My God...We Have Learned Nothing.



My God…We Have Learned Nothing.  I cannot believe what I have been reading in the last couple of weeks.  Many journalists (and I use the term loosely!) have been glancing at Elizabeth Warren as a…wait for it…a presidential candidate.  The logic is that she will be able to run to the left of Hillary Clinton and make a serious run for the Democratic nomination.  Now couple this with the conjecture that Rand Paul could be a serious candidate for the Republican nomination because he appeals to the right wing of the party.  Really? 

Whatever you may think of Obama, his performance and his policies, it is indisputable that he carried one of the lightest resumes in history when he moved into the White House.  And now, serious people are talking about doubling down on that move (how’s that Obama vote working out for ya…change you can believe in?) by giving us a choice between a wannabe Indian chief and a curly headed idealist.  

At the local (county) level of politics in this country, it is common to hear our friends and neighbors moan and groan about the quality of our political candidates.  The logic goes something like…nobody worth having the job will run for the job.  It is true that running for political office has become very expensive and lays one open to unwarranted intrusion and persecution regarding their private lives.  However, a larger explanation for this logic is that we are always looking for the perfect candidate; the one who looks the part and who thinks just like we do.  Good luck with that search!

Instead of Democrats seeing who can out-socialize the others and Republicans seeing who can out-Tea Party the others, it is time to look for people who are serious about wanting to WORK to improve our government, who are reasonable enough to grasp the reality of what is possible and what is impossible, and most importantly, who can demonstrate a record of experience and accomplishment that gives us some tangible hope that they might be somewhat successful at governing.  He was not my favorite cup of tea, but history will show that Mitt Romney was perhaps the most qualified presidential candidate for his time in our history.  We need to vote for our public officials the same way we hire our employees; choose the best qualified from the pool that is available.  The American voting public was blinded by the light, voted for flash instead of substance, and look where that has gotten us.  Unfortunately, we will always have to live with the question…”How would things be different right now with Romney and Ryan in the White House?”

Repeal And Replace.



Repeal And Replace.  The window of opportunity has been pried open by reality, but many hands are trying to pull it back down.  How long it remains open is very real question.  There exists an opportunity NOW to repeal and replace what is quite possibly the worst piece of legislation ever approved by our government.  It should be done.

In the past, I have been an advocate of trying to fix Obamacare, as opposed to trying to repeal Obamacare.   I attribute that opinion to an objective and pragmatic view that told me repeal was not politically possible and that a fix was essential.  Like almost everyone else, I did not anticipate the degree to which this legislation would fail.  That colossal failure has created the possibility  of starting over (in a legislative sense) by simultaneously repealing the ACA and passing a new piece of health care legislation that reflects the 80 percent of the ACA that can garner bi-partisan support.

You might ask…Why not just fix Obamacare?  The answer is simple.  Even though there is a great deal in the ACA that reflects bi-partisan solutions to real problems in our health care system, the fact is that the ACA is intrinsically tied to the mandates, both individual and employee.   The mandate is woven throughout the fabric of the ACA and it would be impossible to remove it without destroying the program.  I am not a lawyer and do not have a professional understanding of the law, but it continues to confound me that the Supreme Court could rule that it is legal to require us to buy health insurance and then have the government prescribe exactly what that health insurance should be.  This is simply wrong and contrary to so much that our country stands for.

 Democrats could not stomach stand-alone repeal of Obamacare; they have too much skin invested.  They are, however, beginning to realize that the program is fundamentally flawed and will never function as it is designed.  They are looking for a way out of this thing.  The Republican ploy of delaying the mandate is not the solution; that just postpones the inevitable.  In the long run, it will lock in the damage for many, many more citizens.  The rumored Administration ploy of supplying a new subsidy to those who lost existing policies is nonsensical…on so many levels.  It would simply exacerbate the existing problems and do absolutely nothing to address the fundamental fissures in the program.

There was a bi-partisan plan or two in the Senate prior to passage of Obamacare.  There has been a multitude of Obamacare fixes passed in the House.  Clearly, there is common ground between the two parties on health care legislation and that ground has been somewhat prepared.  Without obtrusively inserting government into our lives and personal choices on health care, I believe we can all accept that some of our tax money could be spent on insuring that all Americans have a minimal amount of health care maintenance.  If each party can get around their “win at all costs and crush the opponent” strategies that they are currently employing, they could promulgate some repeal and replace legislation that reflects good compromise and both can declare victory.  Is that really too much to ask from a democratic government?

Well....Here We Are.



Well…Here We Are.  The Obamacare rollout has premiered to, how can I say this, less than rave reviews?  What are we now left with?

·        There is, for the present, a new God-given right to all Americans: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness….and free health insurance if you can’t afford it…and only as prescribed by Uncle Sam.

·        We have a president who is not only a shallow, unprincipled, narcissistic, sophomoric, spiteful incompetent; he is also a liar who will say or do anything, to anybody, at any place, at any time, in order to win a political game.

·        The Republicans are slowly coming to the realization that rather than pursue the “David vs. Goliath” goal of defunding Obamacare, they are much better advised to get out the way and let it deconstruct itself.

·        The mainstream media (I hate that phrase but how else do I refer to them…flock of fools, sniveling groupies, blind following the blind, fools to the fool), based on their coverage recently, remain solidly in the tank for Obama and will rationalize to the max to try and save his hide.

·        The Citizenry of America can be hoodwinked on many issues which do not directly impact their daily lives; they are quite content to be sublime in the abstract.  But doctor bills, hospital bills, prescription bills, and insurance premiums hit home real quickly and this bitter pill is not going down real well.

·        Although one event cannot adequately define an issue, on rare occasions one event will really bring an issue into focus.  The rollout of Obamacare was a chance for its supporters to prove to the public that…yes, the government can competently administer health care for this nation; that government knows better than you what is best for you.  Epic fail.  Anyone who had any illusions about the government’s administrative competence should now realize that if they can’t even get the website right with over 3 years to prepare, how in the hell will they manage a program that reflects one-sixth of this nation’s economy?

·        And then there is this little nugget.  In an arena that has seen command performances from players both Democrat and Republican, this outfit has set new standards for cronyism.  It is nothing short of hilarious that the company that was originally contracted (no-bid, BTW) to construct the ACA website has now received a new ADDITIONAL contract to repair it.  You can’t make this stuff up!

·        Thoughtful Democrats are beginning to have serious doubts about the wisdom of Chicago-style politics.    After ramming Obamacare through the legislative process using every abnormal play in the book (and some new ones heretofore not thought of) on a straight party-line vote (NOT ONE SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTE!), they now roam around whining that the other party will not sit down with them to “fix” Obamacare.   How many ways can you say…”that train has left the station”?

·        Many people, from both political spectrum sides and the middle, are beginning to reflect on the wisdom of Democratic/Progressive/Socialist policies.  They were fooled twice by Obama.  They briefly put the Democrats in full control of government; just long enough to pass Obamacare.  They must now be wondering….”if they can do this to our health care system, what can they do to the rest of our country?”.  The 2014 mid-term elections will be interesting indeed.

·        As much as we all despise excessive Capitol Hill hearings and investigations that seem to go on forever and feature bloviating, self-aggrandizing buffoons from both parties parading themselves before any camera that might be operating, no Administration in my memory of over 60 years needs a thorough cleansing more than this one.  After 5 years of being left to its own devices and having the run of the kingdom, this arrogant king and his minions have created a cesspool that is dire need of draining.  I fear the only way to do this is to shame the media into legitimate investigations.  And the only way I see that happening is if the Republicans gain control of the Senate, hold the House, and begin their infuriating rounds of hearings.  Only if the public is force-fed a taste of this administration’s mode of operation will it raise a clamor sufficient to shame the media into doing its duty.

The Path Forward For Republicans.



The Path Forward For Republicans.  I have been fascinated by all the talking heads rendering their opinions on “who won and who lost” in this recent CR and debt limit struggle; which by the way is not yet completed.  Frankly, I think it a regrettable indictment of the media that we are discussing the issue in these terms and not in the true substance of the arguments.  It is simply just another indication that the media is as shallow as our politicians.

To me, the way forward for the Republicans is very clear.  There is nothing to regret about allowing the diverse elements of your party to have their say; even when it unwise to say it.  True democracy and debate demands that various views are aired in their entirety before any final decision is made; and the very conservative members of the House and Senate who are so adamantly opposed to Obamacare pursued a path they selected based on principle (giving them the benefit of a doubt).  But now, having had the debate and confrontation, it is time to develop a game plan that has a reasonable expectation of bearing some type of substantial benefit.  For that to happen, I believe the Republicans in the both the House and Senate should pursue the following strategy:

·        You do not have the votes to undo Obamacare.  This is reality.  Let it self-destruct.  Do not aid in patching it up with band-aid and scotch tape legislation.  Allow it to fail and then, when that is obvious to all involved, come together with reasonable Democrats and pass a bill that will morph it into what it should have been to start with.  Republicans must accept that Obamacare was passed and cannot be rescinded in whole.  Democrats must accept that Obamacare, as passed, was a train wreck and has to be gutted in order to make it workable.  This is the ultimate win/win in the health care debate.

·        Do your jobs and pass appropriations bills prior to the fiscal year in which they apply.  There is simply no excuse not to do the primary job for which U.S. Senators and Representatives are elected to do.  For the current CR, that means a half-ass bundle job that simply plugs a hole.  For the future, just…do…your…job.  Using a term the Democrats are fond of, the sequester is now “settled law” and we should just let it do its work.  It is a modest step in the right direction.

·        The debt ceiling should not be raised to accommodate additional national debt.  Any increase in that ceiling must be accompanied by appropriate language that will address, at a minimum, an equal reduction in federal spending as compared to the increase. 

·        These three issues should be the foreseeable future agenda for the Republican Party.  They control the House; that is one of three votes.  There are times when they have leverage (debt ceiling) and times when they do not (CR); they really do need to come to terms with recognizing those times.  This nation elected Obama in a swoon.  This nation re-elected Obama out of ignorance.  This nation deserves what it is getting.  Get out of this administration’s way and let it demonstrate, once and for all, to the American public what ruin liberal policy can wreak on our country.  Once that realization becomes mature, be ready with a plan to pick up the pieces and begin to set things right.

Three Steps Towards Sanity.



Three Steps Towards Sanity.  Lord knows there are plenty of experts giving the Republicans advice these days; not to mention an undisclosed number of therapists.   It is rather pointless to discuss what the wisest pre-negotiating position would be when negotiations have matured well towards a deadline; whatever the merits of principle involved, it is now time to fish and stop cutting bait.  Negotiating strategy for the future has a place at the table, but the clock is running down and it is time to execute, not game plan.

Here is one simple man’s idea about how the Republicans (BOTH House and Senate, not option A or option B) should handle this end game on CR and debt ceiling:

1.     The Democrats passed Obamacare on a party line vote.  They passed it using extraordinary procedures.  They had no inkling what was in it and many Democrats are now deeply alarmed at the reality it is revealing.  The administration has played fast and loose with its implementation strategy, handing out exemptions like candy at Halloween.  Obamacare is doomed to failure because of its fundamental logic; let it self destruct.  I do not believe it is sustainable in its true form and substance.  Now sincere legislators will argue that it is their sworn duty to try and correct bad law and that is true.  But a friend once told me that sometimes a train must run completely off the tracks before everyone realizes the train needs to be fixed.  I think we have reached that point with this health care law. Pass a short term CR with adequate time to pass the necessary appropriations bills and above all, adhere to the afore-approved sequester cuts.  They are significant, they represent modest progress in the budget process, and they are as much settled law as Obamacare.  Stop trying to defund Obamacare or revise it in the appropriations process.

2.     There is truly something morally wrong when a law is passed and the folks passing the law exempt themselves and selected others from the law; especially when it is controversial to begin with.  In the CR action, as many exemptions as possible should be removed.  This is a position that is defensible, winnable, and can be easily understood.  In order for voters to realize how truly bad this law is. it needs to be implemented in its original form.  This “cut and paste” implementation philosophy being exercised by the administration is questionable in legitimacy and can go forever, effectively masking just how stupid the original law is.  It was passed; put it out there the way it was passed and let the chips fall.

3.     There is one argument that the public understands and supports in this debt ceiling discussion; that is “one dollar cut for one dollar increase”.  Now we all know that a cut in WDC is not a cut in our hometown, but that is another issue.  This argument is sound in principle, is easily argued, and actually makes some good sense.  Try to slow down spending with the appropriations process; using the debt ceiling to put some meaning in word “ceiling”.

Be Afraid; Be Very Afraid.



Be Afraid; Be Very Afraid.  I have wondered on several occasions since last November exactly what it is that motivates our president to do some of the things that he does.  He is clearly childishly petulant sometimes, reacting without thinking in ways that are spiteful and sophomoric.  This is his true nature and he does these things in a natural way without thinking.  But beyond those moments of infantile behavior, why does he continue to play political brinksmanship games with the Republicans?  It would seem that a man who is no longer going to stand for election would be far more interested in his legacy and getting something substantial in a bipartisan sense accomplished than in winning small battles with the opposition party.

There is only one answer that makes any sense whatsoever.  Everything that Obama does is targeted towards one thing.  If nothing else, he and his minions have the ability to bring a laser type focus on something when they are properly motivated; look no further than their masterful job at getting re-elected.  So, what might it be that is drawing their laser focus at this time?  The only explanation for his inexplicably confrontational and partisan activity is that he is wholly consumed by the 2014 mid-term elections; the goal of holding the Senate and wresting control of the House.  With that objective in hand, he and Reid and Pelosi can begin the completion of the vision they had only begun with the passage of Obamacare.

Whether you be a Republican, an Independent, a Libertarian, a Democrat, or a non-party citizen who votes for the candidate regardless, think about what “Obama unleashed” would be like.  Consider all of his community organizer and activist activities that have come to light since his election.  Consider how his foreign policy has sought to transform  not only the posture of our nation as the beacon of hope for freedom and democracy, but also his shift away from historic allies to a naïve friendship extended to some of the most dangerous governments and organizations in the world today.  Look at how the economy has performed since his election.  Look at how our society and culture has changed since his election.  Consider how your life and the lives of your family members have changed since his election.  Consider how your views and dreams of your future have changed since his election.  Do you feel a sense of pride when he stands behind the podium, beneath the presidential seal, glancing towards his ever-present teleprompter, and dishing forth his meaningless partisan pap about how everything that is bad is someone else’s fault and has nothing to do with him?  Is Russia impressed with him or laughing at him?  Has he reassured Israel or forced them to consider radical autonomous actions to insure their own survival? 

If the Democrats maintain control of the Senate in 2014 and take control of the House, and then continue to be lapdogs for Obama and his activist agenda for America, how much damage can they manage in the two years left to them with unfettered control of our government?  This dream of transformation is what drives our president on a daily basis.   All he does, all he says, and all he plans is performed with the 2014 mid-terms foremost in his mind.  Want a preview of what could happen if their dreams come true?  Look no further than what happened the last time they had control of all three elected offices of government; Obamacare.

Words Of Wisdom From JCM.



Words Of Wisdom From JCM.  Johnny Cougar sang…”I need a lover that won’t drive me crazy”.  Listening to Jon Stewart the other day, it occurred to me that this is pretty much what is going on in WDC these days.  Stewart, while criticizing the Obamacare rollout to Sebelius, referred to the Republicans as “crazies”.  It is not uncommon to hear conservative-leaning journalists refer to Democrats in a similar fashion.  But the reality is that this is pretty close to the bone.  The old saying about…”He might be a devil, but he’s our devil” is pretty much in vogue.  There is an abundance of blind loyalty to extreme principles by moderate folks that is feeding the polarizing environment we see in our government.

This is especially true for Democrats; only because they control the White House and their leader is so definite and visible.  Of all the things we need in our government these days, highest on that list is the courage for some prominent Democrat to step up and disagree with the gamesmanship of the Obama administration.  That is not to say the Republicans aren’t engaging in gamesmanship themselves.  The simple fact is that they have a good deal of dissension in the ranks and no clear-cut national leader with which to disagree.

We need a Democrat that won’t drive the Republicans crazy and a Republican that won’t drive the Democrats crazy.  I’m not talking about a RINO or a Blue Dog; I’m talking about someone who wears their party brand clearly and is recognized as true blue; someone whose dissension would be significant and bring into question the wisdom of the leader’s message.  So far, Reid and Pelosi have managed to prevent the appearance of such a Democrat.  Mr. Boehner would likely say he could do with a few less of them.  Here’s hoping that one will soon appear in the U.S. Senate and we can get down to the serious and necessary business of running this government.