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What is the President Willing to Give Up? (Is this a joke?)
Townhall.com ^ | October 3, 2013 | Emmett Tyrrell

Posted on 10/03/2013 9:06:55 AM PDT by Kaslin

WASHINGTON -- It is the most thunderous proof of the Taranto Principle to date. I am speaking of the Senate's rejection of the House of Representative's proposal to delay the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act for a year, along with the federal subsidy for Congressional lawmakers and their staffs if and when these selfless public servants enter health care exchanges. You cannot have such subsidies and neither can I, but Congress and its aides can. The Senate will not even negotiate over it.

The insightful James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal coined the Taranto Principle when he noticed that the Democrats and the left in general are encouraged to act absurdly by the fawning mainstream media. It is the media that have encouraged Democrats to demand of Republicans negotiations while the Democrats refuse to negotiate. Thus, the Republicans are expected to accept the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act while being left with nothing to negotiate. When asked by Steve Inskeep of NPR what he was offering to negotiate, our nugacious president said: "Steve, when you say what can I offer, I shouldn't have to offer anything." Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's contribution to negotiations was, "We are not going to mess around with Obamacare, no matter what they do." Case closed.

Harry Reid has gone further. He has called the Republicans insane for seeking negotiations when Reid has already refused to grant them that. "They should get a life," Reid said, appropriating a line more suitable for the schoolyard than for the United States Senate. "It is the law [Obamacare], declared constitutional. The exchanges are coming on line tomorrow." Actually, a lot has changed since Obamacare was passed in 2010 and since certain aspects of the law were declared constitutional. The House of Representatives, the most representative branch of government, has gone over to the Republicans. The majority of state legislatures have become Republican. Most governorships have become Republican. The law is increasingly loathed and feared by the American people.

Only a couple of days ago, many Obamacare health insurance exchanges opened to glitches and chaos. Other aspects of the law have problems, and the president has postponed certain of them for a year. For powerful special interests, he offers subsidies and exceptions for a year. Why not offer a similar delay in the whole law for the average American? It sounds reasonable to me.

The answer resides with the Taranto Principle. The president and his allies on the Hill do not read the conservative press. They do not encounter any counsel that does not agree with them. They do not associate with conservatives or independents. They know only people who think like them. The rest of us do not exist.

When confronted with the House of Representatives' alternative to prevent congressional lawmakers and staff from receiving subsidies for entering healthcare exchanges, Reid had a tear-jerking answer. He said: "This time the House has attached a poison pill that would punish 16,000 Congressional staff." Punish them? It is only treating them as the average American is being treated. Only the self-absorbed Senate Majority Leader would speak of the elite on Capitol Hill as though they were all "Little Orphan Annie."

I for one do not know where all of this is leading the country, but my guess is that nothing will be achieved until President Obama and Leader Reid begin to negotiate, and that means giving something up.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: compromise; democrats; dingyharryreid; govshutdown

1 posted on 10/03/2013 9:06:55 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Thank you Republicans for not backing down and shutting down the government!

Awesome strategy by the Republican House. I’m so happy the stupid government is shut down. Thank you Republicans for not backing down and shutting down the government! maybe now Americans will realize that government is not needed as nothing is happening even though the gov is shut down. what do we need government scientists doing global warming studies? hell no! do weed IRS oppressing conservatives? NO. do we need IRS auditing Republicans NO. NSA spying on us? . The IRS can’t audit us as long as gov stays shut down. Hold the line Republicans! If walmart shut down then we’d cry but the useless gov can go to hell.

The only thing that the federal government should be doing is the military and border control.


2 posted on 10/03/2013 9:09:31 AM PDT by rurgan (give laws an expiration date:so the congress has to review every 4 years to see if needed)
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To: Kaslin

Communists never negotiate in good faith.


3 posted on 10/03/2013 9:10:09 AM PDT by henkster (democrats will sacrifice the lives of our servicemen so 0bama doesn't look bad.)
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To: Kaslin

Two thoughts:

1) What if they had a government shut down and nobody cared? I mean, really, who the hell is affected by this? Well, who the hell is affected by this who doesn’t have to climb over baricades to view monuments that are otherwise open air?

2) To Liberals their beliefs and view is what is. All else is illegal and any an all actions to counter that illegal activity is fair and just.


4 posted on 10/03/2013 9:17:31 AM PDT by FlipWilson
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To: Kaslin
The president and his allies on the Hill do not read the conservative press. They do not encounter any counsel that does not agree with them. They do not associate with conservatives or independents. They know only people who think like them. The rest of us do not exist. When confronted with the House of Representatives' alternative to prevent congressional lawmakers and staff from receiving subsidies for entering healthcare exchanges, Reid had a tear-jerking answer. He said: "This time the House has attached a poison pill that would punish 16,000 Congressional staff." Punish them? It is only treating them as the average American is being treated. Only the self-absorbed Senate Majority Leader would speak of the elite on Capitol Hill as though they were all "Little Orphan Annie."

I for one do not know where all of this is leading the country, but my guess is that nothing will be achieved until President Obama and Leader Reid begin to negotiate, and that means giving something up.

They can start by giving up their jobs!

5 posted on 10/03/2013 9:19:38 AM PDT by Alex Murphy (Just a common, ordinary, simple savior of America's destiny.)
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To: Kaslin
I for one do not know where all of this is leading the country

Oh, I think I know ...

6 posted on 10/03/2013 9:21:19 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (21st century. I'm not a fan.)
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To: Kaslin
Reid calls an action to apply the same law to citizens and legislators alike a "poison pill"?

Guess he never heard of these words from the man who is called the "father" of the U. S. Constitution, as written in the Founders' explanation of the Constitution to citizens of that day:

Excerpts from James Madison's words in THE FEDERALIST, No. 57, (Excerpt):
"I will add, as a fifth circumstance in the situation of the House of Representatives, restraining them from oppressive measures, that they can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass of the society. This has always been deemed one of the strongest bonds by which human policy can connect the rulers and the people together. It creates between them that communion of interests and sympathy of sentiments, of which few governments have furnished examples; but without which every government degenerates into tyranny. If it be asked, what is to restrain the House of Representatives from making legal discriminations in favor of themselves and a particular class of the society? I answer: the genius of the whole system; the nature of just and constitutional laws; and above all, the vigilant and manly spirit which actuates the people of America -- a spirit which nourishes freedom, and in return is nourished by it.

"If this spirit shall ever be so far debased as to tolerate a law not obligatory on the legislature, as well as on the people, the people will be prepared to tolerate any thing but liberty."- James Madison, Federalist #57

Lovers of liberty might consider sending this quotation to Congressmen and Senators. Perhaps it might provide both a backbone and a learning moment.


7 posted on 10/03/2013 9:28:50 AM PDT by loveliberty2
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To: Kaslin
Ooops. Reid's Freudian slip: "Obamacare is PUNISHMENT". LOL

The government shutdown is a bloodless American Revolution. KEEP THE SUMBICH SHUT DOWN UNTIL OBAMACARE APPLIES TO EVERYONE (OR NO ONE).

8 posted on 10/03/2013 9:29:27 AM PDT by Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America (If Americans were as concerned for their country as Egyptians are, Obama would be ousted!)
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To: Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America

9 posted on 10/03/2013 9:30:12 AM PDT by caww
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To: loveliberty2

Judicial WAtch should be taking Obam to the courts!

The Constitution, which is the LAW of the land, NO MATTER WHAT,... does not allow the federal government to create agencies,... and it certainly does NOT allow congress to delegate its law making and rule making authority....

The Constitution is what this country is founded on. All 50 states agreed to adhere to it completely when they joined the union. ...This is not optional at any level..... The government has been operating unlawfully for a very long time.

Most agencies that exist today are illegal. Their ability to make rules that the rest of us have to follow is illegal. They are not congress. They are not elected. They are accountable to no one. That is completely against the Constitution.


10 posted on 10/03/2013 9:33:26 AM PDT by caww
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To: Kaslin
Obama had absolutely 'no Constitutional authority' or right to make any 'exceptions' to the "Affordable Care Act"... instead of obeying the letter of the law as Congress passed it...... he clearly violated the Administrative Procedure Act and usurped powers that have never and should never belong to the Executive branch. ......

As the tyrant he is, he has abused his office and chosen winners to exempt for a year, and all for political expediency..... This is his modus operandi...

Twitter Poster...

11 posted on 10/03/2013 9:39:18 AM PDT by caww
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To: Kaslin

Ping


12 posted on 10/03/2013 9:41:03 AM PDT by aquila48
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To: Kaslin

I was called by PPP polling for moron.org a couple hours ago about the shutdown.

It was a push-poll bashing my congressman for the shutdown. It was nothing but lies and spin.

I’ll betcha they were surprised by the answers from one “30 yr old, hispanic, female demonrat”, why... she is more likely to vote to reelect rock-ribbed conservative Tim Walberg after he voted to defund owebamacare.

They kept asking the questions again to make sure.

Having a voice like Barry White, I doubt I could have pulled that off if it wasn’t a robo-poll where you just push buttons...lol.


13 posted on 10/03/2013 9:51:18 AM PDT by Beagle8U (Free Republic -- One stop shopping ....... It's the Conservative Super WalMart for news .)
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To: Kaslin
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
14 posted on 10/03/2013 9:58:15 AM PDT by MtnMan101
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To: rurgan
Thank you Republicans for not backing down and shutting down the government!

Meaning R's not backing down and R's not shutting down the govt? Otherwise...

Then a correction: Republicans did NOT shut down any government. They passed all the legislation, and more, in the house appropriate for continued government. There is another party involved, full of 'Rats, that "shut govt down".

15 posted on 10/03/2013 10:00:23 AM PDT by C210N (When people fear government there is tyranny; when government fears people there is liberty)
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To: C210N

Thank you Republicans for not backing down !

Hold the line Republicans!

maybe now Americans will realize that government is not needed as nothing is happening even though the gov is shut down

Thank you Republicans. I’m so happy the gov is shut down

the only thing the federal gov should be doing is military and border control

Thank you Republicans


16 posted on 10/03/2013 10:03:13 AM PDT by rurgan (give laws an expiration date:so the congress has to review every 4 years to see if needed)
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To: Kaslin

It is easy to recognize the obvious PONZI SCHEME called Obamacare.

Obamacare has nothing to do with health, care, or medicine.

Obamacare has EVERYTHING to do with insurance.

Obamacare is a Federal Insurance Monopoly.

Obamacare is in violation of US Anti-Trust Laws.

Obamacare is a Federal Insurance Premium Collection Agency, aka FIPCA for Obamacare.

We CONSERVATIVES know that there will be other future Federal Insurance Ponzi Schemes, right down to the Insurance Premium collected for the inhaling of the EPA ruled toxic gas CO2.

Then FIPCA will be there to collect that CO2 Insurance premium from all citizens.

But I digress, so let us focus on the present.

If Boehner Caves In to the Court of Public Opinion, which is run by the Low Information Liberal “Mainstream” Media, and Obamacare is funded, Obama can then raise every year or quarter his Obamacare insurance premiums as high as he wants to, and the sorry US Congress can’t do anything about it.

Congress will thus be bypassed, and will no longer be needed in the future to fund the vote buying schemes of the social engineering POTUS.

Could Boehner be stupid enough to come up with his own Boehnercare Ponzi Scheme?


17 posted on 10/03/2013 11:06:08 AM PDT by Graewoulf (Traitor John Roberts' Marxist Obama'care' Insurance violates U.S. Constitution AND Anti-Trust Law.)
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To: Kaslin

Our nugatious thug .. Hehe


18 posted on 10/03/2013 12:26:58 PM PDT by VRWC For Truth (Roberts has perverted the Constitution)
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