Associated Press
The road to health care reform hasn't exactly been easy. After waiting nearly a century, Americans had to (1) wait for a Democratic president and a large Democratic congressional majority; (2) overcome a Supreme Court challenge; and (3) re-elect that Democratic president.
As of this week, the pieces are in place for the law's prolonged security, and as of yesterday, the nation's leading Republican conceded he's effectively giving up trying to destroy the Affordable Care Act.
Republicans' efforts to undo President Barack Obama's health care reform law appear to have come to an end, as House Speaker John Boehner described it Thursday as the "law of the land."
In an interview with ABC News, the nation's top elected Republican seemed to indicate that Congress wouldn't engage in the type of repeated repeal votes the way it had in the past two years.
Keep in mind, as recently as July, congressional Republicans had voted 32 times over the last two years to kill "Obamacare," as if only 31 floor votes may have left unanswered questions about the GOP's intentions.
But according to the Speaker of the House, there apparently won't be a 33rd time. Boehner told ABC's Diane Sawyer that the election "changes" his party's plans. "It's pretty clear that the president was re-elected," he said. "Obamacare is the law of the land."
Soon after, the Speaker said on Twitter that the Republican "goal" remains "full repeal" of the law, but it seems clear that this rhetoric is only intended to make the GOP base feel better. Boehner can have any "goals" he likes, but if he doesn't intend to actually waste time pursuing pointless ambitions, these aspirations are irrelevant.
What's more, once the full law is implemented in 2014, it will be all but impossible to roll back its protections and benefits going forward. The Affordable Care Act will take root and join other pillars of modern civil society as basic parts of American public life.
There are some meaningful implementation issues to consider -- and we'll talk more about that a little later today -- but for now, Boehner's comments are a striking reminder that "Obamacare" is here to stay.
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Given how vehement the Right Wingnuts are about rolling back Social Security, Medicare and other 'pillars of modern civil society', I would seriously doubt that this fight is anywhere near 'over'.
If Mr. Romney had been elected, then all of those 'pillars' would have come under sustained and direct attack and possible eliminated.
No...this fight isn't over yet, complacency can't take root and as Democrats we can't be 'satisfied' that the war is won.
Yes...we won the day and the battle was ours...but the Right hasn't given up and we would be fools to think they had.
The battle is over but the war goes on...
Look at this and remember this is the day After they got their ass handed to them
Scary
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/11/um_holy_crap.php?ref=fpblg
Wow, holy crap is right. That's some terrifying stuff. That guy's eyes are totally dead.
That's disturbing.
What do you expect when you got power craving, corruption, hypocrites, arrogance, greed, and deceiving? The light called these people out as that and they will not be going away anytime soon without a fight. They would prefer to destroy this very planet just so they can keep continuing with what they have been doing and that is nothing good. They look at Democrats as free loaders, instead of taking into consideration of what is needed with the right answers and solutions.
I really don't like to violate Godwins law but that video has a very sort of "Black Shirt" feel to it. They are trying to cast this as a fight between "Good" and "Evil" and considering the disturbing religiosity of their supporters I am sure they will see it that way. Playing those kinds of rhetorical games with radicals is beyond dangerously stupid.
Interesting that Reagan was so prominent in that video, considering that he would not be considered conservative enough to be nominated by today's republican party.
It's time to start organizing for the mid terms. And down here in the land of electile dysfunction (Florida), Rick. Scott. Has. Got. To. Go.
I do feel that while the hatred of Obama is a special case, the Republicans started this war before Clinton. There is a subset of the Republicans who are actively working to dismantle democracy in our republic, and replace it with something far more singular and accomodating to them.
My mistake was believing that it is fomented by Republican old guard disillusionment, maybe residual Viet Nam bitterness, and hoped that with their retirements and deaths, such an anti-democracy mentality would fade.
I see now I was wrong. This guy is young, as is Ryan, and there have to be others too...the old guard is succeeding in passing an ugly selfish legacy onto a younger, more energized, and dare I say, less compassionate generation.
Yes, we've won a battle, but listening to this young man, know the war is far from over.
I swear, as I was watching that video, suddenly the horrible man stopped mid-sentence and looked me straight in the eye. It was as if he had suddenly realized I was listening.
"Youuuuuu," he hissed. "You don't belong here." He then screamed "GETTTT OUTTTTT HEATHEN!" so loudly that my speakers rattle a little bit now. He lowered his eyebrows and stared me down.
So I had to stop watching. Did anyone make it all the way through? How does it end? Is the nation saved?
My hope is for the President to get RID of Simpson Bowles , they are the rich wanting more for the rich and will destroy anything that President Obama has won for the Obamacare. All you have to do is read their past and yes what they are now to see where poor and middle class will have all SS and medicare taken from them.
I think the fact that Regan was so prominent is telling. That was really the last time the country as a whole was largely behind any kind of conservative agenda and it's become sort of a Mythical time for them, the right wing version of Camelot.
When Regan was elected the Viet Nam war hadn't been over for a decade and Americans have a habit of looking for Norman Rockwell after a crisis. I think it was that same desire for "normal" was part of the reason for Republican gains in 2010, but the problem with trying to turn back the clock is that Those good 'ol days were never as good as you wanted them to be if they ever existed at all.
This current crop of of Conservatives is still trying to sell people that city on the hill.
The fact that Reagan was reelected winning 49 out of 50 states started a fake mythology in the right wing. They convinced themselves that the whole country was right wing. The truth is, people didn't vote for Reagan. They voted against Mondale, who was seen as even weaker than Carter. Ever since then, they've convinced themselves any Democrat being elected president is simply a mistake that has to be rectified. If they simply looked at history, they'd see the presidency has shifted from Republican to Democrat just as regularly as it always has. After Reagan, Bush was elected; he served one term, and then a Democrat was elected; he served two terms and a Republican was elected; he served two terms and a Democrat was elected; he will also serve two terms. No difference anywhere except in the right-wing mind.
The right-wing is literally suffering from a delusional fantasy that they keep trying to impose on the rest of the country. It explains the shock they're in that they lost the election on every front. They literally can't perceive reality.
Chris,
That's definitely true. Just as the Regan second term election had a large component of "Mondale vs Not-Mondale", this election was very much "Obama vs. Not-Obama". People weren't voting for Mitt Romney, from what most of the interviews and pundits and rallies were saying. They were voting against President Obama.
Yes, your "people" are a bunch of ignorant white supremacists and general morons. RavenCall. Just like you.
After 32 attempts I doubt they are going to give up that easily. Besides it's all well and good that Boehner says that publicly but he is still trail boss of a giant herd of crazy.
Of all the elections the house Republicans didn't take a whole lot of hits and most of the 2010 tea party people are back. They don't understand compromise of political reality (or actual reality) and I doubt they are going to change anything about the way they operate.There will be more crazy plans to defund planed parenthood, and declare the United States a "Christian" nation.
If the Romney campaign team, Fox News, and the rest of the Right wing missed the Train that was comming you can bet these yahoos did too, but that aren't going to care. They will see the fact that they are still in office as a mandate for their insanity.
This one issue is what got me so involved in the campaign this year. The first thing I said when the number next to Obama's name flashed to 274 was, "Thank God, now we get to keep Obamacare."
It's going to be fun to watch when all those redstaters who have been waiting for Doctors Without Borders to come and give them care wake up and realize they can get reasonably priced insurance with no precondition clause.
Whaaa? Huh???
We had our health benefit meeting yesterday, and sure enough, Obamacare was brought up.
"It's going to rip us all off!" exclaimed one person... and yes, this is another Fox Faux Factz TV area where the truth about ACA has been muddied and destroyed, making average Americans angry and afraid of something built to benefit them.
Sigh....
Faux Facts?
Do you pay for your health care insurance premium entirely out of pocket? Because as a small business owner, I do.
The Affordable Care Act did not address tort reform and portability, the two things that would have substantially addressed costs.
So... my reality is...
in 2012 - We needed to switch to a high deductible plan (family $7000 with $532.23/month premium) in order to continue to be covered.
in 2013 - Our premiums will increase yet again by 12% to 610.55/month), an increase of $940/annually.
As costs continue to rise, how long do you think it will take before I can no longer afford coverage? How many other businesses are in the same boat as I am?
@Lisa, I am also self-employed and buy my health insurance on the private market, and I have a pre-existing condition. I'm lucky to have insurance at all right now. I pay nearly $400 a month just for me (no way I could also afford to cover my son; he's covered by his father's insurance). I have a $5000 annual deductible (for just one person, remember) which I never meet because I can't afford the out of pocket costs associated with going to the doctor or lab until I reach that deductible. I am diabetic, and haven't been able to afford to go to the doctor for close to 2 years as a result.
In 2014, I will be able to begin shopping around for insurance because the pre-existing condition exclusion will no longer be allowed. I am hoping I will be able to find a plan I can afford with a reasonable premium and deductible through my state's exchange. Insurance companies will have an actual incentive at that point to compete for my business which they do not have currently, so maybe, just maybe, the playing field will be equal for me and I will be able to find something that provides some actual value for the money I'm paying into the system.
Your insurance company was going to raise your rates whether Obamacare was in place or not. The only difference is now they have something to blame it on (and make you blame it on).
What I am saying is our comprehensive reform bill failed to reform keys areas, and in doing so did not address cost containment. If cost containment had been addressed, more people would have been able to afford to purchas insurance and/or remain insured.
I also have a pre-existing condition and have been very pleased with the level of care that I have gotten through my insurance carrier. Many people are very happy with their private insurance coverage but are being priced out of the market.
Good luck on the state exchange plans. I've researched what's available in my state and the coverage is not comparable to the plan I have now.
Well, considering what I have now is "open the window and throw your $400 out every month" because I can't afford to go to the doctor until I meet my deductible, and I can't meet my deductible unless I can afford to go to the doctor, I'm thinking pretty much anything is going to be better.
Republicans talking how to make their election campaign better, but that is more like how can the Republicans lie and deceive better for the rich. Snakes are always snakes, they just shred their skin to put on a new disguise.
Now they can turn their attention to the Thirteenth Amendment- the one Lincoln had so much trouble getting passed!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
Go see the movie about that. it's really good.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's Second (Economic) Bill of Rights included health care. I sincerely hope that Barack Obama and the Democratic Party will adopt FDR's Second Bill of Rights as a second term agenda. Listen to Roosevelt from 1944. Sound familiar?
http://massachusettsobserver.blogspot.com/2012/11/barack-obamas-second-term.html
Yeah, Boehner and McConnell need to seriously realize we weathered their storms of big money, big lies, and big obstruction to heroically VOTE, and we don't want the likes of them mucking up our President's efforts to guide us into a saner economy where those who can do, and those who can't will be helped along the way! Where a woman's health care is not to be TMI for a government the size of a uterus, and where the social compact (our Constitution) is not hanging in the wind by fringe elements who have taken over the Republican party!
Over the year, I've witnessed the David and Goliath story, and I've witnessed giants falling! Those who can do, and those who can't will be helped along the way!
-Sounds so Christian to me, I wonder why our President didn't get more of the evangelical vote! ;-) -Kevo
It's time to come together and get good things done in the US. The Republicans agenda to disagreee and disrupt his administration should stop. Our beloved Presedent was put back in office by the people. Trying to defeat president Obama in the next election is gone with the wind, the next president will be white so don't worry Rebpublicans.
You flunk out on the math. Obama received 50.5% of the vote, Republicans hold 54% of the seats in the House. When I was in school, they taught us that 54 is a higher number that 50.5. Has that changed?
Poor pascoguy . . . I'm glad you've found something to cling to in what must be terribly trying times for you.
You should encourage the House republicans to stand their ground. It can only help them in the mid terms . . . right?
Thanks pascoguy for demonstrating that you people really have no brains. Go back to NitwitWorld, where 2+2=22 and all morons (like you) are winners (instead of the born losers you really are).
And for all Democrats: as Barney Frank said last night: had we been campaigning for Congress with the 2008 districts, we'd have won. Mid-term elections matter and we're going to have to deal with the idiots in Congress who make morons like pascoguy look like members of the human race for the next ten years as our penance for not showing up at the polls in 2010.
Gotta love the mathematically challenged... that percentage equals to over 63 million. Last I checked 63 million was more than the 235 +/- Republican members of the House...
Just a question. How much time since November of last year, did Congress waste from spending a week taking turns reading the constitution, to trying to repeal the AHCA, filibustering every bill from Obama that came across the Senate floor, etc. to this day? Any guesses?
Add all their salaries together, plus all the costs involved in running Congress and divide that number by the number of "do nothing" hours, and what did the US taxpayer get in return, or what they got for their money?
Probably the same that the right-wing superpacs did.
As a result of the war on Obamacare, and basic Republican stupidity, many of the red states are going to have Federally run exchanges instead of their state run equivalents that will be found in many blue states. I guess them red states likes them some heavy handed Federal intrusion. (snark)
You are cordially invited this inaugural eve to:
The Mitch McConnell Second Quadrennial Plotting Soiree
Yes, we are halfway in our nearly decade long plan to remove Obama from office!
Guest Speaker: Grover Norquist (who will be passing out blank congressional stationery embossed with the tax pledge)
Dress will be: Severely Conservative
As we built an alliance to block Iran's funds, perhaps we can get an alliance to freeze access to Cayman Island funds. This could repatriate the money back to the countries of origin where it could be fairly taxed.
Nothing has changed with the Republicans. The war on Obama and women will continue unabated.
Obama has to take every issue to the American people.
Women have to continue their fight! The extreme religious crazies lost on this election, but will continue at the local levels. The only way women can win is by opting out of any and all religions, hospital, schools, business, social organizations and domestic relationships that want to deny women any of their God given rights. Only by exercising their will and economic power will women achieve equality and full respect.
It baffled the @!$%# out of me how any sane human being would object to the Affordable Care Act. Does Boehner really want Americans to suffer and die needlessly? WTF?
Yes. At least Americans who don't vote Republican.
Perhaps there are those of us that recognize that in not addressing cost containment to consumers via tort reform and portability, the outcome of this bloated bill is certain cost increases to individuals like myself that pay 100% of health insurance premiums.
See my post above about how the Affordable Care Act is going for me so far.
Do you pay 100% of your own premium through a private health insurance plan? I would love to hear from someone who does who is now experiencing a decrease in premium costs versus an increase. Anybody out there reaping the benefits of Obamacare via lowered premium costs on their private plans?
Re: I am very sorry for saying this but the Republicans are not going to play ball on
anything this President proposes. Do not delude yourself into believing
Congressman Boehner is a Joe Scarborough. As long as the members of the tea
party survive in our political system there will be opposition. As long as
Republican stand by Fox News and Rush Limbaugh there can be no conservative
centrist. The contemporary GOP moderate is a myth. Such may exist in the
"real world" outside the beltway. Sadly these creatures do not exist
in the rarefied air of our Capital. Washington DC remains a zoo of strange,
exotic but interesting animals. Jonathan Chait of the Daily Intel said it best when he explained in his article, 'GOP Moderates Lost When They Nominated Romney'-- "The party has always had its share of crackpots, anti-intellectuals, Social Darwinists, bigots, and swindlers, but they now rule the roost." As my grandmother use to say, "The proof in in the pudding". Case in point: Look no further than Karl Rove
As long as there is a C Street there will be no (good) Republican chemistry with the Democrats, ever.
The quicker the voters come to reality and see this absolute truth the better
it will be for our nation, as we at long last all come together to throw all the loons out
of office. The GOP has been hijacked by modern day carpetbaggers. Until the
bums have been tarred and feathered and thrown out of office and not let back in there can be no civility or reasoning in our political system. The tea party will become the ruin of America only if we let them. We must learn to zero in on the disease and forcefully cut the cancer out of our body. Only the Republican party can put these awful people in their place by speaking out and letting us all know someone sane is in control of the GOP. Otherwise we will have a ruined process for another four year.
I concur with your analysis. The Republicans are going to lure Dems with the lie of bipartisanship on legislation, and when the Dems fall for the trap, Republicans will return to their old ways of obstructing. They will not let Obama and the Dems have anything to show the voters in 2014 and 2016. Dems need to continue on a course that presumes obstruction and that course should include procedural reform of the Senate filibuster and holds. After these changes, Republicans will be welcome to work on a bipartisan solution, but don't expect anything more than hollow words.
You are right. The voters need to pressure the House. They didn't not win Obama did.
Let's hope Obama brings unfunded libilities of 120 trillon dollars to the attention of the American pulblic. Each tax payer is reponsible for 1 million dollars. There aren't enough rich people to pay the bill.
Anyone see this article in the Washington Post today?
After Obama reelection coal company CEO reads prayer to staff, announces layoffs
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/after-obama-re-election-ceo-reads-prayer-to-staff-announces-layoffs/2012/11/09/e9bca204-2a63-11e2-bab2-eda299503684_story.html
Seems the idiot bought the tea party line of crap hook line & sinker!
President Obama's reelection is just an excuse to lay off workers for Murray.
The actual reason (I believe) is that by cutting health and safety standards, which created multiple environmental disasters and resulted in several deaths, Murray has brought this "disaster" on his own head. The cost for the coal slurry cleanups and accidental death settlements is a rather large chunk of change lost from the company's profits.
I'd bet you could buy a lot of health care benefits with the cost of one slurry spill cleanup.
The nuts don't fall far from the pecan tree. Republicans are proof of this.
While Roger Murray's motives are questionable at best, the Affordable Care Act does have significant and substantial ramifications for businesses in this county. Take the medical device industry in the United States. It is acknowledged as the world leader with nearly half of all medical device in use around the world being produced in this county. It accounts for nearly 2.4 million jobs directly and indirectly. Starting in january a 2.3% tax on profits due to the Affordable Care Act goes into effect, which in addition to the corporate tax rate increases the effective tax rate on those business to somewhere in the region of 40 - 50%.
The result will be massive layoffs in perhaps one of the most vitale industries that remains in the county. While its anticipated that increasing the number of patients that have the ability to obtain medical care will offset the tax increase due to increased demand for medical devices, that anticipated affect will not change the fact that in the short term these companies are going to lay off a massive amount of workers.
Boehner's "It's the law of the land" statement coupled with, "the election changes that" are both suspect because he also said "We're ready to lead, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans. Specifying he would accept a deal as long as it linked an overhaul to entitlements and reform of the tax code that closes loopholes, curtails or eliminates deductions and lowers income tax rates. First, entitlements are not to be adjusted or messed with as those entitlements have already been earned. Eliminating deductions and lowering tax rates are further limiting what and who will be most directly effected. Every line above the Adjusted Gross Income on the tax return is where the greatest changes should be effective, as that is where most of the changes should be centered. Ordinary dividends already limited as per previously passed tax code writing along with Qualified dividends, Business income, Capital gains, which has it's own form full of limitations, is where modifications should occur. All deduction limitations below the Adjusted Gross Income should not be effected as that would directly effect the middle class. The middle class already supports the majority of federal expenditures. The Independent payment Advisory Board is yet another area where limiting the board and funding of this board could effectively slow or limit their ability to make advisory pronouncements. The Super majority referred to is the TEA-Republican control of the House. You cannot trust Boehner, McConnell, Cantor or Ryan when they return to Washington.
Clinton had it right ........ Just do it the way Clinton did and we will come out of this mess .
Why do the Republicans insist on contradicting everything they say in one forum in another? That's largely responsible for Romney's loss. They need to take a position and stick with it and to hell with placating the "base". If the Republicans continue to take unpopular positions, they will eventually cease to exist. This is supposed to be a democracy where the majority rules, although I must say the Republicans have done a pretty good job of circumventing that in the Senate. We have to fix that.
There's really no need for a Republican Party ........ They have proved their selves useless in American society , They just dont fit in our system of Govt. Our Govt. should be about the benefit of our American people , our children , their schools , our infrastructure , roads ,bridges , Americans Health System , ..... NOT HOW MUCH THE MILLIONAIRES ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS YEAR , i paid out 45 % of every penny i could make all my life , i dont see the wealthy doing that , My Golden Rule is to never feel sorry for some one making $ 100 million per year , they wont starve .
It took the whole world 20 some years to finally put down Hitler , Its a little bit different when you've got them right here in you your own Govt. But eventually if our Tea Party Congress shows no improvement over the next two years , i see them being voted out in the midterm elections , 40 years of Gridlock is enough , people are really getting tired of this Goosestepping " Norquist COLONES " Congress , America needs to move on , Enough of this Failed Rightwing Ideology .
Better to have a two party system than one party as they had in Germany in the thirty's, Russian Communist, and lets not forget the Chinese.
Republicans are the new Whig party. They are an antique and will remain a strange curiosity in a clown show filled with craziness until the moderates take back their party from the loons who lead it. People like Rove, Limbaugh, Beck, Trump and Palin must be told by their own party to shut up and set down until youcome to act like an adult before the GOP can even begin to get their party back to a resemblance of normal.
Hey Dave, why did the Senate vote down Obama's budget 97 to nothing 3 years ago?
Once the Affordable Care Act is in full effect and people really like it, will congressional hopefuls be able to say, "my opponent voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act 32 times," and have it result in a significant strategic advantage?