The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : No We Can't

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The National Republican Senatorial Committee is out with this new ad about President Obama backing off his promise to let the public read a bill online for five days. It's a well put together ad that highlights the lack of transparency on the Democrats' part, while tapping into the broader theme that Obama's actions as president are not consistent with his lofty campaign rhetoric. So while it makes perfect sense to hit Democrats on an issue that has strong non-ideological public support, there's also a danger of playing this up too much in the health care debate specifically. The problem is that it would be very easy for Demcorats to give in to allow the posting of the bill online for 72 hours -- and look like they're being conciliatory -- while still passing a really awful health care bill. A comparison I'd make is to the stimulus debate, when Republicans focused on the money going into pork barrel projects rather than focus their fire on the philosophy behind the stimulus itself. So, in the end, Democrats just stripped out a few egregious examples of government waste, deprived Republicans of those easy targets, and convinced the public that Republicans were "The Party of No." So, by all means, this is an issue worth raising, but it should not overwhelm arguments much more central to the health care debate.

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Northern Virginia Patriot| 10.14.09 @ 12:15PM

You're right - the GOP is not attacking the liberty stealing substance of the bill - see the 10th amendment -

The establishment GOP attacks the process of how we got here - Conservatives are much more concerned about the substance - so are the far left supporters - they want their public option - they focus on substance when governing - giving the appearance of conservative moderation when campaigning - rememeber no tax increases for income earners making less than $250k/year?

This is why "establishment, Washington DC" GOP is disregarded by many conservatives - look no further than the establishment's craven support given to Crist in Florida vice the American Conservatives' support of Rubio.

If that race is not enough - look at the ACORN supporting Republican - the establishment choice in NY-23

First, take over the GOP and make it conservative, in parallel, take over the school boards and county governments, then state governments, and then the federal government - it's a 20yr project

Yosemeti Sam| 10.14.09 @ 12:30PM

" ...Obama backing off his promise
to let the public read a bill online for five days ...."

NO! - say it isn't so.

3 days - 72 hours - or 5 days - 120 hours - of opportunities to scope out BHO democrat party ramrod health deform legislation.

A plan - scheme - to be, reportedly, implemented in 2013/2014?

Let's turn to an abacus and figure the 'lead time' to the democrat party ambition of big brother fruition/deformation of the American health care system; for example: 2010 to 2013 = 3 x 365 days = 1095 days = 26280 hours; ostensibly a point of counting down from to haywire day.

Hmmmmmm - or should one say hmmmm, hmmmmm, hmmmmm.

Democrat party resistance to 3 to 5 days out of 1095 days for health deform legislation 'evaluation'.

What a burden for liberal efforts to ramrod BHO health deform legislation in the - blink of an eye.