(March 21, 2010 - Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images North America)
Many Americans rose eagerly from their beds this morning to turn on their morning news programs to see if there was word on the health care reform standoff that they likely spent their Sunday tuned in to. For many of those Americans, their morning likely brought them a bitter cup of coffee – yet one they undoubtedly were prepared for – even before they took their first sip. The events of the last few weeks made the bill’s passage an unfortunate inevitability that teetered only on the questions of when and how. Now that both have been clearly laid before us – with spirits down and defeat in this standoff a foregone conclusion – many Republicans on the Hill have resorted to praying for a last minute technicality to serve as a bump in the road for the bill’s ultimate setting in stone. The dreams of the most optimistic set aside….this ship has sailed.
So now the wheels have been set to motion. ”Socialism” – or at least some perverse amalgam of socialistic elements – has been injected into our capitalist system and like it or not, it is here and it is the unfortunate reality that now stares us in the face. The threat of it is no longer the 800 lb guerrilla in the room that no one wants to talk about. It is now that 2000 pound anchor dragging us into the abyss of European styled governance.
There are many that will proudly state that this bill is “imperfect” – that it still must be emended, tinkered with, added to, and subtracted from before it can be effectively implemented. Some have found solace in that narrative; perhaps hoping that “amendment” means addition by subtraction – when they know within their heart of hearts that the only “change we can believe in” regarding this bill will be change for the worse.
This bill is simply the first step toward a full-blown single-payer system modeled in a European fashion. Even Press Secretary Robert Gibbs in his daily briefing – TODAY – said that CBO calculations estimate that this legislation will still leave at least 5% of Americans uninsured. Do you think these people - that see health care as an inalienable right – will stop at 95%? Of course they won’t – regardless of the cost. This is just the beginning folks. Today is day one – will it be day one of our efforts to repeal??? or will it be day one on the future of a European styled health care system in these United States?
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So where do Republicans go from here? As this bill moved closer to its ultimate passage, talk of “repeal” emerged. Members of the GOP began to talk about running on platforms with rescinding this act of Congress as the centerpiece. Obviously responding to some unfavorable poll numbers or perhaps simply… relying on common sense, that mantra was changed ever so slightly to “repeal and replace.” One cannot ignore the fact that Americans do in fact want health care reform -they just don’t and didn’t want this monstrosity. I think the change was warranted as well as wise. Thank you Rep. Paul Ryan.
I fully support the idea of running November elections with the stated objective of repealing this bill, but I fail to see how that pledge of allegiance carries us from now until November – or any point thereafter. The mainstream media is already heralding this legislation as a monumental achievement for the Obama administration, and if day one coverage is a sign of what is yet to come, months of heart warming tales of happy entitlement grabbers will drown out any calls to remember the seedy and shady procedures that led to the bill’s passage. Much of the ugliness will be forgotten when November rolls around. Closed door meetings, reconciliation, deem and pass, and a general lack of transparency will be talking points easily dismissed by the Left and a favorable media only to be lost in the annuls of time long before another substantive vote is cast.
All that said, I will say unequivocally that I will not vote for a man or woman in November who hasn’t declared his/her intention to repeal this bill, but…. (and you knew there was a but coming) …. I shutter at the thought of the Republican Party becoming a one-issue party between now and November and will also NOT VOTE for any Republican that runs on this issue alone. I think this is the most egregious and despicable piece of legislation that has been passed in my lifetime, but while this bill is offensive on about fifty different levels, it is more troubling to me that we have moved toward a place in time in the political cycle that we could even acknowledge that such an endeavor was anything more than an item on a wish list from an uber-Lefty progressive socialist.
The problem with this health care bill is that it was simply the next logical step for those in power in Washington. Federalize the mortgage industry, take command of American auto manufacturers, create jobs through federal spending, bailout, bailout, bailout, and why not bring health care under the protective shell of the federal government – and make the Department of Education the sixth largest “bank” in the United States in the process?
The problem is systemic. And for those of you who want to cheer repeal, repeal, repeal from now until November… I will be with you, but don’t fool yourself into thinking that everyone chanting along with you is fully up to the task. Many of those same lawmakers who now want to point to this single piece of legislation as the “undoing of America” were on hand for the opening act of this multi-part move to European governance. Stimulus is a Republican word thanks to the brilliance of the Bush administration and those without the courage to stick to their principles and stare a growing recession in the face and rely upon capitalist forces to right the wrong.
As we move toward November, it is absolutely imperative that anyone who wishes to see this great country returned to its rightful place remember that selecting our elected representatives is about choosing principled candidates – not about choosing those who can simply echo the Party war cry. I fully support repeal, repeal, repeal… or repeal and replace- or whatever they want to call it, but unless we are willing to address the bigger problems that led to a culture where this sort of entitlement happy legislation was appropriate and not unconscionable, I think our efforts will find meager results. The reality of the repeal agenda is that it is not a feat that will be accomplished in 2010 – or even soon thereafter. For Republicans to truly “repeal” this bill, they would have to gain control of both Houses of Congress and in a strong enough fashion to override a Presidential veto. If repeal is truly the answer and the path to righting this ship, it may have to wait until 2012. The election of 2010 may be a “referendum” on this health care debacle, but if we are truly devoted to bringing this great nation back to its capitalist origins, Republicans should prepare themselves for making 2012 a referendum on preserving American Federalism and the capitalist system which has flourished therein. Step one may be addressing this specific issue, but step two must be about addressing the systemic problems that have led us here.
Heeee””sss BACK!! Glad to see it brother. I was beginning to think you closed up shop. I don’t know where you have been but I am glad to see you’re back to bringing it.
Manny. I am glad that you’re the first to comment upon my return. You were my first loyal reader and I couldn’t be happier to see you were the first to comment after my brief departure/absence. I admittedly have grown a bit tired of many on the Right and almost let the crap that flows from many of their mouths kill my passion for commenting on the political world for a while, but I have come to the conclusion that all sides to any debate have their fringe nutbags and we just have to ignore them.
So, yes I am back. I can’t say that this site will ever truly be the same, but I can tell you that it will go back to being about what I feel, what I believe in, and causes I support. My fight against token conservatism wages on and it has a new passion that I doubt I could have found if I hadn’t reached such a lowpoint for supporting those I “agree with” yet adamantly disagree with on so many justifications. My site will henceforth be about my take on things and if people don’t like that – they can kiss my ass. My life is my life and my views are my views. Neither of them will ever again be influenced by anyone or anything outside of that which resides between my right and left ears.
Glad you stayed faithful Manny. Sorry for the break.
Welcome back T. Back to work.
Thanks Russ. Good to be back. Things are likely to be different around here, but found an itch to scratch again, so I made my way back.
As long as you don’t lose the whiskey and the attitude, everything’s gonna be alright.
We still got both of those. Maybe a little less whiskey but definitely a lot more attitude…. I’m pissed at everyone these days… the gloves are off.
Sweeeeeet. Even better.
I like it. T is back and he’s mad. Feels like day one around here. Looking forward to it.
Can I offer a suggestion. Can day two involve getting rid of the video comment thing? Has anyone done that? Does anyone know how to do that? Do you know how to do that?>
And why can’t I comment on your last post? I wanted to say something to that asshole that took a shot at you but I can’t. Is it b/c you’ve been MIA and just now responded to him or what?
Just in case I can’t say something there, Daniel you’re a internet dickhead. How are you going to question whether T is a “leader” or not. Do you know what he’s – I guess it could be a she – when HE’s not writing around here. Its a blog dude. Come on. He could be a freaking lawyer,a janitor, or a senator for all you know. Maybe he just likes bitching on the web you nerd. I love Sarah Palin fan but you definitely have a chip and some issues brother.
Manny. Video comment… no idea how to do it. You’re right. But I do have faith that someone out there might so it stays. As to the older posts. Never had to deal with that before bc no one usually cares about what I wrote 14 days ago. SO yes, they close and I would open it up but it would only lead to more spamming – and I think you said what you needed to say. B Daniel used to be a great comment(er) around here but he/she seems to be a bit conflicted on the Palin issue – as most are and decided to vent a little. Does it irritate me? You bet. But do I care? Not anymore. It bothered me for about 2.5 back there but I have come to the conclusion that there are just some issues/some people that WE are just not going to agree on. I can state my feelings and make my opinions known and thats all I can do. I know how you love Palin so it means a lot that you’d want to defend me on this one so lets just take that as defense done and move on. It doesn’t matter if I “bash” her, defend her, agree with her, you name it; if I don’t LOVE her I’m a RINO. I say to hell with that and that’s the way we’re gonna roll around here from now on. I could give a rats ass what other’s think. If they don’t like what I have to say around here they can find another place for their “news” – and who ever said I was offering “news” in the first place?
And for the record. Manny I’m a dude. I think we’ve made that clear by now so you can save the PC nonsense. As for my occupation. I’d like to be a janitor but I’d love to be a “leader” like B Daniel would like me to be… so if you want to email me your address I’ll email you some campaign stickers so you can spread the word and get out the vote….
Glad to see you back at the wheel, T. I can honestly say I have been missing your posts.
Concerning your post, I think you are right. I do not have the adjectives to describe how I feel about the legislation that President Obama is about to sign, but said legislation is not the only culprit. There were a lot of events and actions that led our country to this point and unless they are addressed, repealing the health care reform bill will have few positive results.
Concerning Sarah Palin, I know how you feel about the attacks. Personally, I happen to like the woman and I do think she has potential, but not as President. I mentioned that in a post some months ago and one gentleman came unglued on me. I wasn’t even very critical of her and you would have thought I had gone and shot Jesus Christ or something. After I got over my righteous indignation at him, I thought it was rather amusing.
Again, glad to see you back and will be looking forward to reading your thoughts on the issues of the day.
And So Began America’s Cold Civil War…
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T – Good to see you back!
Some would-be and current politicians had signed a pledge to repeal even before this monstrosity passed. (Check out Repealit.org) One good thing I’ve noticed, just in my district… the two Rs on the primary have BOTH signed it, so I can go for a repeal candidate while still picking the one I prefer.
I thought if you hadn’t seen the site, you might want to have a look.
made my night. just a complete joy to experience. many thanks
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You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog.
Dear Friends, Happy Fool’s Day!!
A man visits his aunt in the nursing home. It turns out that she is taking a nap, so he just sits down in a chair in her room, flips through a few magazines, and munches on some peanuts sitting in a bowl on the table.
Eventually, the aunt wakes up, and her nephew realizes he’s absentmindedly finished the entire bowl.
“I’m so sorry, auntie, I’ve eaten all of your peanuts!”
“That’s okay, dearie,” the aunt replied. “After I’ve sucked the chocolate off, I don’t care for them anyway.”
Happy April Fool’s Day!
It is my view Day One: The Long Road Ahead for the GOP | REPUBLICAN REDEFINED is in fact a well penned editorial. Without a doubt worthy of bringing up and really worth referfing to http://republicanredefined.com/2010/03/22/day-one-the-long-road-ahead-for-the-gop/ to a greater extent. Best regards, Tommie Guerino