GOP Determined to Spoil ObamaCare’s Birthday
Hill speakers at the American for Prosperity Hands Off My Healthcare rally just a couple blocks from the Supreme Court on Tuesday will include House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), whose Path to Prosperity released this week repeals ObamaCare, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), and Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).
Some Democrats released statements of their own, praising the law. “I know that as key provisions of the health care law continue to be implemented, Americans will continue to see how they are personally benefiting from this landmark law,” Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) said.. “Although there are efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, we cannot move backwards.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) led her website with a photo of Obama signing the PPACA into law and featured text from a Tuesday press conference at which other women Democrats in the lower chamber praised the law for helping women’s health.
“The proudest day I’ve had in Congress was on March 23rd, two years ago when we passed the Affordable Care Act – establishing for the first time in the United States of America that health care is a right in this country,” said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). “And, of course, the Republicans have voted twice and will continue to support the repeal of the Affordable Care Act.”
The anniversary also comes on the heels of House Republicans stripping another provision from ObamaCare, the Independent Payment Advisory Board that would be able to make major cuts to Medicare. The PATH Act also implements medical liability reforms in an effort to cut down on frivolous lawsuits.
“We have a saying around Washington that things are DOA or Dead on Arrival,” Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) said. “Well, the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) is DBB or Dead Before Birth.”
Such efforts are usually DOA in the Senate, but today’s IPAB repeal marked the 26 House vote to chip away at the healthcare reform law.
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) voted “present” on the PATH Act to symbolize his opposition to taking ObamaCare apart piece by piece.
“We must pull ObamaCare out by the roots because it is an unconstitutional takings of our Liberty. IPAB is not distinct from ObamaCare, it is the essence of ObamaCare and for that reason the law must be repealed as a whole,” King said. “The American people continue to speak out against ObamaCare’s individual mandate, its attack on essential first amendment conscience protections, and its multitrillion-dollar price tag.
“Partial repeal only empowers this government takeover of one-sixth of the economy, and until full repeal is realized we will continue to muddle our message,” he added.
Republicans aren’t just marking an anniversary by decrying an intrusive law, but setting up the issue as a campaign vulnerability for the president. A Rasmussen poll this week found that 56 percent of likely voters favor repeal of the law at least somewhat.
That strategy could be a challenge if the nominee is Mitt Romney, given the former Massachusetts governor’s own state healthcare reform. But Thune told PJM on today’s conference call that Obama’s policy failures warrant an all-of-the-above strategy to hit at the incumbent seeking four more years.
“His main vulnerability is his policies,” Thune said. “Healthcare, of course, is one of those.”
It’s also in terms of college tuition, energy, dramatic growth in the national debt, and an increasing number of those now on food stamps, he said. “Every metric out there in the broader economy has worsened,” the senator said. “He’s got a real vulnerability on economic policies that connect back to Americans.”
And the ObamaCare anniversary coupled with the Supreme Court case gives Republicans a can’t-miss opportunity on messaging.
“There needs to be an intensity to our efforts because the stakes are incredibly high,” Thune said.
Obama Changes We Can Really Believe In?
I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting the White House in decades so I can’t personally attest to all of the following details on recent alterations in America’s executive mansion but they are interesting, to say the least.
For example, has anyone noticed that our president no longer conducts his rare press conferences with the traditional trappings of American flags in the background?
Instead, a bright yellow curtain replete with what some people believe are Arabic symbols now decorates the press room, along with Obama’s trusty teleprompters, of course, without which he tends to put his foot in his mouth.
And, has anyone noticed that the decor at the White House has radically changed since the Obama clan occupied 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?
The Oval Office is now almost devoid of the traditional display of American red, white, and blue. It has been replaced with what appears to be middle eastern wallpaper, drapes, and decor and the hallway Obama uses to talk to the press now features middle eastern-style chairs, drapes, etc.
And, has anyone noticed that Obama seems more Islamic than he seems American?
It’s understandable, actually, since his paternal heritage is Muslim, all his Kenyan relatives are Muslims, his mother married two Muslims, and he spent years of his childhood in Muslim Indonesia where he was partially educated in a Muslim madrassa and he diligently studied the Quran.
Before any White House alterations were made, surely the POTUS had extensive input from his lovely, style-conscious FLOTUS who, only a few years ago discovered she was proud of her country. She must be even more proud of her husband’s Muslim roots.
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama must also be tickled pink that America’s White House now reflects both her tastes and her hubby’s documented Islamic affiliations even though those tastes and affiliations give rise to suspicions that the Obamas aren’t all we have been led to believe in.
Is Barack Hussein Obama a Muslim at heart? . . . (See pictures and read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=18390.)
To enact a new law that repeals ObamaCare would require a Republican president (obviously), plus a filibuster-proof GOP majority in the Senate. Because otherwise, left-wing senators like Barbara Boxer and Bernie Sanders (who showed he’s good at filibustering) will try to filibuster the repeal bill to death.
There is an even chance of electing a Republican president.
There is almost no chance that the GOP will win anything close to 60 seats in the Senate. Even if one or two moderate Dem senators (e.g., Manchin) vote with the GOP on this, it won’t be enough to win cloture and stop debate.
So if ObamaCare is to be stopped, it will require something clever. Romney’s plan is to just issue so many waivers to so many states that in effect, ObamaCare will no longer be a national program–and the insurance companies will back out.
” Even if one or two moderate Dem senators (e.g., Manchin) vote with the GOP on this, it won’t be enough to win cloture and stop debate. So if ObamaCare is to be stopped, it will require something clever.”
Not necessarily…it was passed via reconciliation…why can’t it be killed in same manner? In fact, just killing its funding will kill the law in effect.
actually after listenting today to stats the repub senate looks like at least 57 in the election with other undecided voters probably making it close to 60. after the last challenger realizes he is not helping anyone including himself the repubs will unite. vote vote the not one out!
I find it sad that something that is so blatantly unconstitutional as Obamacare will come down to one vote on the Supreme Court. I hope that the law will be rejected by a 5 to 4 vote, but it’s a little scary that it has to come down to this. But if the law is upheld by one vote, you will see a near revolution in this country, something that will make the Democratic defeats in 2010 look like nothing. I really don’t think Congress or the president know how angry the American public is right now, at least the part of the public that pays the lion’s share of the taxes. If the Supreme Court kills this thing, it will be a step in the right direction. Remember, the court could only kill the mandate. There are many other parts of this law that will NOT be declared unconstitutional. So if the Republicans get back into power in November (both in Congress and the White House), they will still have a lot of work to do.
Liberty, you said it:
“I really don’t think Congress or the president know how angry the American public is right now, at least the part of the public that pays the lion’s share of the taxes.”
When the Supreme Court removes a vital part of the Affordable Health Care Act, there will indeed be much more work to do, billions to reconcile, and a very large newly entrenched bureaucracy to halt. The momentum forward of the midnight monstrosity that was Obamacare will take years to undo. It will take years and courage by legislatures to repent that mess. The chaos of unintended consequences will still be carried forward.
What will be most embarrassing will be the tap dance by the administration to deflect blame and justify their signature defeat.
Keeep writing Libertyship46.
I’ll tell you this much, GDI, Obama promised that he’d be a uniter, and he is fast becoming just that. People who haven’t spoken together in years (for petty slights or plain indifference), neighbors, are coming out into their yards to rake Obama over the coals. He is universally despised, and the people will find a way, whatever it is, to eject him and his Marxist cronies from the scene. We will use the law where he has not. Depend on it that we will prevail.
I recently had dealings with a UK citizen who was here working with my company and he said of his travels in the US that he “couldn’t find ANYONE who had anything good to say about Obama”. So I take the polls that come out that are left-skewed anyway and just ignore them. They have sh*t the bed and they know it and now are wondering how to run a campaign. They can’t run Obama on his record because it’s a wrecking ball of destruction. Quoting Mr Reagan from the 80′s, “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” And the answer then, as it is now a deafening “NO!”. Only the staunchest, most bigoted blacks are firmly in the tank for the guy. He’s admitted that he’s not seeking the “typical white person” vote, nor is he helping out his democrat party members as he keeps all the campaign funding to himself. That speaks volumes about how “uniting” he is and what a “team-player” he isn’t.
He is bad news. I’m pretty sure most of the democrat party would love to just dump the guy but they cast their lot in 2008 and they are stuck with it. A Hitlery uprising would be “bad optics” for the national socialists and they’d all be outed as the racists they are anyhow.
But, they stepped in it and now they’re walking all over the brand new carpet wondering what that smell is.
Countdown to 2012 – The Clueless Generation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50WHiYmOqTQ&feature=relmfu
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has introduced a new FY 2013 budget.
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/03/08/rand-paul-unveils-latest-budge
It may be that people are ready to revolt over this ideologue who seems to give no thought or care for anything but his ideals, which are contrary to American ideals. However, Joe Biden is hitting the senior centers, thundering that “The Republicans want to kill Medicare!!” The same thing over and over that they’ve ranted for so many years and people still believe them. Republicans have to be able to counter that because it’s the exact opposite of what Paul Ryan’s plan is and Obamacare is the plan that eliminates Medicare. Blatant lies that can be proven so easily to be lies. Republicans must show the proof otherwise I fear for this upcoming election!!
Hill Republicans are total idiots, egocentric and bent on destroying their own country. Sad.
Obama’s Little Mind
“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on the constitutionality of Obamacare, it’s fitting to consider the quality of the mind of the person who proposed and foisted that abominable legislation on the American people.
Before, during, and following the last presidential campaign, Barack Hussein Obama was presented to the American people and the planet as a scholarly, articulate, and charismatic savior who would masterfully lead and transform the nation and restore respect for America in the collective eyes of the rest of the world.
During his relatively brief tenure as the most powerful man in the universe, the president has indeed transformed the United States, although his version of change hasn’t been what most Americans expected.
Obama has transformed the economy into a virtual basket case, has created deficits and national debts which our children and grandchildren will be repaying throughout their lives, has been a simpering apologist for America’s exceptionalism, and has turned America into an international joke.
If upheld by SCOTUS, the Affordable Health Care for America Act will simply be the capstone of Obama’s socialistic policies, if not the gravestone for America’s economic viability.
And, all because Obama was misrepresented as a brilliant mind, a “constitutional scholar,” who would lead the country into the future while he leads us into Third World oblivion and ignores the Constitution.
Those millions of voters who saw through the charlatan candidate and resisted the urge to vote for him out of a sense of black pride or misplaced white guilt knew all along he was absurdly unqualified and inexperienced to serve as chief executive and commander-in-chief. We were more amazed that more foreigners seemed to be taken in by him than the 69,456,897 who cast their ballots for him in 2008.
Barack Obama may yet be re-elected in November by the same sheeple who fell for his empty promises of change last time around but many foreigners have long since seen through his vacuousness, have noticed the gaffe-prone “scholar” is even dumber than George W. Bush was reputed to be, and have come to the realization that, absent his trusty teleprompters, Obama is a braindead dolt who can only repeat hollow words and phrases.
Thomas Buch-Andersen, host of the Danish TV show Detektor, is one European who dared to buck the conventional wisdom that Obama can think on his own, devoid of scripted inanities dictated by his handlers
Buch-Anderson recently pointed out that Obama consistently uses the same trite, meaningless terminology when speaking to leaders of every ally who visits the White House. . . (Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=19101.)