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

Skip to comments.

How the Tea Party is winning the GOP fight over ObamaCare
The Week ^ | Sept 18, 2013 | By Jon Terbush

Posted on 09/18/2013 8:38:30 AM PDT by Jim Robinson

Congressional Republicans have battled each other of late over which tack to take in handling the next showdown over the budget. The Tea Party wing of the party has refused to support any budget bill unless it kills ObamaCare, while the more moderate leadership, wary of the political fallout from such an all-or-nothing gamble, has resisted the plan.

It looks like the Tea Party just won round one.

House Republicans will soon stage a vote on a budget bill — known as a continuing resolution (CR) — that both funds the government and defunds the Affordable Care Act, according to National Review's Robert Costa. This means that far-right conservatives "have won a victory, at least in terms of getting the leadership to go along with their strategy," Costa wrote.

House Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) spokesman said that "no decisions" have been made regarding the CR vote. But the fact that the bill is even up for consideration underscores how effective the Tea Party has been in bulldozing the rest of the party on such a fraught issue.

Assuming a CR bill defunding ObamaCare passes the House, it would surely die in the Democratic-controlled Senate. And even if it were to somehow pass the upper chamber, it has absolutely zero chance of getting past President Obama's desk.

Washington's fiscal year comes to a close at the end of the month. If there is no deal by then, the government will shut down all nonessential services. While that would be less calamitous than a previously floated idea to tie ObamaCare to the debt ceiling, linking a vote to defund ObamaCare to the budget would nonetheless be a bold line in the sand, drawn at the behest of a small, vocal corner of the party.

So how did we get here?

Sen. Cruz...

(Excerpt) Read more at theweek.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 113th; cruz; gope; graves; mikelee; obama; obamacare; teaparty; teapartyrebellion; tedcruz
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-88 next last
To: upchuck; Jim Robinson

The fact is none of us is in charge. We’re trying to turn the Queen Mary and it’s captained by idiots.

Voting to defund Obamacare is advantage Obama. Why? It can’t stick. We cannot override his certain veto. We’ll be blamed for everything because we chose to go the fiscal cliff route.

We didn’t get here in a day. Voters are wimps, they want their candy and they want it free and without cavities or pimples. That’s the Democrat promise, isn’t it?

Well, we can bury that lie once and for all. Reagan didn’t kill the Soviets in a single vote, but he kept at them, limiting their options, etc.

Chicago, where I am, is scheduled for a bankruptcy in 2019. A conservative POTUS should let that happen. Let every Dem run city and county bk. Then how will those all those Dem voters feel?

The Democrats win because they promise all the goodies without the hangover. The Rat prostitutes caught the clap, let them die by it.


61 posted on 09/18/2013 6:18:17 PM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: 1010RD; Lazamataz; All

Damn the torpedoes! Damn the naysayers! Damn the GOP-e RINOS! I stand firmly with Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and the other tea party conservatives and the vast majority of the American people. Defund ObamaCare NOW!! Kill it before it kills us!!


62 posted on 09/18/2013 6:38:58 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: 1010RD; Jim Robinson

Here is the problem with “suspending” it. The longer it is out there, the more damage it does (regardless of the level of implementation). Employers continue to act and move to balance their business goals. Insurance companies maneuver to try and survive. The “Friends” keep working the wrench for exceptions. The impact to the economy keeps growing and the more dependent our nation will become on it.

As it is now, 50% of our citizenry is dependent on the fed for at least a portion of their livelihood (employment, entitlement, welfare, etc.). Obamacare is adding more dependents in droves. The further the scale tips the less influence conservatives will have. We will not be convincing folks to take a lifestyle cut in the best interest of our nation’s future.

I fear it may already be too late. Our only, best, last chance to impact our future more towards the original values of our founding is NOW. We’ll have to trust the voting public appreciates and recognizes the patriotic value and effort in a value based, conservative GOP (that might be a stretch today).


63 posted on 09/18/2013 7:11:28 PM PDT by Tenacious 1 (Waiting for next tagline.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: Tenacious 1; Jim Robinson

A suspension is better than defunding. It makes the damage more and more obvious. It shuts up the liberal apologists and Krugmans of the world. Suspending it makes more people demand relief during an election year. It gives us more time to beat Reid and his Senate Democrats over the head with the Congressional exemption. It means we win and big.

Defunding it won’t go anywhere. Obama, backed into a corner, will veto it. That is, if defunding it ever gets past the Senate. Suspending it, and admitting the truth to the public, ‘hey, we would get rid of the whole thing, but the Democratic-controlled Senate won’t. Give us the Senate and a veto-proof majority and we’ll end it.

That happens one year from now in November 2014. That’s how you win and hold for a generation. This is the ‘civil rights act’ of 2014. If you really love your country and really fear it may be destroyed the only peaceful way back is suspension. We need to be in power to forward our agenda.

We’re winning, but this ‘defunding’ is a Pyrric victory at best. It gives Democrats a lever to hold their mushies in place. Suspension, and giving Obama sole descretion as to when it is reimplemented will kill the Democrats.


64 posted on 09/19/2013 3:48:04 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: 1010RD

Defunding it kills it!


65 posted on 09/19/2013 10:19:36 AM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: 1010RD

The idiot’s guide to de-funding Obamacare:

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/ernest-istook-knowing-inside/2013/sep/17/idiots-guide-de-funding-obamacare/


66 posted on 09/19/2013 10:42:36 AM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: All
Furthermore, if Obama/Reid follow through with their threats to "shutdown the government," then the House passes individual appropriation bills to fund each essential department of the federal government, one by one. For example, pass a bill to appropriate funds for social security and medicare. I don't think the dems will block that one. Not and keep their seats in 2014. Then one to keep the federal courts funded, and the post office. One for the defense department. EPA? Hell no. Not a penny. IRS? Well, we should fund just enough for them to be able to process tax returns and a reasonable collections dept. I'd say there's plenty of places that should be funded and many that should not be. None for federal education, health, housing, welfare, etc, functions that are reserved to the states and the people per the constitution. None for the dept of energy. None for the dept of education. Or agriculture. Health, education, welfare, commerce, agriculture, etc, are state functions. Turn aircraft controllers, airport security and transportation back to the states, too. Go department by department and decide to fund, cut, gut or shutter. That's their constitutional duty anyway and should be done every year, not just in emergencies. If it's complicated and takes lots of time, good. That'll keep them out of mischief. The House controls the purse strings. Draw them up taut!!
67 posted on 09/19/2013 10:59:13 AM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

Thanks for thinking of me, Jim. ;-]


68 posted on 09/19/2013 12:23:26 PM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

Jim, I know all this already. The mechanics of defunding are simple, the results aren’t. Obama and his media capons will blame it on the GOP.

The politically smart thing to do is suspend it. You use the same mechanism, but get a better result. Let’s win in landslides across the nation.


69 posted on 09/19/2013 12:26:09 PM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: 1010RD

Who cares who gets the blame? Who gets the blame when ObamaCare kills America? Obama? Cruz? What difference at that time will it make?


70 posted on 09/19/2013 12:28:23 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

I care and so should you. Obamacare in suspension gives all the benefits of defunding, plus places the Democrats in a no win situation. We don’t want to win the battle, but the war.

The war against statism goes on and on. We need to win the Senate, strengthen our hold on the House and eventually take the Presidency in 2016. You do that best by convincing the mushy middle to vote with us. They’ll vote with us because: A. The Democrats blew it. B. The economy stinks.

We win with suspending the law, we lose with defunding it.


71 posted on 09/19/2013 12:33:50 PM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: 1010RD

No, obviously, you do not care or you’d work your ass off to defund it. Defund it or own it. ObamaCare not only bankrupts America, it shreds our constitution!!

Defund it! Kill it!! Drive a stake through its heart so it can never rise again.

Quit pestering us with your defeatist surrender monkey crap. This is FR We fight against this communist CRAP!!

If you do not care enough to fight, then get your GOP-e statist loving ass OUT!!


72 posted on 09/19/2013 12:40:20 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

I am working to defeat Obamacare. I am just rational about it.


73 posted on 09/19/2013 1:35:47 PM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: 1010RD

Yeah, rational. Like Tokyo Rove, Jaun McCain, Linda Grahamnesty and the rest of the statist GOP-e RINO herd.

I stand with Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and the tea party and backed up by Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, the Heritage Foundation, CATO, the constitution and thke American people..

Defunding it will delay it and better yet will kill it!

We’re here to fight the statist bastards not negotiate/compromise rationally.

By the way, Obama/Reid absolutely refuse to negotiate. Fine. We fight it out then.

And we the people will win the fight vs the dictatorial Marxist/fascist bastards.


74 posted on 09/19/2013 1:48:09 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

OK, once Cruz’s filibuster is overridden I’ll tell Johnny B to pass the suspension, but until then - defund it!


75 posted on 09/19/2013 4:43:02 PM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: 1010RD

The filibuster is just for information/educational purposes. Millions of people who listen in or read about it are going to have an opportunity to learn how constitutional government is supposed to work.

I don’t think you’re quite getting it. No one expects Reid to pass a bill excluding Obamacare and Obama wouldn’t sign it anyway. That’s the beauty of it. When Obama/Reid follow through with their threats to shutdown the government, the people will have an opportunity to demand through their congressional reps, that the essential departments are funded.

Obama is so arrogant he thinks he doesn’t need congress. But he’s about to learn otherwise as the House squeezes his access to treasury funds. We don’t need them to pass any bill to defund obamacare. The congress can keep the essential departments running by funding them individually and Reid won’t dare block them.

If Boehner and the Republican congress hold on to their newly found backbones, Obama’s arrogance will bring him down.

By the way, there’s also no way that Obama/Reid will pass a bill to suspend or delay it either. But we don’t need a bill passed to defund it. That’s automatic.


76 posted on 09/19/2013 5:25:03 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson

I get it completely. You’re going to give the Dems cover by this move. Don’t you see that if the government doesn’t spend GDP collapses?

Every lefty economist will, going forward, blame the bad economy on the ‘shut down’. They are going to cover for Obama and once the economy slows, we’ll look just as nutty.

People don’t want a revolution, they want thoughtful change. We cannot afford to not spend $800 billion. It’s a trap.

My way we set up a Falaise Pocket for the Democrats.


77 posted on 09/19/2013 6:29:26 PM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: 1010RD
Everything is funded except for Obamacare. Not a bad thing IMO.

Obama is NEVER wrong and never has made a mistake in his opinion (which is one of his major problems).

If this closes, Obama and Democrats close this down.
We are already collapsing as a nation and can NOT handle another wealth transfer and government takeover.

78 posted on 09/19/2013 6:35:20 PM PDT by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God Bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: A CA Guy

As long as the result is that we win the Congress in 2014 and hold it for a generation I am happy, very happy. I don’t see that coming from all this, but I’ll see how it turns out. Suspension can still be used as a tactic in Oct.


79 posted on 09/19/2013 6:39:57 PM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: 1010RD

Give it a rest. if the RINOs allow Obamacare to continue, we’re ALL DEAD DUCKS.


80 posted on 09/19/2013 6:42:09 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-88 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