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Title: Republicans in Disarray
Source:
[None]
URL Source: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics ... republicans-in-disarray/37836/
Published: Mar 22, 2010
Author: Marc Ambinder
Post Date: 2010-03-22 15:45:57 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 1368
Comments: 5
A week ago, Republicans were united and on the verge of completely commanding the political narrative between now and November. Now, with their entire strategy having been upended by the Democratic health care victory, the party is in disarray. There is no fallback on health care -- none -- except to call for repeal, as conservative House lawmakers and congressional candidates have already begun to do. But what to repeal? The "bad" stuff -- tax increases and such -- kick in later. Most everyone who will feel reform's touch within the next year or so will get benefits, be it in the form of not having their coverage rescinded, or be it a $250 rebate check from the government. Today, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged as much by refusing to say whether Republicans actually would move to repeal legislation, or parts of it, if they manage to take control of the Senate. The bundled issue-history of health reform remains unpopular enough for Republicans to campaign on repealing it, but it's hard to imagine the enthusiasm gap between high-interest voters widening any further. The price of health care, and its repeal, has been factored in to the Republican midterm base. (That's not to say that the arguments, substantively, aren't there: see Megan's 8 predictions.) For Democrats, though, there is upside potential. Other Republicans will go ahead with lawsuits, challenging Congress's presumed lack of authority to force citizens to buy health coverage or be punished by the government. (Andrew Cohen explains why this reasoning is fairly specious.) Let's move beyond health care for a moment. Today, the White House welcomed faith-based groups who are demanding a vote on immigration reform. Congressional leaders don't know whether one will be in the offing by November, but the debate is certain to flare up. And the business lobby, which had united against health care reform, will suddenly find itself split: the same would be the case if the president were to try and use his political capital to push through climate change legislation. Doubtful he would, but he if he did, there would be many megaphones at work. Democrats assume that the immigration debate will open the curtain on the Tea Party movement; health care will be child's play compared to the tantrums over the prospect of earned legalization and other measures. The overlap between the Tea Partiers and ethnocentric immigration restrictionists is huge, and even many Republicans worry that the embedded nativism in the movement, whether or not it is also racialized (as a proxy for being against Obama and his ilk) will come to the fore in a way that once again diminishes the fervor of right-leaning independents and energizes Hispanics. But forget immigration even: the next two big presidential initiatives, domestically, at least, will be -- or should be -- easy political victories: reauthorizing but reforming the education law, and financial services reform. All the while, Democrats can pick and choose elements of health care that are popular and force Republicans to look cruel in their calls for repeal.
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#1. To: Brian S (#0)
ROTFLMAO! God, I love liberal theory, its always hilarious. The only bi partisanship this year has been exhibited by the 'opposition' to this administration, as the vote yesterday evening demonstrates. Dems crossing the aisle to REPUBLICANS...and The Atlantic calls it 'disarray'? Sheesh, the GOP hasn't been this UNITED since 9/12/2001.
my anti groupie can't get through life without me.
Obama should offer a tax break to millionaires for every person who benefits from this bill. That will make the Republicans happy.
"I’ll just tell you this, if this passes and it’s five years from now and all that stuff gets implemented — I am leaving the country. I’ll go to Costa Rica!" -Rush Limbaugh
You're saying then that millionaires are republicans? I wonder if this republican millionaire would get a tax break. I'm sure she would. Or better yet - she will write herself one. Or even better yet. She won't PAY any taxes.
Obammy sez it I'm certainly not a millionaire, so I have no vested interest in this, but . . . Are you one of those who resents everyone who "has one-dollar more than you"? If you are - and you hate "those evil millionaire bastards" who are all republicans, of course, consider this. That attitude is oh so 1930s. C'mon. Those millionaire bastards are as smart as they are evil. They learned in the 1930s (when they actually WERE all republicans. Well, except for FDR. But no matter) When FDR came to power, they learned that they better "grease the palms" of those virtuous democrats. That made the democrats less virtuous. And the evil republican bastard millionaires less threatened. The evil (no longer all republican) millionaire bastards gave money to democrats. Which they did (and continue to do) In spades. You need to get with the times, there, Sam. Keep up!
Obammy sez it Nope, not at all. But the big mouth republicans like Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, etc. all are. Give them another big tax break and they'll be happy.
"I’ll just tell you this, if this passes and it’s five years from now and all that stuff gets implemented — I am leaving the country. I’ll go to Costa Rica!" -Rush Limbaugh
#2. To: Brian S (#0)
The "bad" stuff -- tax increases and such -- kick in later.
#3. To: Skip Intro (#2)
(Edited)
Obama should offer a tax break to millionaires for every person who benefits from this bill. That will make the Republicans happy.
I believes it
an' that settles it!
#4. To: Skip Intro (#2)
(Edited)
I believes it
an' that settles it!
#5. To: Get Outta Dodge! (#3)
You're saying then that millionaires are republicans?
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