At what point, if any, does disgraceful behavior stop with the current Democratic Administration and Congress? These people claim to want “civility,” but that only means “keep quiet while we install our socialist programs, which we’ll do by hook or crook and under cover of darkness.” They have arm-twisted, threatened and bribed enough Senators in their party to be on the verge of passing their vaunted but manifestly miserable-piece-of-trash health care bill. It is remarkable not only in its bad content, but also (perhaps even more so) in the underhanded and arguably illegal methods they are using in passing their unconstitutional bill.
Investors Business Daily editorials point out some of the features of the process by which this bill has proceeded to its present point, such as:
1. A special deal for Nebraska, thanks to Sen. Ben Nelson’s holdout threat. This includes full federal assistance for additional Medicaid costs, which people of other states will pay for. [1]
2. “The [Monday at 1:00 A.M.] vote was taken without any members having read the main 2,074-page bill, let alone the 383 pages of amendments that were tacked on at the last minute to buy off senators, including Nebraska's Ben Nelson, Louisiana's Mary Landrieu and Vermont socialist Bernie Sanders.” [2] To vote on a bill without having read it, even on a procedural vote is a disgrace. They are looking for a Christmas Eve vote, and when the final Senate vote is taken, no one will have read it. They add insult to injury by desecrating Christmas.
3. The bill includes well over $400 billion in new taxes. [3] Look for a new recession, assuming the current one technically ends. (Aside to working Americans making under $250,000 a year: Keep us posted on Obama’s success at keeping his promise about no increase – “not one dime” – of taxes on you. Not so good, I expect.)
This process represents political corruption even worse than some actual prosecuted crimes. When a congressman was found guilty of misconduct after thousands of dollars in cash turned up in his freezer, that was bad enough. What the Senate majority has done is plain bribery of lawmakers and misappropriation of taxpayer money amounting to billions. And they want civility, after legislatively extending the middle finger to their constituents. [4] Might they not expect some angry responses?
Upon final approval, the new taxes start right away, while the program itself is supposed to start in 2013, after Obama is safely out of office. Many of the bill’s congressional supporters will be out of office sooner. It’s strictly a partisan bill.
Personally, I hope the Republicans and Tea Party voters continue to pressure these guys. Harry Truman said, “I don’t give ’em hell; I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.” In that spirit, the Democrats’ political opponents need to stay on their case without letup.
If the Senate actually does pass the bill, there remains some more arm-twisting, intimidation and bribery to be done in conference before it can actually become law. One can only hope it will implode somewhere along the way. Liberals may succeed in getting the public option and abortion funding in the final bill. But it’s a monstrosity, whatever form it may take.
On the positive side, since Mr. Obama’s triumphant success in Copenhagen, we can look for the sea levels to start going down soon, and the penguins and polar bears can then stop worrying. Oh wait, that will be after cap and trade is enacted, and America gets taxation taken to whole new level. Unemployment, anyone?
[1] Investors Business Daily editorial, “Louisiana Purchase and Obama Stakes,” 12/21/2009, at http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=515933
[2] Investors Business Daily editorial, “Socialism Creeps In As America Sleeps,” 12/21/2009, at http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=515934
[3] Ibid.
[4] In similarly profound political analysis, RNC Chairman Michael Steele said, “I’m tired of the Congress flipping the bird to the American people.” See article by Martin Kady II at Politico, 12/21/2009, at
http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/1209/Steele_Dems_flipping_the_bird_to_American_people.html
Photo: Dreamstime.com
2 comments:
You speak the truth. I don't understand how anyone can support this bill, let alone the bribery and deceit that the Democratic party has engaged in within these past few days. It's sickening, but that's the way politics work. I hope these bums get kicked out of office and replaced with guys like Rand Paul and Peter Schiff.
Thanks for the comment. Both the bill and the abuse of the process in trying to get it passed are disgraceful.
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