Health Care Reform

Wed Oct 16, 2013 4:20 pm

Cerin wrote:
Frelga wrote:It makes no sense viewed from here, either. The situation can only be understood in the context of the religious beliefs of those who perpetrated it.
It's so important that people understand this. We are dealing with a group who believe they have a higher calling than serving their country. Their allegiance is to (their notion of) God before it is to uphold the Constitution.

I would really like to disagree with this. Unfortunately, I can't because the evidence tells me that it is true. If I needed any further proof, the news that the entire GOP House caucus sang "Amazing Grace" at their meeting yesterday, the result of which they rejected Speaker Boehner's attempt to short-circuit the emerging bipartisan Senate deal as not going far enough was the final straw that convinced me.

Post by **Dave_LF** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 4:23 pm

And there's this, of course (don't just read about what she said; read her actual words. This is a crazy person).

Post by **yovargas** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 4:28 pm

Holy bejesus the audio on that.

Post by **elfshadow** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 4:35 pm

It is absolutely terrifying to me that there are people like that who are in charge of running our country. She actually sounds like she is on a bad acid trip.

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 4:41 pm

Well, it looks as if the GOP is not getting its donut. Or anything else.

GOP Prepares for Surrender on Debt Ceiling and Shutdown

Ancillary items of interest:

Heritage Action Reverses Defund Obamacare Push

Houston Chronicle Expresses Regrets for Endorsing Cruz

Last and least:

Matt Drudge Predicts Pelosi Will Be Next Speaker

I don't know, but I don't think this looks good for Speaker Boehner.

Post by **Cerin** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 4:48 pm

yovargas wrote: No, but if eventually they agree to let go of your mother if you give them a donut, it'd be pretty ridiculous to not give them the damn donut.

Thank you for making me laugh!

I can't argue with this statement.

Post by **yovargas** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 5:06 pm

Just sayin'.

Post by **River** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 6:00 pm

yovargas wrote:
If someone says they will kill your mother if you don't hand your sister over to a sex trafficker, and you refuse, does that make you the murderer?
No, but if eventually they agree to let go of your mother if you give them a donut, it'd be pretty ridiculous to not give them the damn donut.

And maybe the names of some good counselors...

Post by **Passdagas the Brown** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 6:18 pm

The GOP has been thoroughly whipped. Kudos to President Obama and Harry Reid for standing their ground against extortion.

Cerin was absolutely correct on this one, IMO.

Post by **Frelga** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 6:41 pm

Cerin and yov, I adore both of you. Just had to make that clear.

Post by **Dave_LF** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 7:48 pm

They won't be thoroughly whipped unless and until all the perpetrators are thrown out of office.

Post by **yovargas** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:01 pm

You'd think that whoever challenges Bachmann next time could just play that "end times" clip on a loop and win by a landslide......

Post by **Dave_LF** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:09 pm

You'd think, but I have to wonder if a district that was willing to elect her 4 times already will change its mind over that.

But her most recent election was very close, so maybe this little fiasco will do it (if people can remember it for a whole year).

Post by **tinwë** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:10 pm

Bachman has already announced she is not seeking reelection to congress again. Maybe that's why she felt she could say whatever crazy thing she wanted to ... oh wait, she has always done that anyway. Never mind.

Post by **River** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:24 pm

My understanding is her district was redrawn and she came uncomfortably close to losing this last go 'round. She's also facing legal issues over some shenanigans her aborted Presidential campaign pulled.

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:42 pm

Nothing's over, of course. Sooner or later the Tea Party will be back, with the same tactics and the same goals.

Post by **Cerin** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 10:23 pm

I just turned on NPR for the first time in about 4 years (stopped listening when they refused to allow discussion of single payer healthcare) to hear what they were saying about the shutdown resolution. Cruz says its a tremendous victory to have had the 'conversation', and was a profile in courage on the Republicans' part. Some Repubs said they are very pleased with Boehner's leadership, he couldn't have done better.

Post by **Frelga** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 10:29 pm

Told ya they would declare victory no matter what.

Is it too cynical to suspect that today's apparent progress is due to their corporate owners finally yanking the chain?

Post by **Impenitent** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 11:26 pm

Bachmann claimed that Islam is a violent religion and motivated the Nairobi mall terrorists: “The motivation is inspired from religion; it’s from their religion of Islam.”

Oh, the irony! None so blind as those who will not see.

Wed Oct 16, 2013 11:49 pm

Primula Baggins wrote:Nothing's over, of course. Sooner or later the Tea Party will be back, with the same tactics and the same goals.

It is highly unlikely that the GOP, even the tea party caucus, will go along with a similar strategy in the near future. Of course their PR machines are going to declare victory. That's what they do. But they are being destroyed in the media, as they should be.

Also, behind the scenes, there is a massive reckoning happening, and people are angry that the leadership in the House adopted this strategy, and that Cruz was allowed to steer things as much as he did.

And all of this resulted in big political negatives, and no concessions whatsoever. The GOP got nothing. That's the price you should pay for extortion.

No, this was a huge loss for the GOP, including the Tea Party wing, and there's little chance we'll see a strategy like this for a while. At least not before the midterms.