The Briefing Room
General Category => Politics/Government => Topic started by: mystery-ak on May 12, 2014, 01:09:27 pm
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http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/205752-gop-goes-quiet-on-o-care (http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/205752-gop-goes-quiet-on-o-care)
GOP goes quiet on ObamaCare
By Elise Viebeck - 05/12/14 06:00 AM EDT
House Republicans have no scheduled votes or hearings on ObamaCare, signaling a shift in the party’s strategy as the White House rides a wave of good news on the law.
Not a single House committee has announced plans to attack the healthcare law in the coming weeks, and only one panel of jurisdiction commented to The Hill despite repeated inquiries.
GOP campaign committees also declined to say whether they will launch any new efforts on the law.
The lack of action highlights the GOP’s struggle to adjust its message now that enrollment in the exchanges beat projections and the uninsured rate is going down. Insurers also report that 80 to 90 percent of new policyholders are paying their premiums, contradicting a frequent criticism from the GOP.
This dynamic was laid bare last week as Republicans failed to land punches against the healthcare law in a hearing of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee. In a rare display, Democrats began to control the message as witnesses from health insurance companies rebuffed several lines of GOP questioning.
Republicans are conscious of the need to keep a drumbeat going against the law.The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a memo on Friday that said the law remained deeply unpopular and that “liberal media elites” touting the idea it was a success were beginning to influence beat reporters desperate for a new story.
The memo noted that Democratic candidates aren’t touting their support for the law, a sign of their uneasiness.
But The Washington Post reported Friday that three major groups allied with Democrats will launch public advertising campaigns about ObamaCare.
The Service Employees International Union, Planed Parenthood Action Fund and MoveOn.org are each launching campaigns that highlight popular parts of the Affordable Care Act. The ads are meant to boost the law and officials who backed it.
Republicans remain confident the reform won’t work, and that the party’s opposition to it will be rewarded in elections to come.
Hitting a new record, 55 percent disapproved of ObamaCare in the latest Pew poll, a finding that bolsters GOP confidence that the law’s unpopularity will help them in this year’s elections.
At the same time, Republican aides and strategists said the party is taking the opportunity to broaden its portfolio of issues ahead of November amid a changing landscape on healthcare
“They are now recognizing that they need to be more than a one-trick pony,” said Ford O'Connell, a veteran of Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign and chairman of CivicForumPAC.
This is evident in the new energy House Republicans are putting into a probe into the Benghazi attacks, and a range of pocketbook issues that dovetail nicely with the past criticisms of the healthcare law.
“The two go hand in hand,” GOP pollster Glen Bolger said. “[Voters] are just worried about the quality of their healthcare declining. They're also worried it’s going to cost them more money, and generally more money for less is not a winning proposition.
The change in focus is also evident in what Republicans are not doing.
Last fall, the GOP tore into ObamaCare around the clock, and criticisms of the law became a huge story amid the enrollment website's woes. Now, major news events related to the Affordable Care Act barely draw a Republican response.
Republicans virtually ignored the final release of ObamaCare's enrollment numbers and a report that healthcare spending jumped in the first quarter of 2014. Mentions of the law have dwindled in press conferences by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), where they were a mainstay earlier this year.
And on the Senate side, the usual partisan rancor was almost completely absent during last week’s confirmation hearing for the next Health and Human Services secretary. Only a few GOP senators mentioned ObamaCare in their questions, and three Republicans failed to attend the event at all.
The House has no plans to vote on ObamaCare legislation in May, according to a memo from Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) released late last month.
It is also unclear when the party's replacement proposal for the law will come to a vote.
Despite pressure from conservatives, Cantor has not committed to put a bill on the House floor by August recess.
Democratic leaders have long insisted the law would boost their electoral hopes in the fall, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) predicted this week that GOP opposition would haunt Republicans.
“The Republican position of repeal has become increasingly problematic for GOP Senate candidates, so it’s no surprise that they’re beginning to abandon their failed strategy of wasting millions attacking Democrats on ObamaCare,” said DSCC spokesman Justin Barasky.
On the campaign trail, it is clear that some candidates and groups are starting to pivot.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently launched its first major ad campaign looking toward the general election.
While all the ads touted GOP lawmakers’ and candidates’ work to boost the economy and create jobs, only a handful made mention of ObamaCare.
Looking toward his general election fight, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) released an ad last week that also focused on job creation.
McConnell and others are sure to highlight the unpopular law in the coming months. But it remains to be seen how much, and that will largely depend on whether ObamaCare-related premiums increase this summer.
Republicans argue the transition is natural for this stage in the campaign cycle.“There is absolutely zero evidence that any Republican is talking about ObamaCare less,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Brook Hougesen in a statement.
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I'm going by what I see, and what I see says that the Republicans don't want to win in November.
They are killing themselves trying to get amnesty passed.
They don't want to hammer on obamacare, because they want obamacare.
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GOP goes quiet on.....just about everything.
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I'm going by what I see, and what I see says that the Republicans don't want to win in November.
They are killing themselves trying to get amnesty passed.
They don't want to hammer on obamacare, because they want obamacare.
The term you are looking for is 'controlled opposition'.
They give the appearance of opposition but compromise on all of the key issues.
Anyone who thinks the GOP is going to 'save the country' hasn't been paying attention for the past 100 years or so...
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The term you are looking for is 'controlled opposition'.
They give the appearance of opposition but compromise on all of the key issues.
Anyone who thinks the GOP is going to 'save the country' hasn't been paying attention for the past 100 years or so...
When Boehner, the Democrats, and most of the GOP establishment went on their big island vacation with Soros, that said it all. They are all working for the same people, and ain't us.
Boehner is the quintessential Caspar Milquetoast character, crying and self flagellating himself with every step he takes.
Nothing, nothing at all will ever change no matter who is running the circus until the entire government is replaced. I am not sure what it would take to make that happen. They are all the same, and the are all playing us for fools.
But yes. It is clear that the GOP establishment would rather elect Democrats (at least Democrats know the rules and play the game) before they would elect anyone who is independent, or anyone who is not in their country club.
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When Boehner, the Democrats, and most of the GOP establishment went on their big island vacation with Soros, that said it all. They are all working for the same people, and ain't us.
Boehner is the quintessential Caspar Milquetoast character, crying and self flagellating himself with every step he takes.
Nothing, nothing at all will ever change no matter who is running the circus until the entire government is replaced. I am not sure what it would take to make that happen. They are all the same, and the are all playing us for fools.
But yes. It is clear that the GOP establishment would rather elect Democrats (at least Democrats know the rules and play the game) before they would elect anyone who is independent, or anyone who is not in their country club.
Unfortunately, what it will take is exactly what's coming. Collapse, extreme hard times. Americans are comfortable and uncaring. When reality smacks them and requires serious, compromising life choices, then things will change. Not a second before. We are headed to a very bad place, and it's an unalterable course.
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The term you are looking for is 'controlled opposition'.
They give the appearance of opposition but compromise on all of the key issues.
Anyone who thinks the GOP is going to 'save the country' hasn't been paying attention for the past 100 years or so...
Meet the new boss, same as the old one.
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The term you are looking for is 'controlled opposition'.
They give the appearance of opposition but compromise on all of the key issues.
Anyone who thinks the GOP is going to 'save the country' hasn't been paying attention for the past 100 years or so...
I have to agree with you Dan. Anyone can see by the GOP's actions that they do NOT want to win! You would have to be delusional to think that they do. Actions speak way louder than words. The GOP thinks they have pretty much defeated that very terrible Tea Party - so they won't have to pound their fists and make all that noise now. They can go back to business-as-usual.
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When Boehner, the Democrats, and most of the GOP establishment went on their big island vacation with Soros, that said it all. They are all working for the same people, and ain't us.
Yep, and Soros is a good example ...
Nothing, nothing at all will ever change no matter who is running the circus until the entire government is replaced. I am not sure what it would take to make that happen. They are all the same, and the are all playing us for fools.
But yes. It is clear that the GOP establishment would rather elect Democrats (at least Democrats know the rules and play the game) before they would elect anyone who is independent, or anyone who is not in their country club.
I don't think replacing the government would change anything. The same people would still run things and you don't get to play unless you play along. Get too far out of control and a bad case of lead poisoning will come your way...
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The GOP thinks they have pretty much defeated that very terrible Tea Party - so they won't have to pound their fists and make all that noise now. They can go back to business-as-usual.
The Tea Party is full of great people, but it has already been compromised.
All you have to do is look at Rubio's comments wrt the Ukraine and Russia.
The Nuland tapes showed that the U.S. was doing the bidding of her masters, yet the Russians are the 'bad guys'?
Marco's either uninformed or compromised. I vote 'compromised'.
As I said, you just don't get to stay at that level unless you play along...
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I'm going by what I see, and what I see says that the Republicans don't want to win in November.
They are killing themselves trying to get amnesty passed.
They don't want to hammer on obamacare, because they want obamacare.
That's not my take, Relic.
Obamacare is a lit fuse. A looooooong fuse.
Time to focus on scandals......
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The American system of government was founded on the idea that people are moral and will behave honorably. When those principles are undermined, then government becomes a nothing more than a criminal organization, as we have today.
These government people are living to get paid and nothing more than that. As long as they keep getting paid (with our money BTW) then they will continue to rever and even worship the status-quo at any cost. Nothing must change. Everything has to stay exactly the same no matter what.
They have a great life. They get paid upward of 50% more than anyone in the real society. They get world class heath care, dental, pensions, enormous paid vacations that a real worker couldn't even dream of. They are living like gods, on our backs. Of course they don't want anything to change. Why would they? They have it made.
It is a sad way to live, in my opinion, when your entire life is dedicated to nothing more than immediate self interests. But, that is how those people live. I don't know how they sleep at night, knowing that they are nothing more than thieves and criminals.
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These government people are living to get paid and nothing more than that. As long as they keep getting paid (with our money BTW) then they will continue to rever and even worship the status-quo at any cost. Nothing must change. Everything has to stay exactly the same no matter what.
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OUr culture has eroded to the point where to suggest a member of the political class should put something above self interest is met with derision, even on conservative sites.
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That's not my take, Relic.
Obamacare is a lit fuse. A looooooong fuse.
Time to focus on scandals......
We disagree. A member of the GOP let slip the real agenda when she said obamacare can't be repealed.
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We disagree. A member of the GOP let slip the real agenda when she said obamacare can't be repealed.
A non-ranking Republican in a local interview. One person's opinion stated publicly doesn't make it so.
Why harp and complain about a terminal disease that has infected your opponent?
But in the meantime, there are other topics out there that are opening up many eyes about this regime....and DEMS in gerenal.
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But in the meantime, there are other topics out there that are opening up many eyes about this regime....and DEMS in gerenal.
I don't see that, nor do I hear it. I use my moderate friends as a barometer. While they get a vague feeling that Obama isn't all that they thought he was, they're totally convinced ANY Republican would be worse.
I almost dismiss any news that isn't from an MSM outlet. Not because it isn't true, but because if it doesn't come from the MSM, many, (most?), Americans don't know about it.
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I don't see that, nor do I hear it. I use my moderate friends as a barometer. While they get a vague feeling that Obama isn't all that they thought he was, they're totally convinced ANY Republican would be worse.
I almost dismiss any news that isn't from an MSM outlet. Not because it isn't true, but because if it doesn't come from the MSM, many, (most?), Americans don't know about it.
Will agree with you, Relic.
However, the price of food, shelter and clothing don't need headlines or speeches to drive home that "something is rotten" in Washington.
Like MLK, I too, have a dream.
That the Republican POTUS candidate will speak to these trampled families....filled with optimism and a patriotic message.
And he'll say it both in English and Spanish....without a teleprompter.
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I use my moderate friends as a barometer. While they get a vague feeling that Obama isn't all that they thought he was, they're totally convinced ANY Republican would be worse.
And those are the people who will vote...
(http://i1310.photobucket.com/albums/s658/GourmetDan/hill_zps9f29d40e.jpg)
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And those are the people who will vote...
(http://i1310.photobucket.com/albums/s658/GourmetDan/hill_zps9f29d40e.jpg)
Why does it matter if a Democrat or Republican wins when we have already established that they're both working for the same people?
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Why does it matter if a Democrat or Republican wins when we have already established that they're both working for the same people?
Bush or Obama?
How fast do you want to 'circle the bowl'?
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Bush or Obama?
How fast do you want to 'circle the bowl'?
So do you believe Republicans are less corrupt, but only slightly? It seems more likely to me than the entire thing is bought and paid for and little more than a show to keep the masses placated.
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Will agree with you, Relic.
However, the price of food, shelter and clothing don't need headlines or speeches to drive home that "something is rotten" in Washington.
Like MLK, I too, have a dream.
That the Republican POTUS candidate will speak to these trampled families....filled with optimism and a patriotic message.
And he'll say it both in English and Spanish....without a teleprompter.
Unfortunately, the Democrats/Media control the microphone. Even when the cost of living gets to be unbearable to ordinary working Americans - guess who will get the blame? Those old meany Republicans that are blocking everything Obama and the Democrats are trying to do for us! Even when it is staring us right in the face - the typical American will not see it - because Obama is telling us, "Who are you going to believe, ME or your lying eyes?"
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Unfortunately, the Democrats/Media control the microphone. Even when the cost of living gets to be unbearable to ordinary working Americans - guess who will get the blame? Those old meany Republicans that are blocking everything Obama and the Democrats are trying to do for us! Even when it is staring us right in the face - the typical American will not see it - because Obama is telling us, "Who are you going to believe, ME or your lying eyes?"
It comes down to one central point, that we all agree on, to some extent. The public is deserves the ultimate blame, (with the media a razor close second). America deserves what's coming.
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So do you believe Republicans are less corrupt, but only slightly? It seems more likely to me than the entire thing is bought and paid for and little more than a show to keep the masses placated.
The agenda only advances as quickly as 'the masses' will accept...
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The agenda only advances as quickly as 'the masses' will accept...
It seems to me that instead of continuing to play their game and elect the lesser of two evils we should be trying to change the game so we are actually players.
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So do you believe Republicans are less corrupt, but only slightly? It seems more likely to me than the entire thing is bought and paid for and little more than a show to keep the masses placated.
Congress does have that feel, doesn't it? Like it is all one big show. Pelosi and Reid do their dance and say crazy shit, and the Pubs do their gig, and read their parts. It is like it is all just a play, and we do not know who the writers, directors, and producers are.
The only constant is that nothing ever really changes, except for the worse like Obamacare. Everything always stays essentially the same or it gets worse, no matter who is running the show. Obviously Republicans are more moderate than radical Liberals, but they rarely if ever effect any meaningful change.
Everything just plods along, the same or worse just like it has been for decade after decade. Does anyone really think there will ever be a 'fair tax' for example? Of course not. The 'powers' that run the shadow government will never allow it. They are the ones who are really calling the shots.
Does anyone think we will ever reform our involvement with the U.N.? or that we will ever reign in the EPA nazi stormtroopers? Of course not. These things are 'not allowed' no matter who the President is. These things are off the table by the powers that be no matter who is in charge.
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It seems to me that instead of continuing to play their game and elect the lesser of two evils we should be trying to change the game so we are actually players.
There is a contingent of us that are actually trying to do that - but it is extremely difficult to "fight the system" and mistakes will be made along the way. I hope that we are learning both from our mistakes and the tyrannical tactics used on us by both parties, and that - although we are making some slow progress - it is progress nonetheless.
We are a grassroots movement in its infancy.
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It seems to me that instead of continuing to play their game and elect the lesser of two evils we should be trying to change the game so we are actually players.
Well... you have the players, the coaches and the owners. Politicians are players, Soros is a coach, the owners are ?
As I said earlier in the thread; if you wanna be a playa, you have to play along or you will get a bad case of lead poisoning...
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There is a contingent of us that are actually trying to do that - but it is extremely difficult to "fight the system" and mistakes will be made along the way. I hope that we are learning both from our mistakes and the tyrannical tactics used on us by both parties, and that - although we are making some slow progress - it is progress nonetheless.
We are a grassroots movement in its infancy.
You're not going to get far trying to work inside a party that we have already determined is largely corrupted by big money.
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You're not going to get far trying to work inside a party that we have already determined is largely corrupted by big money.
We actually have to reach out to all people. It's like I told the anthropogenic global-warmist who didn't like my evidence because it was sponsored by 'big money'.
I told him that if he didn't think 'big money' was positioned to get rich off of him through 'global-warming controls', he was a fool. I think he 'got it' because that was the last I heard from him.
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240b wrote above:
[[ Nothing, nothing at all will ever change no matter who is running the circus until the entire government is replaced. I am not sure what it would take to make that happen. ]]
You're completely right, of course.
It's become obvious that the Republican party is not even going to attempt to reverse the course that Obama and the leftists have set the nation towards. If anything, I sense the members of the Republican establishment fully realize that they are destined to become a regional (not "national") party, perhaps never to win a presidential election again -- yet are fully satisfied with that reality, SO LONG AS they get to have "the minority seat" at the table and access to the perks and pleasures of being in the big government.
I think it's also obvious -- even though most (or nearly all) of the participants of this forum won't openly admit as much -- that the gargantua which the DC government has become will never be "replaced" without an upheaval that almost certainly will involve confrontation and violence.
But getting back to what you said above -- "what would it take to make that happen" ??
I sense "it" will involve something of a currency collapse, a la the Weimar Republic circa 1923. When such gimmicks as "quantative easing" have fallen by the wayside, with no hope of a real "fix" in sight, because no one has the intestinal fortitude to enact measures that would cause real pain amongst the people. This particularly applies to the democrats/leftists -- who could imagine them revoking the Section 8, the EBT, the ObamaCare, the ObamaPhones ??
"It" will happen when the lights don't work -- not because the you didn't pay the bill, but because the light company can't pay -its- bills any more.
"It" will happen when La'toyatisha goes to the supermarket, tries to pay with the EBT card, and.... nothing -- funds cancelled.
"It" will happen when you go to the supermarket and try to buy some milk and meat -- and can't, because the farmers that used to supply such things had to sell or kill off all their cattle because the EPA passed new regulations regarding cow methane emissions that made it impossible to raise livestock any longer, at least at a profit.
"It" will happen when you can't find fresh vegetables any more, because out in California (where a huge chunk of the nation's agriculture is located) the federal and state EPA's have restricted water use to farmers to the point where the land is receding into a new manmade dust bowl.
"It" will happen when in California and much of the southwest, there isn't enough water left for humans, letalone agriculture. Drudge had an article up today about a town almost out of water.
The point may arrive -- slowly, but with the growing accumulation of factors, akin to a snowball rolling downhill -- where things simply STOP WORKING, regardless of the government's orders that they "start working again".
Maybe like the character Lewis (Burt Reynolds) said in Deliverance: "machines are gonna fail, the system's gonna fail. And then... who has the ability to survive...."
Let me give you an analogy. It's a little longish (to present all the info), but I think you'll get it.
Some years ago, out in California, there was an incident on the Southern Pacific Railroad involving a runaway train loaded with aggregate, may have been bauxite.
The particulars were that the train had been overloaded (it weighed substantially more than on the air brake slip given to the engineer), and that the dynamic brakes on the engines were only half-working (the dynamic brake is like an "engine brake" that holds the train back rougly analogous to the "Jake Brake" on a diesel truck).
Going down the mountain, the engineer tried an air application (mixed with dynamic) and found it wasn't keeping the train under control. At some point he tried emergency, but by then the train was moving fast enough (because of the excessive weight) that the brakes no longer had enough "braking horsepower" to restrain the train. In fact, the heat of the brake shoes against the wheels got so hot, that the shoes melted away -- making any hope of slowing the train down impossible.
As it ran away downgrade, it approached a developed area that had a sharp curve that at the speeds the train was moving, it wasn't going to negotiate. The conductor turned to the engineer, and said "This is where we're gonna die". (Aside: I know the story because it was told to me personally by another engineer who was a friend of the guy running the train.)
And that's where it went off, destroying a number of homes and killing several people.
The conductor -did- die, but the engineer survived, and eventually was paid a large settlement by the railroad and got his job back. The runaway was not attributed to him, because he had not been provided with proper information about the true weight of his train (something enginemen who run on mountain grades take very seriously), and because not all the engines were in suitable condition for such service (inoperative dynamic brakes).
Well, told you that to tell you this.
With a train racing downhill, without brakes at excessive speed, there is nothing that can stop it -- except for the inevitable wreck. There is no other possible solution. Forget what you saw in "Unstoppable" -- it was a shuck, and folks who made their living on the railroad laughed at it.
It's only AFTER the train has wrecked, that it's possible to clean up the debris, rebuild the track, and start over.
There is no one in DC that can stop the coming wreck.
The democrats certainly won't. Like communists, they'll lie to the end. To their last breath, they'll tell you that the train cannot wreck.
The Republicans won't, either. They'll be too busy enjoying the role of "tokens at the DC country club", and hey -- this is the democrats' fault, anyway. Let THEM solve it.
I kind of doubt that anyone with such ability will appear in the future, and even if he (or she) does, whatever cries he raises and whatever solutions he proposes will be shouted down in anger.
Yes, ANGER -- who are you, and why are you trying to derail our gravy train ?????
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240b wrote above:
[[ Nothing, nothing at all will ever change no matter who is running the circus until the entire government is replaced. I am not sure what it would take to make that happen. ]]
You're completely right, of course.
It's become obvious that the Republican party is not even going to attempt to reverse the course that Obama and the leftists have set the nation towards. If anything, I sense the members of the Republican establishment fully realize that they are destined to become a regional (not "national") party, perhaps never to win a presidential election again -- yet are fully satisfied with that reality, SO LONG AS they get to have "the minority seat" at the table and access to the perks and pleasures of being in the big government.
I think it's also obvious -- even though most (or nearly all) of the participants of this forum won't openly admit as much -- that the gargantua which the DC government has become will never be "replaced" without an upheaval that almost certainly will involve confrontation and violence.
But getting back to what you said above -- "what would it take to make that happen" ??
I sense "it" will involve something of a currency collapse, a la the Weimar Republic circa 1923. When such gimmicks as "quantative easing" have fallen by the wayside, with no hope of a real "fix" in sight, because no one has the intestinal fortitude to enact measures that would cause real pain amongst the people. This particularly applies to the democrats/leftists -- who could imagine them revoking the Section 8, the EBT, the ObamaCare, the ObamaPhones ??
"It" will happen when the lights don't work -- not because the you didn't pay the bill, but because the light company can't pay -its- bills any more.
"It" will happen when La'toyatisha goes to the supermarket, tries to pay with the EBT card, and.... nothing -- funds cancelled.
"It" will happen when you go to the supermarket and try to buy some milk and meat -- and can't, because the farmers that used to supply such things had to sell or kill off all their cattle because the EPA passed new regulations regarding cow methane emissions that made it impossible to raise livestock any longer, at least at a profit.
"It" will happen when you can't find fresh vegetables any more, because out in California (where a huge chunk of the nation's agriculture is located) the federal and state EPA's have restricted water use to farmers to the point where the land is receding into a new manmade dust bowl.
"It" will happen when in California and much of the southwest, there isn't enough water left for humans, letalone agriculture. Drudge had an article up today about a town almost out of water.
The point may arrive -- slowly, but with the growing accumulation of factors, akin to a snowball rolling downhill -- where things simply STOP WORKING, regardless of the government's orders that they "start working again".
Maybe like the character Lewis (Burt Reynolds) said in Deliverance: "machines are gonna fail, the system's gonna fail. And then... who has the ability to survive...."
Let me give you an analogy. It's a little longish (to present all the info), but I think you'll get it.
Some years ago, out in California, there was an incident on the Southern Pacific Railroad involving a runaway train loaded with aggregate, may have been bauxite.
The particulars were that the train had been overloaded (it weighed substantially more than on the air brake slip given to the engineer), and that the dynamic brakes on the engines were only half-working (the dynamic brake is like an "engine brake" that holds the train back rougly analogous to the "Jake Brake" on a diesel truck).
Going down the mountain, the engineer tried an air application (mixed with dynamic) and found it wasn't keeping the train under control. At some point he tried emergency, but by then the train was moving fast enough (because of the excessive weight) that the brakes no longer had enough "braking horsepower" to restrain the train. In fact, the heat of the brake shoes against the wheels got so hot, that the shoes melted away -- making any hope of slowing the train down impossible.
As it ran away downgrade, it approached a developed area that had a sharp curve that at the speeds the train was moving, it wasn't going to negotiate. The conductor turned to the engineer, and said "This is where we're gonna die". (Aside: I know the story because it was told to me personally by another engineer who was a friend of the guy running the train.)
And that's where it went off, destroying a number of homes and killing several people.
The conductor -did- die, but the engineer survived, and eventually was paid a large settlement by the railroad and got his job back. The runaway was not attributed to him, because he had not been provided with proper information about the true weight of his train (something enginemen who run on mountain grades take very seriously), and because not all the engines were in suitable condition for such service (inoperative dynamic brakes).
Well, told you that to tell you this.
With a train racing downhill, without brakes at excessive speed, there is nothing that can stop it -- except for the inevitable wreck. There is no other possible solution. Forget what you saw in "Unstoppable" -- it was a shuck, and folks who made their living on the railroad laughed at it.
It's only AFTER the train has wrecked, that it's possible to clean up the debris, rebuild the track, and start over.
There is no one in DC that can stop the coming wreck.
The democrats certainly won't. Like communists, they'll lie to the end. To their last breath, they'll tell you that the train cannot wreck.
The Republicans won't, either. They'll be too busy enjoying the role of "tokens at the DC country club", and hey -- this is the democrats' fault, anyway. Let THEM solve it.
I kind of doubt that anyone with such ability will appear in the future, and even if he (or she) does, whatever cries he raises and whatever solutions he proposes will be shouted down in anger.
Yes, ANGER -- who are you, and why are you trying to derail our gravy train ?????
Spot on. And great analogy as well. People are living in a fantasy world if they think "elections" are going to fix anything. Maybe push off the date that the train goes off the track by a few years, but they ain't going to keep it on the rails.
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The democrats certainly won't. Like communists, they'll lie to the end. To their last breath, they'll tell you that the train cannot wreck.
The Republicans won't, either. They'll be too busy enjoying the role of "tokens at the DC country club", and hey -- this is the democrats' fault, anyway. Let THEM solve it.
I kind of doubt that anyone with such ability will appear in the future, and even if he (or she) does, whatever cries he raises and whatever solutions he proposes will be shouted down in anger.
Yes, ANGER -- who are you, and why are you trying to derail our gravy train ?????
Very well said. I have been saying the same thing, although not as well as you have here, for some time.
We are headed to the crash, and no one with any power seems interested in doing anything to avoid it.