Whistling Past the Graveyard?
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said he thinks President Barack Obama could be in for an ousting from office similar to what happened to Democratic President Jimmy Carter after his first term.
"I think the people wanted a change," the Florida Republican said, speaking of the election of Obama in November while drawing similarities to events decades earlier.
"They wanted a change back in 1976. You remember? Richard Nixon had been president. That ended. Gerald Ford took over. The people decided they wanted a change. They got one-Jimmy Carter. Four years later, they took care of business-Ronald Reagan."
"It may happen again," Crist went on. "I believe that the people have seen that they wanted a change but not this much. Not this kind, and not this way. America is awake and we're coming back."
Yeah? Really? Well...
What if health care reform passes with a public option and everyone saves money on health care as a result? You think REPUBLICANS will get the credit for that? Or will folks remember how the GOP stalled and lied and did everything in its power to keep it from happening?
What if the economy continues to crawl out of the muck and folks find themselves in better financial situations? You think REPUBLICANS will get the credit? Or will people recall how the GOP did everything they could to stand in the way of any real financial reforms, offering no new ideas, merely saying "no" to everything Obama wanted to do?
What if the situation in Iran is ultimately resolved through negotiation and working with other nations? Do you think REPUBLICANS will get the credit for that, or will folks remember how badly you mucked things up LAST time you had control of foreign affairs and therefore be loath to let you have that kind of power again?
A lot of things have to go really, really wrong for Republicans to have any shot in 2010 or 2012. Of course, the good old GOP is doing everything in their power to make sure nothing BUT bad things happen.
And if a few million regular Americans are harmed in the process... if a few more people die of treatable illness because they couldn't afford health insurance, if a few more people are denied coverage because they should have KNOWN that a bleeding breast is not an "emergency," if a few more federal workers are murdered because of the fear mongering and racism of the town hall shouters and their enablers...
Well, ya gotta break a few eggs to make an omelet, right?
The repubs have been nothing but egg smashers for thirty years and will continue to be so.
It is not like they do not have a constituency. There are tens of millions in this country who are doing just fine. Big houses, big bonuses, lots of health care...
Their only problem:
THE PEASANTS ARE REVOLTING.
At least I hope they are.
September 26, 2009 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
What if health care reform passes with a public option and everyone saves money on health care as a result? Deep Brain Diarist
"This [new insurance] exchange will take effect in four years, which will give us time to do it right." President Obama, Speech to the Joint Session of Congress
Looks like Obama's promising the legislators and himself that whatever they do they won't have to answer for the results until Election 2014.
Kicking the can down the road is always good politics. Good leadership; not so much.
September 27, 2009 2:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
You want it to go into effect like, next week? Wouldn't that be kinda irresponsible? Or wouldn't it be better to tell everyone it will take 4 years, and then once the process gets rolling, you say, "Well DOGGONE! Looks like we can get this done in 2 years. Or 1 year."
Rome wasn't built in a day.
September 27, 2009 7:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with Ellen ... it's designed so that the act of passing the reforms will be the election issue but the actual results will not be subject to analysis until the 2012 race is complete. It's sort of an open question in my mind if that was designed to protect Obama's electoral prospects or as a giveaway to the GOP so they didn't have to fear running against a popular democratic program. Either way, the timing decision seems far more political than logistical.
September 27, 2009 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink