Patterico's Pontifications

3/18/2010

Gutless Democrats About to Pass Health Care Travesty Without Standing Behind It

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 9:16 pm

Unprincipled assholes:

The House today rejected a Republican attempt to force a direct vote on the health bill already passed in the Senate.

The move means Democrats are free to go forward with the “Slaughter Solution,” whereby the House would “deem” the Senate bill to be approved when it votes to set the terms of debate for a set of revisions to that measure.

Too many people see this in terms of the short-term electoral advantage this shit sandwich will surely give Republicans. That is a mistake. This is a fundamental and radical change in the power of the government, and it appears it will be accomplished by an unconstitutional sleight of hand that will allow Democrats to attempt to deny what they did.

“Outrage” doesn’t begin to describe it.

64 Comments

  1. it may well be time to start over.

    Comment by redc1c4 (fb8750) — 3/18/2010 @ 9:23 pm

  2. I think I know why the Asia trip has been postponed.

    Comment by Ag80 (f67beb) — 3/18/2010 @ 9:24 pm

  3. Can’t Obama just deem it constitutional since he’s not that worried about procedures and not very impressed with the Supreme Court? Who’s gonna stop him?

    Comment by daleyrocks (718861) — 3/18/2010 @ 9:46 pm

  4. If SCOTUS actually acts against this abominable House maneuver and declares this bill null and void, they will be accused of activism far worse than that of Bush v. Gore.

    Comment by Ed from SFV (7f3244) — 3/18/2010 @ 9:47 pm

  5. Gutless Democrats About to Pass Health Care Travesty Without Standing Behind It

    That and the snippets, per below, make me think of Franklin Roosevelt back in the 1930s greatly increasing income taxes on upper-income Americans — of which he was a part — and then telling the IRS that his own taxes should not have gone up.

    Screw all the limousine liberals, then and now, of which Bozo Obama is one of many.

    Thehill.com:

    Subcommittee on Oversight ranking member Charles Boustany (R-La.) said the IRS provision in the [proposed health care reform] bill “dangerously expands, in an ominous way the tentacles of the IRS and it’s reach into every American family,” he said today during a press conference.

    “This is a vast expanse of power,” he said.

    Boustany said the bill would allow the IRS to confiscate refunds if there are penalties for not buying health care.

    Lawmakers have questioned whether the IRS can handle the increased workload to oversee, administer and collect penalties for people who don’t buy health insurance.

    Taxpayers could be required to buy insurance under President Barack Obama’s reform proposal by 2014 or face penalties of roughly $325 per individual that the IRS would collect.

    Assuming it becomes law, the Congressional Budget Office expects the IRS will need roughly $10 billion over the next 10 years and nearly 17,000 new employees to meet its new responsibilities under health reform.

    Comment by Mark (411533) — 3/18/2010 @ 11:10 pm

  6. I disagree, Ed. SCOTUS would simply say that the House has to vote again, the correct way. That way the decision would ultimately be completely up to the House.

    Comment by Andrew (537738) — 3/18/2010 @ 11:13 pm

  7. I am most rightly pissed off.

    Comment by krusher (15d1b9) — 3/19/2010 @ 1:34 am

  8. It’s time to water the Tree of Liberty.

    Comment by ropelight (bbd695) — 3/19/2010 @ 3:47 am

  9. “It’s time to water the Tree of Liberty.”

    It’s definitely time to expect a lot more internet-tough-guy-ism from wingnut comment threads, would be my guess.

    Comment by imdw (de7003) — 3/19/2010 @ 4:08 am

  10. It’s definitely time for some internet idiot to continue its daily inane drivel. Thanks for never disappointing iamadoucheweasel.

    Comment by People's Front of Judea (44bf37) — 3/19/2010 @ 4:20 am

  11. #8 Ropelight, only a matter of time and count me for one who will donate plenty for their Criminal Defense fund.

    Only way you eat lobster is by bringing it to a boil.

    Alluh Akbar.

    Comment by HeavenSent (a9126d) — 3/19/2010 @ 4:27 am

  12. Counselor, the system is WAI (working as intended).
    The founders built for this.
    The White Patriarchy model of social cohesion was doomed as soon as blacks and women got the vote….became CITIZENS.
    The new paradigm that is evolving is Social Democracy.
    Can’t fight teh evolution.
    <3

    Comment by wheeler's cat (4b948e) — 3/19/2010 @ 4:37 am

  13. Nishi escaped the institution again.

    Comment by JD (b537f4) — 3/19/2010 @ 4:41 am

  14. That was nearly a century ago hogcaller. Social democracy? You forgot the part about illegal aliens becoming citizens, except for the fact that Ceasar Chavez was against illegal immigration because he was part of the “white patriarchy”…oh wait!

    Comment by People's Front of Judea (44bf37) — 3/19/2010 @ 4:55 am

  15. Hey Nishit, here’s a blog for ya!

    Comment by People's Front of Judea (44bf37) — 3/19/2010 @ 4:58 am

  16. [...] Congress have their way, by Monday, healthcare reform will be a done deal, compliments of the Slaughter Rule. In a very real sense, they are out to slaughter health care as we know it. And given some of the [...]

    Pingback by Weekend Slaughter – Obamacare Climax Sunday? « Grand Rants (adf6a1) — 3/19/2010 @ 5:01 am

  17. “It’s definitely time to expect a lot more internet-tough-guy-ism from wingnut comment threads, would be my guess.”

    It’s not about pounding one’s chest. People are rightly worried about where we are heading. The vast, vast majority want peaceful change. The Feds seem to be purposefully pushing the wrong buttons. It only takes a few wingnuts from either extreme to light the fire.

    Comment by Corwin (ea9428) — 3/19/2010 @ 5:26 am

  18. No-one wants violence but when a very large minority (very very) view the entire system as unethical, unprincipled, immoral and unconstitutional then you have problems.

    Enuff is enuff. You can’t govern with 51% forcing the other 49% to pay their way. Violence will happen just as it did with the Civil Rights movement, Green movement, etc …. movements which numerically are smaller than this one.

    Just a matter of time ….. and, honestly, I am just hoping the right people get caught in the cross fire.

    But the part of society which produces, pays taxes, follows the law and expects the Gov.t to get out of the way … is boiling in righteous medieval anger.

    Alluh Akbar.

    Comment by HeavenSent (a9126d) — 3/19/2010 @ 5:34 am

  19. Just found this

    Under the new bill, Medicare taxes will be applied to investment income — interest, dividends, capital gains — for individuals making more than $200,000 and couples making more than $250,000.

    But it won’t be the 1.45% that is typically withheld from your wages. No, it will be taxed like self-employment income, where you are responsible for both the employer and employee part, for a total of 3.8%. W-2 wages exceeding $200K/$250K will have the Medicare portion taxed at 2.35% for the employee; apparently the employer contribution remains at 1.45%.

    Does anyone else love how this level is just above what Congress makes? And how married filing jointly gets to pay almost twice what two single individuals would pay with similar income?

    Comment by Some chump (050674) — 3/19/2010 @ 5:34 am

  20. Back where we started, here we go ’round again….

    That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

    Comment by NavyspyII (df615d) — 3/19/2010 @ 5:35 am

  21. There is a story, often told, that upon exiting the Constitutional Convention Benjamin Franklin was approached by a group of citizens asking what sort of government the delegates had created. His answer was: “A republic, if you can keep it.”

    Have we kept it?

    Comment by NavyspyII (df615d) — 3/19/2010 @ 5:37 am

  22. Some Chump.

    First Rule of Economics: There is no such thing as a free lunch.

    Comment by HeavenSent (a9126d) — 3/19/2010 @ 5:42 am

  23. First Rule of Economics: There is no such thing as a free lunch.

    Under Obama care, the rule is, “Someone else will pay for your lunch”.

    Comment by Some chump (050674) — 3/19/2010 @ 5:50 am

  24. I had a Swiss Economist tell me once the highest form of patriotism for freedom loving people is to not pay taxes.

    He said “it was the most moral and ethical outcome given the nature of crimes perpetrated by good, well meaning government employees on the population it ceases to control.”

    Comment by HeavenSent (a9126d) — 3/19/2010 @ 5:56 am

  25. imdw… your tedious posts have become more annoyingly redundant than the last three “Highlander” movies. I did not think it possible.

    Comment by GeneralMalaise (f0137a) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:00 am

  26. “No-one wants violence but when a very large minority (very very) view the entire system as unethical, unprincipled, immoral and unconstitutional then you have problems.”

    We survived major segments of the population and polity committing treason in defense of slavery. We’ll survive much weaker tea from internet tough guys.

    “And how married filing jointly gets to pay almost twice what two single individuals would pay with similar income?”

    Why wouldn’t it be exactly twice?

    Comment by imdw (de7003) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:03 am

  27. One of Mark Steyn’s readers had an outstanding idea. In the next congress the Republicans should just deem the health care bill repealed!

    I think that conservatives should have some fun making liberal heads explode.

    Comment by Gesundheit (6acc51) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:10 am

  28. “We survived major segments of the population and polity committing treason in defense of slavery. We’ll survive much weaker tea from internet tough guys.”

    Are you the creator of “The Family Circus”, imdw? Because you’re making me laugh.

    Comment by GeneralMalaise (f0137a) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:12 am

  29. “We’ll survive much weaker tea from internet tough guys.”

    It’s not a question of survival; more a question of what conflict ensues. Keep your eyes closed, that’s fine, most people are doing that. I hope nothing drastic happens.

    Comment by Corwin (ea9428) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:13 am

  30. Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli has already announced he’ll go to court:

    http://belowthebeltway.com/2010/03/17/ken-cuccinelli-warns-pelosi-on-deem-and-pass/

    While I’m no attorney, I’m guessing that the case the DC Circuit Ct. ruled on during the Bush years would not be taken as a precedent for this situation, nor that older case that they based their ruling on.

    Comment by Gerald A (a66d02) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:15 am

  31. Why wouldn’t it be exactly twice?

    You are being disingenuous.

    Two married people should pay exactly the same amount as two individuals with the same aggregate income. Not twice as much.

    Under this tax, a married couple making $300,000 would be subject to it. But two single individuals each making $150,000 would not.

    Comment by Some chump (050674) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:32 am

  32. “One of Mark Steyn’s readers had an outstanding idea. In the next congress the Republicans should just deem the health care bill repealed!”

    All they have to do is get the votes and override a veto. No big surprise.

    “I think that conservatives should have some fun making liberal heads explode.”

    First I’d have to see the world through their fantasy glasses. Since they’re wrong about how this ‘deem’ stuff would work, their prescriptions for using it aren’t really a bother.

    Comment by imdw (05d41e) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:33 am

  33. “Two married people should pay exactly the same amount as two individuals with the same aggregate income. Not twice as much.”

    I misunderstood. Sorry.

    Comment by imdw (05d41e) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:36 am

  34. From Jeffrey Kuhner’s article in The Washington Times, called Impeach the President?

    “The Slaughter Solution would replace the rule of law with arbitrary one-party rule. It violates the entire basis of our constitutional government – meeting the threshold of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” If it’s enacted, Republicans should campaign for the November elections not only on repealing Obamacare, but on removing Mr. Obama and his gang of leftist thugs from office.”

    [emphasis added]

    Comment by Official Internet Data Office (3def0e) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:36 am

  35. Comment by imdw — 3/19/2010 @ 6:33 am

    Yessir

    Comment by Gerald A (a66d02) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:39 am

  36. 25, General Malaise, if Duncan MacLeod takes idmw’s head, he won’t come back, right?

    Comment by PCD (1d8b6d) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:43 am

  37. #34, that link is something. But, as imdw put it, we’ll survive those internet tough guys.

    Comment by Corwin (ea9428) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:47 am

  38. We survived major segments of the population and polity committing treason in defense of slavery.

    At a terrible cost, the equivalent of twelve Gulf War II’s.

    Comment by Secret Squirrel (6a1582) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:49 am

  39. He’d have to find it first, PCD. There would be no need to “take” it. A simple lancing would suffice.

    Comment by GeneralMalaise (f0137a) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:51 am

  40. Haven’t we deemed imdw a partisan hack who couldn’t even make it at Sadly, No?

    Comment by Eric Blair (1206f2) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:54 am

  41. I misunderstood. Sorry.

    Calling BS here. This isn’t your first “misunderstanding”, so you don’t get the benefit of the doubt. You understood perfectly, you were being dishonest.

    Comment by Some chump (050674) — 3/19/2010 @ 6:55 am

  42. “but on removing Mr. Obama and his gang of leftist thugs from office.” ”

    Reverend moon wants an impeachment? That’s a surprise. But will it really be a surprise that a GOP congress finds something ridiculous to start an impeachment on? Not at all. Maybe they can campaign on finding a birth certificate too?

    [note: fished from spam filter. --Stashiu]

    Comment by imdw (812311) — 3/19/2010 @ 7:02 am

  43. They can just deem the veto to be over-ridden.

    Comment by JD (848a9f) — 3/19/2010 @ 7:06 am

  44. imdw… sock puppet?… lapdog?… or whipping boy?

    Comment by GeneralMalaise (f0137a) — 3/19/2010 @ 7:10 am

  45. “They can just deem the veto to be over-ridden.”

    Good luck with that.

    Comment by imdw (842182) — 3/19/2010 @ 7:12 am

  46. [...] care? On top of that, the House leadership is trying to use the totally unconstitutional “Slaughter Rule” for a “we deem it passed without voting on it” [...]

    Pingback by Common Sense Political Thought » Blog Archive » Joe Bidenism And Accidental Honesty (73d96f) — 3/19/2010 @ 7:40 am

  47. “Good luck with that.”

    Best wishes from imdw… the luckless and clueless.

    Comment by GeneralMalaise (f0137a) — 3/19/2010 @ 7:45 am

  48. [...] care? On top of that, the House leadership is trying to use the totally unconstitutional “Slaughter Rule” for a “we deem it passed without voting on it” [...]

    Pingback by Joe Bidenism And Accidental Honesty « Truth Before Dishonor (c770eb) — 3/19/2010 @ 7:59 am

  49. [...] care? On top of that, the House leadership is trying to use the totally unconstitutional “Slaughter Rule” for a “we deem it passed without voting on it” [...]

    Pingback by Joe Bidenism And Accidental Honesty « Truth Before Dishonor (77e9d5) — 3/19/2010 @ 7:59 am

  50. “Outrage” doesn’t begin to describe it.

    I think Mark Levin was correct when he said it is the closest thing to martial law we have ever seen. What’s to stop them from “deeming” everything else in their leftist dreams into law?

    Comment by Patricia (e1047e) — 3/19/2010 @ 8:21 am

  51. Remember all that gloating over the last year about “elections have consequences” by the Democrats?

    Well this cheap trick of theirs is happening because they don’t think elections should have consequences. It is their version of “one man, one vote, one time”.

    To avoid the consequences of losing a Senate election, they are going to bend the Constitution.

    Its banana republic time, and “El Jefe” is in the White House.

    Comment by SPQR (8475fc) — 3/19/2010 @ 8:24 am

  52. Watering the tree of Liberty….

    There’s an old bumper-sticker that says:
    Don’t bother me, I’m reloading!

    Please hold my mail, I’m on my way to the Old North Bridge.

    Comment by AD - RtR/OS! (b083e4) — 3/19/2010 @ 8:48 am

  53. No es “El Jefe”, SPQR… es “El Magnifico”!

    Comment by GeneralMalaise (f0137a) — 3/19/2010 @ 8:58 am

  54. …and you guys thought I was nuts back in the campaign when I used Obowman’s name instead of Dulavier’s in that little ditty they used to sing in Haiti during Papa Doc’s reign:

    Oh-Bah-Mah, leader of the new Ah-Mer-Ee-Key, President for Life.

    And, it seems more and more that the SEIU/ACORN group was set to be the new Ton-Ton Macaute.

    “When in the Course of human events…”

    Comment by AD - RtR/OS! (b083e4) — 3/19/2010 @ 9:17 am

  55. I don’t think the Dems care about getting re-elected. I don’t think the Reps do either. Most can easily get a great-paying lobbying job if they aren’t re-elected. Not to mention the Congressional pension plan.

    The end game is that the Feds will have more control, and those that know how to game the system will continue to prosper. It doesn’t matter to them how it gets done as long as it gets done.

    We sit back and point fingers at the other party as if they are the only ones at fault.

    The only way we can win, is if the bloated government is taken off the feeding tube.

    Comment by Corwin (ea9428) — 3/19/2010 @ 9:52 am

  56. Corwin, they all care about being re-elected. Unfortunately, because of gerrymandering, most of them are in no danger.

    Comment by SPQR (8475fc) — 3/19/2010 @ 9:56 am

  57. “…We sit back and point fingers at the other party as if they are the only ones at fault…”

    I prefer to point something much more accurate than a finger.

    Comment by AD - RtR/OS! (b083e4) — 3/19/2010 @ 10:28 am

  58. Corwin,

    Maybe the Democrats aren’t worried about elections as they will deem elections unnecessary because the Democrats win by the margin of ACORN, and therefore will end elections.

    Comment by PCD (1d8b6d) — 3/19/2010 @ 10:33 am

  59. “I think Mark Levin was correct when he said it is the closest thing to martial law we have ever seen.”

    Actually I’d say closer was the internment of japanese people, or the actions of the Union army.

    At least a bit closer than enacting legislation by having it pass several house committees, then a full house vote, then several senate committees, then a supermajority in the senate, then another majority house vote and another majority in the senate. And then be signed by the president and be held up by the courts.

    Just a tad closer.

    Comment by imdw (1f837b) — 3/19/2010 @ 10:53 am

  60. If this shamockery of a “bill” passes is deemed on through, the only thing it will be “held up” to is ridicule, Rumpelforeskin.

    Comment by GeneralMalaise (f0137a) — 3/19/2010 @ 11:11 am

  61. It will pass. The backroom deals are all but done. The public majority against it won’t make enough noise on a Friday afternoon (much less on a Saturday or Sunday) to make a difference. Those Dems that were pretending to be on the fence were only looking for some extra goodies. They have either gotten it by now (Dennis) or will by Sunday.

    Comment by Corwin (ea9428) — 3/19/2010 @ 11:31 am

  62. Comment by imdw — 3/19/2010 @ 10:53 am

    Deemed to be irrelevant, and non-responsive.

    Comment by AD - RtR/OS! (b083e4) — 3/19/2010 @ 12:12 pm

  63. #26, Yeah, LOL.

    If only you knew. This POS POTUS, and the rest of you libs, will be swallowed up by history and I will still be cruising in my Benzo.

    You are sadly mistaken if you think I am a willingly going to consent to this madness. Every chance I get, I will and in the end that will hurt more than help.

    You have lost the consent of the governed and with it my good faith effort to contribute..

    Comment by HeavenSent (a9126d) — 3/20/2010 @ 7:29 am

  64. [...] the Democrats to takeover health care in what many call a form of socialism. Many also see the Democrats attempting to increase government power at all costs. And let’s not lose sight of the fact Democrats have lost touch with working [...]

    Pingback by House Defies the People; Passes Health Care Debacle « Cynical Synapse (1e9c36) — 3/22/2010 @ 9:33 am

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