Mar 22 2010
At The Precipice
The House Democrats pulled off their miracle yesterday – though it was more corruption and misleading fig leaves than the coming of a brave new world. Mark Steyn said it best – Happy Dependence Day. Next test is in the Senate where all sorts of problems might arise, or might not.
Right now I am going to sit back and watch the public reaction. If, as usual, the public was duped into a false sense of success (i.e., the doomed to fail, lethargic government funded stimulus plan) then the lack of positive, substantive change will begin to erode what little support there is for this mess.
But more than that, we will soon learn if VA, NJ and MA were just coincidental flukes and not  the center of the country being really pissed off about this attack on their health care by a bunch of dysfunctional bozos in DC. Did the liberals waken a sleeping giant? It will take weeks to find out.
I do know as a small business owner that our health insurance will not be the same, as promised by the liars in DC. We will have to have adjustments for pre-existing conditions (premiums will go up) and covering children until 26 (premiums may go down). We will have to prepare for IRS audits of our plans, which will need to be adjusted (because I doubt any plan has all the requisite coverage). And we will decide whether we carry insurance or we all go into the health care pools. What I do know is our current situation will not survive the year. Clearly it cannot with all these new mandates.
Only time will tell if this recklessness will actually sink the liberals this fall, and begin the move to dismantle the federal bureaucracy.
Update: John Hinderaker at Powerline has some excellent postmortem observations.
Update: Look who woke up – the New York Times:
The battle over health care is poised to move swiftly from Congress back to the country as Democrats, Republicans and a battery of interest groups race to define the legislation and dig in for long-term political and legal fights.
President Obama plans to open a new campaign this week to persuade skeptical Americans that the bill holds immediate benefits for them and addresses the nation’s shaky fiscal condition. Republicans said they would seek to repeal the measure, challenge its constitutionality and coordinate efforts in statehouses to block its implementation.
The politics of health care are fragile — and far from certain — in the eight-month midterm campaign that will determine which party will control Congress next year. But both sides steeled for a fight to extend well beyond November, involving state legislative battles, court challenges and, ultimately, the next presidential race.
…
The next chapter in the health care fight will play out not only in the midterm elections, but also in the courts. Attorneys general in three states — Virginia, Florida and South Carolina — have indicated they will file legal challenges to the measure, on the grounds that it violates the Constitution by requiring individuals to purchase insurance.
You betcha! The damn thing has bipartisan and majority opposition. What did these fools think would happen?
Addendum: First, I want to remind DC that if they believe they have the authority to restructure 1/6th of our economy and take over health care, then we the people have the authority (and moral obligation) to restructure the federal bureaucracy. There will be no room for whining and complaining after this episode.
Secondly, if VA, NJ and MA were not flukes, it is time to lay out how we can restructure the federal government to (a) make sure it doesn’t impose on our personal rights again, (b) upholds the constitution in terms of protection of the nation and its people, Â and (c) is insulated from lobbyists and special interests (this is surprisingly simple). If opinion turns, I am thinking about a series of essays on how to change DC (no more changing America) to work for us.
We The People can show those buffoons inside the beltway how the real world solves problems like DC.
Remember the Prohibition and how the Americans got it repealed? Spread this around and learn from it to get ObamaCare repealed by American protest. Perhaps we don’t need to wait until November by continuing the debate, asking Obama some real tough questions, starting with the following question:
Will you promise and ensure to keep your promise that one of the reconciliation fixes will require you, your family, Congress, SEIU and union members will give up the Cadillac health care plans to participate in the ObamaCare plan and begin paying the same taxes, fees, and penalities at the same time we will?
Last night got me thinking that I had better start taking advantage of some of the provisions in my current health care plan before I give up on it. So be it.
AJ,
I told you that Stupak and the anti-abortion Democrats in the House would all cave, and they did.
The reason was simple.
There is no such thing as a Democratic Moderate.
There hasn’t been in Congress since the Hard Left took over in 1974, and Bill Clinton was the last hurray for the Moderate Presidential wing of the Democratic party, and he only became a policy moderate to survive the failure of socialized medicine.
Moreover, candidate Clinton of 1993 could not have won in the Democratic Party Presidential primaries of 2007-08.
Every time there is an identity political fight in Congress or Presidential primaries between the hard left in the party and Democratic “moderates,” the moderate leadership of their faction caves and the few senators or representatives who are true to their beliefs retire, lose primaries or become Republicans.
This has happened over and over with Democratic Party Moderates on National Security, See Senator John Glenn’s Presidential candidacy and his caving to the the nuclear Freeze movement, Sen Sam Nunn and his 1991 Gulf War vote against the war, and Sen Hillary Clinton and the price she paid for her Iraq war vote, saying “Bush lied to her” was a moral collapse as great as either Nunn’s or Glenn’s.
Stupak’s collapse means the rump pro-life movement in the Democratic Party is dead. That political faction no longer exists.
Which gets us down to brass tacks. The Democrats — AKA the Hard Left — has intentionally obstructed all significant reform of the medical system for the past 15 years for the express purpose of making single-payer the only alternative.
ObamaCare is intentionally crafted to destroy the present medical system.
The Democrats are doing this intentionally so they can get single-payer through eventually.
The Democrats in general have been out to wreck the country for a generation now. They don’t care what else happens as long as they get the power.
That is why there can be no such thing as a moderate in today’s America.
The Hard Left won’t allow it.
Perhaps the single biggest threat to personal privacy is the conversion to “electronic medical records” When the Pentagon gets hacked, and it does, does anyone really think EMR’S will be as well protected.
Soon a peek at you most personal of records will now be a requirement annually by the IRS. Like your credit score, your EMR will have to be checked before you get that loan. The opportunity for evil is endless.
This is a sad and depressing day. Pelosi’s arrogant in-your-face “huburis en maximum” moment, leading dems through angry crowds of protestors with her big gavel and her big smile angers me the most.
We have work to do. Call your state attorney general and governor and urge them to join the state suit against this travesty.
The really bad part of this is that medical advance is one of the last places where we Americans still really lead the world.
I agree, Trent – this was the death of “Centrism” as any kind of legitimate political force. Those who claim that name had their chance to make a difference, and they showed that they were a shallow, pathetic joke on the American People.
A “centrist” Democrat is simply a liar who finds that rhetoric a convenient way to fool his voters into thinking that he won’t be hard left all the time, except that whenever it’s important to the Pelosi Left he willdo whatever she asks.
So what good are “allies” who are guaranteed to bail out whenever you really need them? They’re worse than the outright enemies, and from now on a person voting for a democrat would have to be a fool to believe that they’re doing anything besides voting for socialism and heavy handed Federal domination of this country.
And the 34 dems or so who voted “against” this bill – they are liars as well, if they were honest they would switch parties or at least go independant. But they got released by Pelosi to try and give them a chance to hold on to their liars seats in the house – if she had really needed them, any one of them would have flipped as well.
There is no Democrat in this country that can ever be trusted, ever again. Or worked with. From this point forward, this is War. There are only two sides – those who support America, and those who support Obama.
No man can do both anymore. And no one who says that they can should be trusted.
There is no such thing as centrist as the Blue Dogs and moderate Democrats proved yesterday.
There has to be a very strong delineation between two ideologies and nothing else. One is the statism party versus conservative, first principles party.
Jim Geraghty calls it exactly right about so-called “Democratic Centertists” below:
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZmMzMDY5M2E2ZDA5YmI1YjU1Njg2YzRjMzEwYzg2NDY=
Take a look at all of those so-called pro-life, or conservative, or centrist Democrats. Not every last one of them, but a heck of a lot of them sold out: John Boccieri, Charlie Wilson, and Steve Driehaus of Ohio. Joe Donnelly and Brad Ellsworth of Indiana. Bart Stupak (more on him in a bit) and Dale Kildee of Michigan. Suzanne Kosmas and Allen Boyd of Florida. Betsy Markey of Colorado. Perriello of Virginia. Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota, Dina Titus of Nevada. All of them touting how centrist they are, or how they have conservative values, or how no matter how much they march in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi on other issues, they have deep and abiding respect for the unborn.
Horse$#@%&.
“Centrist Democrat†is a synonym for a liberal who wants to get reelected in a conservative district.
Look, I can only say it so many times. We need centrist allies. That does not mean all so called centrist will be good allies. One thing that has to end is the bashing of centrists (this is how the dems tool control in 2006 and 2008).
34 Democrats sided with all the GOP (centrists included) in opposition. Accept this and honor it, or allow this nation to be run by liberals.
“Centrist Democrat†is a synonym for a liberal who wants to get reelected in a conservative district.
I doubt that even if every single one of those 34 Democrats voted against the bill will get re-elected.
Why? Because the Democrats made it very bluntly clear the importance of party affilication rather than the independence.
Kathryn Jean Lopez said that the first two people that she ran into at this past weekend’s rally at WDC were registered Democrats. I wonder…will they stay registered Democrats after last night?
I won’t support even these 34 Democrats. If they switch to the Republican party, I will listen to their ideology before I would support any one of them.
Luker,
Any centrist democrat of those 34 who switches party will get elected I would bet. Don’t expect this to be a normal election year.
Remember, purity is a fool’s goal. We need a sweeping governing coalition to come in and dismantle the beast, we don’t need to put any single issue over this goal.
If we can develop such a coalition, the democratic process will work out the specific issues – which lean conservative to some degree.
No one should forget the enemy of ‘good’ is ‘perfection’. Don’t repeat 2006/2008.
#1. I have already started calling the 34 democrats and thanking them for voting no. I hope others do the same.
Here are some to call: main switchboard: (202) 224-3121
Childers
Nye
Altmire
Arcuri
Barrow
Lynch
Berry
McMahon
A. Davis (al)
Davis (tn)
Melancon
Adler
Holden
Tanner
Teague
Bright
Boren
Boucher
By the way, sadly, some of these voted for Nancy Pelosi to be speaker of the House.
#2. We are going to remind the WH and Congress that their power IS ON LOAN.
“…or allow this nation to be run by liberals.”
The nation *Is* run by liberals right now – we’re already there.
And the so-called “Centrists” are THEIR allies, not anyone else’s. They aren’t going to switch anymore than Stupak was ever really going to switch. Whenever the Far Left calls for a vote, there will always be just enough “Centrists” who will flip and make sure it passes, while the others cry crocodile tears and pretend to be opposed.
WWS, the case may be true for “Centrist” Democrats, but the “centrist” Republicans held firm to a person.
Romney/Ryan in 2012 – to repeal this monstrosity.
Remember, purity is a fool’s goal. We need a sweeping governing coalition to come in and dismantle the beast, we don’t need to put any single issue over this goal.
In my mind, conservative, first principles have nothing to do with purity. It has everything to do with the Founding principles, which I don’t understand why people have serious problems with these Founding principles, based on natural law originated from Christianity.
Some have already switched from independent to GOP and we expect more to make this switch.
But this has nothing to do with purity. The purity focuses on the extreme. Maybe people do think that the Founding principles lead to purity?
ivehaditon – I don’t have a problem thanking them for their vote of no but we are still at their mercy when amnesty, cap n trade, etc., come up for vote.
Well, I have to say I can’t believe it, but it looks as though Obama’s going to sign this into law quickly and not care about any sort of stated understanding between the House and the Senate. The House “moderates†sold out. That’s it. We’ll never know, really, how many. Pelosi allowed as many to vote “no†as was possible to help them with their re-election. I mean, my home state’s Kratovil voted “no� Give me a break. If his vote was needed, he would have given it.
The supposed reconciliation bill the House passed doesn’t really mean much of anything. They enacted the Senate bill, and that’s it. Now that this monstrosity is law, it’s very worrisome. Listen, I’ll vote in November and vote Republican, and hope against hope this gets repealed, but I won’t lie to myself. Socialism has been winning my whole life, even through the Reagan years and through the Gingrich years. It gets slowed down at times, other times you get big leaps like this thing. And never bet against complacency in the American people. Socialism is insidious. Once people become dependent, it’s impossible to undo.
Romney/Ryan would be a good ticket, although I’m warming up to Mitch Daniels for the top slot.
As far as “Centrism” with the Republicans, we’re just talking about marketing terminology, as long as they continue not to vote for any Democrat plans. This is why Lindsey Graham infuriates me with his talk of cutting a deal to shut down Gitmo and kneecap the fight against terrorists, while also trying to help John Kerry to push through cap and trade. Is he deluded enough to actually think there is going to be some payback for these surrenders? Everyone knows there won’t be, look how the “Gang of 14” turned into something that only limits Republican nominees and never limits Democrats. It is always a one way street.
As long as “centrism” can mean never voting for anything the Democrat party supports, then fine, but it seems a rather dishonest label. There’s another problem – if there are no “centrist” democrats, only “centrist” Republicans, then “centrism” if it is “compromise” between the two positions is actually nothing but unilateral surrender. What’s the point or the good of that?
Allies who have proven that they will betray you whenever you need them most (The Democrat “Centrists”) are worse then no allies at all, because all they do is give false hope and suck up support that should be going to those who are honest about what they intend.
Stupak is the perfect example of a man who lied all the way through this process a man who *always* intended to betray his constituents at the last minute, and who simplt created and used the drama to try and convince those who are foolish that he was actually conflicted. Nothing but Kabuki theatre.
Men like that are far more dangerous enemies than honest liberals who at least have the courage to publicly say what they intend.
Here’s one idea to reform Washington. It should be possible for the people to do a referendum on *any* bill once it has been signed by the President, and thereby prevent its passage.
I don’t understand the big deal of states taking the federal government to court. It’s a great idea, as far as it goes, but what difference will it make in the big picture? Even if forcing people to purchase insurance is found unconstitutional, the federal government will still control the insurance industry. The control of the private insurance industry at the federal level, being able to dictate coverage and set premiums, is the key to all of this, because with that control comes the ability to destroy. That’s aim of Obama et al., anyway, isn’t it?
I’ll give the Dems one thing, they’re most definitely not stupid, and they’ve achieved monumental change in American society, change they’ve wanted for decades. On one level, you have to admire that. And in the coming years, after the dust settles, the average American will not care. They’ll see lower premiums, more coverage, and be generally happy. The polls will soften on the plan, eventually, probably before 2012. Never mind when tens of millions of people are actually directly covered by Medicaid; you’ll never be able to run on repealing it then. Then, once the insurance companies can no longer stay solvent because of the price controls and mandates, the government will swoop in and go for the kill. They’ll be the only game in town. There’s a logic and relentlessness (and obviousness) of the scheme that makes it beautiful, in a way.
Times change and I think we are now talking apples and oranges between what makes a centrist DIM, centrist Repub, or Independent.
Most of the real DIM moderates have already tried to jump ship. Some going quietly, some can’t quite get there (Leiberman) and then we have a Zell Miller that shouted what was wrong with that party. Observation will tell you one thing though. You can NOT remain in the DIM party if you are moderate. They have zero tolerance with any dissent on any issue.
The ’34’ have not fooled me. The Stupak dream did not even start to fool me. I manned the phones and wondered when they would finally get through tending to all the bribes so they could get on with it. That is all it was from the beginning.
The outraged Congressional Repubs did not fool me either. They finally stood up? Oh yes, better late than never. I only begged/ranted/threatened them for the last 9 years. But we did find a Star with Brains……….Paul Ryan.
I am a disgusted right side centrist that fights. I hate going over and reading comments at Ed’s that I am one of those RINOs. Repubs seemed to have only 3 issues. Abortion. Amnesty. Bush spent the Money with his compassion.
Abortion………..now funded. Amnesty………….you would have been 1,000,000,000 times better off fighting to have solved this problem with a reasonable solution under Bush. No, Repubs like their Absolutes. Bush spent the Money with his compassion………………well, duh. The black holes are there. Repubs refused to even acknowledge them and this is the result?
I vote with Republicans because it is the only game in town that will ever have a shot in my lifetime. That does not make me forgive the Bushbashing. I don’t. He was a better man than this party deserved.
Enemy list: #1. MSM. They are about as dead as this Obamacare. They still control the major Silences. This Corruption was so bad they almost went quiet but today, they are back. Dr. Tim Johnson (ABC) laid out all the advantages to Obamacare this morning. By the time he was through, I almost could have bought it. Joke. Folks, it sounds good when presented this way as a done deal.
#2. All Democrats. I do not care if they voted ‘no’. No exceptions even at local levels.
#3. Political correctness. No more. It is a suicide pact.
Owl, you make a good point. Dem “centrists” and Rep “centrists” are completely different creatures now, which is why I think the label “centrist” has no more value, and in fact does more harm than good by implying that these two have something in common with each other. They don’t.
I agree completely with all of your other observations.