The GOP's Health-Care Offensive Has Just Begun

WSJ / via rove.com ^ | January 20, 2011 | Karl Rove

[crescen7]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid described this week's House vote to repeal and replace ObamaCare as "partisan grandstanding." Other Democratic congressmen called it "a political scam," "unfortunate" and "fruitless." Liberal pundits described it as "useless" and "meaningless." All of which confirms that the GOP is on the right path.

Republicans said during the election campaign that they would take this vote. Seasoned Democratic observers like pollster Pat Caddell believe that opposition to ObamaCare helped drive turnout and draw independents into the Republican column. The GOP would have deeply damaged its credibility if it failed to follow through on its pledge.

[crescen7]

Rove makes some good points. One troubling thing is that he uses the phrase "promised ...to take that vote."

I've heard this a few times in the past two days. That is that "Republicans promised and up or down vote".

That wasn't the promise. The promise was to REPEAL it - by any means possible. I'm hoping this doesn't start a trend toward saying, "we had the vote - just like we said" then go on like business as usual.

[screaminsunshine]

The Crats are pretending it did not happen. What fools.

[goldstategop]

I think that this is a long battle. The White House and the Democrats are going to initially put up stiff resistance. But they will give in once they realize continuing to defend Obamacare is perilous to their political health.

[cricket]

Agree. . .Intentional wording or not; am hearing the same 'tween the lines' pass off and it is worrisome.

As for 'Repub Offensive'; have not yet seen it. . .waiting, waiting, for the 'right stuff'.

It had better show up and soon.

[sam_paine]

I'm hoping this doesn't start a trend toward saying, "we had the vote - just like we said" then go on like business as usual.

Short of Boehner driving the U-Haul truck to evict the resident at 1600 Pennsylvania, there will be a lot of people on this forum who consider the 112th GOP a failure.

[goldstategop]

Conservatives who run up the white flag after losing the first skirmish are not guys I want beside me in the political foxhole. This is trench warfare and its gonna be a brutal one.

[sam_paine]

Conservatives who run up the white flag after losing the first skirmish are not guys I want beside me in the political foxhole.

I'm there with ya, but the foxholes are gonna get pretty lonely when the purists immediately start fragging our officers and then leave.

[Servant of the Cross]

From the article:

The House vote also gives the GOP momentum to make ObamaCare a principal issue in the 2012 election. That can't make vulnerable House Democrats who barely survived last fall's campaign, or the 24 Democratic senators up in 2012 (many in red states), happy. Nor can it be to the advantage of the president, who will also be on the ballot.

The longer this issue is around, the worse it's likely to be for Democrats.

Okay, Karl. You've got this exactly right. Now's also the time, for these EXACT same reasons, to state emphatically that Romney cannot be the GOP nominee in 2012. Otherwise, the principal issue (0bamacare) that you've accurately described as the winning issue for the GOP is absolutely destroyed. Just say "No" to Romney.

[toolman1401]

The GOP had better step up to the plate in the Senate as well. The House GOP should make sure to point out to them that the majority of the people in the last election wanted this and are watching the actions of all politicians involved. There will be another house cleaning in 2012. If the elected representatives don’t start listening to their constituents, the RINOs will be a part of it. In the past few days, there are many rats that have already started to desert the sinking ship and have indicated they won’t run in 2012. They realize there is blood in the water and WE are the sharks. It is their job to represent US and we are sick and tired of their past performance.

[BobP]

The Rats are shovel-ready for the dustbin of history.

[ExTexasRedhead]

All they have to do is EXPOSE what is in the bill and its intent which, in my opinion, is the ultimate Elitist’s power to decide who lives and who dies!

[Servant of the Cross]

Following the House passing the 0bamacare repeal bill 245-189 (100% GOP but only 3 Dems), what if either of these highly likely scenarios play out:

Reid's Senate either blocks a vote or defeats the repeal bill; or

Enough Dems in conservative states in the Senate (fearing voters) get on board with a repeal and it actually passes in the Senate. But ... 0bama vetoes it and there's not enough votes to override.

So ... what exactly do you propose to do in 2012? What 'RINO' voted wrongly? What 'blood' is there for any 'sharks' to even gather?

[crescen7]

"Short of Boehner driving the U-Haul truck to evict the resident at 1600 Pennsylvania, there will be a lot of people on this forum who consider the 112th GOP a failure."

Perhaps. But lets not confuse the point by exaggerating to the ridiculous. The pattern of Republicans campaigning as vigorous conservatives and then moderating once elected has become as cliche as Democrats campaigning as moderates then morphing into wild eyed libs once elected.

So far the effort to repeal ObamaCare has several signs of "going through the motions" and few signs of the kind of commitment shown by Nancy Pelosi when pushing for its passage.

Everyone knows Republicans don't "have the votes". Point is, that when ObamaCare passed - neither did the dems. They found a way to do it anyway. I don't propose that we go extra-constitutional like dems did - but we only need to persuade a couple of Senate votes place the repeal on Obama's desk. Republicans can only do this with a full throated effort - and right now we're not seeing it.

[dps.inspect]

The whole premise for a liberal’s existence is theoretical and imaginary. They refuse to acknowledge the world they live in and proceed to build one more palatable to their tastes. Problem is, the foundation upon which they build is non-substantive and exists only in the imaginary. Let them be in charge and there is a conflict between what people actually have to do to live and what a liberal imagines must be done to solve problems... before you know it, all has to be regimented for things to work, and when that regimentation finally does not hold up to reality, then “people” become the problem. In the end, the regimentation of liberalism dictates that that people loose their freedoms and if allowed, loose their lives to make way for liberalism's “brave new world”.

[sam_paine]

So far the effort to repeal ObamaCare has several signs of "going through the motions" and few signs of the kind of commitment shown by Nancy Pelosi when pushing for its passage.

Step back. Clear your mind. Then read that again. Swish it around. Think about it.

You really think that'll work?

[Servant of the Cross]

Everyone knows Republicans don't "have the votes". Point is, that when ObamaCare passed - neither did the dems. They found a way to do it anyway.

They 'found' a way by bribing or extorting additional votes from lying hypocritical Dems (i.e. Stupak, Driehaus). If every GOP member of Congress votes to repeal 0care, exactly where do you propose to get the additional votes? And do you support bribery and extortion?

[Servant of the Cross]

There you go again with your reason and intellect. That’s no fun. I’d rather beat my chest and scream RINO. /s

[longtermmemmory]

The issue is teh elites who do not see citizens as the owners of the country. They view the world from a beltway aristocracy. If voting mattered they would outlaw it.

This is why the elites want bureacracy rule. They can control those without fear of elections.

[sam_paine]

So ... what exactly do you propose to do in 2012? What 'RINO' voted wrongly? What 'blood' is there for any 'sharks' to even gather?

If I understand correctly, if these people don't see Boehner with the same maniacal zeal as Nancy Pelosi, they will consider him a failure.

I'm not sure that these nascent critics can actually detail a GOP legislative record at the end of the 112th which they would consider success.

[longtermmemmory]

is this new bribery and extortion or old bribery and extortion. The two are so similar and the politicians all look alike. They just want to win reelection.