Day Two: the Speaker and House Majority Leader Back Away from ObamaCare


Turns out that the interpretation that the Dems are bluffing on reconciliation is a charitable interpretation. It assumes they have a plan.

The other alternative view, that the President really is serious about reconciliation, is so unserious that most in D.C. don’t take it seriously. (Read Eric Cantor’s House Whip Count Memo here about why the Dems do not have the votes in the House for Reconciliation.)

The naivete, the inexperience, the reality-bending-ability to seriously believe that one more speech or one more try will make it pass, must be so pervasive in the mind of the President and those around him, that you have to wonder what will happen to the psyche of these Pollyannas when reality finally and urgently cannot be ignored or hidden, from what will be their ever widening eyes.

Add the irrationality of the Speaker on passing “universal health care” to the mix, and you have the makings of yet another uber-trainwreck — the first was last August, the second December-January, and now, the third in April-May or May-June?

Meanwhile, yesterday, the Chairman of the Blue Dogs Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC) said “I was actually surprised that they’re pushing it again.” Shuler also said “I don’t think a comprehensive bill can pass.”

The Speaker got tiff-ity when she heard of Shuler’s remarks: “You know what? With all due respect to everyone, we just saw the president’s proposal today. I don’t know that anybody in our caucus is saying we’re not going to pass a bill.”

But the President is not taking about “a bill,” he’s talking (for about the millionth time — including a speech to a joint session of Congress) about passing his bill. Well, it’s not actually a bill. There is no legislative language and it has not been introduced in Congress. Obama has more of a power point.

Read More →


Dems to Self-immolate via Reconciliation


Brian Darling of the Heritage Foundation has moved the entire health care world from refitting weapons and/or R & R to DEFCON Two with these two posts, here and here. Darling is not only one of the few real operational experts on Senate Rules, he is a highly effective operative for the good guys. If Darling says the Dems are going to try it, they will. DRUDGE is now on board with his front page all-caps headline: BACK FROM THE DEAD: DEMS VOW TO RAHM THROUGH HEALTHCARE.

Add to this that Senator Reid just gave an interview saying Congress will pass ObamaCare in 60 days, and FireDogLake is reporting the Leadership is on-board for the reconciliation strategy. Also, FireDogLake is pushing the public option to be included in reconciliation. TIME and Washington Monthly are reporting that Reid intends to use reconciliation to insert the public option. Furthermore, former White House Communication Director for Obama, Anita Dunn says ObamaCare will pass Congress by November, just after Obama made another push for ObamaCare at his Nevada town hall.

Read More →


Passive Aggressive Behavior All Around Us


The lack of enthusiasm, drive and willingness to do anything more on ObamaCare is the result of political malpractice on the part of the White House, the Speaker and Senator Reid.

For all their deal making and arm twisting, the public, the interest groups, the staff and Members of Congress are displaying passive-aggressive behavior towards health care reform.

It’s everywhere, but no one sees it. Especially the aforementioned delusionals who refuse to face reality — which is that everyone would rather do nothing at all.

The political liabilities and the policy liabilities for Democratic interest groups are devastating. For example, unions get their health plans taxes and abortion gets restricted, and there is no public option or Medicare buy-in for the progressives — not to mention the fact the public HATES ObamaCare.

Everyone knows the opponents are at NYET. So while the entire world inside the beltway responds with heel-digging-in and blown deadlines, endless and circular “strategy” sessions on ObamaCare, the delusionals see an opportunity to keep bringing it up, feeding the fires of the passive-aggressive behavior all around them.

Who brings up the most hated policy and the single, one thing most responsible for their political losses — in a Superbowl pre-game show? Delusionals, thats who.

Read More →


Scott Brown Posed in Cosmo’s Center-Fold 28 Years Ago — And So What?


With a taxpayer financed abortions and a government take-over of health care at stake, so what?

Maybe this is why Amy Walter writes in the National Journal “the “Facebook Women for Brown” group has over 1,000 members, while the “Women for Coakley” group has just 45.”

Category: ,

Dems Deserve No Respect for their Self-Inflicted Wounds — None at All


Among other very high prices to be paid for the Dems health reform jihad, it will cost them control of the U.S. House.

Here is the Generic Ballot from Gallup from 1994, the year the Republicans took 50+ seats and control of the House, right after the failure of HillaryCare. (H/T the Marston Chronicles)

But it is worse now, than it was then (see 2010 Gallup Generic Ballot graph below the jump.) At least in 1994, the Dems had the sense to stop when it was obvious what HillaryCare was doing to them. Now they are irrational. Like a crazed drug addict — they will do “almost anything” to get their fix.

And, unlike 1994 — unemployment is now at 10%, the U.S. deficit and debt are soaring and our economic growth is anemic. No surprise, the public wants Congress to focus on the deficit and the economy. So, naturally, the Dems work on health care to the exclusion of all else.

Read More →