Pelosi tells Dems to sacrifice their jobs for ObamaCare

Nancy Pelosi let out the battle cry for Democrats today. She called on House Dems to sacrifice their careers for ObamaCare. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged her colleagues to back a major overhaul of U.S. health care even if it threatens their political careers, a call to arms that underscores the issue's massive role in this election year.

Lawmakers sometimes must enact policies that, even if unpopular at the moment, will help the public, Pelosi said in an interview being broadcast Sunday the ABC News program "This Week."

"We're not here just to self-perpetuate our service in Congress," she said. "We're here to do the job for the American people."

It took courage for Congress to pass Social Security and Medicare, which eventually became highly popular, she said, "and many of the same forces that were at work decades ago are at work again against this bill."

Clearly Nancy doesn’t have the votes in the House to pass ObamaCare, otherwise she never would have made this statement in public. This statement also tells me that she is pretty far off on those votes. If there were only a handful, she would have strong-armed them into submission by now.

The question is what do the House Dems do.  There is no guarantee that the Senate can successfully pull off reconciliation. Without fixing the bill with Reconciliation, the House will get slammed again for passing another nasty bill and the Senate will skate.  The Democrats are in a lose-lose situation (and I am beginning to wonder if it wasn’t done on purpose), pass the bill and the voters will toss them out. Pass nothing and their base will toss them out. I am guessing that quite a few Democrats are feeling mighty spiteful for being put in this predicament by their leadership. Asking them for their jobs only makes it worse.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Fox News

The new Van Jones loves Glenn Beck

In case you had not noticed, Van Jones is trying to whitewash his old image. In the last week or so a new kinder, gentler Van Jones is emerging. He is making appearances with Kristen Gillibrand, he got a NAACP award and even offers an excuse for his 9/11 Truther stuff.

Today the new Van Jones, took his remake to dazzling new heights and said he loves Glenn Beck! Here is what Jones said when he received his NAACP award.

So what did Glenn Beck have to say about all this? Check out this Tweet:

I am sure we will be hearing more about this from Beck on Monday. I will update this post with any response from Beck’s radio or TV show.

The question I have is, why the remake? Why is Van Jones remaking himself now? He left the White House and could easily pursue his agitation outside of the public light. Does this remake mean he is going to be taking on a very visible role in the future and thus he must clean up his act?  Time will tell.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The New York Times

Via: Fox News

Via: Info Wars

H/T: Left Coast Rebel

It’s time to wish Al Gore into the cornfield

As the whole theory of Man Made Global warming is starting to look like the sham of the century, Al Gore, its High Priest, has been rather hard to find these days. Today the New York Times has finally found him and allowed the High Priest to ramble on in a very long op-ed called “We Can’t Wish Away Climate Change”.

In the op-ed Gore tries to explain away all the recent evidence that Man Made Global Warming is junk science. Gore scolds us that we cannot wish away global warming and that Some news media organizations *COUGH* Fox *COUGH* are to blame. 

It would be an enormous relief if the recent attacks on the science of global warming actually indicated that we do not face an unimaginable calamity requiring large-scale, preventive measures to protect human civilization as we know it.

[SNIP]

Simultaneously, changes in America’s political system — including the replacement of newspapers and magazines by television as the dominant medium of communication — conferred powerful advantages on wealthy advocates of unrestrained markets and weakened advocates of legal and regulatory reforms. Some news media organizations now present showmen masquerading as political thinkers who package hatred and divisiveness as entertainment. And as in times past, that has proved to be a potent drug in the veins of the body politic. Their most consistent theme is to label as “socialist” any proposal to reform exploitive behavior in the marketplace. 

The man is completely shameless. Gore uses his classic fear mongering that the planet will swallow us whole and he even adds a new touch of shame: 

...We would no longer have to worry that our grandchildren would one day look back on us as a criminal generation that had selfishly and blithely ignored clear warnings that their fate was in our hands. 

Instead we should let our grandchildren look back on as the criminal generation that saddled them with needless debt all in the name of junk science.

I think it is about time we take a page from that Twilight Zone episode where the little boy can wish bad people out to the cornfield. Al Gore, you’re a bad man, you’re a very bad man!

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The New York Times

Transforming America: Democrat vs. Democrat

Over at National Review’s The Corner, Andy McCarthy makes the case that the Democrat leadership is not concerned about losing in November and that is why they are willing to drive off the cliff with health care reform.  McCarthy believes that we should be more concerned with undoing all the thing Obama, Reid and Pelosi will try to enact that will permanently transform America.

McCarthy has a point. Obama, Reid and Pelosi are not the least bit concerned about their re-election chances. Sure they will try their best to get another term, but they are more concerned with making America a leftwing utopia. If they succeed in that, then losing re-election would be worthwhile.  The problem for those three is that not all Democrats are thinking along those lines.

Some of these Democrats are career politicians. They love their titles, their perks and their power. They are not that wedded to ideology. Think of Bill Clinton, he abandoned his ideology for a second term.  McCarthy points out that even these non ideological types may just throw in with the leadership if their reelection prospects look dim. I think McCarthy is missing another option…spite.

Think about this, you are a career politician in love with your Washington life. Along comes Obama with his radical agenda and because you supported it you are now being shown the door. Bye-bye perks, power and prestige. The leadership cannot save you and some of them are safe for reelection. Wouldn’t you be mad as spit?  Wouldn’t you just want to stick a finger in their eyes at every possible opportunity? I think we are already seeing some of this behavior.

Yesterday, two Democrats joined Republicans in calling for Rangel to step down. Then the Democrats abandoned the that interrogation proposal and let us not forget that the Democrats are having trouble with the Senate Jobs bill. This does not sound like people doomed to their fate, and throwing in with the leadership.

In the end, I still think reconciliation will blow up in Obama, Reid and Pelosi’s faces and they will be forced to settle for the small and toothless ObamaCare 3.0.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Corner

Via: The Hill

Via: Politico

Via: CNN

Massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake hits Chile, tsunami warning for Hawaii

From The New York Times: RIO DE JANEIRO — A deadly, 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck central Chile early Saturday, collapsing buildings, shattering major bridges and highways across a long swath of the country, and sending tsunami warnings along the entire Pacific basin. 

Chile’s TVN cable news channel reported 122 deaths less than 12 hours after the quake struck. The death toll was expected to rise, particularly around Concepción, Chile’s second-largest metropolitan area, which is roughly 70 miles from the quake’s center. 

There, cars were overturned, rubble fell into the cracked streets and a 15-story building collapsed, wire services and Chilean news media reported. In the capital of Santiago, about five hours to the north and about 200 miles from the epicenter, frightened residents felt the city shake for nearly 90 seconds. [MORE]

From The Washington Post: The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning -- its highest alert -- for Hawaii, where incoming waves topping out at six feet could cause damage along the coastlines across the island chain. A warning was also in effect for Guam, American Samoa and dozens of other Pacific islands.

The first waves were expected to arrive in Hawaii at 11:05 a.m. Saturday (4:05 p.m. EST) [MORE]

When I heard of this, I could not help but be reminded of the people of Haiti who are still struggling after their earthquake. Thankfully, Chile is better governed and will be able to do a better job at helping themselves. They will still need help from the world, but no where near as urgent as Haiti’s

Hawaii will no doubt be able to handle the tsunami should one hit. They have plenty of lead-time to evacuate the low lands. Property damage should be the biggest problem.

As these natural disasters hit, we are again reminded that it is the United States who usually gives the biggest helping hand. We are rapidly losing our ability to help out in these situations, as our leaders squander the nation’s fortune. Who then will take our role in helping the world in times of need?  China? Russia? India? All are doubtful.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The New York Times

Via: The Washington Post

The Coffee Party: A Steaming Cup of Astroturf

The Washington Post has a big write up about a new and growing “grassroots” [more on this word in a minute] movement, The Coffee Party. Supposedly the Coffee Party is for all those disenfranchised citizens who are unhappy with government but do not subscribe to Tea Party tenets of small and limited government.

From the Coffee Party’s Facebook page, they state who they are: 

We are diverse--ethnically, geographically, politically, in age and in experience. 

We are 100% grassroots. No lobbyists here. No pundits. And no hyper-partisan strategists calling the shots in this movement. We are a spontaneous and collective expression of our desire to forge a political culture that is solution-oriented, not blame-oriented. 

We demand a government that responds to the needs of the majority of its citizens as expressed by our votes and by our voices; NOT corporate interests as expressed by misleading advertisements and campaign contributions.

We want a society in which democracy is treated as sacrosanct and ordinary citizens participate out of a sense of civic duty, civic pride, and a desire to contribute to society. The Coffee Party is a call to action. Our Founding Fathers and Mothers gave us an enduring gift --Democracy-- and we must use it to meet the challenges that we face as a nation.

The only real thing you have to know about the Coffee Party is that it isn’t 100% grassroots. As Left Coast Rebel easily found out, it is just another left wing Astroturf effort.  The Founder of the Coffee Party movement is Annabel Park and as Left Coast Rebel discovers: 

According to the article, the founder is Annabel Park. Of course it took only five minutes of google searching to expose the Astroturfhere. According to a youtube account, Park is also associated with Asian Americans for Obama. Below is a video of Parks interviewing Kal Penn, an actor who left the TV show House to work for Obama. 

Dig a little further and you find that Left Coast Rebel is correct. I went to The Coffee Party’s website and sure enough it is a snappy looking social network site, but the thing that immediately caught my eye was a poll they have there. The poll asks “in your opinion what is the most urgent issue”.  What do you think the majority of them picked?  Health care, of course!

The poll isn’t the only place where you find them pushing hard for health care reform.  A look at the comments on their Facebook page and you find heath care all over the place. Even this polished video by their LA chapter has all these folks talking about health care

How is it that all the major polls show the vast majority of Americans are concerned about jobs, the economy and the deficit, yet this so-called grassroots movement has health care as its number one concern? It is also very convenient that health care is also Obama’s number one concern.

If I had to guess, The Coffee Party is nothing more than another Astroturf effort designed to cultivate a new breed of Hope Dopes for 2012.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Washington Post

Via: Left Coast Rebel

The Nolan Charts says I am Another Black Libertarian

I took Glenn Beck’s quiz today to figure out where I land on the Nolan Chart. I landed firmly in the Libertarian column. I have taken the Nolan Chart quiz several times before and I always come out libertarian. What was a little surprising was how far in the libertarian zone I landed this time around.

If you want to take the quiz, click here.  Be warned their server is as slow as molasses.  After you take the quiz, come back and tell us how you did. If you missed tonight episode of Beck here is the first part, click over to The Right Scoop for parts 2 to 7.

Al Gore gets called out at Apple shareholders meeting

I think the jig is up for Al Gore and his shilling the Man Made Global Warming scam.  While present at an Apple Shareholders meeting, one shareholder had this to say: 

At the first opportunity for audience participation just several minutes into the proceeding, a longtime and well-known Apple shareholder--some would say gadfly--who introduced himself as Shelton Ehrlich, stood at the microphone and urged against Gore's re-election to the board. Gore "has become a laughingstock. The glaciers have not melted," Ehrlich said, referring to Gore's views on global warming. "If his advice he gives to Apple is as faulty as his views on the environment then he doesn't need to be re-elected." 

I would have paid good money to see that and I would have paid even more for two seconds at the microphone. It is about time frauds like Gore got the public outing they deserve. Let’s hope for more Sheldon Ehrlichs to step up to the plate.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: CNET News

Girl Scout Cookie Recall?

Say it ain’t so!   

AOL News: On Thursday, the Girl Scouts of America issued a recall of thousands of Lemon Chalet Creme cookies after the organization received complaints from customers. The manufacturer, Little Brownie Bakers, said that a breakdown of oils used in the product has resulted in an off-putting taste and smell. 

In a news release, Betsy Gladish, a spokeswoman for the Scouts, said the cookies were not a health hazard. 

"The cookies are still edible but are not recommended for consumption as they are not up to our quality standards," Little Brownie Bakers said in a statement. The company, which is based in Louisville, Ky., said that customers who purchased the lemon cookies can call 1-800-962-1718 for information on how to obtain a refund. 

They must have forgotten to add the crack! I don’t know what is in those Girl Scout cookies but damn they sure are addictive. Don’t let me near a box of Samoa’s, because I will polish them off in five seconds flat!

Via: AOL News

Paterson will quit re-election bid

The tax and spend New York governor, David Paterson, will announce today that he will not seek re-election, after saying just the other day that would seek re-election.

Why the change of heart? 

His departure clears the way for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who is the favorite of many Democrats, to seek the nomination unimpeded.

Cuomo's office is investigating whether Paterson and the state police improperly contacted Booker, who made the allegations against the governor's top aide, David Johnson.

A day after speaking briefly with Paterson, Booker failed to show up for a court hearing against Johnson - and the matter was dropped.

That is the cover story. The real reason is that Paterson raised taxes all over the place during a recession and the voters want his scalp. Had he tried for re-election, he would have had his clocked cleaned. 

I’ll give Andrew Cuomo two points for creating a win-win situation. He spares New Yorkers the remote possibility of a Paterson second term and vastly improves his own chances of getting elected. David Paterson was never really meant to be governor. The arrogant Elliot Spitzer picked Paterson for all the wrong reasons, never seriously considering Paterson actually having to step to the plate. New York politics is not for the timid or for amateurs. Everyone was able to eat Paterson's lunch and Cuomo is just the latest. 

Too bad New York Republicans are so flaccid and disorganized.  Given the nation's feelings towards Democrats wild spending, a serious Republican candidate could stand a good chance of getting elected, even in New York.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: New York Daily News

The Vice Presidency, so easy a caveman can do it

Take Joe Biden, add an open microphone and you are sure to get a golden sound bite!  That is exactly what happened yesterday just before the second half of Health Care Dog and Pony Show.

"It's easy being vice president — you don't have to do anything."

Whomever Biden was chatting with said, "It's like being the grandpa and not the parent."

"Yeah, that's it!" replied Biden.

Isn’t Biden supposed to be in charge of how the Stimulus money is spent?  No wonder it isn’t working, crazy old Joe must be goofing off.   Obama would have been better off picking one of those Geico Cavemen, those guys work!

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Politico

Charlie Rangel gets admonished

The House ethics committee is admonishing Charlie Rangel for taking free trips to the Caribbean furnished by a lobbyist.

From Politico: The House ethics committee put another dent in the armor of embattled Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel Thursday, admonishing him for violating House gift rules by accepting corporate-funded trips to the Caribbean through an organization called the Carib News.

[SNIP] 

 The committee essentially found that Rangel is responsible for the transgressions of aides who knew of the corporate sponsorship of the trips.

“The committee did not find sufficient evidence to conclude, nor does it believe that it would discover additional evidence to alter its conclusion, that Rep. Rangel had actual knowledge of the memoranda written by his staff,” an Ethics statement says. “However, the report finds that Rep. Rangel was responsible for the knowledge and actions of his staff in the performance of their official duties.”

But Rangel, who read the findings aloud at a news conference, took issue with the concept that staffers’ actions could be “imputed” to him.

“I don’t want to be critical of the committee, but the common sense dictates that members of Congress should not be held responsible for what could be the wrongdoing of, or mistakes occur, as a staff unless there’s reason to believe the member knew or should have known. And there’s nothing in the record to indicate the latter,” he said. “So I have to now deal with my lawyer as to what the hell do they mean that something’s imputed. Does it mean that no matter what a staff member does if the member doesn’t know it that the member could be charged and admonished publicly for it?”

Read the whole thing; there are a few more wrinkles to the story that I am not going into here. What I do want to point out is the weakness of Rangel’s argument. He is claming that he should not be admonished because his staff made the mistake. This is utter nonsense, because Rangel knows full well he did not pay for the trips himself. He had to know someone else was footing the bill. Are we to believe that he wasn’t the slightest bit curious who was paying or how?  That is a pretty poor attitude for someone in charge of writing tax law.

It will be interesting to see what Nancy Pelosi does about Rangel. My guess, she will totally let him slide. Nancy isn’t going to go risk pissing off the Congressional Black Caucus by making one of their biggest members step down from his position.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Politico

Winners and losers of Obama’s Health Care Summit

Chris Chillizza at the Washington Post picks the Winners and Losers of  the Health Care Summit (a.k.a Obama’s Dog and Pony Show on health care).  I have a slightly different take.  Here is what I saw.

Winners:

Obama: If you are a person who does not follow politics closely and you tuned in to the summit today, you would have found Obama acting like a referee trying to bring the two ideologically opposed parties together. He came off as fair and above the fray (most of the time, John McCain would disagree).  You could almost forget that it is HIS nasty bill that was actually the starting point for today’s event.

Republicans:  The guys brought their A-Game. They did not come off as stodgy old obstructionist. They did not come off as uncaring and they did not come off as lacking ideas. Since the goal of this sham summit was to turn Republicans into scapegoats, then I would have to say the summit failed. It will be hard to paint the Republicans as the Party of No on this one.

Paul Ryan:  This guy stole the show. Ryan was loaded with facts and figures and used them with a very reasonable tone to drive home his points. I pity any Democrat who ever has to take this guy on in a debate.

Loosers

Democrats: Obama did nothing for his party with this summit. While Obama stayed above the fray, it was the Democrats who had to do all the dirty work. Harry Reid’s flat out lie about him not mentioning reconciliation has all the makings for a killer YouTube video. Nancy was as shrill as ever. Since Democrats have had the megaphone on this issue for over a year, all their talking points sounded stale compared to the Republicans who finally got to say their peace.

The American People:  Nothing was solved here. Worse yet any good ideas mentioned will not be taken into consideration, because the fix is already in.

What was your take?  Who are your winners and losers?

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Fix

ObamaCare 3.0?

Just as the Dog and Pony show begins on ObamaCare 2.0, talk is circulating that ObamaCare 3.0 is in the works.  

The Wall Street Journal: President Barack Obama will use a bipartisan summit Thursday to push for sweeping health-care legislation, but if that fails to generate enough support the White House has prepared the outlines of a more modest plan.

His leading alternate approach would provide health insurance to perhaps 15 million Americans, about half what the comprehensive bill would cover, according to two people familiar with the planning.

It would do that by requiring insurance companies to allow people up to 26 years old to stay on their parents' health plans, and by modestly expanding two federal-state health programs, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, one person said. The cost to the federal government would be about one-fourth the price tag for the broader effort, which the White House has said would cost about $950 billion over 10 years.

Officials cautioned that no final decisions had been made but said the smaller plan's outlines are in place in case the larger plan fails.

While this scaled down version is not a bad as the original, it still is bad. First it makes greater demands on private insurance (26 year olds!) that are sure to raise rates. Then it irresponsibly adds to our unfunded liability Medicaid. Fortunately, these things can be undone a little easier than what has been proposed in versions 1 & 2.

The official word from the White House is that there is no ObamaCare 3.0, but a scaled down version makes a whole lot more political sense. Obama and the Democrats worked on health care reform for over a year (with a super majority no less) and have come away with zilch thus far. Not passing anything would make Obama and the Democrats look like complete losers. Granted, a scaled down ObamaCare won’t fly with many on the left, but this sham summit will help provide cover for the more prodigious plans' failure by involving Republicans.

It is very possible that the Dems can scrape together enough votes to pass ObamaCare 3.0. The big question is whether or not RINOs will bite? I can see Snow or Collins going for ObamaCare 3.0 and perhaps even Scott Brown if presented the right way.

I can hear Obama now using this scaled down version during his 2012 campaign: “I passed sweeping health care reform”.  Meanwhile, we will all know the truth; he got his clock cleaned and settled for what he could get.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Wall Street Journal

Obama preparing for 2012 already?

Politico reports that the White House is beginning to gear up for reelection. Many of the same faces from 2008 will return to their old campaign roles (did they ever really leave those roles?). 

David Axelrod, White House senior adviser, may leave the West Wing to rejoin his family in Chicago and reprise his role as Obama’s muse, overseeing the campaign’s tone, themes, messages and advertising, the sources said.

David Plouffe, the Obama for America campaign manager, described by one friend as "the father of all this," will be a central player in the reelect, perhaps as an outside adviser.

"The conversations are beginning, but decisions haven't been made," a top official said. "If you look at David Plouffe's stepped-up level of activity with the political organization [as an outside adviser on the 2010 races], that is obviously the beginning of the process." 

Anita Dunn, former White House communications director, will be intimately involved, too. Brad Woodhouse, the Democratic National Committee’s communications director, enjoys rising stock and would be a logical choice to be communications director for the reelection campaign, the sources said.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer and senior adviser Valerie Jarrett are likely to remain at the president’s side in Washington, while exercising major influence over the campaign. Pfeiffer, communications director of the last campaign and always a trusted insider, has a higher public profile every day.

Other central figures are likely to be DNC Executive Director Jennifer O'Malley Dillon; her husband, Patrick Dillon, who is deputy White House political director and is likely to bring his extensive gubernatorial contacts to Chicago; Mitch Stewart, executive director of the DNC's Organizing for America; Jon Carson, national field director of Obama for America; and White House political director Patrick Gaspard.

It isn’t uncommon for modern day politicians to be in perpetual campaign mode. The Republicans are gearing up already. While the Politico piece mentions that opposition research against Republicans have begun, I have to wonder if Team Obama is considering a challenge from their side of the fence?  Call me crazy, but I still think Hillary will take another stab at 2012.  Why shouldn’t she?  If Obama is still stinking up the joint and Democrats get their tails kicked for following Obama’s agenda, then there will be good reason for her challenge him in a primary. Plus, Hillary has one heck of a campaign slogan “I told ya so”!

Learning this news about Obama preparing for 2012, has me wondering if the Health Care Dog and Pony show isn’t more for his benefit than for the Democrats? Democrats are going to look mighty foolish if they still cannot pass ObamaCare (scapegoating Republicans or not), Obama on the other hand will at least be able to point to the summit and say he tried. It will be interesting to watch Obama's actions from here until the midterms to see just exactly who is benefiting politically.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Politico

Video: Obama and Democrats on "The Nuclear Option" circa 2005

Biden: "I pray God when the Democrats take back control we don't make the kind of naked power grab you are doing."

Something tells me that Biden did not get down on his knees for that one. Are these the biggest hypocrites you ever saw?

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Breitbart TV

Harry Reid’s “Vote For Me or The Wife Gets It” campaign

How about we start the day off with a little bit of humor?  The other day Dingy Harry said this foolishness: 

Politico: "Men when they're out of work tend to become abusive," Reid said as he argued in favor of a cloture vote on the jobs bill. "I met with some people while I was home dealing with domestic abuse. It has gotten out of hand. Why? Men don't have jobs. Women don't have jobs either, but women aren't abusive, most of the time. Men, when they're out of work, tend to become abusive. Our domestic crisis shelters in Nevada are jammed." 

Since mocking the left is all the rage now, you just knew someone would come up with a funny Photoshop.  Well here it is.

Kudos to the folks at The Nose On Your Face! If you love the graphic, you can actually purchase tee shirts and coffee mugs!

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Politico

Via: The Nose On Your Face

Contributor from the very WHITE MSNBC calls Marco Rubio “a coconut”

Well, what do you know; more racial insensitivity from the tolerance crowd. As a black conservative, this does not surprise me in the least bit.  Whenever a minority dares to step off the White Liberal Plantation, all the rules of racial sensitivity goes right out the window and their inner racism is set free. The timing for Donnie Deutsche’s comment could not come at a better time, as so many people are starting to notice the whiteness of MSNBC, thanks to Keith Olbermann.

Deutsche calling Rubio a coconut is the equivalent of him calling a black person an Oreo (i.e. they are acting white). In other words, unless a minority follows the white liberal agenda, they are being traitors to their race.

Deutsche is of course saying he did not know the term was a slur. Since Rachel Maddow appears to be MSNBC’s “speech code” specialist, perhaps she can explain to him? I won’t be holding my breath though.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: NewsBusters

Via: Hot Air

Dallas Tea Party’s video response to Keith Olbermann

Something tells me if Keith Olbermann was able to do over that Special Comment of his, he might have chosen differently. It was foolish to try to pretend that there are no minorities at the Tea Parties.  Now everyone is drawing attention to just how white MSNBC really is.

I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more responses like this one.

Via: Instapundit

Let the games begin

The White House has a post up on its blog today asking “Will the Republicans Post Their Health Plan… and When?”.  This seems pretty funny considering the Republican’s plan has been online since summer.  So, why is the White House asking this question now?  This whole new push for health care reform has more to do with turning Republicans into scapegoats than actually passing the legislation.

As I have told you all before, there simply isn’t the votes to pass ObamaCare 2.0, that is why it is crucial for Republican involvement so that the blame can be passed on.  Mike Allen’s Playbook has two items posted today that backs me up:

Good Tuesday morning. EXCLUSIVE: Senate Republicans tell us they plan a ferocious response if Democrats proceed with their plan to try to pass comprehensive health reform with simple-majority votes following Thursday’s White House summit. A top aide tells us GOP senators may offer DOZENS and perhaps HUNDREDS of amendments, some forcing Dems to vote on subjects such as Gitmo and terror trials: “While debate time is limited, the number and content of amendments are not. This approach to moving health care has a lot of problems, but one Democrats haven’t yet focused on is the number of bad votes they’d have to take to get there. Amendments don’t have to be germane (well, they do, and if they’re not, Dems can move to set them aside, but we can move to waive that; either way, there’s a vote).” 

PLAYBOOK FACTS OF LIFE: Top aides tell us there are not currently 50 votes for the plan in the Senate, or 218 in the House. Moderate and endangered lawmakers want the spotlight off comprehensive health reform. Instead, it’s about to take center stage. 

The first item is exactly how Democrats will blame Republicans for killing ObamaCare 2.0 and the second item is all you need to know as to why reconciliation is an empty threat.

Had Republicans simply stood on principle, they could have easily declined Obama’s health care summit on the grounds that now is not the time for health care, now is the time to get our financial house in order. It would have put the pressure back on the Dems to abandon health care and start working on what the public really wants: jobs, the economy and the deficit.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The White House Blog

Via: Mike Allen’s Playbook

Via: Healthcare.gop.gov