Tangled in Obamacare fight, GOP senators wonder: How did this happen?

Washington Examiner ^ | 9/25/2013 | Byron York

[EBH]

Just a month ago, Sessions expressed deep doubts about the tactic. "I'm not sure it’s the best viable way at this point," he said on Bill Bennett's radio show in August. "I've looked at it really hard, I’ve talked to Mike, and I certainly respect what he's doing, but I’m not convinced right now that this is going to be a way that will be successful and effective." By Tuesday, Sessions had become convinced, even though he took care to express respect for colleagues who sided with leadership. "I didn't sign the letter, and I've got some great friends who see it differently than I do," Sessions said. "Good people, I think, can disagree on this."

Sessions might not be alone. Speaking privately late Tuesday afternoon, a Republican senator suggested more lawmakers might soon join Cruz and Lee. They would not do so if it meant the filibuster would succeed and the government might shut down, but now that enough Republicans have made their positions known and shutdown is off the table, they will join the defund-by-filibuster effort. The reason, the GOP senator suggested, is that the outside groups pushing the defunding gambit -- Heritage Action, Senate Conservatives Fund, FreedomWorks -- are actively pressuring lawmakers to go along. Now that it's a sure bet the continuing resolution will not be stopped, some Republicans might choose to seek safety from the groups' wrath by joining Cruz and Lee. The perverse result could be that the Senate Republican caucus will appear more divided than it actually is.

That is just the opposite of what McConnell and the GOP leadership hoped would happen. There's no doubt Republicans are united in opposing Obamacare. Why can't they be spending this week forcing Democrats to defend the troubled health plan? Instead, the GOP's high-profile differences over...

[EBH]

And this is exactly where the "leadership" failed. They didn't like Cruz's tactic so much they chose to attack him over it, rather than springboard off it. Once Cruz was done, they needed to simply move forward with focus on the bill, not Cruz. Let the Democrats have their caterwauling, but no republican should have appeared anywhere in the media bashing Cruz and certainly not on the Senate floor. All of the blowharding they did against Cruz...should have been directed at the bill.

Which leads me to really question the GOP Leadership. Are they really that bad that they can't take what they thought was a bad situation and make lemonade? They had a prime time spot to speak to the American Public about 0bamacare, after Cruz's "stunt" as they called it, instead they used all that precious public airtime/media capital bashing Cruz. They wasted it! When they could have risen above the fray and really lead, not just the Senate, but the on point message to the American people, they chose to get down in the ditch, swill and mire of bashing Cruz.

The GOP leadership made a serious strategy mistake not only with the American Public and the clear opportunity in the media they squandered, but their attack antics on Cruz has actually been a lethal blow to the strength of the Republican Party.

[rrrod]

Note to GOPe,
WE ARE THE LEADERSHIP!!!!

Now go clean the toilets and mop the floors!

[Conspiracy Guy]

“The GOP leadership made a serious strategy mistake.” Nothing new about this.

[nathanbedford]

How did this happen?

It happened because the Rino leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives immorally betrayed their promises to the people who worked for them, donated to them, prayed for them, wore out shoe leather for them, and voted for them. It happened because allegedly conservative media outlets such as The Examiner featuring story after story for month on month written by pundits like Byron York undermining every effort to defund Obamacare and giving cover to those people who are betraying their trust.

Now the only issue before the Senate is whether or not to join with Democrats to shut down debate and force the matter back to the house according to Harry Reid's liking. Every single Republican, including those who betrayed their trust, have professed their resolute opposition to Obamacare yet they cannot even find it within themselves to vote to keep debate open.

There is no justification for siding with the Democrats on this issue. This does not shut down the government this merely shows unity against the Democrats' legislative putsch. This vote is going the way it is not because it is voting against the house bill, that is shameless sophistry, but because it is a way for the establishment to deny conservative upstarts any chance at gaining control of our destiny.

Byron York, you have done your best to undermine this effort from the beginning now is the time for you to start calling it straight.

[olezip]

There's no doubt Republicans are united in opposing Obamacare.

Unfortunately the Republicans appear to be at odds. Perhaps they disagree with the strategy, or they do not have the stomach to carry out the will of the people who put them in office.

[VRWC For Truth]

The DC bubble popped. They are out of touch with the voters who pay them. In the words of Donald Trump: you’re fired.

[Doogle]

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? BECAUSE OF people like the GOP leadership sitting around and doing nothing for the last 6 years...IMMIGRATION (amnesty)...over 6 billion dollars being stolen from medicare, Odungocare being implemented, the military being decimated,the enormous deficit(17 trillion and counting)... Sitting around with your thumb in your butt being happy to let things "run it's course"...putting in place candidates, one who wouldn't mention the opponents middle name for fear of retribution, while the same RAT candidate used his middle name to take the Oath of Office...the other so timid he'd lose a stair down with Bambi and listened to "others" during the debates ..not to mention lies,corruption,failures,constitution destruction while playing the "nice guy"..didn't quite work out.... Not to embrace the Tea Party, in fact ignore it, and even today after years of fighting big government, the leadership STILL ignores it....????? HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?...please, do the USA a favor, resign. Take the thumb out of your butt, go home, and stick it in your nose

[pallis]

You make a good point here. Republican Senators were not only wrong to attack Cruz, they wasted their opportunity to better explain Obamacare to the American people. It’s been so long since Republicans have had a voice, much less a conservative voice, an outlet to the American people, they attacked Cruz’s effort, rather than grab a rare opportunity. They are afraid of themselves and the Washington establishment. We are seeing beaten men trying to be relevant.

[jsanders2001]

> There’s no doubt Republicans are united in opposing Obamacare.
Unfortunately the Republicans appear to be at odds. Perhaps they disagree with the strategy, or they do not have the stomach to carry out the will of the people who put them in office.

I thnk it also has to do with the fact that the liberals are framing this to the public as the senators who vote to defund also want to shut down the government and are hammering them on this issue. We know this isn’t true but they are using old Alinsky tactics once again; keep repeating the same thing over and over again (even if you know its a lie) and the public will begin to believe it. The liberal liars always seem to kick and scream the loudest while calling their opponents liars; the same method used by brat children to get out of trouble if they can lie their way out of a situation and shift the blame to someone else.

[EBH]

It’s been so long since Republicans have had a voice, much less a conservative voice, an outlet to the American people, they attacked Cruz’s effort, rather than grab a rare opportunity

Exactly. The 'leadership' has blown that opportunity to have spoken about 0bamacare directly to the American people AND even more importantly in this case...to have pilloried the democrat talking point about republicans wanting to shut down the government. The CR bill in question, sent to the Senate, was to fund all parts of the government...except 0bamacare. Instead of them going on the air talking about how ...even the democrats agree the ACA has some serious flaws in it and should be "delayed...," but we are presenting a CR to keep government running. They had a chance to look like heroes. They really, really blew it in the after action arena.

[Doogle]

I FORGOT to mention..IGNORING A FORGED BIRTH CERTIFICATE, SIX SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS, A FORGED SELECTIVE SERVICE CARD, IGNORING SHERIFF JOE,....and the Constitution.

that’s how it happened MORONS.....

[Vinnie]

I’ve threatened to change my party affiliation to Independent, esp. after the last election.
This has me fired up again. I’m for sure going to change it.
The Republican Party leadership is embarrassing. Totally inept and out of touch.
And my senator Burr is right in the mix.

[freeangel]

“GOP senators wonder: How did this happen?”

Uh, Ted turned the flashlight on and now we get to see the roaches scurry for cover.

[niteowl77]

It happened because the Rino leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives immorally betrayed their promises to the people who worked for them, donated to them, prayed for them, wore out shoe leather for them, and voted for them. It happened because allegedly conservative media outlets such as The Examiner featuring story after story for month on month written by pundits like Byron York undermining every effort to defund Obamacare and giving cover to those people who are betraying their trust.

This.

In 2012 I gave money to the Republicans IN SPITE OF knowing I was being lied to because I could not in good conscience do otherwise, but it was indeed that RINO leadership mentioned - personalized for me in the form of a mocking, out-of-control, seethingly disdainful John McCain - that revealed to me just how big a sap I had been, and - embarrassingly - how long I had been that big sap. Prayers? Yeah, there were those. They go elsewhere now. As for the money... well, Obamacare ought to relieve me of anything I might have wasted on country clubbing congenital liars.

Mr. niteowl77

[fortheDeclaration]

The Republican leadership is not defending the American Middle Class, they are attacking it along with the Democrats.

The Fed is destroying the dollar (GOP is silent), the GOP is advocating open borders, the GOP is willing to see our health care destroyed and not do anything about it. This is a Party that has ceased to serve any useful purpose, like the Whigs, who ignored the great question of their day, slavery.

[USS Alaska]

byron yorky is a pole dancer and luvs to be the bottom.

No matter what this fag says, it is like a warm bucket of snot, nasty and disgusting.

[LibLieSlayer]

IT IS THE FAULT IF ALL OF YOU REPUBIC SLIME-BALLS THAT HAVE INFECTED THE SENATE FOR FAR TOO LONG! APPEASE AND INCREMENT COMMUNISM IS WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND HOW “YOU GOT THERE”!

[Oldeconomybuyer]

There is NO leadership in the republican party. McConnell hasn’t answered his phone for two weeks. He’s hiding behind Dingy Harry. Pathetic.

[HomeAtLast]

In 2012 I gave money to the Republicans IN SPITE OF knowing I was being lied to...revealed to me just how big a sap I had been

It's too bad more people don't have "I'm a sap" moments. For so many years I watched politicians get elected by spouting sweet nothings, then once they "got theirs" they cared for nothing but keeping theirs. Their position, their privileges, their pensions. And I sent them money: I paid income taxes. I paid it because I liked MY position, my privileges, my pension, even though I knew I was supporting a system that had legalized killing babies and practiced moocher socialism and the persistent boa constriction of American liberty.

It's hypocritical and ultimately futile to condemn politicians for "got theirs" behavior, when you financially support them so you can go on getting yours.

There is only one way to restore America and that is by starving the beast.

The power to defund the politicrats is in our hands, in our pockets.

Don't be a sap, expecting the elect to do it because they have an R tag after their name.

And if you go on financially supporting them you're worse than a sap, you're a sponsor and an accomplice.

Per my tagline, they were willing to do without some tea. First they threw in the tea. Soon they threw in their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

The loyalists went on supporting the king, because they'd "got theirs."

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

How many Republicans will be Horatio at the bridge?