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Jewish World Review August 16, 2013/ 10 Elul, 5773 Can GOPers choke off ObamaCare and win in '14? By Dave Weinbaum
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
In the first Godfather movie, Michael Corleone is teased by his older brother
Sonny about his suggestion that he, the youngest Corleone, murder the crooked
police captain. This cop was aiding the mobsters who tried knocking off their dad,
the Godfather. Michael adroitly pointed out that in this case the copperhead was
dirty and could easily be tied to the drug trade. Michael reminded Sonny that they
had people on the payroll in the press that could savage the departed chief with
stories of his corruption. (Wow! Doesn't that sound familiar!?)
The rookie gangster gets away with this brazen revenge, blasting the captain and
the man who tried to kill his father in a double murder in an Italian restaurant in
Brooklyn. The Corleone family and the Godfather are saved and go on to kill and
maim their enemies, while taking over a good portion of the gambling business in
Vegas. Don't you just love happy endings?
I come from a neighborhood so tough we have drive-by cheerleaders
Such is the dilemma of the Republican Party. The RINOS whine that Obamacare
(OC) must be replaced with a Republican plan, as Rush adroitly pointed out today
or funded in the next budget so it will be left to fall on its own obvious demerits.
Tea Partiers, heeding the pledges they were elected on in 2010 and 2012, insist
on defunding OC in the budget they send to the Senate. RINOS, led by Senators
McConnell, McCain and Graham argue that if the Republicans are seen as shutting
down the government, they risk losing the House in 2014 and the presidency in
'16. Worse, the President and Democratic Congress once again would govern
without any balancing offset as they did the first two years of the Obama regime.
Most don't lose too often as much as quit too soon
But there are differences this time. The government shutdown of 1995 took place
before Clinton's second term. The salient issues of spending too much on Medicare
and education just don't measure up to the poll-proven hatred of OC. Then there's
the fact that the Republicans ran Bob Dole, another nice guy veteran who was a
terrible presidential candidate, just like Bush 1, McCain and Romney.
In fact, one of the requirements to run for the presidency and/or not be challenged
in a primary should be whether or not a Congressman voted to defund OC.
Sometimes you have to put your foot down to get a leg up
To fund OC or not—that's the question. I realize that philosophically one might not
want to upset the applecart. After all, it is the law. But that's the mastery of our
Founding Fathers in their intricate structure of our checks and balances. Despite
our power-philandering President, the Congress still maintains the right to fund the
government — or not.
Like Michael Corleone, we can all see that circumstances beg for someone,
anyone to have the common sense and cojones to put OC to sleep with the fish.
Listed below are some of these current developments:
1. The senator who had the most influence on OC passing the Senate was
Max Baucus. As recently as April, he referred to his bill as a "…train wreck."
In an unrelated matter, Max announced he wasn't going to run for office again.
2. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid agreed with Baucus and said a trillion
dollars more taxes above what is called for in the bill itself will be needed to fix it.
3. Unions have figured out that being subject to OC was a terrible thing. They
want out. If my memory serves me, unions were a large part of the base for Obama
and the affordable health care plan.
4. In a Fox News Poll, 57% referred to the way OC is being rolled out is a joke.
5. Also, 63% of voters believe OC needs to be changed. That's up from 58%
just a year ago.
6. Republicans who think the law should be changed remained steady at 84%.
7. Voters call OC either "disastrous" or "a step backwards" at the rate of 53%.
8. OC will raise taxes according to 71% of those polled.
9. Sixty-two percent believe OC will increase their premiums.
10. Sixty-five percent believe OC will add to the federal deficit.
11. There is no way the exchanges will open as scheduled on October 1 of this
year as up to 26 states have legally opted out of participating.
12. Major insurance companies like Aetna, United and Blue Cross/Blue Shield
have declined to be included as options for the exchanges.
I could go on, but I think even those in Normal, Illinois get the idea.
Ever the manipulator, President Barack Hussein Obama has decided that he and
only he can take over for Congress and break the law by making whimsical changes
to it. Large corporations have been granted a two year delay in OC's installation,
while individuals need to enroll now.
Further, over 93% of federal employees want nothing to do with OC.
Stick a fork in it: OC is done!
We know the IRS have enough bad press on their hands to cause further headache.
The tax collectors are in charge of enforcing OC. Yet, according to the new acting
director no one he knows in the agency wants anything to do with it—including him.
Well, for sure Congress would go along with a bill that they foisted upon us regular
peons. Right? Wrong! They whined so much, King Obama decided to help these
poor legislators out by subsidizing their HC with---wait for it---our taxpayer money!
Oh and if you think our Supreme Court will fix the problem, FUGETABOUTIT!
John Roberts was about as effective at protecting our Constitutional rights as Freddo
was in defending The Don from being ripped by five bullets.
Time for the Republicans to ACT LIKE A MAN and make the President an offer
that would make his reign of criminality hasten to an end, no matter what his answer is.
Can Republicans win in the elections of '14 and '16 if they refuse to fund OC?
I can't see how they win if they fund it.
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JWR contributor Dave Weinbaum hosts DaveWeinbaum.com. He is a businessman, writer and part-time stand-up comic and resides in a Midwest red state. Comment by clicking here.
© 2011, Dave Weinbaum |
Mitch Albom | |||||||||||||
