General Political Thread

[Sir Stewart]

Hey how about this Pope.

[Hixter]

It's about time one shook things up.

[Sir Stewart]

He bought an old-ass car, too. I might dig this dude.

[KevinG]

well our Congress is at it again.  We are 10 days from a government shutdown and the GOP contingent is adding a measure to de-fund ACA in any spending bill to keep the government going.  

 

So the Affordable Care Act is really that bad they you are risking a full government shut down?  Really  I know the GOP doesn't like it and think it is bad, but is really that bad?  To completely screw over the country.  Just imagine if the Democrats put in a measure to ban all assault rifles.  The GOP would go ape-shit.  

 

So good job Congress, good job.  

[Winston Legthigh]

Pope Francisco is awesome.

[Atticus]

there are a lot of steps to happen before an actual shutdown.  A continuing bill will get passed in the House and sent to the Senate, where of course the Obamacare defunding will get nixed.  Then it will go back to the House.

 

There will be spin on both sides on this so it's about which side you align with.  The Republicans may be blamed for putting the defunding measure in there in the first place, the Senate Democrats may be blamed for not passing the the original House bill.  

 

but right now is not a time to panic.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

I golf occasionally, and I've played several rounds where a shotgun would have been more accurate than a fairway wood.

[KevinG]

there are a lot of steps to happen before an actual shutdown.  A continuing bill will get passed in the House and sent to the Senate, where of course the Obamacare defunding will get nixed.  Then it will go back to the House.

 

There will be spin on both sides on this so it's about which side you align with.  The Republicans may be blamed for putting the defunding measure in there in the first place, the Senate Democrats may be blamed for not passing the the original House bill.  

 

but right now is not a time to panic.

 

10 days, ok not the time to panic, but the time to be concerned.  http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/09/government-shutdown-getting-much-more-likely/69561/

 

But the hubris on the part of the GOP to try to defund ACA as a part of this.  Or to use the debit ceiling as bargaining chip to get rid of ACA.  This is what get's my goat.  ACA is not perfect, but it is law.  It just seems to me that the GOP are acting like little children holding their breaths until they get what they want. 

[Atticus]

But the hubris on the part of the GOP to try to defund ACA as a part of this.  Or to use the debit ceiling as bargaining chip to get rid of ACA.  

 

see, that's where you and I just differ in our opinions.  I don't presume to be certain as to motive.  As much as you may dislike or disagree with Republican strategy or belief, it is possible that they have a good-faith opposition to the Obama healthcare system and are willing to stake quite a bit on it by pressing it in this manner.  Seems to me if they shut the government down over this healthcare issue and it turns out that most Americans want the Obama healthcare, the Republicans will suffer consequences for it.

 

that does not transparently equal hubris to me.  there are lots of people who do things I don't agree with who are still good people doing what they think is the right thing.  I don't have to attack their character in order to disagree with them.  I just disagree with them.

 

If they were attaching fair pay for women or a gay rights issue to the debt ceiling, would you still consider it hubris?

[Mr. Heartbreak]

 

If they were attaching fair pay for women or a gay rights issue to the debt ceiling, would you still consider it hubris?

I can't speak for KevinG, but I sure as hell would. I would throw any politician, Democrat or Republican, under the bus for tying XYZ to the debt ceiling. The debt ceiling is not something to be messed with. They already pulled this crap before and got our credit rating lowered...and, of course, blamed Obama for it. They really are acting like a child holding his breath, that is a perfect metaphor.

 

Even if they do have good motives (which I doubt) or a simple good faith opposition to the ACA (which I doubt), there are ways to get the law overturned. They're called elections.

[KevinG]

 

If they were attaching fair pay for women or a gay rights issue to the debt ceiling, would you still consider it hubris?

 

Yep, the debt ceiling, shutting down the government, these things should not be played with, (and I reiterate everything Mr. Heartbreak says)

 

Voting for the repeal of ACA, 40 some odd times, while stupid and pointless would not put our country in serious jeopardy.   

 

So I asked the question, so why harm the country in this way?  Do they really think the law will harm the country more than playing with the debt ceiling and our fragile recovery?  I seems to me the ACA is more a fund raising tool and being against it will put more money in your coffers and play to a radical base.  

 

Just think of the GOP talking heads exploding if the Dems tried to attach an assault rifle ban to a debt ceiling extension.  Which would in my mind be hubris.    

[uncool2pillow]

see, that's where you and I just differ in our opinions.  I don't presume to be certain as to motive.  As much as you may dislike or disagree with Republican strategy or belief, it is possible that they have a good-faith opposition to the Obama healthcare system and are willing to stake quite a bit on it by pressing it in this manner.  Seems to me if they shut the government down over this healthcare issue and it turns out that most Americans want the Obama healthcare, the Republicans will suffer consequences for it.

 

that does not transparently equal hubris to me.  there are lots of people who do things I don't agree with who are still good people doing what they think is the right thing.  I don't have to attack their character in order to disagree with them.  I just disagree with them.

 

If they were attaching fair pay for women or a gay rights issue to the debt ceiling, would you still consider it hubris?

The only problem with this is gerrymandering.  Most of the House is safe just because of their party affiliation.  Going after Obamacare will be good in the eyes of their constituency.

[LouieB]

I am in the vast minority here.  Let Congress shut the government down (of course they still get paid no matter what, go figure.)  At that point more folks will figure out what the government is good for, or not depending maybe not.  We need a good crises to shock the crap out of folks a bit I think. Stop payments to vets, Social Security, etc. and let's see how fast some folks come around.

 

LouieB

[Mr. Heartbreak]

"If Obamacare is just going to be a total debacle, Republicans would let it take effect, ride the catastrophe to huge victories in the 2014 midterms, come back, [and] use their massive Congressional majorities to repeal it...but they don't want to do that. Because the GOP's fear is not that the law will fail, it's that the law will succeed."

- Ezra Klein

[LouieB]

Ezra Klein is so right.  The glitches in the law could be fixed and it would be even better, but the GOP isn't interested in that.  Lots of people don't even know it is a law.

 

LouieB

[Guest Jules]

politics

[Guest Don Draper]

I am in the vast minority here.  Let Congress shut the government down (of course they still get paid no matter what, go figure.)  At that point more folks will figure out what the government is good for, or not depending maybe not.  We need a good crises to shock the crap out of folks a bit I think. Stop payments to vets, Social Security, etc. and let's see how fast some folks come around.

 

LouieB

Minnesota shut the government down two or three summers ago.  By and large, nobody gave a crap.  State employees sure, but most "shockwaves of outrage" as it were, were gum-flapping [party affiliation] yayhoos talking about how [opposing party] was full of twats.  So, same as usual except that I had to camp in Wisconsin.  

 

And as for attachments to the debt ceiling or anything else, I mean, cut the crap.  That annoys me to no end.  Congress will do that forever and ever I know, and I know why they do it, but it annoys the crap out of me whether the attachments please me or not.

 

Semi-related: there's a car in my neighborhood with an I <3 OBAMACARE bumper sticker.  Not unlike passing out Oscars before the movies are released.

 

 

politics

 

Ung!

 

What is it good for?

 

Absolutely nuthin'!

 

(say it again)

[IRememberDBoon]

Wise words from the great Governor Palin on Breitbart today


Republicans in Congress support funding the government. If the Democrats block these funding measures, a government shutdown is on them. In the meantime, stop the ridiculous hysterics. Heck, about the most significant thing that happened during the last government shutdown was Clinton hooked up with Monica.

As I said in my speech at CPAC this year, it’s time for the Senate to put itself on Cruz Control.

Ignore the peanut gallery pundits. They’ve written my political obituary so many times, I’m practically Lazarus. Now they’re trying to destroy Ted Cruz. Good luck with that, you weasels. Texans are just as tough as Alaskans. Smaller, but just as tough.

But here’s the important thing that none of these establishment backstabbers understand. It’s not the messenger that matters. It’s the message. You can try to take out someone like Ted Cruz, but that won’t stop the message from catching fire. The message is liberty, and it’s been resounding ever since a band of patriots dumped tea in Boston harbor.

The message only grows stronger. The grassroots is bigger than any one person. We the People will rise up, and we will make our voices heard. Right now, Ted Cruz is speaking for us in this Obamacare fight. God bless him for it.

Hang in there, Ted and Mike. You have millions of supporters among ordinary hardworking Americans. We support you because you don’t shy away from the fray. May your colleagues in the Senate gain the wisdom to support your excellent efforts so that you can see that the view is better from inside the bus than under it. Oh, and a little reminder to Republican senators up for re-election in 2014: Moose season ends soon, allowing more time on one’s hands. So, we’ll be watching your votes very carefully this week.

 

[uncool2pillow]

Palin needs to go away.  Threats to shoot up Republican congresspeople who vote differently from her wishes are far from cute.

[Magnetized]

Honestly, could she be any more repellant?

[uncool2pillow]

Yes.

[KevinG]

so there is sentiment in Palin's comments and the GOP in general that if the Senate does not pass the spending bill from the House it is the Democrats and PBO that is a fault.  Really?  That is how they are playing this?  Is there anyone that thinks that is true?  Yes on the surface that may appear to be true, but really a ridiculous thought.  Hubris at the highest order.   

[IRememberDBoon]

more great stuff today
 

 

Sarah Palin

 

The U.S. Senate has some arcane procedural rules, and as ordinary Americans our eyes glaze over trying to decipher them. But it’s important for us to understand that Sen. Ted Cruz’s efforts to defund Obamacare are worthwhile and doable.

We shouldn’t preemptively surrender the fight to those who rammed through this outrageously burdensome and unaffordable ploy for government control of health care even though some are trying to convince us that the fight is futile. Just because a fight isn’t easy, doesn’t mean it’s not worth fighting.

This defund movement boils down to a very simple request. As Andrew McCarthy recently pointed out: “Obama himself has already unilaterally and unconstitutionally defunded aspects of Obamacare, including repugnant accommodations for big corporations, Obama insiders, and members of Congress.” All we’re asking is that the rest of America “get the same relief from this awful law that Obama cronies, the ruling class, ...and the politically-connected get.”

Please call your senators and politely ask them to stand with Senator Cruz. This is especially important if your senator is a Democrat up for re-election in a red state in 2014. That would be Senators Mark Begich (D-AK), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Kay Hagan (D-NC). Remind them politely that we are watching their votes very carefully and even a procedural vote that shuts down this debate will be regarded as a vote for Obamacare, and there will be consequences for them at the ballot box next year. The same goes for Republicans up for re-election. We definitely expect them to stand shoulder to shoulder with Senator Cruz through thick and thin.

The number for the Capitol Hill Switchboard is 202-224-3121. Ask for your senator’s office. You can also find their contact information and contact them online at
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Remember, we elected these senators precisely for moments like this. If they can’t do anything with the power we’ve given them through their elected office, then perhaps it’s time for them to retire and let someone else have a go.

Opposition to Obamacare carried us to victory in 2010. And 2014 is just around the corner.

- Sarah Palin

 

[KevinG]

more great stuff today

 

 

Sarah Palin

 

The U.S. Senate has some arcane procedural rules, and as ordinary Americans our eyes glaze over trying to decipher them. But it’s important for us to understand that Sen. Ted Cruz’s efforts to defund Obamacare are worthwhile and doable.

 

We shouldn’t preemptively surrender the fight to those who rammed through this outrageously burdensome and unaffordable ploy for government control of health care even though some are trying to convince us that the fight is futile. Just because a fight isn’t easy, doesn’t mean it’s not worth fighting.

 

This defund movement boils down to a very simple request. As Andrew McCarthy recently pointed out: “Obama himself has already unilaterally and unconstitutionally defunded aspects of Obamacare, including repugnant accommodations for big corporations, Obama insiders, and members of Congress.” All we’re asking is that the rest of America “get the same relief from this awful law that Obama cronies, the ruling class, ...and the politically-connected get.”

 

Please call your senators and politely ask them to stand with Senator Cruz. This is especially important if your senator is a Democrat up for re-election in a red state in 2014. That would be Senators Mark Begich (D-AK), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Kay Hagan (D-NC). Remind them politely that we are watching their votes very carefully and even a procedural vote that shuts down this debate will be regarded as a vote for Obamacare, and there will be consequences for them at the ballot box next year. The same goes for Republicans up for re-election. We definitely expect them to stand shoulder to shoulder with Senator Cruz through thick and thin.

 

The number for the Capitol Hill Switchboard is 202-224-3121. Ask for your senator’s office. You can also find their contact information and contact them online at

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

 

Remember, we elected these senators precisely for moments like this. If they can’t do anything with the power we’ve given them through their elected office, then perhaps it’s time for them to retire and let someone else have a go.

 

Opposition to Obamacare carried us to victory in 2010. And 2014 is just around the corner.

 

- Sarah Palin

 

 

 

I answered calls in a Senator's office.  I can tell ya, it really doesn't mean a whole lot, other than a check mark in a log.  Sarah knows this too.  

[lost highway]

Her accusations of Obama "unilaterally and unconstitutionally" defunding elements of Obamacare are eyebrow raising, and not backed up with any factual citation.  What is she getting at there?