Oct 28 2009
Centrists Now Control Future Of Obamacare
As I noted when Sen Snowe allowed the health care bill in the Senate Finance Committee to pass the centrists now control the path of the health care debate, and they are rising up in opposition to government rationed health care (a.k.a., the “public option”).
And not just any centrists but one who makes liberals see red: Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), who said Tuesday that he’d back a GOP attempt to block the bill from moving to final passage.
Lieberman’s comments dealt a major setback to Reid’s push to pass a bill with a public insurance option, so much so that other Senate Democrats — notably Delaware Sen. Tom Carper — were already sketching out a Plan B to get the votes, most likely through a more watered-down version of the public option.
It wasn’t just Lieberman. Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), who faces a tough reelection, said Tuesday she was reluctant to sign on with Reid’s plan, too. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) won’t give any answer until he sees the final language.
It is well past time the Political Industrial Complex (both sides) in DC figure out which group will guide this country into the future. It will not be the far left or the far right. It will be us in the center who do not want extreme solutions and do not appreciate being vilified for being willing to discuss more reasonable options.
For example, Laura Ingraham has demeaning and arrogant effort going called ‘adopt a moderate‘, like centrists need guidance from the fringe? How about just respecting centrists who don’t hold extreme or fringe views? How about just getting rid of the personal insults when you disagree. How about ‘adopting professional respect’ for diverse views?
Classic example of an insulting misstep from ‘true conservatives’. Obamacare is falling apart and they still don’t engender much confidence as a viable political option.
Mike”
Bush did not spend like liberal, not even close. When the Republicans lost control of the Congress in 2006 the budget deficit was about $168 billion dollars, not it has more than quadrupled. Bush was downright frugal compared to the people running things today.
And if some of those cry babies on the right had appreciated Bush a little bit more we might not be stuck with someone like Obama today.
I still don’t get why all those Republicans sat on their hands while the Democrats leveled invective after invective at Bush. After all he was their leader too and what ever they said about Bush would also apply to them. they could have on one program defending him. So now we have Obama. We need a new group of Republicans.
Yeah, Bush campaigned and ran as a compassionate conservative.
I never understood why the Republicans never stood by Bush.
And yes, we do need a new group of Republicans.
But I think that the Republicans need to stand by the principles of conservatism but with an open mind to embrace everyone and tolerating lots of people.
I know that George W. Bush is loved by many, many more than the media would have you believe.
AJ, I have one beef. It seems that many of the moderates gave us Jimmy Carter, Clinton and obama when we had moderate republicans running against these three (Ford, GHW Bush and McCain).
I think we need a clear definition of conservative because it seems to mean different things to different people. I am, as you know, a staunch defender of George W. Bush. And I have actually voted for democrats in the past. (regretfully) And I support Hoffman now and Christie and the Tea Parties…and Rush and Sean and Glenn and Thomas Sowell who today NAILS IT with his Dismantling America article over at Townhall or L.com.
Ive…read Ronald Reagan’s speech he gave 45 years ago today. It will tell you about conservatism.
ivehadit,
The AMERICAN VOTERS (learn some respect if you want people to respect you) do go against conservatives when they go too far. Carter is a response to Nixon and Ford’s pardon. Now I think the Nixon thing was way overblown and felt Carter did more damage to us by far, but the response is natural to a leadership that resigned office (Agnew too) because of unsavory actions.
The far right thinks that if they climb into the gutter with the far left they are doing the good fight. Wrong! All they do is look as immature and crazy as the far left. And insulting the political center is one of the many traits the zealots on the fringes share.
All conservatives need to do is act professional, be smart, be respectful (with a good dash of friendly humor) and – above all – show they can get things done.
None of this requires bashing fellow Americans as if they are criminals JUST BECAUSE THEY VOTE FOR THE OTHER SIDE!
That is not a crime in America, last time I checked. Personally, I wish everyone would grow up and act as if they truly did honor this incredible democracy. Lashing out at voters who disagree with your choices stinks of stomping on the flag and the constitution in my humble opinion.
A.J. I personally view Davon’s comment to be unassailable in its logic:
“Please, do not talk about moderates as if they represent some idylic position in the debate. You talk as if negotiation is everything.
Remember, this heath care legislation was all set to be bullied through Congress at the end of June.
If it had not been for the immoderates on the right we would now be screaming about how did we ever let a 1500 page health care law be enacted without reading it first.
The immoderate right gave the squishy middle the opportunity to pretend it will make a difference.
As it is the mid point in this debate is far to the left of center so any negotiation will probably arrive just where the socialists intended.”
By the same token, how was the House able to pass a Cap and Trade bill based on “global warming” (which will lead to the single greatest tax increase IN HISTORY) if passed by the Senate?
Again, and as Davon points out this too was all set to be bullied through the Senate – until “immoderates” challenged the status quo.
If “moderates” are prepared accept these ruinous types of legislation just so they can “get along” with everybody, then I say ‘Thank God for immoderation!’
AJ, I agree with you about much of this. It is disgraceful how George Bush was treated by his own party, imho. I was one of a handful who defended him and still do. He is a good man and I know of whence I speak.
I am looking at all the stereotypes being hurled in today’s world and there is definitely a chasm of definitions for conservatives. AJ, Rush, Glenn, Tammy Bruce, Lucianne: quite a collection of those I follow! I like them all. And each fights hard for their beliefs.
This is just going to be the way it is, imho, as we do not live in an homogeneous world as the 50’s were. The trick is: how do we come together and I do agree that there needs to be give and take on this…If I am not mistaken Rush and some believe that there is a concerted effort to do away with conservatism all together and he is fighting to make sure this does not happen. Just my take.
Personally I lean toward libertarian 🙂
All the best…