Reader Mail
Defunding ObamaCare vs. Paul Ryan
Whose problem will defunding be: the president’s or the Republicans’?
PAUL RYAN IS WRONG ON
DEFUNDING
Re: Philip Klein’s
Paul Ryan Sees Limits to Strategy of Defunding
ObamaCare:
I, like many conservatives, respect deeply Congressman Paul Ryan for his courage and leadership in developing the bold, visionary document Roadmap for America, which provides a realistic pathway to bringing our nation’s fiscal house in order. However, in one of the major upcoming policy battles, whether to fund ObamaCare, Ryan has been less than bold and visionary.
The Wisconsin Congressman recently told The American Spectator’s Philip Klein that the problem with defunding is that “I don’t see him [President Obama] signing our spending bills, which are the bills you’d have to pass into law to defund ObamaCare.” Unlike Ryan, I don’t see this as our problem, I see this as the President’s problem.
If the President vetoes appropriations bills necessary to run government because they lack ObamaCare’s funding, he will be the one that shut it down as Republicans would have given him all other necessary appropriations to run federal operations. Further, the President will be the one going against the will of the public.
With an overwhelming majority of Americans, a clear majority of independents, and even a quarter of Democrats supporting repealing Obama Care, expect voters to be furious with a President that shuts down essential government services, they as taxpayers have already paid for, just because he wants to continue his pet experiment that they reject.
Importantly, opposition to the law and the President’s potential decision to shut down government will only rise as we learn every single day of more premium hikes, more insurance companies exiting the market, and more Americans being forced to change their health plans.
Yet Congressman Ryan seems squeamish about stepping in the ring of a funding fight. As demonstrated above, not only is this a public relations battle we will win, but it is a policy battle we must fight and one that if Republicans don’t, will severely harm their political standing with the conservative base.
Recently I was at event with Republican congressional candidate Robert Hurt (VA-5) who, when asked about a funding fight over ObamaCare, said “there are hills worth fighting on and this is one of those hills.” Hurt is right, we simply cannot afford to let the law be funded and implemented if we want to remain the most exceptional country in the history of the earth and prevent our transformation into another unexceptional European-style welfare state where high unemployment is the norm and personal freedom is secondary consideration.
Make no mistake, the conservative base will revolt against a Republican Party that backs down in a funding fight over ObamaCare. Demonstrative of such a revolt is a recent tweet from conservative opinion-shaper and Red State editor Erick Erickson, who tweeted that “I have a feeling that if the GOP doesn’t repeal or defund Obamacare in 2011, there will be no GOP in 2012.”
Even if Congressman Ryan has better arguments than
presented here, why would he show his hand to the President and let
him know that, if he refuses to sign appropriations bills without
ObamaCare’s funding, Republicans would back down, saying “that
means we go to a continuing resolution or something like
that”? Showing your hand is just not smart strategy, in war
and in politics.
— Alex Cortes
Mr. Cortes is chairman of DeFundIt.org, an organization advocating
the defunding of ObamaCare.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (64) | Leave a comment
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Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 10.21.10 @ 6:52AM
Actually, if the government shut down would anyone notice? Or care? Eighty percent of the government inside the beltway consists of people who send other people memo's so that they can have meetings about the memos. Then other memos are sent and other meetings are held. In the end, there is a data file documenting the memos and meetings and that data file is passed up the chain of management to justify budgets, memos and future meetings. No notes are kept of the meetings in most cases because they are a complete waste of time. And so on and so forth.
IMKessel| 10.21.10 @ 11:21AM
Interesting.
Send me the background info in a memo.
Hell, I've got a govt. expense account. We'll have lunch.
Alan Brooks| 10.21.10 @ 11:42PM
Send synopses of all IKessel- B. Hussein O'Stalin memos in quadruplicate.
Pecos Pete| 10.21.10 @ 7:26AM
Kill ObamaCare, or goodbye to Republicans hello third party.
Ret. Marine| 10.21.10 @ 7:29AM
While reading the article I was wondering the same thing, Why would I show my hand only to tip off the enemy? I wouldn't, it is a fight that we need on that hill, and we best leave the details out for the time being.
Of course we all ready know the "won" is the fool in this game of marksmanship, so insistent upon his monster creation he'll confuse san fran nazi for the new speaker that it will be a tactical mistake to take for granted the disdain the populus has for him. He's simply not smart enough to realize we not only dislike him, we know he's an enemy we have been trying to keep outside the gates for more than three quarters of a century.
Dirty Ernie| 10.21.10 @ 8:24AM
If Obama vetos, just keep sending the same bill back, each time he has to tell the people why he is taking the action. Each time it is vetoed more and more Americans will contact their Congresspersons and demand an override. Eventually the veto can be overridden.
RCV| 10.21.10 @ 12:35PM
In your dreams, Ernie. The health care reform legislation is here to stay. Republicans made the same moans when Medicare was passed, and now its a sacred cow that they accuse Democrats of not being fully supportive of!
Congressman Ryan is at least smart enough to recognize that there is little that can be done at this point to change its passage. Of course, he'll suffer slings and arrows from those in the tea party wing who never let reality get in the way of their slogans.
Now back to meditations on history: On this day in 1921, the much-maligned Warren G Harding courageously spoke out against lynching in a speech in Alabama. At the time, blacks were being lynched in the south at the rate of about two per week. Harding was a vigorous advocate of civil rights protections for African-Americans and sufferage for women.
RCV| 10.21.10 @ 12:36PM
sorry - "suffrage"
Ken (Old Texican)| 10.21.10 @ 12:55PM
Hi RCV.
Have you gotten my book yet?
Sales are doing very well for an e-book. I'm getting reviews as I write. If you have not gotten the book, check your spam file. www.texassaidno.com
Some spam filters block out the e-mail delivery.
I often think about Paul the Apostle imagining his letters being scrutinized 2 thousand years later. Heh, he expected Christ to return "next month latest".
Sir, after all of your expostulations, a hundred million American men and women will NOT accept the communism, (pardon the shorthand), that you seem so happy with.
Sir, I cannot prevent a hundred million free men from shooting your assses. I am doing my best, and November 2nd will decide it.
If you communists prevail, then I have failed. Your asses are toast.
being a communist congress-critter will enjoin a very short life.
That is not a threat, but simply an observation.
At some point, free men will simply shoot your asses. No arguments will suffice. No brilliant thought will suffice. Your guilt will be pitied as you fall, and then you guys can discuss it with God.
RCV
I'm asking you to join the free men.
A lot of us will fall as well when it gets down to it.
I would simply rather get a bullet in the chest...rather than a bullet in the back of my head while on my knees at the feet of a communist murderer.
You sir, are brilliant arguing minituae. Yeah Yeah, you have spent a lifetime at it.
BOOM! You are dead! Your communist congresscritters are dead.
While you are answering to Our Creator, perhaps armeggedon is happening here.
We all die, RCV.
The final question is: "Given a once in history chance to be free men...will free men bow to their 'betters ?"
RCV| 10.21.10 @ 1:25PM
Ken: People whose attitude is, if I can't win at the polls I'll shoot the opposition, aren't patriots; they're thugs and terrorists, and will be dealt with appropriately.
JKS| 10.21.10 @ 1:59PM
You mean kinda like "if we can't win with the power of persuasion then we will use the persuasion of power" or some such? That was Andy Stern, he was with the SEIU and should be in jail. He and his ilk want to force people to join unions. The same unions that have been co-opted by groups like World Workers Party and the Communist Party USA.
Free men, like me, will fight to maintain that freedom. Whether it be at the ballot box or on the field of battle. The ruling class will ultimately choose where the battle takes place.
I promise you this though, I will not be subjugated.
RCV| 10.21.10 @ 2:40PM
Get a grip on reality, JKS. You live in the freest society in history. If you want to have William Wallace fantasies, that's ok with me, but don't expect the rest of us to treat them with anything but a chuckle.
Ken (Old Texican)| 10.21.10 @ 3:04PM
RCV.........EXACTLY!
That is exactly what you communists are doing; shooting patriots.
Your guys tricked the American people once. You are toast!
I cannot hold my finger in the dyke much longer.
If somehow ACORN and your helpers and dead people can skew the votes again, I simply pull my finger out of the dyke. Is that a crime in your communist world view?
Of course you don't know who I really am. I don't want one of your communist/muslims on my front porch with a bomb.
Nevertheless, as long as freedom of speech has at least a corner in my country, you will have to kill me to shut me up.
Folks,
I just had an e-mail forwarded to me. Somebody with the initials RCV told me to shut up or get thrown in jail.
Heh. He forgets I live in Texas...and..." Texas Said NO!" www.texassaidno.com
No, RCV, you are merely the "happy-face" of the communist murderers.
You are so sly, like a serpent, but I have finally drawn you out into the sunshine.
Folks, we are in a war!
The RCVs of the world have been bought and paid for.
Do I take my finger out of the dyke?
.....Let's wait until the results of the elections. Keep your safeties on until then.
...When/if RCVs' boys show up on your porch...you will know what has to be done.
God bless America
RCV| 10.21.10 @ 4:18PM
Ken: You really need to get professional help. You threaten to shoot me and then act as if you're a victim. I have no desire to shut you up, even if it were in my power. But you really are a paranoid person with inflated views of yourself. You are not holding anything back with a finger in any dyke.
If your ideas can persuade people at the polls, your candidates will win. But if they don't, then you're just going to have to acede to the American people's choices at the polls. But as I've said before, our glorious Republic will survive as it always has. And more than that, it will thrive.
I wish you some peace and good will. And, indeed, God Bless America.
REB| 10.21.10 @ 10:02PM
Really? you mean men like Washington , Madison Jefferson or maybe even that crazy Patrick Henry? Jefferson said revolution was a good thing now and then also said when injustice became the law rebellion was our duty! Revolutions and rebellions are rarely nice clean affairs,they usually require the blood of patriots and tyrants! Even JFK said that those who make peaceful revolution impossible; make violent revolution nessesary...ya, I think when the enemies of liberty use our system to destroy our system then the last resort is to shoot their asses like Ken said! I refuse to become a slave to anyone just so I can say I was nice and played by the rules but lost,you won so do as you please,nawww...this aint a game we are playing here...this is our nations future...we will not lose!
RCV| 10.21.10 @ 11:59PM
Sorry, but putting Washington, Madison, Jefferson and Patrick Henry even in the same paragraph with you is a joke.
Nunya| 10.21.10 @ 12:56PM
And according to the statistics I've read, had women never gotten the vote we'd never have another Democrap in the White House.
Something to think about.... ;-)
RCV| 10.21.10 @ 1:28PM
Probably true. And if we still had slavery, you'd be fat and happy on your cotton plantation. Fortunately, civilization progresses and you'll just have to live with life as we know it! :-)
Nunya| 10.21.10 @ 5:24PM
Sorry RCV, not from the South, nor am I a racist.
Too bad you don't have a sense of humor, it makes life better.
RCV| 10.21.10 @ 5:32PM
I know you're not, as I have said before. I was joking. Just like you. That's why I put the :-) there.
JP| 10.21.10 @ 1:51PM
"In your dreams, Ernie. The health care reform legislation is here to stay. Republicans made the same moans when Medicare was passed, and now its a sacred cow that they accuse Democrats of not being fully supportive of."
Medicare in 1965 didn't carry a $600 billion yearly price tage. In 1965 Medicare was projected to consume 10% of the GDP (ie consume every dime that passes through our economy).
The President is essientially forcing the entire nation on Medicare (aka ObamaCare in 2015). The projected tax increases and fees alone now are projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2014. And the unfunded portion of Medicare (ObamaCare) will grow to 20% of GDP by 2030 (that's assuming our GDP grows to $15 trillion -which nows looks unlikely).
Simply put, ObamaCare is DOA. Everyone knows it, save the few idealogues like you. Rep Ryan is more concerned with the political fall-out than the long term financial catastrophe. Yes, we can keep ObamaCare. And by 2020, you will be living under a viaduct sipping Wild Turkey with your home boys.
Steve A| 10.21.10 @ 1:29PM
RCV, Curious on your take on this lawsuit challenging mandate. Is it a tax or not?? Is a citizen who is not engaging in commerce actually able to be regulated under the commerce clause?? What do you think of chances on the suit?
RCV| 10.21.10 @ 1:47PM
I really haven't seen the briefs in the case to have a good sense of the strength of the arguments. But the post-New Deal cases on the Commerce Clause are SO broad that it makes a challenge pretty difficult, IF that line of cases is adhered to. In Heart of Atlanta Motels v. United States, 379 US 241 (1964), the Court upheld the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which banned discrimination in housing, even in private homes) on commerce clause grounds, quoting a New Deal case that famously said, "if it is interstate commerce that feels the pinch, it does not matter how local the operation is that provides the squeeze." The argument will be that health insurance is an interstate activity of immense size and the regulation is of that interstate commerce.
The twist, of course, is that there are new justices on the Court who have already indicated a willingness to re-examine the breadth of the commerce clause jurisprudence. They were successful several years ago in striking down the Safe Schools Act, rejecting a broad commerce clause defense.
The bottom line is, who knows? My gut tells me the present court is pretty evenly split on the issue. Much will depend on whether there is a vacancy in the next two years. If one of the conservative justices (Scalia, Roberts, Thomas, Alito) for some reason is replaced, the chances of a successful challenge are likely nill.
Steve A| 10.21.10 @ 2:09PM
Appreciate it. I am here in VA & get to hear Cucinelli a good bit describe the arguments & it's pretty interesting.Of course, he is on one side of it but it is striking how he describes the government argument that a private citizen freely electing NOT to engage in commerce is argued to be actually engaging in commerce by not engaging in commerce. Huh?? He describes it as almost comical in person. We shall see.
darcy| 10.21.10 @ 3:19PM
"The health care reform legislation is here to stay."
In your dreams, RCV. But thanks anyway for sharing your dreams of serfdom.
RCV| 10.21.10 @ 4:22PM
If insuring that all people have access to adequate health care is "serfdom", those peasants in Russia would have been quite surprised.
Steve A| 10.21.10 @ 5:15PM
RCV, I have a friend who owns a bar. He has no health insurance. He had a heart attack a couple months ago. Went to the ER, had bypass surgery, was in ICU for 5 days. Guess what he paid?? wanna guess?? ZERO. Tthey told him to send in whatever he could whenever he could do it. He even gets a break on his prescrips.
You can spare us the speech on access to adequate health care. There is NOBODY in this country dying outside the ER doors for lack of insurance. You are being sold a bill of goods under this BS "preventative care" garbage. If you want a physical, reach in your pocket, instead of mine & go pay for it. These costs are already built into the system (for those not covered) We are already paying them. Tthe trick with this legislation is to make the Insurers pay for them & jack them out of business. It is inevitable if you force a company to take on risk with known massive costs at standard rates. The risk pool is shot to hell & rates must go up. govt. blames the insurers & takes over. Game over.
neanderthal| 10.21.10 @ 5:18PM
If "insuring that all people have access to adequate health care" was what Obamacare was about, we wouldn't be having a wave election to throw out the Democrats. Obamacare is about the government mandating the type of coverage you must have, micromanaging the companies you must buy it from, protecting the perquisites of the trial lawyers, and making it all ponderous and Byzantine enough that, once it comes fully into effect, the system will collapse and we will have no choice but to go to a single payer British style NHS system. You will have your Viagra paid for, but my wife will be unable to get her ovarian cancer treated because a government actuary will have decided that the potential additional lifespan is not within the government's payment parameters (death panels, anyone?). Serfdom sounds about right as a description of what we're heading for.
RCV| 10.21.10 @ 5:26PM
I have to say, if you guys really think this is "serfdom" -- living in the freest, most prosperous society in history -- I genuinely feel sorry for your sense of privilege. We can argue rationally about health care systems (anecdotal stories are not the way to do it, or we'll sound like politicians running for office -- "I think of Mary, a mother of three in Oakville, who has to choose"), but I just react viscerally to people who clearly don't have a sense of history, and who don't know what "serfdom" or "police state" or "communism" really are, and throw the terms around at their opponents with reckless abandon.
terrie| 10.23.10 @ 3:20PM
RCV, you don't get it. USA was the freeset nation on earth, but Obama is changing that dramatically, and we don't want such change. Are you aware of all the new taxes in Obamacare that have nothing to do with obtaining medical treatment? (including 3.8% when you sell your home) The govt takeover of GM and Chrysler scared the hell outta me. Making BP pledge 20Billion when by law the most exposure they had was 75 Mil. Refusing outside help with the oil spill because it would come from non-union workers. Shutting down US oil drilling in the Gulf without Congress even saying boo about it, yet every other country on the planet is allowed to drill there if they so desire. Who in the hell is this man that he can shut down business and put 10,000+ people out of work?? His fat-ass wife going to the food associations and manufacturers and threatening them to take the tasty stuff out of our food. People on food stamps can't use them to purchase fresh potatoes. Tax salt and sugar and tell us we can't buy happy meals. Make us use chemicals instead of vegetable oil during food prep to achieve "zero transfat". Newflash .... some people cannot physically tolerate fake food products like 'canola oil", MSG or nutrasweet. I am one such person, and seriously crave a decent french fry but cannot risk eating even one lest it be the zero transfat variety and make me puke up the whole meal.
The govt needs to get the hell out of our lives, We aren't that free anymore buddy.
RCV| 10.23.10 @ 8:49PM
Oh, Terrie, I think if you calm down and take a deep breath, I think you'll find your freedoms are still very much in tact and you're not really a medieval serf. You can still stroll down to Mickey D's any time you want and buy that happy meal you crave. And thanks to that evil progressive legislation you deplore, they have to tell you what's in the food they sell in case you have food allergies. And persuading BP to actually pay for the damage they caused is a good thing, not a bad thing.
Big Tony| 10.21.10 @ 8:33AM
I think we should shut the government down over Obamacare and while we're at it have all the federal employee's take unpaid time off while it's shut down to save some money. Could someone explain to me why we continue to pay government employees when the government is shut down and they are not "working"! And what possible sense it makes to pay someone who's not on the job? Only in government do you get paid for not working. This sort of nonsense is why we are in the fiscal mess we now face.
BarryHussein| 10.21.10 @ 2:09PM
Surely you jest. We pay government employees to not work all the time. What I mean to say is, show me a government worker anywhere who actually is producing useful, meaningful work!
TJ from Texas| 10.21.10 @ 8:52AM
Why bother to bring back the Reader's Mail for a single email. Hell, the RM has writers that are just as good as anything else I read in this here magazine. I miss reading Gunn, Amos, Kessel and a whole host of others. The RM adds a good deal to my reading pleasure. Leaving a comment is all well and good, but sometimes I don't want to weed through all the rubbish to find a few gems. With the RM, the editor did his job and presented some mighty fine writing. Let's bring it back -- daily -- not weekly -- and certainly not weakly.
Vox Populi!
MS from Once Golden State| 10.21.10 @ 10:04AM
I have nothing but respect for Congressman Ryan!
He is one of the good guys. One can only hope that he has another plan in his back pocket. If he caves then I see little hope for the republican party.
dinfl| 10.21.10 @ 11:26AM
i don't see 'little hope for the republican party'...what i see is 'little hope' for those republicans in office who are constantly making 'foolish' statements such as 'there is little that can be done, etc...' yes, 'foolish' statements...those individuals will be, and are on the list for replacement... remember, they work for 'us'...for them to tell 'us' they won't be able to do as we ask...well, what would any 'employer' do to the employee who would respond this way???? the employer 'hands them their walking papers'...and then the employers put out announcements for 'job applicants'...we have to stick to our guns and keep reminding washington they work for US...we the people!!!!
rainmaker1145| 10.21.10 @ 10:05AM
"...like many conservatives, respect deeply Congressman Paul Ryan..."
Really? I seem to recall that Mr. Ryan couldn't find his voice of concern when the Republicans were spending money like they were Democrats. I don't trust this guy. He's been a pretender the whole time he has been in Congress. All he wants is his shot at being President and he will step on our bodies to do it. This guy is a pure faker of the Mitch McConnell ilk.
Houston Rao| 10.21.10 @ 10:31AM
If a straight repeal of the law is blocked or vetoed, the Repubs should turn the 'fairness' game against the Dems and Obama.
a) Remove the discretionary authority of HHS. We are a government of laws, not people, and the law, should in all fairness, treat every one as equal. No more waivers for special interests, well connected groups or situations where the outcome may look politically bad (McD's).
b) All government staff and officials, elected or otherwise, may only obtain insurance from an exchange and in strict compliance with Obamacare. It is only fair that government people swallow the same medicine they are forcing on others.
c) Remove provisions for special treatment of special groups - unions e.g.
d) Require the President to personally approve all rules, regulations, cost-effectiveness recommendations and cost cutting initiatives - these should not be delegated to a unelected, unaccountable official. It is only fair that the President have to explain the rationale for such rules and decisions and be accountable to the public.
e) Allow for the ability for people to bring lawsuits against HHS or other government agencies where their regulations or decisions have caused damages or unusual suffering. It is only fair that people have the same legal recourse that they have today with private insurance companies.
f) Require that all government staff and officials may only use those doctors or providers that are accepting Medicare, Medicaid, and Obamacare patients. It is not fair that they should have access to providers that the rest of the people don't.
When even Dem constituencies feel the pain of Obamacare, I believe they will be as eager to repeal this and get the government out of this sector.
buddha8| 10.21.10 @ 12:15PM
Very insightful post!!
Add one item:De-Fund the Executive Branch--except Dept of State, Dept of Defense, Immigration, and NSA---------
until Lord Obama stops vetoes of
the Will of the People!
Let Obama eat Michelle's garden produce' & let
Michelle cook for Barak until he gets over this
childish tantrum!! Let's have a month or more
of no Homeland Security, no TSA at our airports,
no Dept of InJustice.
and TSA at airports
buckeyeman| 10.21.10 @ 10:53AM
I fear that Ryan is a RINO, but just little more conservative that a lot of other RINO's. This is not the time for timid thinking. The Republicrats are already talking about compromise with the demoncrats. Here's and idea: Eliminate ALL welfare and income taxes. Now, compromise on that!
P. Aaron| 10.21.10 @ 11:06AM
We are reminded during every major D.C. snow storm that there are legions of "non-Essential" government workers. Shuttin' it down wouldn't hurt a bit in the real world.
JonhK144| 10.21.10 @ 12:04PM
Wouldn't hurt a bit. Except for obama's real intended goal for shutting down government. From the beginning, obama has sought unrest and division in the country. He wants and needs chaos in order to force his will on the American People.
So, what happens when SS checks, welfare checks, food stamps, subsidies, etc., are suddenly cut off? Can you see riots in the streets? Violent demonstrations? Mayhem and chaos? You can bet it will happen. And THIS is exactly what obama wants to create. He wants a constitutional crisis. That will give him the opportunity to trigger all those cool new executive powers that have been built up since 9/11. Shutting down the internet. Ordering military presence on the domestic front. Imposing travel restrictions. It will not matter to him the destruction that will come. It will only matter that his intended goal to "fundamentally transform" the country moves to the next level.
And yet, even considering all of that, I say SHUT IT DOWN. If this is the fight he intends to ignite, then let's have it. I will put my chips on the American Citizens to prevail, and our system of government to self correct; in whatever form that needs to take.
vtwin| 10.21.10 @ 12:16PM
I can't believe this is happening,you teabaggers already think you have won and that you have the right to mess with the greatest achievement from this administration?free health care is here to stay.No matter what. It ain't over yet!!! Obama Rules!!
JohnK144| 10.21.10 @ 12:33PM
Hahahahahaha
Hey, where can I get me some of that "free health care?"
Dweeb.
"obama rules" the same way "satan rules." Only those who have sold him their souls.
JeffW| 10.21.10 @ 1:17PM
Vtwin, you are a funny man. Many years ago I picked up a nice acronym from the Science Fiction writer, Robert Heinlen that you should become familiar with:
TANSTASFL
There Aint No Such Thing As a Free Lunch.
Somebod, somewhere pays for it.
Neanderthal| 10.21.10 @ 5:24PM
Vtwin- cut out the "teabaggers" s**t.
Houston Rao| 10.23.10 @ 10:14AM
I am impatiently now waiting for free housing, free meals, free clothing, free gas, free air travel, free unlimited education, free money on demand... free, free, free. We will then be truly free!!!
Ben in Virginia | 10.21.10 @ 1:00PM
I really get a chuckle from the folks that tout the "free heath care"... Nothing comes from nothing but that fact seems to be lost on many. Somebody has to pay for the doctors, the medicines, the hospitals the administration.... @vtwin says that we don't have a right to mess with His Majesty Obama's "greatest achievement"... I beg to differ. Not only do We, The People, who are going to be tasked with paying for that monstrosity, have a right to "mess" with it, but a responsibility to do so. @vtwin seems to be one of those people who lack any understanding of where things come from or the cost of anything. He/she is probably a product of the public school system and has, if lucky, attended one of the bastions of "higher education" that is populated by professors with even less idea how the real world works than he/she does, if that's possible.... @vtwin also has probably been in a state of denial, which is the same state many on the left appear to be in which is seemingly par for the course as reality is not a big concern with these people... Obamacare will die for any one of 3 reasons:
1. It will be found to be unconstitutional by the courts (Thank you Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli of Virginia for filing the suite against it!!),
2. It will be "de-funded" by the new congress that we will get in 2010, and Obama will not have any choice in the matter because any veto would do him irreparable harm beyond what has been done already, and
3. Worst case scenario, it will be the "straw that breaks the camel's back"...it will push America's social welfare system into insolvency and collapse,dragging the whole country down with it, thus rendering the whole debate moot.
God willing, option 1 will happen before options 2 or 3. That is my bet at the moment and I pray for Mr. Cuccinelli's success everyday...
Houston Rao| 10.23.10 @ 10:15AM
Option 3 - Who is John Galt?
PattyMor| 10.21.10 @ 3:54PM
Its disheartening to learn that the GOP is throwing the olive branch before the election is even over. What a bunch of wimps. It seems only the women (Sarah, Sharron, Michelle, and Christine),except for Chris Christie can play
hard ball. Let them come to us; not the other way around.
This is the Republican's last chance. They either enact reductions to government or they will become the Whig party.
Nancy| 10.21.10 @ 4:41PM
If the Republicans get into power again and immediately rush to compromise with Obama and the Democrats, they are done. This is the last chance for their party. I am disgusted with them and their lack of a backbone. Arrogant and spendthrift when they were in power, and now, when it looks like the people might give them another chance, getting ready to grovel to the opposition -- this doesn't give them a very good image.
The Republicans had better grow a backbone fast because they are already on extremely thin ice with the voters. They won't have another chance.
RCV| 10.21.10 @ 5:03PM
The GOP isn't going to "get into power again" in November, even if they take back the House as they will likely do. (Indeed, even if they also manage to secure 51 votes in the Senate, which is far less likely.) They can pass no legislation without both houses approving, AND the President signing the legislation, since the prospects of a 2/3 veto override are nil.
The Framers designed our system to require compromise. You folks are going to be sorely disappointed even if you win big in November, if you don't understand this. And that disappointment and disillusionment will pave the way for the President's reelection in 2012, just as it did for President Clinton following the GOP capturing BOTH houses of congress in 1994.
Nunya| 10.21.10 @ 5:33PM
RCV, would you like bet? My bet is Obozo is out after his one term, just like the idiot Carter.
RCV| 10.21.10 @ 5:49PM
We'll have to wait a long time, but you're on! One of the reasons I'm particularly confident as a Democrat is the prospect of the coming infighting in the GOP that will follow the triumph of the insurgents this fall. The Old Guard -- the Romneys, Guilianis, etc. -- and the Palin insurgents, are in for a very, very bruising fight for the nomination. If the Romney wing wins, the base will not turn out and the GOP will lose. If Palin or DeMint or a similar candidate runs, the independent middle will be gone for them.
As I've often said, I could be wrong. But I'll go with my bet.
GBArg| 10.21.10 @ 11:07PM
RCV, troll of the day,
Please dry up
And blow away. . . . .
You and your kind,
troll of the day,
all too soon will be blown away . . . .
One way,
or Another.
RCV| 10.22.10 @ 12:11AM
That is really impressive, even for junior high.
aware| 10.22.10 @ 6:12AM
"Health care should be accessible for all, regardless of pre-existing conditions or past illnesses. We will expand state high-risk pools, reinsurance programs and reduce the cost of coverage. We will make it illegal for an insurance company to deny coverage to someone with prior coverage on the basis of a pre-existing condition, eliminate annual and lifetime spending caps, and prevent insurers from dropping your coverage just because you get sick."
Think this is from "Obamacare"? With the heavy hand of the State, it must be, huh?
No, this is what is promised by Republicans in their "Pledge". Remember this when the "freemarket" "conservatives" win in November.
I know this will irritate many cheerleaders here but prepare for betrayal after the Republicans win. They didn't repeal anything after their take over in '94, despite promising they would. The claim then was they couldn't with a Democrat in the White House.
So in '01 that impediment was removed. The result? No repeals and we got "No Child Left Behind", Prescription Drug Benefits, doubling the debt, the "Patriot Act"(Orwell is spinning in his grave), and best of all, redefining conservatism as "compassionate".
Lying hypocrite's promises would be easier to believe if they didn't have a record to look at.
Before I am attacked personally, remember my criticism is from the right not the left.
Nunya| 10.22.10 @ 10:54AM
No criticism, you are spot on your views. Unfortunately.
I just hope that this time is different, but history would not lead me it will be.
GBinPA| 10.22.10 @ 4:58PM
Absolutely, the Republicans should defund Obamacare, after Obama vetoes the bill to overturn it. Let the Socialist own the whole thing alone!
albwasil | 3.23.11 @ 11:44AM
thank you
Bennet Cecil| 10.24.10 @ 10:26AM
Sell Fannies, Freddie, Sallie and the rest. Give the president 2007 funds and tell him to live with it. Cut the central government back to a size we can afford. Fire Ben and Tim. Give the voters a clear choice for 2012. We need a conservative president to fully roll back the madness.
KindleDx | 10.24.10 @ 11:17AM
Paul Ryan once said "Medicare Savings Should Be Used to Save Medicare "