Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

NY Times Column: If Health Law Is Overturned, What Will Liberals Do? (Here are the possibilities)
New York Times ^ | 03/28/2012 | Michael D. Shear

Posted on 03/28/2012 1:23:55 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

If the Supreme Court strikes down all or part of President Obama’s health care law, it will have unraveled a legislative compromise that many liberals had viewed with suspicion from the beginning.

In one of the ironies of recent politics, Mr. Obama was a late convert to the merits of the individual mandate that now appears to be in danger of being declared unconstitutional.

But the president’s embrace of the mandate — and his willingness to abandon a so-called public option to get a health care deal — was a hard pill to swallow for many of his Democratic supporters.

The Affordable Care Act promises to provide health insurance to millions who lacked it. But it also stops far short of the idea that health care is a basic right for everyone living in the country. And it embraces the market-based system of private health care delivery that has long existed in America.

For many progressive activists and voters, the decision by the court in June could reopen a debate that they thought they had lost two years ago. Rather than be dismayed if the court overturns the health care law, some liberals may see it as an unexpected opportunity.

Politically, there is almost no chance of a new effort to achieve universal health care coverage before the election in the fall. But if the current law is overturned, eventually there would be a new push from Democrats to achieve the goals they have pursued for decades.

Still, it’s far from clear how progressives might regroup if the court rules against the mandate, as Tuesday’s questions from the justices suggested they might.

Here are three possibilities:

SALVAGE: If the justices invalidate the individual mandate but stop short of declaring the entire law unconstitutional, progressives could try to fix it

(Excerpt) Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: healthcare; obamacare; singlepayer
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-45 next last
To: beaversmom

Yes, they will do what communists always do. Lie, cheat, steal and murder to enhance their own power. What Constitution, What Supreme Court, What Elections? Bourgeois niceties do not impede the party of History on their long march through the institutions.


21 posted on 03/28/2012 1:51:03 PM PDT by Argus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Soul of the South

In other words, try as legally as you can to get other people to pay for something you should pay for yourself. If that doesn’t work, steal it.


22 posted on 03/28/2012 1:52:02 PM PDT by baiamonte
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

They know they are going to lose and they’re figuring out how to spin it as a plus. That’s what this is all about. If it was so difficult to get this POS through Congress, it is impossible to get single payer out of committee. That’s the bottom line. So, let them delude themselves. We must work to defeat them at every turn and in every venue to push them back into the shadows from whence they sprang.


23 posted on 03/28/2012 2:00:28 PM PDT by WashingtonSource
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
But it also stops far short of the idea that health care is a basic right for everyone living in the country

One cannot have a right to that which is produced by others. Claiming otherwise is to deny that slavery is unjust. The democrats lost the civil war, but they never ever give. up.

24 posted on 03/28/2012 2:01:06 PM PDT by ALPAPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind; All
Boy they can all move to those lovely countries they are so fond of, you know the ones with gun control and already have socialized medicine, you know Europe! Oh wait, they aren't doin' so good, I wonder why...
25 posted on 03/28/2012 2:05:24 PM PDT by taildragger (( Palin / Mulally 2012 ))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EQAndyBuzz

I’ll donate the rope.


26 posted on 03/28/2012 2:06:18 PM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

“it will have unraveled a legislative compromise”

What a big lie.

There was no “compromise.”

This act was passed by one of the narrowest, most partisan margins in the history of the United States.

No one should forget the Cornhusker kickback, the Louisiana purchase, the Stupak fig leaf, the use of technical legislative loopholes to narrowly force it through.

Given the magnitude of the change in American society from the government taking control over all health care, this was the greatest abuse of the legislative process in American history.

When other great changes like Medicare and Social Security were passed, there were large bipartisan margins in favor of it.

Obamacare represents the same dream of the German national socialists, the Soviet socialists, the Italian socialists under Mussolini and on and on, that government should have complete control over the activities of the population for the “good of the people.”

The founders were deathly afraid of all-powerful government for good reason.


27 posted on 03/28/2012 2:24:38 PM PDT by Meet the New Boss
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tcrlaf

Yeah, like they are gonna pass single payer with the current makeup of the House.

Where’s that photo of DeForest Kelley when I need it.....IT’S DEAD, JIM!


28 posted on 03/28/2012 2:35:00 PM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: AtlasStalled
The liberals won’t do anything.

You may be right. Just like gun control, it may finally sink in that this is an electoral loser for them.
29 posted on 03/28/2012 2:36:57 PM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

1. Leave politics forever.
2. Whine, moan, complain like they always do.


30 posted on 03/28/2012 2:38:31 PM PDT by PGalt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
What he can do is refuse to increase the debt ceiling unless Boehner adds a single payer plan to the bill. The press will claim that Republicans are responsible for letting the country descend into bankruptcy. McConnell will make noises about doing a deal with Harry Reid. Boehner will cry a little, then cave, and sign the socialized medicine bill.

The whole thing will only take a few weeks, after which Obama can get in a few rounds of golf.

31 posted on 03/28/2012 2:44:57 PM PDT by Defiant (If there are infinite parallel universes, why Lord, am I living in the one with Obama as President?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Meet the New Boss
It was indeed a compromise, between the marxists and the fabian socialists. The Marxists said, "screw your cautious incrementalism, we have control now", and they decided to go for the whole magilla. The Fabians said, "but wait, it will be better if we don't destroy health care all at once. We can phase it in over 10 years or so while we slowly destroy private insurers."

The two sides compromised, and, voila!, we got 2700 pages of crap.

32 posted on 03/28/2012 2:52:19 PM PDT by Defiant (If there are infinite parallel universes, why Lord, am I living in the one with Obama as President?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: PGalt
Notice the democrat's main concern is not how this will effect the people of this country but how it will effect their party. it's always party first.
33 posted on 03/28/2012 2:52:28 PM PDT by kempo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Whatever the decision, they will attempt to minimize it, spin it, and demonize it. Ultimately, they will ignore it and just press on regardless. Especially if Obama wins re-election.

After all, how many divisions does SCOTUS have?


34 posted on 03/28/2012 2:56:20 PM PDT by rbg81
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Whatever the decision, they will attempt to minimize it, spin it, and demonize it. Ultimately, they will ignore it and just press on regardless. Especially if Obama wins re-election.

After all, how many divisions does SCOTUS have?


35 posted on 03/28/2012 3:00:03 PM PDT by rbg81
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: beaversmom

Mass suicide? LOL


36 posted on 03/28/2012 3:40:26 PM PDT by MasterGunner01 (11)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
They will never give up, controlling our health is simply too important to them. But for now, if they lose this they can't put the pieces back together any time soon.

Republicans have the House, and if the law is overturned, I would expect several more democrats to retire soon. We could do better in the elections as a result of this.

The Catholic Church has now turned from an ally of democratic health care to an enemy, plus they have allied with Evangelicals now. The next battle will be an order of magnitude harder. The Church isn't going to buy the pillow talk anymore.

Sandra Fluke will be left with no option other than to finally graduate and get a job.

What conservatives should do now is don't let up, keep the pressure on. We have yet another debt celing increase, just before the election. We need a strategy for that to win real cuts. Defunding the left anywhere, defunds them everywhere.

37 posted on 03/28/2012 3:52:23 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oh8eleven

Single-payer was so controversial, Dems had to compromised with themselves to get ObamaCare.


38 posted on 03/28/2012 4:43:08 PM PDT by newzjunkey (Newt says, "A nominee that depresses turnout won't beat Barack Obama.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

1. Cry and weep like lilltle girls.

2. Burn stuff.

3. Occupy something.

4. Poop on you car.

5. Flash mob and raid the closest store to them.

6. Blame Bush and Cheney.


39 posted on 03/28/2012 5:56:59 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

7. Cry as they say they will leave the country, but unfortunately, they won’t.


40 posted on 03/28/2012 5:58:42 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-45 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson