Posted on 07/01/2012 9:45:20 AM PDT by mandaladon
When President Obama said Thursday that he didn’t pursue health care reform “because it was good politics,” he wasn’t kidding.
Over the course of its short life span, the Affordable Care Act has left a trail of political wreckage behind it — and while an exultant White House breathed a sigh of relief in the wake of Thursday’s Supreme Court validation, Obama’s signature policy achievement still faces a host of questions ahead. First among them: Does the party really want to embrace a measure that proved so costly to Democratic candidates in 2010 and polls so poorly?
While the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the law provided the president with a major victory, the trickle-down political effect isn’t quite so obvious. Put another way, for down-ballot Democrats in red or purple states, the politics of health care still aren’t so good.
With Thursday’s defeat, Republicans were handed a powerful tool for motivating their base and a fresh ammo clip for use in House and Senate races across the map. It removed one arrow from the Democratic quiver — the prospect of an outraged and highly motivated base — and provided a new one to the GOP by defining the mandate as a tax.
Some version or another of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s floor remarks Thursday in response to the ruling is undoubtedly already being scripted, soon to appear in 30 and 60-second spots in competitive House and Senate races across the map.
“The Supreme Court has spoken,” McConnell said. “This law is a tax. The bill was sold to the American people on a deception.”
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
At least Senator Claire “LearJet” McCaskill is gone, gone, gone.
Shades of Pearl Harbor, and Admiral Yamamoto.... “Awaken a sleeping GIANT !” Go TEA PARTY !
Gold for big government, statist RINO and GOP-E candidates they intend to run over true conservatives.
Yes it is. However, if they pull the rug from under us, it will be last time a republican will have any support from the base. I will vote GOP up and down the ballot, but they better follow through.
I'm in for Steelman, but would have no prob voting for Akin or Brunner.
Even if the GOP does well this November, it all depends upon how much “total U.S. conservatism”, actually, exists, from Mitt Romney all the way down to the most local levels of politics. All “non-conservative Republicanism” has its own set of problems for all of U.S. conservatism, and then, add the entire Democratic Party to the mix=even worse. The total U.S., seriously, needs to move as far to the political right as it can, and then, it needs to keep moving to the political right, without stopping. The left continues to be way too dominant in all of U.S. politics, for way too many decades and counting.
The GOP loves to profit from the enslavement of the American people almost as much as democrats. They didn’t vote for it last time, but they couldn’t stop it, and they usually give up in the face of a big fight. This time they need to be absolutely clear that if they won’t fight, it will be the end of the GOP, and we’ll form something else.
Should read HEAR her
I’m more for Brunner, but will take ABM.
All I see downrange is lead and copper.
“..they intend to run over true conservatives
Quit whining and do something about it!
In Colorado and around the country, we have been successful in our Primaries, electing Conservatives, over the “party favorites”.
Donate to Ted Cruz in TX for starters.
You can’t change the Republican party from the outside!
You have to get INSIDE and participate!
I agree with the premise this is a potential boon to the down-ticket races...but the GOP has to play it correctly to win, and I don’t have much confidence on that score. It’s not called “The Stupid Party” for nothing.
As McConnell said this morning (not exactly a trench-fighter), every single Democrat incumbent Senator voted for this. Hang that new tax albatross around their necks every chance you get.
What would be great is if there was a well-established online conservative news discussion and grassroots activism forum where people could get together to harness this conservative anger and channel it into support for those candidates up and down the ballot who have publicly committed to repealing Obamacare.
I'm fired up. Just wish it wasn't Mittens that was our candidate. :(
I’m for Steelman too.
Not just down ballot. Now it can no longer be denied that Democrats are the “tax and spend” party. Recite that a few times, Pubbies.
Case is alot like Dred Scott... The SCOTUS has controversially upheld a decision that they now claim the people must fix politically. That is fine with me, I think that this election cannot be clearer at the moment you either vote for government control of your life the coming financial ruin and ultimate dictatorship of this country by the Obama clowns or you vote Romney and hold him accountable to move America in the right direction for our children....
I find it truly amazing how much is at stake on NOV 6th 2012..... This really could be the end of America....
We absolutely must take every possible seat in the House, in the US Senate, and in the state legislatures. This is now a battle for survival, and we can’t afford any conservatives staying home this November. Please get to the polls, get your conservative friends, relatives, and neighbors to the polls, and if possible volunteer as a poll watcher. He’s right. The down ballot races are critical for America to survive; this in not a year where we can ignore state and local elections.
Not whining, just stating fact. I'm already there, I contribute directly to ONLY individual conservative candidates wherever they are in the US, never a dime to RNC or state RC's.
I have gone as far as to change my county of residence to vote for a real conservative Republican candidate.
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