Posted on 09/30/2013 8:59:32 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The House passed a continuing resolution last night that delays the implementation of Obamacare’s individual mandate for a year while funding the federal government’s operations through December.
The party line vote virtually assures a government shutdown at midnight on Monday.
The CR also contains a repeal of the medical device tax that most Democrats support. But Harry Reid has indicated it doesn’t matter, as the Senate will only consider a “clean” bill without any Obamacare riders.
The Washington Post reports:
“We will do everything we can to protect Americans against the harmful effects of Obamacare. This bill does that. We’re united in the House as Republicans,” Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.) said shortly after unveiling the plan to his rank and file. “Now it’s up to the Senate Democrats to answer.”
That response came quickly. Even before the House had a chance to vote on its proposal, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) blasted it as “pointless.” Democratic aides said the Senate would set aside the House amendments, probably first thing Monday, leaving GOP leaders with a stark choice: approve the simple funding bill the Senate has already passed or permit federal agencies to close.
“As I have said repeatedly, the Senate will reject any Republican attempt to force changes to the Affordable Care Act through a mandatory government funding bill,” Reid said in a written statement. “After weeks of futile political games from Republicans, we are still at square one.”
White House press secretary Jay Carney called the latest GOP strategy “reckless and irresponsible.”
“Any member of the Republican Party who votes for this bill is voting for a shutdown,” Carney said in a written statement.
As the House convened for the rare Saturday session, senior Republicans seemed to recognize the potential consequences of their actions. For now, Boehner’s decision to appease his right wing keeps an uneasy peace in his fractious caucus. But it bodes ill for his ability to work with Democrats to keep the government open, restore funding for federal agencies if a shutdown occurs or — in a few weeks — raise the federal debt limit to avoid a first-ever default on the national debt.
Leaders of both parties agree that a government shutdown would be bad for the economy and that a default would be potentially catastrophic. The maneuvering of House Republicans has caused considerable anxiety within their party.
“I think it’s going to be tough for them. They’re having such difficulty pulling things together,” said Sen. Bob Corker (Tenn.), one of several GOP senators who consults frequently with House members. “I don’t know that I have a clear vision how we move through this. And I think the debt ceiling is maybe even more murky.”
Whatever discretionary power the White House has over spending during a shutdown, you can be sure they will use it to put the hurt on the American people, hoping that stories of privation will play on voters’ fears that the shutdown will somehow injure them. They tried the same tactic when the sequester came to pass and it backfired when it became obvious they were gaming the process to make things look far worse than they actually were.
But a shutdown is different. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are certain to be furloughed if the impasse continues for weeks rather than days. The military will continue to be paid thanks to a separate CR passed by the GOP that funds some Pentagon functions. But routine maintenance and deployments could be affected.
Ultimately, we are going to see a clear winner and a clear loser at the end of this. Someone is going to have to cave completely for the government to be funded. Obama knows he would be more than a lame duck if he gives in and delays Obamacare. He’d be a dead duck — an emasculated president whose own party would abandon him. Boehner probably realizes his days as speaker would be numbered if he advocates passing the CR without an Obamacare rider.
The irresistible force has met the immovable object — hence, the shutdown. With the stakes for yielding to the demands of the other side so high, it’s hard to see a quick or easy solution.
Both sides believe the other has underestimated their determination to get their way. Both sides believe the other will eventually come around and be forced to accede to their demands.
Senator Tom Coburn thinks he has a realistic scenario of how the debate will play out:
“The only time you shut down the government is when you shut it down and refuse to open it until you accomplish what you want. But we’ll fold like hotcakes,” Coburn told reporters. “You do not take a hostage you are not going to for sure shoot. And we will not for sure shoot this hostage.”
Coburn has been a fierce critic of the Cruz strategy, so you can take his prediction any way you wish. But he’s right in a tactical sense. Unless the GOP is willing to shut down the government for a very long time, inflicting pain on the American people and probably the economy, they will be pressured into folding after a few days.
And the hell of it is, the hard right wing in the House that has been pushing this futile strategy are not going to be blamed for the cave-in. It will be those who are deemed insufficiently supportive of a cause that never had a chance to succeed who will probably suffer the consequences.
RINOs in the Senate will continue to bend over and twerk.
Rove and Co. are already peeing their pants. The AP article will seal it for them. They will cut and run for the high grass.
Screw the republicrats.
Obama’s phone call to the Iranian talking head is just another distraction to keep Congress from defunding Obamacare.
As usual, the 24/7 Media falls for it hook-line-and-sinker.
On the list of future distractions from defunding Obamacare are meetings with various Heads of State in DC and China.
________________
________________
MAKE DC LISTEN: TELL YOUR SENATORS, ESPECIALLY THE DEMOCRATS !
State .... Senator .... Party .... Phone
AK Mark Begich D (202) 224-3004
AK Lisa Murkowski R (202) 224-6665
AL Jeff Sessions R (202) 224-4124
AL Richard C. Shelby R (202) 224-5744
AR John Boozman R (202) 224-4843
AR Mark L. Pryor D (202) 224-2353
AZ Jeff Flake R (202) 224-4521
AZ John McCain R (202) 224-2235
CA Barbara Boxer D (202) 224-3553
CA Dianne Feinstein D (202) 224-3841
CO Michael F. Bennet D (202) 224-5852
CO Mark Udall D (202) 224-5941
CT Richard Blumenthal D (202) 224-2823
CT Christopher Murphy D (202) 224-4041
DE Thomas R. Carper D (202) 224-2441
DE Christopher A. Coons D (202) 224-5042
FL Bill Nelson D (202) 224-5274
FL Marco Rubio R (202) 224-3041
GA Saxby Chambliss R (202) 224-3521
GA Johnny Isakson R (202) 224-3643
HI Mazie K. Hirono D (202) 224-6361
HI Brian Schatz D (202) 224-3934
IA Chuck Grassley R (202) 224-3744
IA Tom Harkin D (202) 224-3254
ID Mike Crapo R (202) 224-6142
ID James E. Risch R (202) 224-2752
IL Richard J. Durbin D (202) 224-2152
IL Mark Kirk R (202) 224-2854
IN Daniel Coats R (202) 224-5623
IN Joe Donnelly D (202) 224-4814
KS Jerry Moran R (202) 224-6521
KS Pat Roberts R (202) 224-4774
KY Mitch McConnell R (202) 224-2541
KY Rand Paul R (202) 224-4343
LA Mary L. Landrieu D (202) 224-5824
LA David Vitter R (202) 224-4623
MA Edward Markey D (202) 224-2742
MA Elizabeth Warren D (202) 224-4543
MD Benjamin L. Cardin D (202) 224-4524
MD Barbara A. Mikulski D (202) 224-4654
ME Susan M. Collins R (202) 224-2523
ME Angus S. King I (202) 224-5344
MI Carl Levin D (202) 224-6221
MI Debbie Stabenow D (202) 224-4822
MN Al Franken D (202) 224-5641
MN Amy Klobuchar D (202) 224-3244
MO Roy Blunt R (202) 224-5721
MO Claire McCaskill D (202) 224-6154
MS Thad Cochran R (202) 224-5054
MS Roger F. Wicker R (202) 224-6253
MT Max Baucus D (202) 224-2651
MT Jon Tester D (202) 224-2644
NC Richard Burr R (202) 224-3154
NC Kay R. Hagan D (202) 224-6342
ND Heidi Heitkamp D (202) 224-2043
ND John Hoeven R (202) 224-2551
NE Deb Fischer R (202) 224-6551
NE Mike Johanns R (202) 224-4224
NH Kelly Ayotte R (202) 224-3324
NH Jeanne Shaheen D (202) 224-2841
NJ Jeff Chiesa R (202) 224-3224
NJ Robert Menendez D (202) 224-4744
NM Martin Heinrich D (202) 224-5521
NM Tom Udall D (202) 224-6621
NV Dean Heller R (202) 224-6244
NV Harry Reid D (202) 224-3542
NY Kirsten E. Gillibrand D (202) 224-4451
NY Charles E. Schumer D (202) 224-6542
OH Sherrod Brown D (202) 224-2315
OH Rob Portman R (202) 224-3353
OK Tom Coburn R (202) 224-5754
OK James M. Inhofe R (202) 224-4721
OR Jeff Merkley D (202) 224-3753
OR Ron Wyden D (202) 224-5244
PA Robert P. Casey D (202) 224-6324
PA Patrick J. Toomey R (202) 224-4254
RI Jack Reed D (202) 224-4642
RI Sheldon Whitehouse D (202) 224-2921
SC Lindsey Graham R (202) 224-5972
SC Tim Scott R (202) 224-6121
SD Tim Johnson D (202) 224-5842
SD John Thune R (202) 224-2321
TN Lamar Alexander R (202) 224-4944
TN Bob Corker R (202) 224-3344
TX John Cornyn R (202) 224-2934
UT Orrin G. Hatch R (202) 224-5251
UT Mike Lee R (202) 224-5444
VA Tim Kaine D (202) 224-4024
VA Mark R. Warner D (202) 224-2023
VT Patrick J. Leahy D (202) 224-4242
VT Bernard Sanders I (202) 224-5141
WA Maria Cantwell D (202) 224-3441
WA Patty Murray D (202) 224-2621
WI Tammy Baldwin D (202) 224-5653
WI Ron Johnson R (202) 224-5323
WV Joe Manchin D (202) 224-3954
WV John D. Rockefeller D (202) 224-6472
WY John Barrasso R (202) 224-6441
WY Michael B. Enzi R (202) 224-3424
Now that we have your attention, you sorry US Senators, keep in mind that we will replace you with those who will gladly correct your errors - - - .
So, scrub and clean by 2014 !
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick —————
- See more at: http://tedcruzforsenate.org/tell-your-senators-to-oppose-cloture-on-h-j-res-59/#sthash.CvqYzXvd.s4d7EOIg.dpuf
_______________________
US SENATE GOP DEAD WEIGHT LIST LOYAL TO OBAMA
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
John Barrasso (R-WY)
John Hoeven (R-ND)
Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
John Boozman (R-AR)
Mike Johanns (R-NE)
Richard Burr (R-NC)
Ron Johnson (R-WI)
Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Jeff Chiesa (R-NJ)
John McCain (R-AZ)
Dan Coats (R-IN)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Lisa Murkowksi (R-AK)
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
John Thune (R-SD)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
Not Voting:
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
_____________________
Obama has found it very easy to advance his narrow ideological agenda of failure-prone Marxism.
4 years after Obama conned his Democrats into passing the Federal takeover of the cash cow of Medical Insurance, the PC, Doormat Republicans are finally timidly suggesting defunding that Federal takeover.
Without the weak, PC, Doormat Republicans Boehner and McConnell being stupidly kept in their respective leadership positions by truly cowardly House and Senate Members, Obama Medical Insurance “Care” Takeover would have been defunded long ago.
The primal yearning of the 47 % who pay no personal Federal Income tax is to belong to a tribe where all of their choices are dictated to them by their arrogant tribal leader.
This a common trait of those who have low self-esteem.
In that sense, Obamanation is truly a cult: low self-esteem people believing everything their cult leader tells them, no questions asked.
Freedom is defined in the dictionary as follows:
1.) Exemption or liberation from slavery or imprisonment.
3.) Liberty of choice or action.
Most of the 47 % riding in the “free” wagon seek out slavery, and lack of personal choice.
They thus feel safe, and secure in the knowledge that “this is as bad as it is going to get.”
Liberty is defined in the dictionary as follows:
1.) The state of being exempt from the domination of others or from restricting circumstances; freedom.
5.) The power of voluntary choice: freedom from necessity.
6.) Individual Liberty: Freedom from restraint in the performance of rights outside of government control.
Most people who are getting a free ride in the wagon where 47 % pay no personal Federal Income Taxes, are terrified of making a voluntary choice.
The 47 % would prefer that they be under government control where the choices are made for him.
All of this societal wussiness has made it very easy for B. Hussein Obama, aka Barry Soetoro, to advance his narrow ideological agenda of European-style, failure-prone, Marxism in spite of PC, Doormat Republican token “opposition.”
BTW, unlike taxes, Federal Obama ‘care’ Insurance charges can be increased EVERY YEAR to whatever % the present and future arrogant leaders of Obamanation wants.
BTW, BTW, the free-loading 47 % will always vote for the Candidate for POTUS approved by Obamanation.
_________________________________
The question to be asked is: “If it is in the Nation’s best interest to shut down the Government, then why are there only TWO Federal Politicians, Obama and Reid, loudly advocating shutting down the US Federal Government?
Obama has MANY reasons to shutdown the Federal Government such as:
1.) A headline grabbing story that will distract attention from the Impeachable scandals of:
Benghazi Massacre Dereliction of Duty by Obama as CIC;
Obamacare Insurance managed by the corrupt IRS;
IRS harassment of political opponents of Obama;
Use of the NSA by Obama to spy on everybody in the USA;
etc, etc.
2.) The use of fear of a shutdown might help to protect defunding and eventual abolishment of Obama’s narrowly focused ideological agenda of an European-style, failure-prone, Marxist, monopoly of the US Medical Insurance Industry.
3.) Spreading fear and blame might also preserve Obama’s power to increase Obamacare Insurance premiums on an annual basis.
*This would be highly advantageous to Obama as the increase in mandatory insurance premiums would not be a tax, as the “unexpected market conditions” would be given as the reason for the increase.
*Also there would be no need to ask for the “Advice and Consent” of Congress, as the IRS would be in complete control of all income and medical records.
4.) The last reason is the most important for Obama, personally: America would at last no longer be a Nation where the Liberty to choose one’s own family destiny could ever exist again.
As for Reid, the best guess I have is that he wants a Government Monopoly of the Medical Insurance Industry. Well, to be fair, Reid calls for a “single payer” system.
My suspician is that multi-millionaire Reid, nearing Federal retirement, owns a lot of stock in some companies that are tied to a “single payer” system.
Maybe the NSA, or the IRS can find out for us?
I’m going to ask my US Senator from TEXAS, The Esteemed Senator John “To Hell with my voters” Cornyn to check on this for me - - - .
Obama is seizing the media, calling in his cabinet to “plan for the shutdown”. Republicans have wooden legs. They should be out in front with their own PR. Not that it would get reported BUT if they don’t do anything, Obama continues to drive the commentary. Lies or not, he must be rebutted. If you look at the loser Democrat office holders they are a benefit to Republicans they way they have been blathering on.
Everybody knows that millions of non-essential bureaucrats would've goten what would've amounted to unscheduled paid vacations.
Pubbies!
Paraphrasing what the scorpion said to the frog, ‘It is their nature; it is what they do.’
Repubs blinked when they didn’t tell Reid to stuff it after the last CR. They should have spent 24/7 repeating “The government was fully funded except for ObeyMeCare.” Instead they allow and help perpetuate the lie that it’s Repub fault for a shutdown, when the opposite is true.
I don’t have any doubt the Republicans will fold up.
Dems would not mind a short (2-3 days) shutdown, because they could turn that into a political goldmine for the 2014 elections.
Dems fear a long shutdown, because they fear many of their supporters might actually realize we don’t need many of those government agencies after all.
Pubbies fear a short shutdown, because they know they will get the blame.
Pubbies fear a long shutdown, because they know they will get the blame.
A shutdown isn’t going to make much difference...will buy some time for these idiots to continue to hash this over only to determine how each can end up smelling like a rose.
As usual, the Congress entire doesn’t work until the last 24 hours.......and it’s just theatrics now IMO.
Republicans already folded when they refused to vote against cloture.....reality is they folded when this beast of a law was passed in the first place.
Either way....they will fold...they always do. Any who think these bums will do otherwise is a fool.
Everybody acts as though we haven't been through this before.
We've seen this movie. We know how it ends. The American people get screwed.
GOP-e in a heartbeat!
In our form of government, the Speaker of the House and Chairman of House Ways and Means used to mean something.
Yep....and that’s because it’s NOT about the American people at all....Obamacare and the debt ceiling issues are all about “revenue to the gov.” period...nothing more.
When you look at all the ways and means the low lifers can be exempt from paying anything...you realize what a farce this whole propaganda ploy is....a complete hoax.
Imagine if you’ve had a utility cut off...or have domestic abuse issues....and countless other behaviors associated with those who never pay....you see they will continue to be exempt...and they’ll continue to use the ER for all treatment.
BLINK??? How about WHO WILL SAVE AMERICA from DISASTER, and I don’t mean the Govt. shutting down. WHO WILL DESTROY AMERICA with OBAMACARE????
Republicans don’t need to blink, their party is right with the Dems.
Will Cruz, Lee, Paul and Co. force representatives and senators to act according to the will and best interests of the people? That’s the real question.
The question of who will blink is rhetorical, right?
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.