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The Democratic counterattack on health care has begun

It's the Battle of the Bulge - and we're the Allies

By: civil truth (Diary)  |  September 9th, 2009 at 01:02 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

I am astonished that given the forces arrayed against us that we have scattered the juggernaut that was ramming Obamacare down out throats and brought to the attention of the American public that there is serious opposition to further government control of our health care system.

However, I am sensing that too many of us are starting to gloat and to prematurely declaring victory from our remarkable defense just as the opposition is wheeling out the big guns and air forces for shock and awe, which should start in just a few hours.

We’ve seen the softening up from a redoubling of the media attacks, trying again to paint our opposition as fringe elements, along with misdirection as to the next point of attack. Even as public option is being bandied about as the “big” issue, the other mandates and government interventions are deliberately slipped in the side door, just as the magician misdirects your attention on the card he is holding up while stacking the deck out of range.

So what do we have ahead: we have Obama’s speech and frenetic activity ahead, which the press is going to magnify into a crushing breakthrough and irresistable momentum, with biased polls and a blanket of commentary as to how the tide is turning. This will be coupled with the unleashing of the AMA and pharmaceutical’s advertising blitz for insisting on reform to complement activities of the AARP and left front groups that have been seeding the ground.

But at this point, the main focus will not be on the American people, but rather on our Republican elected officials in Congress who are desperately holding onto our citadel against all odds.

What we need are Republican leaders in Congress who will say “Nuts!” and stand against the pressures and the seductions to abandon the defenses and find a fig leaf to cover surrender. Trojan horses are being brought forward to the city gates (coops, triggers, mandates, various hidden taxes); appeals to bipartisanship and negotiations with a moving target on the bill provisions until the trap door is sprung. Not to mention the eternal temptation to legislators to DO SOMETHING: pass a law, attact the spotlight to yourself, receive adulation – rather than to say NO, which is never the popular stand to take, as any parent can tell you.

Which means that we can no longer rely on polls and rumblings from the citizenry to carry the day; we need to target our elected officials and remind them continually what is at stake and keep vocalizing the alternative that will be true reform. Remind them that all agreements and promises by Democrats have an expiration date. Remind them that surrender to the Democrats on health not only will buy them no protection in the next election but will embolden the Democrats to use their bully tactics to push through future legislative attrocities such as Cap and Trade and EFCA that will bring America to its knees.

But above, we cannot relax our vigilance. We need to keep kicking and speaking out with the venues that we still have.

COMMENTS

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  • ColdWarrior

    Re Baucus’s latest “we’ll fine those who don’t buy insurance” gambit: “We the people” granted no authority to Congress to fine individuals who don’t want to buy something. We need to spread the word about, and support, those making the constitutional arguments against the Debtocrat’s and RINO’s plans.

    Here’s Georgia State Sen. Chip Rogers (R) on his 10th Amendment legislation:

    http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=8942186&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,545156,00.html

    Saxby Chambliss on Fox re the Baucus fine:

    http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=8942186&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,545156,00.html

    And here’s Jim DeMint making the point that we need to demand Teleprompter Boy to stop generalizing and, instead, actually discuss the language of HR 3200 or whatever “bill” he’s advocating:

    Here’s the link in case the embed did not work:

    http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=videolandingpage&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=9326901&referralPlaylistId=df5603c3d11ca9a023b0070cfc5f297e279fd3a7

    We need to always start with Article I, Section 8 and the 10th Amendment whenever opposing the Debtocrats’ legislative plans. And we need to use something like, “It’s the Constitution, Liberal” so it comes into the political lexicon to frame every debate about legislation.

    Bottom line on Baucus’s “fine” idea (pun intended): All Republicans in the House and Senate should be demanding he explain exactly which words in the Constitution give the Congress the authority to fine an American for not buying something. We need to use the Constitution to put the statists on the defensive.

    But that would mean, in the case of our many RINO congresscritters, growing a spine. It would also undercut their future earmarking plans, I suppose.

    Oh well.

    Thank you.

    ColdWarrior

    I am only one. But I am a conservative Republican Party precinct committeeman. And desperately trying to recruit more conservatives to fill up the fifty per cent of the slots nationwide that are empty so we can take back the Republican Party. So we get some real conservative leadership and successful conservative candidates.

    www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com

  • http://www.jeannie-ology.com jeannieology

    NT

    • http://www.theminorityreportblog.com/blog/loren_heal Socrates

      It’s like that.

  • BritInNH

    Once we have defeated the monstrosity masquerading as healthcare reform, we should not think that we are done. As a great leader once said after a victorious battle in World War 2:

    Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

    Sir Winston Churchill, Speech in November 1942

    There is 50+ years of accumulated government expansion and waste to work on rolling back. No, a victory over healthcare may, perhaps, be the end of the beginning, but we will not be done for a long time yet.

  • E Pluribus Unum

    This IS their Waterloo, and they’ll do anything and everything to get something passed. ‘Public option’ is a canard, because the whole proposal has government regulation/meddling through and through.

  • Swamp_Yankee

    We still need conservative Dems. What the Dem leadership will do is turn this into a Rep vs. Dem thing. If they tie congressional fortunes to Obama against the evil Republicans, Dems will unite. If this gets too partisan, they will pass the bill in the House and reconciliation in the Senate.

    If we focus on the future, the deficits, freedom, fundemental conservatism and make this bigger than petty politics and not alienate Blue Dogs with rank partisanship, the Blue Dogs may abandon Nutroots.

  • bantamwait

    Actually, I think the technical term is “a tub to the whale.” We should stop focusing on the Public Option, because the Dems are going to give it up and legislate German-style regulation of insurance while we’re celebrating.

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    ObamaCare. This is the real dynamic and the tangible proof of Obama’s desperation and failure thus far. It will be very difficult to win back those 44 that took the extreme step of public opposition.

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    I think the real focus is on those 44, yes, Forty-Four Blue dogs that have now publicly announced against ObamaCare. This is the real dynamic and the tangible proof of Obama’s desperation and failure thus far. It will be very difficult to win back those 44 that took the extreme step of public opposition.

  • AceInTX

    Last week we had Bob Dole on Neil Cavuto kick off a media pundit party about how Obama needs to start again from scratch and how he can win bipartisan support for GRHC….once he was done…the airwaves were filled with pundits and so called objective journalists mouthing the same talking points highlighted by Dole.

    Today Trent Lott is out with how heget us all under a GRHC system incrementally. His advice for enslaving us all is for Obama not to bight off to much of the apple but to eat it one bight at a time…

    and I’me hearing the drums in the distanc pounding out the word “bipartisan” with increasing urgency with each passing minute.

    If anyone thinks this fight has been won…it’s time to snap out of it and take a look around!

  • bantamwait

    are just going to drive the Blue Dogs back into the Democratic fold.

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    …when we can replace them with a real Republican one next year. If they want to keep their Red seats, they can start voting accordingly, switch parties, and stop allowing the liberal Democratic leadership to drive them over a cliff.

  • AceInTX

    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/26858.html

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,545156,00.html

  • http://andrightlyso.com/ civil_truth

    …the latter being what was envisioned and apportioned by the Constitution.

    If you want big government and to feed from the government trough at the little people’s expense, party affiliation is becoming secondary.

    It’s really clear that big-government Republican “moderates” would rather be servants in Egypt under a Democratic one-party system, so long as they got their allowance of scraps (prime scraps for them) from Dear Leader, then allow conservatives to get elected and derail the gravy train. “Better a well-fed lapdog than a free man in a free nation” is their motto.

    Or to put it another way, “big-government” Republicans moderate view conservatives as a greater danger than the socialists/Communists in charge of the Democratic Party. They’re wrong, but they won’t wake up until they enter the gates of the gulag that they paved the road to.

    To our Lotts and Doles, read again about the prophecy against Ephesus (Rev 2:5-6) and he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. As well as the rest of us who would forsake our heritage for the fleshpots of Egypt.

  • AceInTX

  • penguin2

    are gone, we will face the dreaded phrase “bi-partisan” or bi-partisanship.” Previously, I had no idea how damaging the result of such maneuvering could be. Now those words give me chills and red flags.

    Stopping this bill has never been only about the public option. It has always been about the government takeover of the healthcare industry and the management of every aspect of our lives. People have to remain furious and vigilant to stop this abomination. I honestly don’t know what else to do or how to stop it.

    I am afraid that someday, the rest of the people will wake up and wonder how they lost the right to live their own lives and make choices for themselves. And while they are trying to figure that out, they’ll also resent the amount of money they are turning over to the government to pay for this and all the rest of the monstrous debt a Socialist society incurs.

  • bantamwait

    A timeless analysis of what happens when a people give up their independence to a king.

  • AceInTX

    and I woulk rate the Libs/Mods to Jezebel in her tower persecuting the prophets who refuse to sell their soul to her!

  • acat

    Thing about statist or “big government” republicans is, we have common cause with them on some issues…

    Has small-government become enough of a rallying cry that it’s time to shrink the tent a little?

    Mew

  • bantamwait

    Everybody gets the origin of this quote wrong except you. 95% of people who use it credit Jefferson. But Jefferson credited Franklin. Good call!

  • Raven

    And they are finally sending in their Napoleonic Old Guard, I am left wondering the same thing Napoleon’s generals were wondering…

    …What the hell took them so long?

  • The_Gadfly

    and this one I don’t think can be derailed by the combined forces of the government bureaucrats, the MSM, and all of George Soros’s leveraged money can defeat. The Big 0 was forced to give the grand performance this week because if he waited until next week, the fight would be over. On 9/12 millions of people are going to gather all across the country. I and a friend will be in DC carrying signs and making it clear that The Big 0′s Big Speech was all sound and fury signifying NOTHING! None of ANY of the plans the Dems are currently considering are in ANY way acceptable.

    For me personally, any ACCEPTABLE legislation concerning health care must consist of some or all of the following items, but nothing outside of them WILL BE ACCEPTABLE:

    1) Private Health care ownership. I don’t give a damn about “portability.” If I don’t own it, I can’t control it. My COBRA coverage ain’t real “portable.”
    2) Tort Reform – Yeah, I know you’ll never accept this one because the trial lawyers write your paychecks, but reducing the required practice of defensive medicine is the only cost that it is properly within the purview of government to control.
    3) Tax exemption for privately purchased insurance, possibly even credit for insurance purchases. If you set the threshold high enough, I’m even willing to toss in taxing employer provided plans that exceed the threshold. My starting point for that tax exemption would be 2/3 the median cost of insurance purchased currently, but we can negotiate the exact amount.
    4) Interstate Insurance trade reform – as in allowing insurers to sell across state lines regardless of state “minimum coverage” requirements. This is an impedance to healthy interstate trade, and is one of the few areas in which the Constitution actually grants explicit authority for federal intervention.
    5) Streamlining laws for forming Coops – if the laws governing the formation of Coops that sell health insurance are too cumbersome, I am willing to see them reformed. This does not include:
    *setting minimum standards for the insurance that must be offered
    *government “startup” funding for forming the coop.
    *creating a new regulatory agency to govern coops.

    The purchase of insurance must be a choice made in a free market environment. Any government interference, excluding prosecution of fraud and deceptive advertising as currently defined in existing law, degrades the free market and thereby degrades my ability to obtain the best insurance for me personally, and I’m better able to determine that than a nameless dweeb setting the parameters for a computer program that will analyze national trends is.

  • Swamp_Yankee

    Partisan affiliations are passionate and people rarely switch. Sometimes its better to lure people with honey than vinegar.

    But that’s beside the point. Sometimes Republicans get stuck on the “D” vs. “R’ tally and lose sight of the big picture. People get so focused on the election and winning that they are willing to see these montrosities pass. I’m optomistic, but maybe not as much as most. The odds that we have a conservative president, a sixty plus conservative majority in the senate and a significant conservative majority in the house by 2012 is silly. Point being we are not going to be able to just roll these suckers back as easily as some people think.

    The let them have it and own it and them win some seats in 2010 and 2012 is a losers strategy. Its not about tallying “R”s. Its about protecting our Republic. If Blue Dogs feel a strong loyalty and kinship with their Demcorat bretheren in oppostion to the hated Republicans, they will vote yes and this abomination will become law. And we all will be far worse off for it.

    If we lure them under the tent of patriotism in protest of the sinister radicals who have so-opted their party, maybe we can take this sucker down.

  • The_Gadfly

    For #3, that should be the 67th percentile, not 2/3 of the median. The point is to have bulk of coverage paid for with tax deducted dollars, not to make it less than half the people currently covered.

  • archer52

    Greed is a powerful thing. It can control your life, your dreams and more importantly, your actions. We are seeing competing groups measuring their chances of getting what they want against the fear of losing everything.

    On one side we have the Obama/Emanuel/far left group. Their goal is to totally remake the nation so it can be run by “enlightened” men like them for a very long time. On the other side, we are seeing more pragmatic democrats now realizing that yes, they may change the nation, but they won’t be involved in running it. Their vote will end their reign as one of the 537 lords and ladies of government.

    The problem is that the first group needs the second group to fall on their swords so the first group can rule. Love, loyalty and charity were never words used in the same sentence as “Democrat politician.” I can assure you, democratic politicians on the bubble, who have been yelled at and promised no more free ride by their voters, are weighing the options and not finding the choices palatable.

    We, the conservatives, the independents, the middle to right of America who are afraid, for good reason, have done all we can do. We can still protest, call, fund, mail, and educate until we fall. But, the contest isn’t between us and them, it is between them and them. All we can do to increase the pressure is vote out every democrat running for any office and send a message we are neither tired nor losing focus.

    However, no matter what we do, we are spectators. Obama has drawn the line and expects “his” people to stand firm. The only thing that will change their minds is their own personal greed for power, to be one of those “special” people who run the most powerful nation in the history of man. Heady stuff. Hopefully, heady enough to make some decide they like their life more than they like the left’s agenda.

    Now we wait and see which greed wins.

  • ocleverone

    A call for everyone to get out there and work, get out there and raise your voices, and get mobile.

    I do not believe for a second we are spectators. Being spectators got us into this mess and now it is time to correct that error.

    Your response is very well written, but I happen to disagree with the premise.

  • archer52

    I understand and agree we don’t give up. But I think we’ve let them know the stakes clearly. There cannot be ONE democrat in a bubble district not thinking about his or her future. At first, they may have thought it was a few complainers, but not anymore with the effort shown over the last several months.

    We have given them all they need to know if they choose “A” this happens and if they choose “B” that happens. At some point, it is up to them.

    Now this takes into account the time between now and the first election. We blow out a democrat at the first available opportunity, then that will be some new information to send.

    I don’t disagree with you on keeping up the pressure, 9-12 day will be another great moment. However, they know. They know they cast their lot with Obama it will spell the end for them. The question is are they greedy enough to say no?

  • ocleverone

    Whether they choose to stand by Obama or to listen to the voters in their districts/states is solely in their hands.

    I think I would rephrase your last question to read: “The question is will they have the integrity to do what is their constituency’s wishes.”

  • archer52

    Ocleverone,

    I fear they can’t even spell the word integrity. The liberals spent a lot of time and effort promoting “moral relativism” as the spear used to drive through the heart of integrity.

    If there is no “right or wrong” how do they know where to stand?

    I hope you are right.

  • ocleverone

    The tide is turning and it will be the prudent politician that understands that he/she serves the people.

    We have to keep the pressure on.

  • clowngirl

    Are they all still opposed?

  • clowngirl

    Seems to me like that party’s double crossed them. Get them to run as “conservative” Democrats then pressure them to vote far left. There’s no reason for loyalty. I don’t even see why blue dogs are Democrats. If they’re pro-life, pro-gun and fiscally conservative what do they have in common with the Democratic party?

    I think part of the reason the Democrats did so well this past election was that people were likely thinking Republican=George W. Bush and Democrat=Bill Clinton and they’ve A. had a long time to forget the stuff they didn’t like about Bill Clinton and B, don’t tend to consider that he was hemmed in by a Republican Congress.

    I think they should switch parties. They have every justification to do it – and from the sound of things they’re more like moderate Republicans than the outright socialists who increasingly seem to dominate the current Democratic party.

    It appears that the Democrats have been systematically alienating moderate elements for awhile – which means, I would think (hope), that a lot of them would be ripe for crossing over soon. If the blue dogs do it, it could increase the trend among voters.

  • clowngirl

    Seems to me like that party’s double crossed them. Get them to run as “conservative” Democrats then pressure them to vote far left. There’s no reason for loyalty. I don’t even see why blue dogs are Democrats. If they’re pro-life, pro-gun and fiscally conservative what do they have in common with the Democratic party?

    I think part of the reason the Democrats did so well this past election was that people were likely thinking Republican=George W. Bush and Democrat=Bill Clinton and they’ve A. had a long time to forget the stuff they didn’t like about Bill Clinton and B, don’t tend to consider that he was hemmed in by a Republican Congress.

    Blue Dog Dems are probably the same way – they think of themselves as semi-conservative Clinton Democrats

    I think they should switch parties. They have every justification to do it – and from the sound of things they’re more like moderate Republicans than the outright socialists who increasingly seem to dominate the current Democratic party.

    It appears that the Democrats have been systematically alienating moderate elements for awhile – which means, I would think (hope), that a lot of them would be ripe for crossing over soon. If the blue dogs do it, it could increase the trend among voters.

  • jazzycmk

    Rasmussen’s polling on health care, all of which has been conducted after the Bama’s speech has shown a modest uptick of support for the plan:

    http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/47_now_favor_health_care_reform_plan_49_oppose

    However, looking into the details, all the new support has come from Democrats who got somewhat re-invigorated from the Bama’s speech. Republican support / opposition is unchanged, and support from unaffiliated voters actually fell a little bit. At a guess, the enthusiasm from Dems will wane again, and we’ll be back where we were.

    A very good point was made on Neil Cavuto’s show today. Having realized he poilitically miscalculated by trying to sell this whole plan, the Bama is likely gathering his allies and saying that they don’t have to get the whole thing now. They can throw out a couple of items to placate the masses, but all they need now is to get their foot in the door. Get some government program off and running. But then they can grow it. Year by year, taxpayer dollar by taxpayer dollar until it is the monstrosity they want it to be. That’s what happened to Medicare. That’s what happened with Social Security.

    Need to stay on the offensive.

  • Achance

    who lie to get elected in conservative districts. We have one of the worst of them in our Boy Senator, Mark Begich (D-Alaska), recently elected to the US Senate by the US Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section. Republican Congressional strategy should be to make them vote early and often on Pelosi/Reid/Obama’s lefty craziness and then beat them to death with those votes in the next election. The one goal of the whips is to not allow any Republicans to give cover to them, even if it means we lose committee seats or go so far as to expell defectors from the Caucus.

  • Jack_Savage

    …is that they are Blue from holding their breath until they get more pork.

  • clowngirl

    Maybe some of the blue dogs were lying through there teeth but I think it’s more likely most of them were useful idiots.

    I mean why would anyone intentionally lie to their constituents say they’ll vote conservative, sprint to the left – infuriate their constituents and then be voted out after 2-4 years. Are they really that devoted and willing to take one for the team?

    I think Rahm Emmanuel somehow convinced him the Democrats weren’t as far left as they are or something.

    However they got into this – they were’nt real smart. If they were conservatives they should’ve run as Republicans – if neccessary waiting two years for a more Republican friendly climate. If they are just liberals they should’ve moved to another district – as it is they’re set to take fire from one side or the other or both for their entire short political lives.

    Seems to me they’re only prayer of survival is to vote against Obamacare- or to have it dropped becaue they were going to vote againt it – and for it to be defeated. That may earn them a bit of respect and it’s possible that the Democrats in their district will be moderate enough that they’ll survive a primary challenge- and that incumbency- plus that bit of respect will help some of them get re-elected.

    (Actually I read an article that made a pretty convincing case that even blue dogs that vote like they promised will have a rough time because even if their constituents like them they will be inclined to vote (R) in the hopes of unseating Pelosi) So if that’s true – they’re only real chance is to vote against Obamacare then switch parties and hope they don’t draw a very strong primary challenger)

  • clowngirl

    Seems to me blue dogs have put themselves in an incredibly stupid position. They’re going to take serious heat either from their voters or from Pelosi, Emmanuel, and company – if they vote against Obamacare they’ll likely get a primary challenge – if they vote for it they’re very unlikely to survive a general election. Even if they vote against it and survive the primary, voters will likely be inclined to vote for the (R) just to try and unseat Pelosi.

    I can’t think why they would knowingly lie to their constituents about being sorta conservative if they planned to vote far left. Are they kamikazi Democrats who are willing to sacrifice any hopes of a career for so the Democrats can acheive their long time far left goals.

    I guess it’s possible some of them are bribed.

    And I suppose it’s possible that – being Democrats – they thought Obama’s popularity would be soaring and their constituents would perceive his agenda as moderate and their constituents would be ok with them voting for it.

    But I think it’s more likely they were useful idiots.

  • clowngirl

    Seems to me blue dogs have put themselves in an incredibly stupid position. They’re going to take serious heat either from their voters or from Pelosi, Emmanuel, and company – if they vote against Obamacare they’ll likely get a primary challenge – if they vote for it they’re very unlikely to survive a general election. Even if they vote against it and survive the primary, voters will likely be inclined to vote for the (R) just to try and unseat Pelosi.

    I can’t think why they would knowingly lie to their constituents about being sorta conservative if they planned to vote far left. Are they kamikazi Democrats who are willing to sacrifice any hopes of a career for so the Democrats can acheive their long time far left goals.

    I guess it’s possible some of them are bribed.

    And I suppose it’s possible that – being Democrats – they thought Obama’s popularity would be soaring and their constituents would perceive his agenda as moderate and would be ok with them voting for it.

    But I think it’s more likely they were useful idiots.

  • clowngirl

    Seems to me blue dogs have put themselves in an incredibly stupid position. They’re going to take serious heat either from their voters or from Pelosi, Emmanuel, and company – if they vote against Obamacare they’ll likely get a primary challenge – if they vote for it they’re very unlikely to survive a general election. Even if they vote against it and survive the primary, voters will likely be inclined to vote for the (R) just to try and unseat Pelosi.

    I can’t think why they would knowingly lie to their constituents about being sorta conservative if they planned to vote far left. Are they kamikazi Democrats who are willing to sacrifice any hopes of a career for so the Democrats can acheive their long time far left goals.

    I guess it’s possible some of them are bribed.

    And I suppose it’s possible that – being Democrats – they thought Obama’s popularity would be soaring and their constituents would perceive his agenda as moderate and would be ok with them voting for it.

    But I think it’s more likely they were useful idiots. Didn’t realize their party would go so far left.

  • Achance

    was “bring home the bacon” and nobody would care what else they did. It actually worked for a while but now look at what it got us; a critically, perhaps mortally, wounded brand.

    I don’t think it will work any better for reps from s/b Red districts if we don’t give them cover on the votes. Every Republican defector frees up a Blue Liar to vote his district rather than the caucus.

  • acat

    Provided the bill goes to someone else.

    The Repubs, under Hastert and company, were statists and populists, not fiscal conservatives of any kind.

    Their rout in 2006 and 2008 makes it pretty clear.

    As for the brand, well, brands come and go all the time. Lionel toy trains, Zenith televisions, Maytag washers and dryers.

    Perhaps it’s time for a new brand.

    Mew

  • OccamsRazor

    .