Posted on 09/29/2013 10:06:54 AM PDT by Kaslin
Even though his filibuster against Obamacare is no proof that Ted Cruz is a real conservative, he deserves much credit for doing what he did.
And his Republican opponents are equally deserving of criticism, for their response to Cruz’s “red line”—and to be sure, Cruz did indeed draw the proverbial red line—is most certainly proof that they are not the conservatives who they claim to be.
First, it is “limited government,” and the individual liberty that this entails, for which Republicans are supposed to stand. Obamacare, though, is perhaps the most glaring affront to limited government and individual liberty that this country has witnessed in a long, long time, and maybe even ever—no mean feat considering just how enormous is the federal government.
So, unless Republicans are willing to make every effort to resist Obamacare, it is safe to assume that they are insincere, that they aren’t really conservatives.
The counter-objection to this line of reasoning—that Cruz’s Republican critics reject his tactics, but not his goal—is disingenuous. This gets us to our next point.
Second, while it may very well be the case that each and every Republican would like to see Obamacare go the way of the dinosaur, this goes no distance in making it their goal. I’d like to produce three best-selling books this year, but unless I am taking steps toward transforming my preferences into reality, this cannot be said to be a genuine goal of mine. Unlike Cruz, his critics have done nothing so far to convince us into thinking that they are determined to repeal it.
In other words, it is far from obvious that his Republican detractors share even his goal.
Third, as for their “tactics,” even on their own terms, the anti-Cruz “wing” of the GOP just doesn’t sound credible.
Cruz, the McCains and others tell us, is a “wacko bird,” a “fraud,” a “grandstander,” and the like, because he knows that his effort to defund Obamacare is bound to fail. That is, Obamacare will not be defunded. A much more promising “tactic” is for the GOP to reclaim the Senate in 2014 and then, then—watch out!—Republicans will deal with Obamacare.
It stretches credibility to the snapping point to think that anyone, let alone those who study politics for a living, could buy this line for a millisecond.
For starters, it is anything but a foregone conclusion that Republicans will reclaim the Senate in 2014. And even if they do, they will not be able to take care of Obamacare, in any way, shape, or form, until at least two years after that, for as long as Obama is president, Republicans’ chances of defunding, much less repealing, Obamacare will be no greater than they are now.
In fact, they will be even worse.
By 2016, Obamacare will have been fully in effect for nearly two years. As anyone so much as remotely familiar with the trajectory of Big Government programs—and there is no bigger Big Government program than Obamacare—knows all too well, once a program begins to fall over a land, it is there to stay.
Translation: Cruz’s detractors’ “tactic” is far weaker than that which he has employed.
Fourth, for as hard as they are at work trying to depict him as a crass opportunist, even Cruz’s opponents know that his campaign to defund Obamacare and his 21 hour filibuster were beyond mere symbolism. After all, that Republicans unanimously vote, and vote repeatedly, against Obamacare proves beyond a doubt that they know as well as anyone all about symbolism. But not only did very few Republicans refuse to stand alongside Cruz; they made a point of denouncing him, of ridiculing him, and doing so in such Democratic-friendly venues as CNN and MSNBC.
Why? It should be clear that they recognized that unlike any other mere act of symbolism, Cruz’s stance against Obamacare required courage, for it comes at a cost.
Cruz upped the ante.
Finally, if it is juvenile, naïve, self-defeating, etc. to try to fight for an end that is not likely to come to pass, as the anti-Cruz forces now insist, then I suppose they would have to agree that those of their base who, say, voted for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan last year were juvenile, naïve, and or self-defeating. Most polls taken during the election season consistently indicated that Romney had little chance of prevailing over Obama. As it turned out, they were accurate.
While many conservatives did indeed refrain from voting for Romney, according to this logic, all of them should have.
For that matter, if, as polls suggest now, Hillary Clinton is likely to have a lock on the presidency in 2016, maybe none of us should even bother voting for her GOP rival—who ever this may be.
Bullcrap. It's unconstitutional. What part of that don't you get? You are anything but a conservative constitutionalist.
/johnny
This author is spewing idiocy.
In the states where there is tort reform it hasn’t lowered premiums a dime.
I may or may not fit your definition of whatever. I will just say I supported Palin in ‘08 strongly, and Romney somewhat weakly last time, after Palin dropped out.
A position I now regret.
I know my healthcare is ok. I am currently employed.
I know my healthcare will be ok. I have a fallback plan.
Those two things are pretty darn important to me.
You can take your socialized medicine elsewhere.
/johnny
And that is why the 27 RINO Senators erred, BIG TIME, the other day.
I take issue with that.
I will not back down on this.
I think Republicans need to present an alternative, a formal alternative they’ve passed in the House.
Until they’ve got a competing plan, I’ll stick with what we have now.
Start with tort reform, then allow a free market system.
/johnny
Just out of curiousity, do you have a federal insurance program?
I think that may be the difference.
I only have what my employer provides for me, or what the government does if I lose my job.
Do you have some federal program? Just curious.
Thanks.
so if obamacare blows up tomorrow ...we’ll all go without health care until someone in washington comes up with a plan? is that what you think? seriously?
I will reject obamacare. Even if I wind up in jail over it.
The federal government has NO constitutional authority over healthcare.
/johnny
Well my compliments, on your stand.
I may not agree with you, but I support your right to advocate strongly for what you believe in.
:D
/johnny
Well I am actually more concerned with bringing back American jobs in manufacturing, electronics and a number of other things, that healthcare which is almost by definition publicly controlled.
We obviously, believe in different things.
I want American jobs elsewhere in the economy to return.
All the best to you.
Obama has found it very easy to advance his narrow ideological agenda of failure-prone Marxism.
4 years after Obama conned his Democrats into passing the Federal takeover of the cash cow of Medical Insurance, the PC, Doormat Republicans are finally timidly suggesting defunding that Federal takeover.
Without the weak, PC, Doormat Republicans Boehner and McConnell being stupidly kept in their respective leadership positions by truly cowardly House and Senate Members, Obama Medical Insurance “Care” Takeover would have been defunded long ago.
The primal yearning of the 47 % who pay no personal Federal Income tax is to belong to a tribe where all of their choices are dictated to them by their arrogant tribal leader.
This a common trait of those who have low self-esteem.
In that sense, Obamanation is truly a cult.
Freedom is defined in the dictionary as follows:
1.) Exemption or liberation from slavery or imprisonment.
3.) Liberty of choice or action.
Most of the 47 % riding in the “free” wagon seek out slavery, and lack of personal choice.
They thus feel safe.
Liberty is defined in the dictionary as follows:
1.) The state of being exempt from the domination of others or from restricting circumstances; freedom.
5.) The power of voluntary choice: freedom from necessity.
6.) Individual Liberty: Freedom from restraint in the performance of rights outside of government control.
Most people who are getting a free ride in the wagon where 47 % pay no personal Federal Income Taxes, are terrified of making a voluntary choice.
The 47 % would prefer that they be under government control where the choices are made for him.
All of this societal wussiness has made it very easy for B. Hussein Obama, aka Barry Soetoro, to advance his narrow ideological agenda of European-style, failure-prone, Marxism in spite of PC, Doormat Republican token “opposition.”
BTW, unlike taxes, Federal Obama ‘care’ Insurance charges can be increased EVERY YEAR to whatever % the present and future arrogant leaders of Obamanation wants.
BTW, BTW, the free-loading 47 % will always vote for the Candidate for POTUS approved by Obamanation.
The GOP made the mistake of putting three Doormat Republicans in for the final innings of three important POTUS Games.
Batter “Doormat” Dole struck out first, “Doormat” McCain struck out second, and then “Doormat” Romney was called out on three strikes right down the middle.
All that training, and he didn’t even swing! In fact, the bat never left his shoulder. However, Romney did have a great smile and good hair.
With the POTUS Game lost, the GOP Big Tent fell into disrepair.
Gradually, the increasing stench made it obvious that the old GOP had died when Romney lost in 2012.
We are just now finally casting off the dead weight of the old GOP in the Senate.
We are looking forward to the Senate Primary Season.
The lingering stench of the putrid GOP dead weight was decreased a lot this week by nice cool breezes coming out of TEXAS and Utah.
One benefit of a battle is to find out for sure who your hidden enemies are.
____________________________________
SENATE GOP DEAD WEIGHT LIST LOYAL TO OBAMA
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
John Barrasso (R-WY)
John Hoeven (R-ND)
Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
John Boozman (R-AR)
Mike Johanns (R-NE)
Richard Burr (R-NC)
Ron Johnson (R-WI)
Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Jeff Chiesa (R-NJ)
John McCain (R-AZ)
Dan Coats (R-IN)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Lisa Murkowksi (R-AK)
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
John Thune (R-SD)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
This is why we need a firebrand like Ted Cruz: to counter folks like you.
The only thing is, I’ll be out front fighting for everything else Cruz is in favor of.
I just disagree on this one.
Oh well.
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