the war. So, as Churchill would exhort us: "Never, never, never, never, never, NEVER give up." You just can't beat the person who never gives up.

GreyLion| 3.22.10 @ 1:36PM

Mr Stien,
Thanks for your articulation. I especially like the Churchillian quote and will remember it over the next few months.
Please continue to speak for those of us who do not have the "mike".

Howard| 3.22.10 @ 5:50PM

I will vote for every conservative in my dark blue Massachusetts. But, the power of Pelosi, Obama, Reid, and The Mainstream Moron Media is amazing. These little rats are able to get away with anything.

Tomas| 3.22.10 @ 8:34PM

"....this is a war for Constitutional government."

Amen, Ben. Amen. It really comes down to that.

Republicans must come to grips with the realities you enumerate here. They must strap on some long-overdue testicular fortitude and stand up for our way of government. They must know what our Constitution says... what world history teaches us about totalitarian government.

Until they do that, they are equally responsible for the decline of the Republic.

The reckoning at the November voting booth will be sweeping; both parties are responsible, and both must be swept to the curb.

Sadly, Republicans as well as Democrats.

Debi| 3.23.10 @ 7:29AM

Obama is a stealth jihadist,, he is using deceit to take America down. As he shredds our constitution, he makes it all the more possible for him to replace that constitution with the koran, and declare that America is under sharia law. That is what Obama is doing. There is no other reason to completely annihilate America.

ralph s| 3.23.10 @ 2:36PM

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ryan| 3.24.10 @ 12:48PM

Nope. Bark up another tree. He's - at worst - a believer in black liberation theology. His rise was far too whacky to be conspiratorily planned by sum sort of Muslim conspiracy.

Oran| 3.23.10 @ 2:54PM

I think is why the Democrats dropped the self-executing rule and passed the Senate bill in a separate vote from the amendments/reconciliation bill. Despite the well-established constitutionality of the self-executing rule procedure, we can now say unequivocally, since they dropped that "questionable" procedure, that the claim that both houses didn't pass the same bill is an outright lie.

You see, before the Democrats backed down from "Deem and Pass", someone could claim rhetorically that "they did not have a vote on the Senate bill" or that "they did not vote on the identical bill the Senate passed" and while the claim would be misleading, and many people [apparently, including Ben Stein] were mislead into _believing_ a lie, the person making the claim could say that there were not lying. As of Sunday morning (3/21), however, that was no longer the case, and such statements went from being merely misleading rhetoric to being outright lie.

Thanks for playing. Better luck next time.

Northright| 3.22.10 @ 10:09AM

Where can I donate to help start the legal challenge?

Red in Denver| 3.22.10 @ 5:00PM

The lack of regard for the process (to say nothing of the complete disregard of the majority of Americans) is breathtaking.

I went online this morning and donated @ GOP.com and to Newt Gingrich's website as well -- AmericanSolutions.com.

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.22.10 @ 7:43PM

Hi Northright.
Welcome!
Donate to the best conservative candidates near you.
Screw lawyers.

Sons of Liberty| 3.22.10 @ 10:20AM

235 years ago, WE THE PEOPLE, rose up to fight our oppressors to form a new nation governed by laws to protect individual freedom. Last night we saw the enemy of our great Republic, and that enemy is us. The once proud Democratic Party has devolved into the Aristicratic Tories of bygone days, and their leader in the White House, to George III. Once again , WE THE PEOPLE, need to rise up and expel these arrogant aristocrats from the hallowed halls of Congress, if we can even still call these halls hallowed. The Republic stands on a precipice. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and the Democratic party is nothing if not corrupt. For the sake of future generations children, We must fight back against what has become a non representative government. The warming shot has been fired across the bow of liberty. On what side will you stand. FREEDOM or TYRANNY.

Anthony| 3.22.10 @ 11:46AM

Sons of Liberty is correct. The Left has achieved control of the 4 corners of deceit, as Rush has put it. The Democrats and the MSM are completely corrupt and are in complete sinc. To watch this spectacle unfold this weekend, with the vocal approval of the MSM, was sickening. So where was Dan Rather on presidential /congressional imperialism? Where was that Hollywood moron, Tim Robbins, and the "chill wind" of tyranny? They were cheering right along with the rest of the leftist elites.
Leftism is a cancer on America which needs to be excised. The 4 corners of deceit must be made healthy again. November will be the start of the removal of this malignancy.

Sons of Revolution| 3.22.10 @ 1:51PM

Voting them out may not work since those who are dependent on the government for their needs will soon outnumber those who are paying the taxes. So they may be able to out-vote us. I believe it was Jefferson who said, paraphrasing, a government unrestrained by the people will consume more and more power until another revolution, the real thing, would be needed. He thought it would probably need to happen about thirty years after the constitution was adopted. It may have taken just a little longer. Are you preparing yet? You might want to.

Mimi| 3.22.10 @ 1:56PM

Anthony, It's not called leftism anymore, lets call it alinsky ism. OK- We got a possiblepunch! But: Now the last of the patriots are suddenly awake. Whoa to those.... that to believe they won. The vast divide between Patriots and Alinskyites is now clear, beyond measure. The question now is what side are you on? FREEDOM or DICTATORSHIP. My faith in my fellow countrymen know what the answer is. Mar.22,2010, from today from " SEA TO SHINING SEA" Let us begin to ROLL . Note: John BOEHNER, Mike Pence,and especially Paul Ryan your speeches yesterday visibly shook the Dem's. They appeared to get nervous, started to stutter and they looked startled with fear on their faces. Many looked like they knew that your words were true and right but thet voted for it anyway. The main dem. complaint all day was for "denial of service" by insurers. One small law at zero cost could fix that, so we now know that this was NOT about the american people. Do not despair.... get yourselves out there , go on any news channel for any reason and repeat your patriotic message that you did on the floor. Stay strong we are with you.

Ken Pitts| 3.22.10 @ 10:27AM

Resistance is not futile. This amounts to a real attack on the US healthcare system and will nonetheless have devastating short- and mid-term effects on jobs because this is one of the largest job engines in the economy. But this could be a blessing in disguise as America wakes up to the fact that we have the makings of a real tyrant occupying the White House.

Bob Miller| 3.22.10 @ 10:28AM

WE THE PEOPLE put these jokers in office, unless some androids snuck in.

Jay Pitsby| 3.22.10 @ 10:36AM

Don't blame me, I voted for the old grumpy guy.

Tom| 3.22.10 @ 12:55PM

You mean uncle piss pants? What happened to that guy?

Shamus| 3.22.10 @ 2:18PM

He's busy losing his primary in Arizona.

WAKE UP| 3.22.10 @ 4:31PM

Jay, Tom, Shamus: lissen up - sometimes the picture is clearer from OUTSIDE. While McCain may have been a diffident , awkward candidate, he would have made a fine President for these times. Instead of firing cheap shots, DO SOMETHING about the terrible mistake your country has made.

code| 3.22.10 @ 7:17PM

Yep, even Harvard economics professor Mankiw thinks that McCain tax plan was better than Obama's. http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com.....-post.html
Also read somewhere that McCain's healthcare plan was better than Obama's.
Prof. Mankiw actually had an answer to the "hypocrite" attack on Republican House Reps. who accepted stimulus money
http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com.....n-gop.html

@J,T, S. Obama charmed the country and won.
Deal with it. He's closed his college files, so there must be something controversial in it.

code| 3.22.10 @ 7:41PM

anyone would lose if they had a JDHayworth with his radio talk show and following attacking them like that.

The mainstream media is deriding McCain even now, that conservatives are tearing down as fast as they can someone whom they had chosen as their presidential candidate just 2 years ago.

Won't he be easy picking for the AZ Democratic Senate candidate after JD is through with him?

If JD wins the primary AND the general election, he will be the junior senator from AZ. Then what?He starts with no experience in Senate where seniority, connections, etc. matter.

When Sen. Scott Brown visited DC to seek help/advise before he run for the MA seat, only McCain opened his door out of the 40 Republican senators there.

Also, Sen. Scott Brown had to wait for TWO hours as the most jr. senator for his turn to ask Gen. Petraeus a question during a recent hearing in some committee.

That's why Rep. Paul Ryan decided not to run for his state's senate seat bec. he would lose his Ranking Membership in very powerful committees in the House where he has been effective.

Sometimes, we need to look at the big picture as well as the realities on the ground.

Blaming McCain & Bush as some biggovernment writer and P. Klein, respectively were doing yesterday for the approval of Obamacare may be convenient, but doesn't solve the problem - especially if you didn't exercise your right to vote and/or vote for him.

Tom| 3.23.10 @ 11:37AM

So we continue to elect people who are bad on the issues because they are senior?

Chris| 3.22.10 @ 11:37AM

Actually Acorn bused in and got illegals registered to vote. WE THE PEOPLE had our votes negated.

Patricia| 3.22.10 @ 2:58PM

Bob: If by "We The People" you mean, ACORN, you're right! There was plenty of voter fraud and intimidation all across the country. If the AG won't defend freedom and honest elections.....America, we hardly knew ye.....

PolishKnight| 3.22.10 @ 10:30AM

I hate to be a polyanna, but Mr. Stein and Peter can take comfort in knowing that this is a horrible law by _socialist_ standards. The goal AND operation of Marxism (simultaneously) is to buy a greater number of votes from one special interest group while robbing and stabbing in the back another. It's their version of accounting. In their universe, the ends justify the means with the true end being simple political and ideological survival.

I am not a fan of FDR or LBJ but they did achieve the ability to buy working and middle class votes that lasted for decades. Obama has now squandered all of that in a bid to simply achieve an ideological milestone. It will NOT shore up his numbers either short or long term and it gives the American people a drastic choice that they haven't faced since WWII or the cold war: Either get serious, or face economic destruction.

Thousands of policy wonks will now get paid high 6 figure salaries to pass around paper and rubber stamps while most Americans health care premiums will rise even as their income falls and gas prices soar through the roof (with Putin selling us the fuel he picks up off of our shores.) In the meantime, the imfamous third rail, medicare/caid will both drain state budgets already at the breaking point while annoying senior citizens who had voted FDR Democrat for 50 years.

To paraphrase what's on the smug FDR memorial at the DC mall: "War is hell. I hate war" but the reality is that FDR thrived from identity political warfare and even the rough stuff that kept him from being kicked out of office. The desperate measures Democrats resorted to keep this healthcare bill alive is bunker politics. This is the USSR, 1988.

maire| 3.22.10 @ 10:30AM

There is no such thing as a pro-life Democrat. There is no such animal as a "principled" Democrat in D.C. at the moment. Not saying Repubs are lots better. But they are not on the fast-track to tyranny.

If this law stands, it is the effective end of our Constitutional Republic. That is not an overstatement. If our Constitution allows the federal government to tell you when, how and even IF you are "allowed" to purchase medical services and health insurance, and that the federal government can compile and use an electronic medical records system to store information of the most personal on every person in the US, there are NO checks on it.

It can tell you to buy a certain kind of car, live in a particular place, use no or little electricity, tell you what innoculations your children must have, regulate what you say, what your pastor says, what you can and can't watch on TV, what you can and can't listen to on the radio, what you can and can't read on the internet, at the library, what books are for sale, what you say to people in public, what you say to your family in private. . .

There are NO limits.

I have heard there are something like 38 state attorneys general planning to challenge this on Constitutional grounds. If those fail, those 38 states make a majority who could call a ConCon and add an amendment "clarifying" the enumerated powers. Those 38 states could "change" the Constitution "back" to what it was intended to do.

If that fails, states will try to secede. Who knows what happens then?

PolishKnight| 3.22.10 @ 2:41PM

Ironically, Maire, that may turn around to haunt them. On the same day as the health care debate, illegal immigrants marched on Washington waving their "country's" flags (Not the USA) demanding amnesty and, ultimately, special privileges.

Great. Now they have to register for "free", oh, wait, not free healthcare or else they face a $5K fine. They have to give their address and personal info under penalty of law.

Who knows? Maybe in a year or so they'll get "immigration reform" but just not like they'll think. The federal government will have a list of every illegal alien and their children and where they live. That can be useful...

Pugsley| 3.22.10 @ 3:18PM

It could be that the people of those states stand flat footed with their chins out and tell the gov to go straight to hell.

chuck| 3.22.10 @ 3:48PM

Count me in for secession. Producers here, moochers, over there! They can have the entire rust belt and the left coast. We'll take the South, and the heartland. We'll see in 5 years how that works out!

ncgma| 3.22.10 @ 5:57PM

Agree with you totally Chuck.

Siegfried X| 3.22.10 @ 10:40AM

This article seems to be mistaken, believing that Democrats voted to "deem" the legislation passed. That was something they talked about, but decided against. As far as I can tell, they did a straight up-and-down vote on the bill the Senate sent over. So there is no reason to doubt the constitutionality that way.

ObamaCare _IS_ unconstitutional because of the federal government taking too much power, but that is a different issue.

MikeBee| 3.22.10 @ 6:22PM

Siegfried X,
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the bill the House approved had changed since the Senate approved it. Obama can't sign it into law; it must go back to the Senate for voting on the exact same language.

Petronius| 3.22.10 @ 10:40AM

We are governed by predators, perverts, and parasites: of the trash, by the trash, and for the trash.

maire| 3.22.10 @ 10:47AM

It was unconstitutional because the two houses did not vote on the exact same bill.

The House is supposed to originate the legislation, vote and then the Senate is supposed to vote on that or a version of the bill.

If the Senate votes only on a version (not the exact same bill), the bill is NOT YET A LAW (sorry to yell, but this is getting really frustrating) under our Constitution.

Those bills MUST be reconciled in a House/Senate conference and then the houses vote on the exact same conference bill.

You cannot have the House vote on a different bill, deem it "reconciled" and then have the President sign it.

There were two unconstitutional procedural issues - naked "deeming" and blowing off the "exact same language" requirement. The first was not done, the second was.

In addition, as has been pointed out, to all the substantively unconstitutional issues around this "thing."

Sam| 3.22.10 @ 11:17AM

Maire,
will you please stop bitching about the bill's passage? And that goes for the rest of you. Everyone knew it would happen. You know what you have to do: Regain Congress in November. And when you do, don't make the same mistakes as you did the last 8 years (like getting drunk off power and having a spending spree). You might actually prevent the Democrats from changing the country if you can show us that you can be trusted with power.

maire| 3.22.10 @ 11:35AM

I wish that were all it would take. But having a behemoth federal government with no constitutional limitations is not "fixable" by having a different set of folks at the helm.

I agree, it is better to have more conservative/constitution honoring individuals at the top, but unless the states say "enough" and the courts agree, we will always be in jeopardy.

We have then become a "nation of men and not of laws."

"Bitching" about any of this does no good. "Retaking" an unconstitutionally powerful federal government will help for a while, maybe.

Long run - long, lonely, uphill battle - "resizing" the giant feds back into their "constitution sized" role.

They should not be in the position to need to be "trusted" with power. They should never have that power in the first place.

Which is what I was taught the entire point of the founding of this country was - separation of powers and federalism to prevent this exact thing from happening.

ncgma| 3.22.10 @ 6:03PM

Prob. is that now that this has passed, they will use it to pass whatever legislation they want...like perhaps repealing the 22nd. Amendment.

Scott| 3.22.10 @ 4:22PM

Maire, what are you smoking? The House voted directly on the Senate bill, as-written, and approved it. So the same exact language has been voted on and will now be signed. This constitutional argument on this topic is a farce.

First, there was no "deeming". They shelved that stupid idea on Saturday. And two, IT WAS THE EXACT SAME LANGUAGE as the Senate bill.

The reconciliation bill is an entirely different piece of legislation that the Senate will now have to pass the EXACT SAME LANGUAGE of. How freaking hard is this to understand? Do you really think the Congressional parlimentarians (of which both parties have experts on) would allow different language? Delusional.

Work on eliminating large Dem majorities and then you won't get crappy legislation. Acting like an idiot/crazy doesn't help anybody.

maire| 3.22.10 @ 4:53PM

Yes, but eventually the Dems get it back.

It is not delusional to work toward a smaller / constitutionally mandated federal government over the long haul while working for the elimination of Dem majorities in the short term.

If working toward such a thing is idiotic/crazy in your book, so be it.

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.22.10 @ 10:57AM

Ben,
Good thoughts.

Folks, mind your words carefully. The communists, (pardon the shorthand), are going to be looking to "make examples". Heh, I for one will probably be one.
Screw it.
I hope you will each see my post on the "Rush Was Right" thread.

Jobe| 3.22.10 @ 12:42PM

Ironically, I remember when the female Obama stated that for the first time she was proud of her country. I have to say that for the first time in my life, I am embarassed to be an American. To think that this could happen here is to believe that this is nothing more than Venezuela to the tenth power. America is gone! Our fight now is to decide what will replace it.

Greg| 3.22.10 @ 12:53PM

That makes you a terrorist.

blackwatch| 3.22.10 @ 2:02PM

Huh?

Don't go overboard with the rhetoric Greg.

No one said use violence. We need to squeeze the MSM, pressure their advertisers, and ridicule these fools.

then get another Constitutional Ammendent ready.

A mulitple front battle is the new politcal norm.

Brain Mc| 3.22.10 @ 7:11PM

Facing off, equally, against your enemy across an open field of honor is not terrorism; it's called war...the ultimate, political gambit/winner takes all.

The Dems should open their eyes to see just where they are driving...I can guarantee the outcome will not be equal, something the libs are always espousing...socialists are perilously close to crossing the line. For me, I will side with Liberty opposing legislated compassion, Freedom verses misery.

"Those that would sacrifice their liberties in order to gain security, deserve neither."

Hardcard| 3.22.10 @ 11:06AM

Mel Gibson's, Braveheart;
William Wallace: "FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

louis tully| 3.22.10 @ 11:07AM

Ben's points 3 and 5 are in conflict. If this is indeed "how a South American junta does its work--with a puppet legislature and a supreme Caudillo above law," then don't expect much from a "war of words."

Ric| 3.22.10 @ 11:09AM

In November
We Will Remember

Siegfried X| 3.22.10 @ 11:10AM

According to the House web site, recorded vote #165 yesterday was "On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments " to

H.R.3590
Title: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

So it originated in the House ("HR 3590" = House Resolution , the Senate added amendments, then the House approved the amended version. Exact same text.

The Reconciliation Bill was passed later on a different vote, and is totally separate.

I wish that the Democrats had made a mistake in process, but it doesn't look like they did. Simply approved the amended Senate version, without changing a word.

Siegfried X| 3.22.10 @ 11:13AM

The Constitution doesn't say anything about a reconciliation committee. There is no requirement for that. One house can simply approve legislation which the other one passed.

In this case ObamaCare was "ping ponged". The House approved, the Senate amended, then the House agreed to the amended version.

Greg| 3.22.10 @ 12:51PM

The House's amendments still have to be passed by the Senate before the President can sign them into law. The Constitution grants Congress the right to determine it's own rules of procedure.

Shamus| 3.22.10 @ 1:25PM

My understanding of what happened was that the House approved the Senate bill, and that this bill will be presented to the president for signature. This meets constitutional requirements.

In addition to the bill passed Sunday, the House passed a second bill which will be taken up by the Senate. The first bill can be signed into law without reference to the second bill (which may or may not be passed by the Senate).

The deem and pass option might have been used but for use of an executive order to address the abortion issue raised by Stupak and others. Once the deal to use an executive order was reached there was no reason to use deem and pass.

Siegfried X| 3.22.10 @ 3:04PM

"The House's amendments still have to be passed by the Senate before the President can sign them into law"

Yes. Bill #2, the reconciliation bill, has not been passed by the Senate. It must be before it can become law.

Bill #1, the main ObamaCare bill, was passed by the House, amended by the Senate, and yesterday the House approved the amended version, exactly as the Senate passed it. Tomorrow, Obama will sign it into law.

So theoretically reconciliation could be defeated (bill #2), but unfortunately the main ObamaCare bill, the "Senate bill" = bill #1, would still be law.

Scott| 3.22.10 @ 4:26PM

Wow, somebody here gets it. Can't believe Ben Stein can't understand that (and half the posters on here) don't understand there are 2 pieces of legislation here, not one.

No wonder we've lost Congressional majorities, half our supporters don't even understand basic congressional procedures. They just scream 'unconstitutional' for any piece of legislation they don't like.

Brian Mc| 3.22.10 @ 7:15PM

Scott,

If Congress passed a 'law' that made you, and your kind subservient slaves to the rest of us, but followed all decorum and rules, would this be constiutional, as you put it?

Shamus| 3.22.10 @ 7:42PM

According to the Dred Scott decision it would.

NeilBJ| 3.22.10 @ 11:57AM

I have a very simple question.

What enumerated power in the Constitution grants authority to Congress to enact this health care legislation?

Greg| 3.22.10 @ 12:50PM

It's clearly interstate commerce. Arguably under the aggregate effects test, but I think there is ample support in the case law elsewhere as well.

Louis Jenkins| 3.22.10 @ 12:52PM

Enumerated powers in the Constitution? We have long passed enumerated powers. Those duffuses even admit it. This is like a committee meeting that once agreed on Robert's Rules of Order, then once there was a majority of all the same mind, by-passed those rules for mob rule. There are no enumerated powers for most of what is being, or has been, done in the District of Criminals. That can include the last eight years as well, particularly the domestic agenda. These rogues have been at it so long they believe their methodology is normal and legal. If Congress was the husband and citizenry was the wife Congress would becharged with spouse abuse. Hope we enjoy being beaten, cause there's more coming.

Scott| 3.22.10 @ 4:42PM

Commerce clause which the courts have allowed very broad discrection in its application, things that are more suspect regarding interstate commerce than health care.

See who your insurance is with and where its HQ is. If its in another state, its inter-state commerce and the Feds can regulate however the heck they want.

Bill Speers| 3.22.10 @ 12:06PM

I hope that Americans will recall the time-honored American way in politics, of going on down to the legislative building when the legislature passes legislation that defies majority rule, removing the lawmakers from their seats, taking them into the public square, tarring and feathering them and riding them out of town on a rail.

If our legislators want to think of themselves as characters in JFK's book Profiles In Courage, we as the people have the right to think of ourselves as The People, who, if they can't be respected, will be feared.

Greg| 3.22.10 @ 12:48PM

If the democratic process doesn't go your way, you don't resort to violence and intimidation. Express your frustration at the ballot box, it's what the founders would have wanted.

blackwatch| 3.22.10 @ 2:15PM

Huh? The founders fought off the best army in the world. They would not approve of only a limited skirmish at the ballot box--not when the king is in control of the ballot box with his ACORN mercenaries. The battle is now going to the courts.

Greg| 3.22.10 @ 4:31PM

Fine. It's going to fail in the courts, there is no legal issue to stand on, the case law is not there. But don't threaten violence, it does damage to civil society our founders set up when they enacted the Constitution. One of Washington's first acts was crushing the Whiskey Rebellion. The message has has been clear from that point on that we have a system of Republican governance and if you have a gripe, you resolve it in the system, judicially or legislatively, not be threatening violence.

WAKE UP| 3.22.10 @ 4:35PM

Except, Greg, that sometimes more violence is done with the stroke of a pen than the arc of a sword, and revolution/resistance becomes the only recovery.

Al Adab| 3.22.10 @ 7:56PM

Greg:
"when any government becomes destructive of those ends it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it"

Do your homework.

Darin| 3.22.10 @ 12:28PM

Doesn't matter if it's illegal if the courts don't throw it out - and they won't. It also doesn't matter what anyone posting here writes. The majority of the American population are mindless sheep who vote how they're told and gleefully suck the blood out of productive citizens to "get theirs." How else can you explain a completely unqualified individual with zero of his past revealed get elected President? The tyranny of the majority is coming to pass.

tampamom25| 3.22.10 @ 12:47PM

While I agree that, given the liberal bent in all the majority of courtrooms, it probably won't get thrown out that way, I disagree when you say it doesn't matter what anyone posting here writes, and I believe that people who may have been mindless sheep before are waking up and understanding that tyranny took office a year ago, and regardless of how it happened, it needs to be overthrown. What is posted here helps people understand what's really going on. It matters here, and it matters on other places where we post our opinions. We need to know that we are not alone, that there is a HUGE segment of the population who feels the same as we do. I've learned a great deal about this and other issues from people who post in places like this. We all need to know that we are standing with others who will defend, to the death if needed, our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Greg| 3.22.10 @ 12:45PM

I'm unclear about the Constitutional argument being made by Mr. Stein. Courts have upheld the use of reconcilliation. Both bills, the senate version and the reconcilliation amendments, are being passed in the House and Senate. Is there a specific provision of the Constitution being relied on to back up the argument? Case law?

Shamus| 3.22.10 @ 1:39PM

Stein is simply confused. He seems to have overlooked the actual events that took place yesterday.

The only real constitutional issue is whether the commerce clause allows the government to force citizens to buy health insurance. While it should be quite clear that this is not constitutional, the courts have interpreted the commerce clause to mean that the federal government can do almost anything it wants. There's a slight chance that the court could limit the commerce clause, but even if they did, this would not cause any real problem for our socialist rulers. They have other ways to raise tax revenue and any harm from this ruling would accrue to insurance companies and the public at large (neither of which are of any real concern to our government).

Tom| 3.22.10 @ 12:48PM

What can be done can be undone. Now we know the rules. Don't we? :0)

Pingback| 3.22.10 @ 1:05PM

The Obamacare Abomination: Reactions « The Republican Heretic links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…of the citizen to the state but the very character of the people. The BlogProf channels Star Wars: Liberty Dies with Thunderous Applause. The Heritage Foundation responds to Obamacare: Ben Stein presents six points against the passing of the bill at American Spectator: 1. This is a “bill” that is clearly not really a Constitutionally allowable legislative entity, eligible for signature into…

RAMIII| 3.22.10 @ 1:27PM

What this does is bring to mind the "Final Solution" during the horror of the Nazi Reign of terror. The fascist government of Germany wanted everything to be "legal".

These people in Washington have made LAW a mockery, from which the only corrective action is a revolution based on law. This is not a likely occurrence.

But certainly know this: A PRICE MUST BE (and WILL BE) PAID BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE for this monstrosity.

Think of it this way: We have just handed our children and grandchildren the overwhelming burden of rationed health care in respect of what to do with US, as we become an inconvenience to them.

Be assured of this; the Hippocratic Oath and the Constitution of the United States of America has been cast into the dust and grime of the political process.

WAKE UP| 3.22.10 @ 4:36PM

RAMIII is right: read "Defying Hitler" by Sebastian Haffner, it's a textbook for these situations.

Drew | 3.22.10 @ 1:30PM

My thoughts on reading the late night rantings of failed economist, failed actor, failed NY Times columnist, failed move producer, and would-be scammy credit report service pitchman Ben Stein:

So you think you're a Constitutional Law expert now? Right....

Newsflash for Ben Stein: We don't make laws in this country based on the results of biased Fox News polls. We use a much larger sample size: its called the election process.

In 2008 Barack Obama was elected, on a platform that included significant Healthcare Reform, by a popular majority of more than 10 million citizens. So too were more than 265 Democratic house Representatives, and the 59-60 Senators. Each of whom were elected by clear popular majorities in their districts.

Conservatives make the mistake of believing their own lies.

Pssst: Wanna know why the Republicans are so mad right now?

Answer: Its because they KNOW that the individual components of the Healthcare Reform bill just passed are going to be overwhelmingly popular with the American people. (And, if you doubt this, just take a look at polling done by Pew Research:

http://www.americanprogress.or.....80309.html

Americans - not surprisingly, aren't thrilled with a legislative process thats taken a year of angry, often pointless debate. But ask them about the specific provisions of the bill: outlawing restrictions on pre-existing conditions; mandating coverage; and even higher taxes to help pay for it - and quite strong majorities of the American public support it.

If Boehner et al really believed that they'd just been handed the keys to the Congress next November - do you really think they'd be so mad right now?

Reusable Wipes| 3.22.10 @ 1:35PM

Butt wipe.

Shamus| 3.22.10 @ 1:48PM

Costs for insurance will be going up while quality of health care goes down. This won't please anyone.

However, it may take years before a clear picture of what's been done emerges, and during this time the left can pretend that they're only trying to help.

What will happen in the near future is that all the new taxes and mandates will depress economic activity. This means there will be no jobs, and that means millions will suffer the steady decline into poverty that is typical of socialist regimes.

Drew| 3.22.10 @ 2:03PM

Unlikely.

Lets just start out by saying that there is little, if any, evidence that relatively small tax increases (like the increase in Medicare taxes to high income Americans) really have ANY negative effect on economic activity. Let's also point out that the just-passed bill contains provisions that work out to a quite significant tax-cut for small businesses that DO wish to offer their employees health insurance.

Lets also examine the effect it is likely to have on entrepeneurs who might be thinking of starting their own company. Answer: It makes it considerably easier/cheaper for them to find coverage for both themselves and their employees.

You can go saying the words "socialist" and "regimes" all day long. But eventually (and certainly prior to November of 2010) Americans are going to notice that no one has pulled the plug on Grandma. Nor have Federal troops occupied any of our hospitals.

Keep lying to yourself. It only helps us Progressives.

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.22.10 @ 2:42PM

Hi Drew.
Yesterday, you "progressives" declared war on we the productive people in our country.
Thank you.

...better get a job in the "private sector"...or continue to live in mommie's basement.

Your gubmint job...or Soros' job, will be .....deleted.
Get it real straight..... WE WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR STUPIDITY ANYMORE!

You will starve in the dark...and Obama will laugh at your stupidity. dumbbunny.
.....How long can you tread water?

Shamus| 3.22.10 @ 2:46PM

Government is projected to go from 18% of GDP to 24% of GDP. This is a big increase. Marginal tax rates on entrepreneurs will go up significantly if you add increases already set to go into effect automatically in 2011.

Insurance subsidies may help employees of small businesses, but they do little or nothing for the business. If there were a shortage of workers, then this kind of subsidy might help small businesses to compete for labor, but there is currently an excess of labor.

Socialism comprises government ownership of businesses such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and General Motors. If you think this will appeal to voters in November, then we have different opinions. My guess is that 10% unemployment will be a stumbling block for the progressive cause.

WAKE UP| 3.22.10 @ 4:41PM

Drew, I've said this before on another topic: you're obviously intelligent, but misguided - when you could probably be of some use if you woke up . You need to see the longer term view of what this means. It's not actually about Health, it's about how America sees itself, and how it functions. And terrible damage has just been done to that.

Scott| 3.22.10 @ 4:36PM

Costs are already going up and ungodly rates, particularly in the indvidual/small business market with the 'insurance death spiral' is in full force. There will be a lot of postives for self-employed and micro-businesses (namely large insurace pools). Now whether that's outweighed by the cost of the subsidy entitlements, I guess we'll find out in a decade or two. My guess is life ain't going to change much for about 90% of people.

PolishKnight| 3.22.10 @ 2:37PM

I love Drew's arrogance and smugness about the "clear popular majorities" and how great and clear the electoral process is... when socialists win. Al Franken found ballot boxes after the election all of them full of votes for... Al Franken. When GW Bush won in Y2K though, they were the ones crying foul.

Read my response above: This healthcare bill is a dog and it will only reveal what conservatives knew about socialism all along: That it empowers specific politicians and special interest groups at the expense of the majority of voters. But they were always smart enough to play a shell game to make voters think they were getting something for nothing.

Higher health care premiums AND state budget shortfalls are on the way and the people will have the Dems to thank for years to come. Congrats guys, you "win."

RAMIII| 3.22.10 @ 6:03PM

Just wait till the "INFLATION MONSTER" rears its ugly head. Right now the banks are holding on to their money. When it is released and credit is not so tight -- watch out. $6 - $8 for a loaf of bread is coming people. More money chasing the same goods.

God help us when we become enemies of each other.

"Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, for every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer.
Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; . . .
Jeremiah 9:4-5

PolishKnight| 3.23.10 @ 2:20PM

Nevermind bread, Ramiii, just wait until they pay $6 for a gallon of gas and $300 a month for electricity!!! The leftists will be chirping: "Now we're just like Europe! (at least when it comes to paying high prices for energy) I'm soooo happy!"

Michael Erwin | 3.22.10 @ 10:56PM

I received an email from Barack, last night after the demos passed the health care bill....I was against it until read the email and since I was promised we all will be "living happier, healthier lives" as a result of this new legislation. I feel so much better now...
Now that I'm feeling so much more healthier, when does the "Happier" part kick in...before or after the tax increases?

Finrod| 3.22.10 @ 11:34PM

Drew, you're a troll.

The fact that you're linking to leftist sites like americanprogress.org proves it, first of all, but second, even Communist News Network (CNN)'s poll has 59 percent against ObamaCare, 39 percent for. Third, the taxes start three years before the benefits kick in, which gives us time to repeal this turd with a Republican President and a Republican Congress in 2013. After three years of paying taxes but receiving no benefits, people are going to hate this crap sandwich even more than they do now.

LeChat| 3.22.10 @ 1:31PM

The health care bill is not about health care. It's about money and power. If we allow this to stand, we deserve what we get.

Mark E. Deesahd| 3.22.10 @ 1:39PM

Just playing with numbers here...
1. 12 million uninsured who don't want to be? Just get a "contribution" from every self-funded Democrat candidate who supports Socialized medicine.
2. Say 67% of those polled opposed the measure? Assume African American support for the measure parallels their support for the President. Subtract that 15% or so from the whole and that opposition number grows to about 79% of white people.
3. In comparison, Loyalists among the white population during the American Revolutionary War ran about 20%.
4. By contrast, actual support for the Revolutionaries was about 50%.
We have surpassed that mass in defending Americanism. What will be our Concord Bridge?

Shamus| 3.22.10 @ 1:51PM

Democrats are a greedy bunch who rarely help anyone other than themselves. As a group, they give very little to charity, while trying to get as much as they can for themselves from government programs.

ncgma| 3.22.10 @ 6:13PM

Not only that, they are tax cheats also.

MikeJ| 3.22.10 @ 1:58PM

governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that, when ever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it

gearjammer| 3.22.10 @ 2:00PM

This is just a sneaky way to tax the people for government expenditures we do not want. It allows the Dems to avoid sound management principles and practices that would free up plenty of money to deal with these 30 million and whatever other problems are at stake. Tort reform and lowering the labor cost of government would offer plenty of money in this area. And, it can't just be a war of words. ,but not bullets either. We must use our dollars as weapons-we can hurt them with an intelligent and targeted economic boycott and slow down. Are they gonna put a gun to our heads and force us to consume ? Start with the cable and movie tickets-these are direct hits on media conglomerates. The summer is coming-let us cancel our cable bills or lower them dramatically for 3 months. No movie tickets. Hurt them, HURT THEM in their pocket book !

Blackwatch| 3.22.10 @ 2:39PM

Now that's creativity! hit the left hard in the wallet. don't go to movies this summer. use something like redbox or netflicks for your entertainment. $1 a movie will hit them hard.

boycott Starbucks, GE, Disney, and any other lefty organization or business. And start ridiculing and picketing all businesses that hire illegal aliens and resident aliens over our citizens. We have 15,000,000 unemployed American Citizens in this country. Lets put our men back to work before we hire the third world.

Intellectual Elite Eleanor| 3.22.10 @ 3:07PM

Boycott Starbucks? Forbid!

ncgma| 3.22.10 @ 6:16PM

Going Galt sounds good.

Michael Erwin | 3.22.10 @ 10:43PM

I have boycotted all ultra-liberal American hating actors for the past 15 years. Now I agree with gearjammer, let's just boycott Hollywood. If all conservatives quit going to the movies for 1 year, Hollywood would either shrink in size or replace some of these American hating actors with ones that appreciate this country. All the Liberals can move to Cuba or Venezuela where they have a very robust movie industry producing government approved movies.

Dennis Imwalle | 3.22.10 @ 2:13PM

The wheels of Justice grind so slow that we can expect the best legal solution to be a Temporary stay.
This issue must be resolved at the ballot box. It will eventually face two Bamster vetoes before it becomes necessary to impeach Comrade Obamma

Pingback| 3.22.10 @ 2:26PM

The American Spectator : My Thoughts on Watching the Democrats … capital university links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…ow a South American junta does its work with a pup pet legislature and a supreme Caudillo above law. This is, tragically, Barack Obama’s America The rest is here: The American Spectator : My Thoughts on Watching the Democrats … By admin | category: AMERICAN | tags: barack-obama, caudillo, from-the-government, gain-their, government, its-work, jefferson, lack, outsourcing, party, smash-hits,…

michigander_sandusky| 3.22.10 @ 2:29PM

I hate this crap and want it overturned. However, all I have to do is go to my local Walmart and look at the tatooed freaks with ear rings, nose rings, and tongue studs to know we normal people don't have a chance!

Retired Army| 3.22.10 @ 2:30PM

Well ,,,since this government does not want to follow the laws of this country, I also refuse to follow the laws. So be it. I have guns , beans, and bullets, come get 'em if you want.

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.22.10 @ 2:49PM

Retired Army,
God bless you sir. Thank you for your service.
I too, will not comply.

We got two hundred million compatriots.

michigan_Sandusky,
Seriously think about a move to Texas. Our Walmarts down here are different.

.............Get the hell out of Michigan!

oldpapajoe| 3.22.10 @ 2:55PM

This is the end. This victory is proving to be the GOP's Waterloo and not, as one GOP leader put it, BHO' Waterloo. This will bring all doubters to BHO side. Everyone loves a winner, and the GOP has once again showed itself to be WORTHLESS. It is time now to form a new party--and this is key -- do away with the GOP. With no GOP there is no fear of a third party giving the Dems a victory.

Margie| 3.22.10 @ 3:13PM

No papa, no. No third party!
Elect conservatives in the Republican party. That's the way to go old papajoe!
Hound them Democrats out of office! ~el Rushbo.

ncgma| 3.22.10 @ 6:21PM

Like it or not, the only way we will defeat them in 2010/2012 is to get behind GOP canidates. For some interesting reading, see Hugh Hewitt's blog at http://hughhewitt.com/blog/

Pingback| 3.22.10 @ 3:06PM

Liberal Fascism: Violating the Covenant | Chicago Daily Observer links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…[This article was syndicated via RSS from BackyardConservative. The views represented do not necessarily represent those of the Chicago Daily Observer.] Ben Stein: My Thoughts on Watching the Dems Stab the Constitution on the Congressional Floor Quinn Hillyer: There will be much more to say along these lines in a full column later this week, but for now, this should suffice: Bart Stupak, Kathy Dahlkemper,…

Northern Rebel| 3.22.10 @ 3:17PM

Ken:

Unfortunately, depleted finances due to reign of the Obamination has me holed up in northern NY, of all places.

But I intend to make my stand and die a Texan, even if only, in spirit!

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.22.10 @ 3:53PM

Northern Rebel.
We will win!
Please see my posts on the other threads.

You have a roof in my house.
Ken

Jackgn| 3.22.10 @ 3:18PM

I'm from the state of Georgia, formerly of the Confederate States of America. It's time to do it again, folks. The tyrant in the WH must be shown that some people in this country are not sheeple. We will fight for our freedom!!! Secede!!!

Al Adab| 3.22.10 @ 3:22PM

John Adams gives us our marching orders. He once wrote, "... there may be unjust and unequal laws obedience ti which is incompatible with Liberty."

We have arrived at the moment. We can choose to submit or we can continue the fight and resist. The price may be high, but submission,s cost is greater. Whatever comes from this, we will not obey, we must not submit.

ncgma| 3.22.10 @ 6:22PM

Welcome to the Resistance!

Michael Erwin | 3.22.10 @ 3:22PM

This country is great because it's citizens believe that hard work, innovation, small government, and individual freedoms bring out the best in people Whereas the democratic party believes the only way this country will become great is to make sure everyone is equal. I have a new mandate, every voter must read 1984 and Animal Farm. If you can't ready then have someone read it to you. Then I dare you to vote for Liberalism...

David| 3.22.10 @ 3:25PM

The bill as a whole stinks. But, if the democrats I heard speak on the tube yesterday can be believed, the voters may very well forget this whole thing by November. The dems pointed out that several of the most attractive or attractivs SOUNDING provisions will be immediately effected. One, that no one can be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions. Two, that insurance companies cannot charge higher premiums for those with pre-existing conditions. Three, increasing the age to 26 for which a parent can keep a child(ren) on his policy. It used to apply only to full time students. I wonder if the legislation forces companies to drop that requirement to include any child regardless of status. Knowing the take away give away personality of the dems, it would not surprise me. There were a couple of other attractive provisions. If enough people's lives are improved because of those provisions, and keeping in mind that to this day 46% of voters say they would vote for Bam Bam again, and with the MSM on their side, I am afraid that the many of the dems may get a big fat pass come November.

I am concerned about the the racial crap that will be thrown in to the medical care mix. No doubt it will be just as it has been in education, employment opportunities (specifically in government), promotions, etc. Like affirmative action to correct past injustices, I have no doubt who is going to be at the end of the waiting line or be the first in the denial of treatment line. Blacks and hispanics have generally not had the quanitity and quality of care that whites have had over the years and that should be a fairly easy point for liberals to make to an ever-increasing socialist minded voter pool. (That is not the fault of whitey or discrimination). After all, blacks have considerably higher rates of several serious diseases and die earlier; and hispanics, the closer to Indian heritage one is the worse it is, have the highest diabetes rates in the world. It is extremely expensive to treat diabetics over a lifetime. Yep, no doubt in my mind, whitey is going to get the short end of the stick in all medical care decision-making processes in the name of social and economic and medical care justice. Get ready to get bumped.

I don't mean any offense to any blacks or hispanics who may be posting here - just telling you what I am certain will happen. Affirmative action and preferential treatment has been afforded to them in every area controlled by local, state, or federal government.

Pingback| 3.22.10 @ 3:36PM

The American Spectator : My Thoughts on Watching the Democrats … American Me links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…on Watching the Democrats … This is h ow a South American junta does its work with a pup pet legislature and a supreme Caudillo above law. Here is the original: The American Spectator : My Thoughts on Watching the Democrats … By admin | category: american | tags: caudillo, cyrus, doll-hair, from-the-government, hannah-montana, heroic, junta-does, killer, little-young | 'American…

Pingback| 3.22.10 @ 3:41PM

THE PYRRHIC VICTORY OF “OBAMACARE” « THE SAPIENT SPARROW: conservatism for commoners links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…like the Romans that Pyrrhus describes, “not at all abating in courage for the loss they sustained, but even from their very anger gaining new force and resolution to go on with the war”.-Wikipedia Ben Stein offers these words of comfort and encouragement in the aftermath of this exhausting contest: For those of us who still believe in the Constitution, I offer the words of the great civil rights anthem,…

Louis Jenkins| 3.22.10 @ 3:46PM

Sit down and think about it. Taxes for Pretender n Chief Care kicks in soon. Obama is kicked out of office in 2012 and a Conservative president sits in the White House. The Pretender n Chief's Insurance program, after a couple of years in effect, ain't doing so good. Who is the newsmedia and the entitlement society going to blame? Just last week I heard the liberal statist newsmedia say that Obama was going of overhaul the 'No Child Left Behind' education policy authored by President Bush. They left Saint T. Kennedy out of the story-completely, without even crossing their fingers or tracing the sign of the cross on themselves. No Child Left Behind sounded great when it was dreamed up. Universal Government Ran Health Care sounds great too! The truth will soon come to the surface.

William | 3.22.10 @ 3:58PM

The American Spectator
home
ADVERTISEMENT

* Home
* About Us
* Contributors
* Departments
* Back Issues
* Weekly Archives
* AmSpecBlog
* Subscribe
* Newsletter
* Advertise
* Donate
* Contact Us
* Daily Digest
* Templeton Essays

RSS Feed
search
ADVERTISEMENT
The Largest Selection of Liberal-baiting Merchandise on the Net!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Washington Prowler
Print Email
Washington Prowler
Rush Was Right

By The Prowler on 3.22.10 @ 6:08AM

USEFUL NICE GUYS
Some Republicans will point the President Obama's Blair House health care meeting with Republicans as the event that enabled Democrats to get to a point where the Senate health care bill could pass. During the event and immediately afterward, some Republicans were given credit for standing up to the President and attempting to get a leg up, but according to a Democrat leadership aide in the House, the event accomplished exactly what the Democrats and the White House wanted.

"It allowed us to create the impression that Republicans had had a hand. It allowed the President afterward to claim he had included Republican proposals in the bill, and gave us a clear path to moving the process along, where before we didn't," says the aide. "Your Republican friends will disagree, but the minute they agreed to that meeting, we knew we were at the least back in business."

A White House aide, who was involved in planning the media sideshow at Blair said, "If the Republicans had actually listened to Rush [Limbaugh] and [Mark] Levin and [Fred] Thompson and not attended, we might have been in different situation. Before February 25, we had no momentum, you just felt it, after the summit, when the President told Republicans that if we couldn't agree, then we'd just have to move on without them, we had a bit of a opening and no major public opinion backlash."

LAUGH LINES
Karl Rove appeared on ABC's This Week with a chart full of facts about the Obama health care bill and what it would do to the U.S. economy. Obama political consultant David Plouffe appeared with several humorous talking points provided him by the White House.

"We wanted him to be ready," says a White House communications aide. When Rove raised the issue of the damage the health care bill would cause the U.S. economy, Plouffe jumped in, saying, "Karl and the Republicans would be familiar with that. Under their leadership, they took us from big budget surpluses to a $1.3 trillion deficit."

Later, he used the line: "Karl and the Republicans have zero credibility -- about as much credibility as the country of Greece does to talk about fiscal responsibility."

Both were written for him by the White House. "Oh, we hand a bunch of these out for our surrogates when they go on TV," says the White House aide. "Especially for folks who don't really have a sense of humor."

225 days till midterms
Reply to this
saleboter| 3.22.10 @ 7:08AM

Amen to that ggoblue
Reply to this
Pingback| 3.22.10 @ 7:09AM

White House: Rush Was Right « The Underground Conservative links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Statists in Congress a second chance to claim that they really had sought Republican input and without had no choice to move on without them. In other words, the Stupid Party strikes again. From The Prowler at The American Spectator, one White House aide said: It allowed us to create the impression that Republicans had had a hand. It allowed the President afterward to claim he had included Republican proposals in the bill,…

Brian Mc| 3.22.10 @ 7:25AM

General Lee to Jeb Stuart, (who has just offered his sword in resignation) in the movie, "Gettysburg"...

"There is no time for that now, General, there is no time!"

Treason to our founding...
Treason to our Founding fathers...
Treason to our Republic...
Treason to our Constitution...

Midterms? There is no time.
Reply to this
martin j smith| 3.22.10 @ 8:18AM

I disagree with this view. I think its about Chicago, or Thug or fascist politics period. The Repubs attended or not makes no difference.
Its the threats with arm twisting and phony bribes that would be done no matter. Get it straight. We are dealing with Fascist,Socialist Thugs. That is the problem and the issue.
Reply to this
Liberal Reader| 3.22.10 @ 9:29AM

Yeah.

Those fascist thugs.

Always doing things like having debates, voting, running for office, passing legislation.

I can see what you mean martin.

Hah!

These Democrats are just like fascists.
Reply to this
Tim| 3.22.10 @ 11:14AM

This is not a good time, just goback to hanging out at Necronomincononline.com.
Reply to this
JamesJ| 3.22.10 @ 12:23PM

Making me buy health insurance IS facism.
I hope in a few years when this crap kicks in, you are the first to wait 9 months for your MRI and all othee "rationed care."
Reply to this
Grzmlyk| 3.22.10 @ 1:12PM

Liberal Reader's real name:

Useful Idiot #53,437,556.

Great comments, Useful Idiot 53,437,556. Your unique intelligence really sets you apart from Useful Idiot 53,437,555 and Useful Idiot 53,437,557!
Reply to this
val| 3.22.10 @ 8:25AM

Nonsense. The majority of American people let it be known again and again that they did not want Obamacare as written. The progressive party chose to ignore the will of the people. The GOP cannot be blamed for this. Not when the will of the people was fully known by the progressives.
Reply to this
Thorvald| 3.22.10 @ 9:06AM

The SecProgs passed from legislators to tyrants last night and became suicide legislators in fact. Like suicide bombers, they may not be pacified until they're dead.
Look at ACORN funding: it's baaaack.
Reply to this
wbheff| 3.22.10 @ 2:32PM

To paraphrase Dorothy, "Toto, We're not in America anymore."
Reply to this
Ken (Old Texican)| 3.22.10 @ 8:42AM

Well, folks,
The communists, (pardon the shorthand), have crossed the "Rubicon". They have burned their boats on the beach behind them.

They have now taken off their masks for all to see what they really are.

Over the next weeks and months we will see them gloating and grinning...and reaching for more.

We will also see whiners, quitters, and nit pickers here and on every other website and news source.

Screw all that!

Now.....demonstrations are nice. Tea-party get togethers are encouraging insofar as they remind us we are not alone in the fight.
BUT,
Now it is time to begin picking the battlefields and filling sand-bags. I am going to remind you folks of something you may have forgotten. You ground combat veterans certainly have not forgotten.

DEFENSE in depth requires a force only one/fourth the size of an attacking force to win a battle.
And, that folks must remind us that we must pick our OFFensive battles very carefully, and utilize maneuver and flank-thrusts. We must not be drawn into frontal assaults...at least until after November 2010.

Everyone has been jabbering about how "tough" it is to repeal an entitlement. Yep. But remember, the goodies don't start flowing for 3 or 4 years.
We must win the offensive battle at the ballot-box, folks.
There is where your local tea-party is crucial. We folks know who the leaders are...that will lead from the front.
Let me take it a step further: PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS. Use a round number. $20 times some five hundred thousand population in a congressional district equals...$10 million dollars for a campaign. Say only half the folks are on our side. That is still $5 million....a very respectable Rep campaign fund.
(PS: If you are in a hopeless district with too many commie-libs...find the nearest district where a solid "restorationist leader" is running...and put your money there.

REMEMBER! quiet defense every day. OFFENSE in the communists' flanks where it counts, with the least number of casualties...until November.
God bless America.
Reply to this
Tenn Slim| 3.22.10 @ 10:02AM

Texican
Your analysis is spot on. Tennesseeans understand the Ground Tactics fully. We will parse, delineate, email, write and make the dust fly around our Disreputable Reps in DC. The SunTzu tactics watching your flank, give ground slowly, keep your enemy close do apply.
We Will Prevail
Semper Fi
end
Reply to this
Paul from SA| 3.22.10 @ 10:52AM

I've seen many Democrats on TV saying this is just the first step. Indeed they are gloating.
Reply to this
Tim| 3.22.10 @ 11:17AM

Rooster Cogburn: If ever I meet one of you Texas waddies who ain't drunk water from a hoofprint, I think I'll... I'll shake their hand or buy 'em a Daniel Webster cigar.
Reply to this
Ken (Old Texican)| 3.22.10 @ 2:04PM

Well Rooster, you owe me a cigar, and a drink, Skotch please.
Kiss my butt.

See Rooster had the guts to go into a gunfight. You wimps do not.
You are only good for holding your begging cup out.
Reply to this
Friarbones| 3.22.10 @ 9:16AM

I agree with Martin...this would have been done regardless of any kind of GOP response. The deal making and the arm twisting happened with so much noise from the public against this that it did not matter. We are now living in a National Socialist State.
Reply to this
Cris Worth| 3.22.10 @ 9:43AM

I first learned of the weakling GOP after the 1966 midterm elections when the Republicans made a remarkable comeback from the 1964 debacle. Though still in the minority they were in a strong position to change federal policy for the better. But they rolled over and played dead worried about losing the gains they made in the next election cycle. Hence the Great Society grew unabated and the Vietnam War continued to escalate. And this cycle of Republican Party ineffectiveness continues today.
Reply to this
Tim| 3.22.10 @ 9:43AM

November 2nd ! November 2nd ! November 2nd !
We'll Remember In November !
Reply to this
Tim| 3.22.10 @ 11:12AM

Will we?
Reply to this
darcy| 3.22.10 @ 12:40PM

Who's waiting 'til November?

Get active in your local Republican Party. Become a precinct committeeman -- our ground soldiers; imagine the power we'd have if every pc walked their district to fire up the party and get out the vote; what if registered repubs voted in November in droves, say to the tune of 95% turnout? And that, after they'd been nurtured during these coming months by their precinct committeeman about the issues and the dangerous abyss this country stares into even as I write.

Get the address of the local Republican Party HQ and pay them a visit today! Besides, we need to among the troops, among those who share our fire in the belly.
Reply to this
Cal Mark| 3.22.10 @ 3:39PM

The key to this is tossing out the elitist dinosaurs who run the GOP.

True story: with great difficulty, I managed to get involved in a conservative campaign run by a local Republican chieftan. Everyone from the "in crowd" marveled: "How the heck did you get in here?" As soon as she didn't need my gruntwork, she threw me off her email list.

We need to kick the GOP dinosaurs to the curb, then take the fight to the enemy.
Reply to this
martin ju smith| 3.22.10 @ 9:56AM

To Liberal reader: " Have a nice day."
Reply to this
martin ju smith| 3.22.10 @ 9:56AM

To Liberal reader: " Have a nice day."
Reply to this
Caius Keys| 3.22.10 @ 10:04AM

@Liberal Reader
Excellent points! I'm glad to know that you've read your history. Most dems/libs/progs are just drones that just repeat what they're told or spout off stuff that they "feel deeply." Which history did you read? Probably _Rise and Fall of the Third Reich_, so you know that the Nazis (i.e., national socialists) were voted in, all nice and legal with debates and stuff at a time when the moral fibre of their country was disintegrating. Their leader also was a very charismatic speaker, but he didn't use a teleprompter!
Reply to this
Tenn Slim| 3.22.10 @ 10:04AM

As my Former Colleagues said in 1950, "H... No, we have not lost the battle, we moving forward in a different direction" Gen Chesty Puller circa 1950, at Chosin. To those of a younger generation, we lost a battle, and won a Police Action.
We Will Prevail
Semper Fi
end
Reply to this
JP| 3.22.10 @ 2:06PM

...Or as another Marine said in 1918, "Retreat Hell! We just got here!"
Reply to this
Bob Miller| 3.22.10 @ 10:05AM

Nothing gets repealed until this President leaves office. The interim plan has to be a skillful delaying action, without regard for insults from the Democrats and Democrat-controlled media.
Reply to this
Ken (Old Texican)| 3.22.10 @ 11:30AM

Hi Bob Miller.
You have certainly got a point, but another thought: In November, we can elect a House of Reps to refuse to fund EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING.

My first premise of course is that the American "courageous majority", (which of course is always a minority), will vote in a congress with brass plumbing; that this time the folks will show up on election day.

Failing that, this country is in for some .......gulp.
Reply to this
darcy| 3.22.10 @ 12:44PM

Ken (Old Texican),

Please see my note above about our ground soldiers -- the precinct committeemen.
Reply to this
Ken (Old Texican)| 3.22.10 @ 2:13PM

Darcy,
I caught your thought. Splendid thought. We at Team America do the deal...every single day.
Please, do yourself a favor. Go to our gateway site: http://judgeroy.wordpress.com

When you contact .....whoever... please identify yourself with thousands of serious people at "judgeroy" . We are working with local tea-parties to nominate and elect patriots.

EVERYONE you call will have their boss call you back.
...Please learn where we at www.myteamusa.org are coming from first, if you want to use our name.
God bless.
Reply to this
fbom| 3.22.10 @ 10:05AM

To the Senate and House:
To be sung in the key of lies and betrayal.

Nan nan nan nan, hey hey hey, goodby.
Reply to this
Siegfried X| 3.22.10 @ 10:33AM

I disagree. At the time pundits in both parties said that Republicans did the right thing by showing up. Media supporting both parties said the same thing.

Obama WANTED Republicans to refuse to show up. That was going to be his excuse, that it was impossible to compromise with Republicans.

I don't know why American Spectator is supporting spin planted by the White House in order to divide the Republican Party. NR is letting itself become Obama's tool by supporting this.
Reply to this
Caius Keys| 3.22.10 @ 10:54AM

I have to agree -- that was actually a deft piece of politics by the Dems/Libs/Progs (DLPs) in that it put the GOP in a semi-no-win position. Show up, and you play Obama's game. Stay away, and you look petty and petulant. I think the GOP did a good job -- showed up, made their points, and held their ground. It was a tough call.

I think others here have got the big picture right in that there were two games going on -- the televised game and the backroom game -- and it was the latter with the DLPs bribing other DLPs with tax money for the opportunity to spend even more tax money that made the difference.
Reply to this
Van| 3.22.10 @ 10:39AM

They want you to believe it cannot be repealed but campaign finance was repealed after the supreme court struck it down as unconstitional. I don't think we even have to go to the courts to declare this a debacle and totally unconstitional on a number of grounds. Now they will come at us with amnesty, cap n tax and begin to start dismantling the military to pay for these massive entitlements. They have read and are abiding by Saul Alinsky's rules for radicals, make no mistake who the enemy is, it is them...
Reply to this
Anthony| 3.22.10 @ 11:03AM

This is classic leftist disinformation ment to dishearten the faithful. Of course the Rs had to attend Obama's dog & pony show, if they didn't, the MSM would have excoriated them for not participating. The Rs acquited themselves very well, as Paul Ryan took it to Obama. It was a lose/lose, because the deck is stacked against us, with the 4 corners of deceit, as Rush has so eloquently put it.
For this White House troll to now claim to have pulled off a rop-a-dope, is raw, amoral politics at its very worse. This White House is completely corrupt.
The Plouffe segment with Rove was pure in your face leftism. His mocking of Rove was the mocking of America by these dangerous ideologues. These dangerous and arrogant fools have no idea what they have unleashed. We will wipe the smirk off their faces, and damn soon too.
Reply to this
darcy| 3.22.10 @ 12:55PM

"T H E S E D A N G E R O U S A N D
A R R O G A N T F O O L S H A V E N O I D E A
W H A T T H E Y H A V E U N L E A S H E D.

W E W I L L W I P E T H E S M I R K O F F
T H E I R F A C E S, A N D D A M N S O O N
T O O."

We're shoulder to shoulder, Anthony.

How's this for a sign I saw yesterday, professionally applied in large block white letters to the back driver's side window of an Suburban:

Organized
Betrayal
Against
Moral
America
Reply to this
Anthony| 3.22.10 @ 2:18PM

MILLIONS of us are shoulder to shoulder now. Try this one: Give us liberty or we'll give you death!!
Reply to this
Pingback| 3.22.10 @ 11:25AM

The aftermath | Worth Reading links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…of dependence – on government, on entitlement, and on the Democratic party. The bipartisan health-care bill. The only bipartisanship … was in the opposition. By the same token, “ useful nice guys.” Some Republicans will point the President Obama’s Blair House health care meeting with Republicans as the event that enabled Democrats to get to a point where the Senate health care bill…

Thomas| 3.22.10 @ 12:19PM

There was no tactical advantage for Republican involvement in the Blair House "Conference". They were not going to change the course that the liberal Democrats were pursuing. And the whole format was heavily weighted in favor of the Dem. The President, who ostensibly called the meeting to allow Republican and Democrat members of Congress to work out their differences, did not act as a moderator, but as the chief spokesman for the Democrat health plan.The Dems ignored facts and, when not lying and misrepresenting the facts, refused to respond to the Republicans and launched anecdotal accounts of people who allegedly were suffering because they had no insurance. Then, when it became apparent that the Republicans would not come on board, the President told them that they, and the citizens whom they represented, were irrelevant and to get out of the way.

Strategically, it will hurt the Republicans, because it appears that they are also in favor of significant health care and insurance controls. In the reality of the bottomless vault of internet sound bites, some of their remarks will come back to haunt them. And, there are seven months till the midterms. That is seven months for the electorate to forget the backroom deals, the bribes and the heavy-handed tactics used to pass this legislation. And there will be no observable effect from this legislation until 2011. No downside for the Republicans to point out. And, if the legislation stands, the most of the current crop of Republican Congressmen will not be desirous of repealing it, merely amending it. Particularly, as virtually every Republican member of Congress from John Boehner to Scott Brown has endorsed the idea of "healthcare reform".
Reply to this
Siegfried X| 3.22.10 @ 3:18PM

Avoiding the conference would have been far worse for the Republicans. The Democrats would have said again and again "Republicans won't even talk to us, so we are forced to do it ourselves through reconciliation".

It also held the Republican caucus together. By attending the leadership got to present a united Republican message. If leadership had refused, a couple of RINOs might have attended instead, and had their excuse to vote with the Democrats.
Reply to this
Liberal Reader| 3.22.10 @ 1:02PM

At last! Free drugs for the AIDS I caught while being a roadie with David Bowie and Lou Reed.
Thank you Barack! You're my man!
Reply to this
Caius Keys| 3.22.10 @ 1:19PM

Hey, anything we can do to subsidize your irresponsible, selfish, and immoral behavior, just let us know. Apparently that why we responsible, rule-obeying taxpayers -- that is, "suckers" -- exist in Obama's America. BTW, is _Atlas Shrugged_ out on video?
Reply to this
JJ| 3.22.10 @ 1:12PM

ABC's THIS WEEK is a liberal-Obama-Cheerleading festival.
A conservative on that show is there to get ridiculed.

The post-summit liberal media did not paint Obama as the loser but the winner or it was a "draw" -- even though Obama was a stumbling, bumbling fool that day. Stuck up and dark, a very strange person.
Reply to this
steveb| 3.22.10 @ 1:22PM

My B.S. meter just went off. We were relying on democrats to vote against their party's wet dream. Whether we met with the liar or not did not change the trajectory of this- if the measure had been turned down, they would have simply went with "deem and pass". We did nothing wrong, folks. The American people elected a marxist who will stop at nothing to overthrow our way of life.
Reply to this
Caius Keys| 3.22.10 @ 1:28PM

Take it easy Steve. Even as I type this, Barack Obama is working with employers to lower your insurance premiums by $2500 per year.
Reply to this
Pingback| 3.22.10 @ 1:25PM

They Should’ve Listened to Rush : The Other McCain links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler They Should’ve Listened to Rush Posted on | March 22, 2010 | No Comments How Republicans helped Democrats sell ObamaCare: Some Republicans will point the President Obama’s Blair House health care meeting with Republicans as the event that enabled Democrats to get to a point where the Senate health care…

Cincinnatius| 3.22.10 @ 1:36PM

It is time for Americans to decide whether they are to be counted with the sheep or the goats. Will we stand for God's natural law or will we fall for Lucifer's liar? The choices made in the next few months will determine whether America stands or falls. Pray for the beloved country and then fight like hell!
Reply to this
Anthony| 3.22.10 @ 3:19PM

Revolt is inevitable. When the Marxists push us and our Constitution to the brink and we complain, their trolls in the MSM condemn us for our heated rhetoric, call us racists, and claim we are inciting riots.
So I say again, revolt is inevitable, it's what the Left has wanted for decades, and we'll give it to them.
Reply to this
JmsA| 3.22.10 @ 3:24PM

To the rejoicing democrats: He who sows the wind shall reap the whirlwind. It may not happen this year, or next year, but in the not so distant future any and all discontent regarding health care, be it long waits, heightened costs, etc., etc., will be associated to this betrayal of our founding principles.
Reply to this
Caius Keys| 3.22.10 @ 3:31PM

Now it's not a question of if the country goes bankrupt but when. Look at what's going on in California; it takes a special kind of politician to say, "Yeah baby! Let's scale that the heck up!" Of course, maybe national economic death is what the Dems want. After all, how many Republicans are there on the Detroit city council?
Reply to this
Northern Rebel| 3.22.10 @ 3:27PM

Darcy:
You are a true patriot!

Old Tex:
Amen brother! There are many of us that are priviledged, knowing you are in the same foxhole.

useful idiot: #53,437,556:
Do you believe what you write, or are you a brilliant satirist?
Reply to this
William| 3.22.10 @ 3:56PM

I too am a Conservative/libertarian/Classical Liberal like most readers of TAS. I find the passing of this bill to be very disturbing, to say the least. But the most disturbing aspect of the whole thing seems to have been overlooked by most of the other commentators here: Many Americans do want this "Health Care" bill and all this talk about a comeback in November betrays a certain level of wishful thinking (if not outright denial.)

Let me explain. What group was ultimately responsible for the election of Barack Obama? I'll tell you who in case you forgot: Young people who are normally too lazy and distracted to get out and vote. These same young people have been BRAINWASHED their entire lives by the Liberal education/media complex to be in favor of this sort of thing (Health Care). They see it as a good thing. They see it as "progress". They will see more similar measures in the future as "progress". Why would they suddenly change their minds and be against the whole Progressive agenda???

I believe cultures and civilizations (no matter how great) follow the same trajectory as everything else in our world and universe: they appear, they develop, they peak, they decay, they die.

Welcome to the Decadent Phase of American Civilization.

Scott| 3.22.10 @ 4:45PM

I tend to agree w/ what you are saying. Young people have always naturally more liberal, and they tend to grow more conservative as they age, earn more money, and don't want to give it away anymore. Liberalism sounds great when your a broke 20 something. Not so great 20 years later.

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.22.10 @ 8:26PM

William,
What in the heck was that all about?

Are you appointing yourself our "extractor" or "simple-minder"?

Joe| 3.22.10 @ 3:58PM

You're all full of crap. I hope you choke on your bile.

Pingback| 3.22.10 @ 4:16PM

Can ozbamacare be repealed?? - VolNation links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…that about every third person you see is too damned dumb to walk and chew gum at the same time.) 56 percent view Obamacare as creating too much government involvement in health care. Six reasons the legislation is wrong. 1. This is a "bill" that is clearly not really a Constitutionally allowable legislative entity, eligible for signature into law. For it to be that, it would need to be…

Oldefarte| 3.22.10 @ 4:20PM

Ben's correct; and the time for BS is over. It's time for """""CHANGE""""" beginning in November!!!!!!

Silver Bear| 3.22.10 @ 4:22PM

Another Constitutional ground this should be opposed on is that it is a new tax-raising bill. According to the Constitution, such bills can originate only in the House. This bill has its origin in the Senate, as the House bill was never considered after the Senate bill was passed.

Say what one wants about the Commerce clause, the Constitution is quite clear where the tax-raising legislation must originate - the House.

A second point is that the Constitution gives no permission to tax people on the basis of simply being a citizen. This bill does precisely that.

Scott| 3.22.10 @ 4:29PM

Sorry, you are wrong on this. They do this all the time and they get around it by using the shell of some other non-relevant bill. I think the shell the Senate used for the bill had something to do with the home-buyer tax credits. So technically its a bill that originated in the House, but the Senate deletes all of its contents and inserts the HC language. That' s why it was still House Resoloution XXXX (H.R.) that they voted on.

Come on people. Both sides have parlimentary experts on their staffs, they are not going to be so ignorant to ignore lawmaking 101.

Silver Bear| 3.22.10 @ 4:34PM

You're a dumb fucking cunt. I want to wipe my dick all over your face and dribble seamen all over your chest.

Scott| 3.22.10 @ 4:37PM

Wow, now that's mature dialogue there....

Silver Bear| 3.22.10 @ 4:46PM

Open up big boy.

Glenn Koons | 3.22.10 @ 4:35PM

Ben is quite right. Today, Gallup showed that the real stats for unemployment is near 20%. Then too, the IRS 16,000 new workers are not PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS. They are public workers on the tax payer's cuff. This is not only a socialist mess making the USA look like Venezuela but the Dems do not care except of course in Nov. Then the ads will be that the Pubs do not believe in caring for kids, people, minorities especially and unless we get amnesty, we white Americans are all racists. The PC MSM will go right along with this agenda and laugh at calls that our Const. has been sheared like a sacrificial lamb. Court cases will go nowhere before the 2012 election comes. Do not be too sure that the liberal lemmings and the dependent classes will not re-elect this socialist pacifist naif,. That is why Nov. is so important in unelecting as many D's as possible. And puleeze, there are no moderate conserv Dems. None. See Stupak!

Nelson H.| 3.22.10 @ 4:56PM

Have heart, conservatives. Something that is unsustainable--the entire entitlement complex, the federal budget deficit, the national debt--eventually has to end. Sometimes it ends in tears and ruin, or in a new Dark Age, but it ends. All things shall pass. Maybe not always in our lifetimes, but eventually today's grisly gang will pass into history and become an object of study, much as we might study the Catiline conspiracy. The wheel of fortune will spin again. After all, the Soviets and Chinese overthrew doctrinaire Communism and traded it for oligarchy, corruption and autocracy, no? Hmm, not a good example.

PCP Smoker| 3.22.10 @ 5:23PM

Hey asshole, remember when you stated you wanted Obama to succeed? A nice little rebuke of Rush's position and a demonstration of what a grand guy you are, of course. Well, bitch, he succeeded, and you and your child just lost the greatest medical system the world has ever witnessed.
Recovery starts when we dump bitches like you.

Jim O'Brien| 3.22.10 @ 5:52PM

Obama is trying to resurrect the USSR here in the USA. The Democrats in the House and Senate who voted for this "health care" legislation aren't worth two ounces of warm spit. It's unfortunate that their mothers did not all have a partial birth abortion.

A WSJ editorial on the process:
http://online.wsj.com/article_.....DIyWj.html

Jeff| 3.22.10 @ 5:53PM

I am tired of all this talk. The time for action is NOW. Where are the authorities? Why are no lawsuits being filed? If this is unconstitutional then how is it happening. Law abiding citizens are having their freedoms stripped away daily. The illegal government now owns or controls 48% of the US economy. We must act NOW. Who will take the first action? Where are our conservative heroes now? The time for talk is over.

Jim O'Brien| 3.22.10 @ 8:18PM

Ten states are lined up to file suit in federal court challenging constitutionality of the so called "health care" legislation. More states may join this group.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITI.....e.lawsuit/

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.22.10 @ 8:40PM

HI Jeff.
I hear you loud and clear. ("five by five" as we pilots would say). Please see my article at :
http://judgeroy.wordpress.com

We have already taken action. Our US communists, (pardon the shorthand), are already on the "ash-heap of history".

Timing...Timing...Timing, bud.

Winston Churchill: ""Jaw Jaw Jaw is better than war war war."
cover your family ass, and be patient....and committed.
God bless

revereridesagain| 3.22.10 @ 5:56PM

Ben, re "thought" #6: Why not make it easy on yourself and work to repeal the 19th Amendment? Since women are less "human" then fertilized eggs, we should be barred from voting. And your problem would be solved. One of them, anyway.

Silver Bear: Why would you want to dribble sailors all over Scott?

Tom: Don't just collect them. Sell them on eBay. We need the funds and it will help get the point across.

William?? Thanks for the Koestler quote.

All ObummahCare Yay Voters: Two words, 5 syllables: No-vem-ber Sec-ond. Last one to leave please turn out the lights. It's the least we can do. We're still working on what the MOST we can do is and we'll get back to you on that.

Caryn Z.| 3.22.10 @ 6:09PM

Ben Stein, thanks again for hitting the nail on the head.

S.| 3.22.10 @ 6:16PM

Thank you, Ben Stein!

Is there a moderator here?? Why is Silver Bear's comment @4:34 p.m. still posted?

Bruce | 3.22.10 @ 8:48PM

Obviously, NOT. Otherwise there would not be the number of garbage spam posts advertizing everything from shoes to wire strippers. Or, for that matter, ridiculous, unedited screeds such as that posted above by "William".

S.| 3.22.10 @ 9:14PM

Yeah, what the heck? Maybe there should be a word limit.

Boo Hoo Teabaggers| 3.22.10 @ 6:21PM

Boo hoo. We lost the election, and now the Democrats are passing legislation by a majority vote! Our anti-democratic parliamentary maneuvering failed. If only the activist judges we spend our lives railing about can step in and stop the democracy juggernaut, because we don't like this particular law. Because we're never going to get laid off with a serious illness - that only happens to other people. Waaah!

Al Adab| 3.22.10 @ 7:49PM

Sorry my friend, it is called Liberty and rather than sell that birthright for a bowl of pottage, we will take our chances with pay our own way without using other people's money for our wishes. When and how did you decide you have a right to the earnings of others?

Boo Hoo Teabaggers| 3.22.10 @ 8:01PM

Al Adab - I sincerely hope you and the ones you love are never in the position of losing insurance coverage and having a bankrupting serious illness at the same time. Fortunately for you, and for all of us, the healthcare reform passed yesterday makes that sad eventuality unlikely.

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.22.10 @ 8:49PM

Hi Boo Hoo,
What is a teabagger?

Seriously, what is a teabagger?

From what I understand, it is a pedophile who puts his testicles in the mouth of a child, and dares the child to bite.

CHOMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are a gelding.

From now on we will hear your voice in "soprano", gelding.

Now, folks, all that aside, timing timing timing.
Lock and load.....but be patient.

Boo Hoo Teabagger| 3.22.10 @ 9:04PM

Hey, you teabaggers picked the name. Don't come crying to me because you didn't look it up first.

Finrod| 3.22.10 @ 11:42PM

Anderson Cooper of CNN is a member of the Tea Parties? He was the first to use that term, you ignorant asswipe. Have you gotten your payoff from George Soros yet? It'd be a shame to think you were the only ignorant fool on your side of the political fence that wasn't getting paid off.

Boo Hoo Teabaggers| 3.22.10 @ 11:59PM

Maybe. But you appropriated it and made it your own. Until you picked up on all the snickers amongst the cool kids. Now you're trying to disassociate yourselves by using the term "tea parties" and blaming someone else.

Please, take some personal responsibility.

Pingback| 3.22.10 @ 7:05PM

Liberal Fascism: Violating the Covenant « Javelin Marketing Co Broadcast links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…girls have sex. Get over it. » Liberal Fascism: Violating the Covenant Posted Monday, March 22nd, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments » Ben Stein: My Thoughts on Watching the Dems Stab the Constitution on the Congressional Floor Quinn Hillyer: There will be much more to say along these lines in a full column later this week, but for now, this should suffice: Bart Stupak, Kathy Dahlkemper,…

Dean| 3.22.10 @ 7:16PM

Those who say that the SCOTUS has an infinitely expansive view of the commerce clause must not be aware of U.S. v Lopez. While not directly analogous to the current situation, it does demonstrate a willingness on the part of a strict constructionist court to draw the circle a bit tighter.

Pingback| 3.22.10 @ 7:25PM

Javelin Marketing Co Communication :: http://128communication.javelin-marketing-co.c links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Categories Uncategorized BlogRoll Tag Cloud Monday, Mar 22, 2010 Posted by () To trackback to this post please right-click on this url: Trackback Post belongs to the Uncategorized category American Spectator: My Thoughts on Watching the Dems Stab the Constitution on the Congressional Floor By Ben Stein 1. This is a “bill” that is clearly not really a Constitutionally allowable legislative…

Northern Rebel| 3.22.10 @ 7:58PM

I'd be interested in how silverbear plans to dribble seamen, seeing as a Navy man weighs 170-180 lbs, on average, and their not round, don't bounce, and would probably take offense at the attempt.

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.22.10 @ 9:30PM

Fellow Rebel,
I think " Silverbear" is "Liberal Reader" in drag...and very lonesome.

these dinks think this is a meet-up site. heh.

reebok| 3.22.10 @ 9:54PM

This website sells reebok easytone. Reebok easy tone is the best pair of your all shoes,you can make a purchase for reebok easytone shoes online.I guarantee you will be fond of reebok easy tone shoes.reebok wholesale reebok wholesale

Suzanne in Oregon| 3.22.10 @ 10:23PM

Waiting until November to get rid of this cesspool of Congress will be America's biggest mistake.

Michael Erwin | 3.22.10 @ 11:16PM

Well, I got the word from my tax accountant, and the best he can determine is I should drop health insurance on all the employees which would allow me to pocket about $168,000 more each year. Yep, If I drop health insurance and and pay the mandated fines, my employees will still be insured and I get to keep more money in my pocket. The problem is, not a single employee wants to depend on government health plans...even though the democrats promised we'll all be "Happier and Healthier" with the new program. I even have some liberals who work for me. Hmmm...is it possible that when it comes "crunch" time...few if any really believes the government run health programs are all that great for us...even some die hard liberals don't think so.

Boo Hoo Teabaggers| 3.22.10 @ 11:38PM

Give it about ten years to iron out the wrinkles, and then it will be political suicide for either party to cut Obamacare. Just like Medicare now, or any other developed country's universal health care system. It's over, and common sense won. Don't be a sore loser.

Finrod| 3.22.10 @ 11:44PM

Sorry, troll, President Palin will sign the bill kicking Obamacare to the curb in 2013. And you'll be crying in your beer.

Boo Hoo Teabaggers| 3.22.10 @ 11:53PM

I am not even vaguely worried about Obamacare getting rolled back. Republicans are going to run on a platform of, "We'll change the law to allow discrimination against insuring children based on preexisting conditions"? "We'll reintroduce lifetime spending caps"? Never. Going. To. Happen.

I'm even less worried about Palin. I, like many other Obama fans, pray to God she runs in 2012. Hell, I think we should amend the Constitution to give The Educated One a third term. If it p*sses off the teabaggers enough it just might pass.

Yes we can! "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood . . ."

PolishKnight| 3.23.10 @ 2:33PM

It's rather funny that leftism is totally based upon the marxist concept of being a sore loser with not only class warfare, but race and gender as well. EVERYTHING, even the weather (which is quite an accomplishment), is about democrat special interest groups being victims and in need of special privileges.

Actually, it's the left that has committed political suicide by touching medicare/caid. The system was already imploding but now Obama has been seen at the crime scene. As doctors leave the plan and benefits are cut, out of necessity, seniors will be in their walkers with torches and pitchforks at their senators' and congressmans' offices.

I loved hearing the left gripe "Those republicans are stealing my money for their GW war in Iraq." (Of course, "their" tax money is really someone else's money they wanted to steal for their global-warming-end-of-the-world causes...)

It's the USSR in 1989...

Boo Hoo Teabaggers| 3.23.10 @ 2:48PM

Let's be honest - both sides complain when the other is in power and spends tax dollars on something they don't agree with.

The difference? The money spent on the unnecessary Iraq war that has done nothing but damage this country could have paid for these health care reforms that benefit all of us.

Leveut| 3.22.10 @ 11:35PM

I love Ben Stein like an idiot brother.

But what did the fool expect, voting for Obama with Democrats in control of Congress?

Kingofthenet| 3.22.10 @ 11:41PM

You Little Neo-Cons aren't aware who you are dealing with. Obama Is the Hannibal Lecter of socialism, He will eat your Livers with Fava beans and a nice Chianti...and his blood pressure will never go above 90/60

Pingback| 3.22.10 @ 11:48PM

Toward the Nationalization of Health Care links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…constituents.” No, Mr. Boehner. You did not take an oath to support and defend the “will of our constituents.” Read more at The Patriot Post Ben Stein: My Thoughts on Watching the Dems Stab the Constitution on the Congressional Floor If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed! Posted in Big Government, Constitution, Constitutional Limits of Government, Corruption,…

Waiting| 3.23.10 @ 12:18AM

The fastest way out of this is for somone who has a voice is to start asking why this "historic" President
has sealed off his past. Put two and tow together,
this man is not for America as we know it.
Nullify Obama and so goes Ocare.

Yosemeti Sam| 3.23.10 @ 2:20AM

Stab the Constitution?

Nay - rape!

Roger| 3.23.10 @ 2:37AM

You can say that again! And now that big old bitch of Constitution is pregnant with that rapist's bastard. Now, the DEMONcrats want to abort that child by repealing the Senate bill and voting for the reconcilliation version. I say we don't let them. SAY no to abortion and say no to reconcilliation in the Senate. When you put your dick in the Constitution, you make an sacred oath. By golly, the Constitution will feal the pangs of child birth!

Kingofthenet| 3.23.10 @ 2:58AM

You are making me Horny, Roger! So basically what you are saying is that the Constitution is a Dirty Little Slut? and should be forced to pay for having her legs spread?

PolishKnight| 3.23.10 @ 2:39PM

I think we need to put into perspective that The Constitution isn't a holy document. The left has made the crazy argument that it's a "living document" that their high priests (their SC justices) say whatever they like it to say and therefore all their Marxist ideas are ABSOLUTE law not to be questioned. (Except for the rare cases such as GWB winning in Y2K that they disagreed with. Then they were just a bunch of corrupt jerks.)

For the right, appealing to the constitution as if it's holy will fall on deaf ears (or be twisted to suit their ends) in addition to, well, it largely already being twisted beyond it's original intent to begin with their blessing: Extension of "rights" to the states instead now going to the people. Abraham Lincoln destroying states' rights to leave the Union. Those are the top two biggies. There are lots more. The "living" document is on life support.

Pingback| 3.23.10 @ 4:27AM

How do you locate the most excellent golf school for your wishes … | Sports Leisure K links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…How do you locate the most excellent golf school for your wishes … Related Blogs on The Spectator The American Spectator : The Disappearing Pro-Life Democrat The American Spectator : My Thoughts on Watching the Dems Stab the … The American Spectator : Why Healthcare Reform Can't Work Related Posts Golf: Duncan can boost the mind game – Yorkshire Evening Post Power golf for your…

Dale | 3.23.10 @ 8:00AM

If this is really not a bill, and hence won't be a law when signed, why don't the Republicans start the insurrection right after the President signs "it." They could announce that since it's not a law, none of its provisions should be obeyed by any organ of government or by any individual in the country. A little passive resistance a la the 50-60's civil rights movement might go a long way.

Pittsburgh Pete| 3.23.10 @ 9:33AM

Reason eventually prevails. Two of the most amazing events of the previous century were Premier Kruschev denouncing Stalin and later Premier Gorbachev denouncing communism. Both occured in a environment of absolute state control.
The truth will out, it always does.

Don Carlson| 3.23.10 @ 9:44AM

And now America is growing its own Hussein--right in the White House. We should be so proud.

Pingback| 3.23.10 @ 11:20AM

Ben Stein’s Take on ObamaCare, Democrats, & US Constitution: “Corned Beef Hash of Va links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…excellent Ben Stein expressed these thoughts following the Democrats ramrodding of the House’s passage of ObamaCare. From Ben Stein, American Spectator, My Thoughts on Watching the Dems Stab the Constitution on the Congressional Floor: 1. This is a “bill” that is clearly not really a Constitutionally allowable legislative entity, eligible for signature into law. For it to be that, it…

Pingback| 3.23.10 @ 12:35PM

Couldn’t he at least have mentioned the greatness of Richard Nixon? : Lawyers, Guns links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…atom-splitting hyperbole. But Stein — who’d beaten the curve on the Obama-Hitler comparisons back in July 2008 — watched the dolchstoss on the House floor last night and wandered strangely off-message. This is not how the U.S. government is supposed to work. This is how a South American junta does its work with a puppet legislature and a supreme Caudillo above law. This is, tragically,…

EugeneOR| 3.23.10 @ 12:43PM

Obama was voted in on a platform of lies. This is irrefutable if you look at what has just transpired. His colleagues in Congress also believe that it is policy to lie. What has happened to the America that I grew up being proud of? We chastise sports figures and hold them up to a higher plane than we do the people that run our country. I hate hearing the excuse that "that is the way it is done in DC". Our representatives should have some morale fiber or be impeachable. How can you teach your children what is right and wrong when the highest positions in the land are filled with people that constantly lie. They should all be ashamed and resign if that had any values at all!

NJK| 3.23.10 @ 2:58PM

Debi| 3.23.10 @ 7:29AM

Debbi,
I've often wondered that. Anything is possible with this guy. My husband is a commercial airline pilot. Shortly after 9/11, the terrorists said that they wanted to destroy the country from within. Look at what he is doing to Israel. He is a Muslim and lied. He gave some sort of gesture to Iran the other day for some type of Muslim holiday, and they pretty much blew him off. Our own FBI and CIA have failed to protect their Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic. They are marching lockstep with the enemy within.

Char| 3.23.10 @ 2:59PM

I have been a Conservative Republican since I became an adult over 50 yrs ago. I say that because my next statement is: The Bushes both had the opportunity to do something about getting our problems with health care taken care of, Tort Reform, crossing state lines to get affordable insurance and more. They could have dealt with the massive illegal immigrants that are now taking down the Republican party because Obama and company have provided all the incentive these masses of illegals need to get their votes, whether legally or illegally. The Bushes tried to keep the illegals happy, hoping to get their vote, instead of dealing with the legality of the situation. Illegals are draining our resources, be it education, medical services, welfare, taking our jobs; and our prisons are full of them too. I say, let's vote all of the incumbants out of office, send all the illegals home, and start fresh with living by our Constitution.

Oran| 3.23.10 @ 3:07PM

And here I was waiting to have a debate about the constitutionality of the self-executing rule as upheld by the supreme court... Then the Democrats dropped it Sunday morning and instead decided to pass two independent bills, with one being the Senate bill and the other representing the "vague promises" that still has to go through the Senate to become a separate law.

So what debate do I have now? They dropped the procedure, so arguing whether "Deem and Pass" is or is not constitutional would be a non-sequitur. So what do we debate about? Whether Ben Stein is a retard for believing or a slime-ball for reiterating a lie insinuated by misleading rhetoric after the kernel of truth behind the misleading rhetoric is removed? Ummm... Are these people even capable of understanding the question?

Oran| 3.23.10 @ 3:11PM

I predicted it. When I heard that they had dropped Deem and Pass Sunday morning, I asked "Why"? All that does is admit weakness. NOTHING ELSE! The propaganda line about the procedure won't even go away because the people dumb enough to believe it in the first place aren't really paying attention enough to know the difference between a vote on the rule that deems the bill passed and a vote on the bill itself.

David| 3.23.10 @ 3:44PM

Unfortunately, the leftists posting here may be correct. If the dems can be believed about what they were saying all weekend, it may be very difficult for repubs to campaign on repealing the medical care bill. I tend to believe they may be true to what they said because if they do, there may not be the blood bath for dems that most expect in November.

Contrary to what many are saying here, that the benefits won't be evident for 4 or more years, the dems claim that after the prez signs the bill into law, they will make it so that insurance companies cannot deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions; that companies cannot charge higher premiums for people with pre-existing conditions; that parents can keep their children on their policies until age 26; and there were a couple of other very attractive sounding provisions. I am sure many millions will benefit from one or more of the provisions that are put into immediate effect. Those millions will tell family and friends about how they have been helped and their financial burdens lessened. Of course insurance companies cannot afford to stay in businesss over the long term with those types of mandates placed on them, (hello government health care) but in the short term they will try.

Will republicans have the courage to run in 2010 on repealing what helped the above referenced millions? And by 2012, when the voters are even more used to the idea of the benefits, will they have the courage to run against Bam Bam on the issue of repealing Obamacare? Repubs have never exhibited a lot of courage. And other than welfare reform in the mid 90's, I can't think of another time that the government has started a program and then stopped or even decreased its scope. I don't have a lot of confidence that much of it will be repealed. Maybe the provision that requires everyone to buy insurance will be repealed, but not much else.

An author named Doug Gamble exactly expresses my concern in a column in Political Mavens on March 23, 2010. Thomas Sowell also has a column with much the same perspective as Gamble except that Sowell thinks we do have a very last chance in November, but after that, it is the end of America as we know it.

Boo Hoo Teabaggers| 3.23.10 @ 4:08PM

I agree with most of your assessment. I don't think insurance companies will go out of business - they'll just raise the large number of lower-risk premiums by a small amount to cover the smaller number of higher-risk insurees they can no longer screw. (And don't forget that any of us could have our family end up in the latter class, which is all of us benefit from this, if only in terms of peace of mind.)

The Republicans will run instead on national security, unfunded tax cuts, and hating gay people, same as always.

David| 3.23.10 @ 6:00PM

The bill, digested in its entirety, is a mess, is a joke and I bet it will cost at least 10 times more than we are being told. The left liked to say, wrongfully, that Bush lied and children died. We will now be able to say all the prez and all dems lied and the young and old alike died.

This bill will funadmentally transform America - not only our health care system.

Hating homosexuals....................please. Yes, I know, I refuse to say gay. Neither do I call it an affiair or the ever more popular "poor judgment" when someone commits adultery. Neither do I refer to pro-life or pro-choice, but pro and anti-abortion. So don't pitch a hissy fit.

Boo Hoo Teabaggers| 3.23.10 @ 8:40PM

Isn't it sad when cousins marry.

Liberty First| 3.24.10 @ 3:58AM

This President swore on a bible to support and defend the U.S. Constitution. Bill Clinton was impeached for perjuring himself while testifying. Where is the threshold of contempt for this President?

Cris Worth| 3.24.10 @ 3:49PM

The Republicans abandoned the constitution when W. failed to enforce immigration laws post 9/11. The constitution mandates the federal government control the border. A chance to diminish or perhaps even end the illegal immigrant problem by enforcing existing laws yet the former President failed to do so and even tried the amnesty route in '06.

Pingback| 3.25.10 @ 9:09AM

Third world president links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…is, tragically, Barack Obama’s America. It took a mere 14 months to get us from the government of Jefferson to the government of Trujillo. – Ben Stein My Thoughts on Watching the Dems Stab the Constitution on the Congressional Floor Share Leave a Comment Name * E-mail * Website Previous post: Life in hell 3.0 Next post: Not black, just American Get updates delivered to your inbox. Enter your…

Pingback| 3.25.10 @ 8:49PM

2001 WBNX Commercials Part 4 | Vitamins For Eyes! links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…| Farm аחԁ Dairy – Tһе Auction Guide аחԁ Rural Marketplace Tһе American Spectator : Mу Tһουɡһtѕ οח Watching tһе Dems Stab tһе Constitution οח tһе Congressional Floor Ben Stein « Single Payer Action Ben Stein’s Take οח ObamaCare, Democrats, & US…

Trackback| 4.6.10 @ 11:02PM

Quick Car Insurance Quote Options, Save on your Auto Insurance, on Quick Car Insurance Quote Options, Save on your Auto Insurance, links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

If you are going to buy a car, whether it is used or new, you have to be aware of some added expenses. Car insurance rates are highest for a new car, and high as well for a used car if you are financing it because you technically do not own the car until it is paid for. A higher car insurance rate is something to consider when you are budgeting your monthly expenses. If you are budgeting you need to consider some other things. While a used car is great and you might be able to afford it, why spe

James| 4.19.10 @ 5:09PM

Very fascinating, either way. Couldn’t agree me.
Online Graphic Design

Pingback| 4.20.10 @ 2:08PM

TOTO Bath Faucet CHROME Nexus TL794DDC links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Bar Faucet Bathtub Plumbing Laundry Room Faucets Faucets Sale Under Sink Water Filter System Steel Utility Sink Popular Users Recently Viewed Products Recent Blog Posts The American Spectator: My Thoughts On Watching The Dems Stab The ... To paraphrase Dorothy, "Toto, we're not in the U.S. anymore." Reply to this. Ken (Old Texicano) | 3:22:10 @ 8:42 PM. Well, friends, the communists (forgive…

Latest Headlines

The Inoperative Jay Carney

Jeffrey Lord|130 comments

Lerner’s Plea

Ray V. Hartwell, III|136 comments

Eugenic Abortion 2.0

Daniel Allott|52 comments

Holding AWOL Obama Accountable

Betsy McCaughey|17 comments

What Are the Risks of Syria Involvement?

Christopher Orlet|23 comments

Obama’s Imbroglios

R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.|41 comments

Obama’s Drone War

Jed Babbin|16 comments

Catholic Culture In America

G. Tracy Mehan, III|27 comments

The Spectacle Blog

One of The London Soldier Beheading Suspects British Born

Aaron Goldstein | 6:42PM

Lois Lerner Now on Administrative Leave

Kaylin Bugos | 6:13PM

Crisis Looms, and Kevin Williamson Can Hardly Wait

Luca Gattoni-Celli | 5:48PM

Dismantling Networks, Preventing Footholds

Ross Kaminsky | 5:30PM

Bill Would Ban All Abortions After 20 Weeks

Jordan Gonzalez | 4:15PM

Harry Reid Pushes for the Nuclear Option

Claire Healey | 1:11PM

Weiner: More Photos of My Junk Might Surface

Kyle Peterson | 12:55PM

#FreeKate? Movement to Normalize Pedophilia Finds Its Poster Girl

Robert Stacy McCain | 10:09AM

FLASHBACK TO: 1995

Pope Culture

By George Sim Johnston

A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck

By P.J. O'Rourke

Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
Dames at Sea

By John Corry
In the Absence of Guns

By Mark Steyn

In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
The Metaphysical Martini

By Werner J. Dannhauser
Counting the Costs of Clintonism

By Robert H. Bork

The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
Chuck McHagel

By George Neumayr

It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted

By Douglas Bartholomew
It’s the Best Time of the Year

By Mark Steyn

The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
The Bush Crack-Up

By Brit Hume

Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?