‘Repeal and replace’ already being repealed, replaced
“Top Republicans are increasingly worried that GOP candidates this fall might be burned by a fire that’s roaring through the conservative base: demand for the repeal of President Barack Obama’s new health care law.
It’s fine to criticize the health law and the way Democrats pushed it through Congress without a single GOP vote, these party leaders say. But focusing on its outright repeal carries two big risks.
Repeal is politically and legally unlikely, and grass-roots activists may feel disillusioned by a failed crusade. More important, say strategists from both parties, a fiercely repeal-the-bill stance might prove far less popular in a general election than in a conservative-dominated GOP primary, especially in states such as Illinois and California….”
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who chairs the committee responsible for electing GOP senators this fall, said in an interview, “The focus really should be on the misplaced priorities of the administration” and Congress’ Democratic leaders.
“The No. 1 concern of the public is jobs and people losing their homes,” he said. “The administration has been obsessing on this health care bill.”
As the story notes, GOP Senate candidate Mark Kirk of Illinois was promising two weeks ago to “lead the effort” to repeal the measure. “On Tuesday, when asked repeatedly by reporters whether he still wants it repealed, Kirk would say only that he opposes the new taxes and Medicare cuts associated with the law.”
That kind of sudden shift almost certainly was driven by in-house polls that tested the “repeal and replace” strategy and found it wanting. (h/t Steve Benen at Washington Monthly)
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434 comments Add your comment
stands for decibels
March 31st, 2010
1:59 pm
Brave Sir Robin ran away, bravely ran away…
stands for decibels
March 31st, 2010
2:00 pm
He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways
stands for decibels
March 31st, 2010
2:01 pm
He is packing it in and packing it up
And sneaking away and buggering up
And chickening out and pissing off home,
Yes, bravely he is throwing in the sponge…
Peadawg
March 31st, 2010
2:02 pm
People will see in January when their premiums continue to go up even though Obama said they would. They will realize Obama lied. Lookin’ forward to 2012 baby!!!!!
jewcowboy
March 31st, 2010
2:05 pm
“When you have got an elephant by the hind legs and he is trying to run away, it’s best to let him run” ~ Abraham Lincoln
jewcowboy
March 31st, 2010
2:06 pm
Peadawg,
“People will see in January”
What happened to November?
Peadawg
March 31st, 2010
2:08 pm
jewcowboy…think about it.
Your premiums usually change in January, not the middle of the year. Ding dong. Not much will change in November 2010 probably. But 2012? C-ya Obama!
jewcowboy
March 31st, 2010
2:12 pm
Peadawg,
“Not much will change in November 2010 probably”
But I thought it was Armageddon?
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
2:13 pm
Peadawg,
There is really no reason whatsoever to call jewcowboy a Ding Dong. I expect better than that from you.
Paul
March 31st, 2010
2:18 pm
Ahem.
Not to pat my back (ha) but wasn’t it raised here not to long ago that a more effective Republican strategy would be to campaign based upon:
- We will keep in the items we advocated, such as not letting insurance companies drop people when they get sick or not covering people with preexisting conditions.
- we will continue to fight the trial lawyers and the Democrats they’ve bought and stopped tort reform.
- Seniors: we’re going to restore as much of those Medicare cuts the Democrats made as we can.
- Democrats raised Medicare taxes but want to spend the money on other stuff. We’ll put those resources into Medicare, where they’re needed.
- We will stop the Democratic strategy of taxing middle class households and sending that money to subsidize insurance premiums for upper class households.
Republican strategists get paid waaay to much for the quality of their advice.
Whatever
March 31st, 2010
2:18 pm
Have to post over her. CT or her stooges are blocking my comments.
In today’s AJC, Democratic lawmakers call for Cesar Chavez national holiday
“We need to honor his life,” said state Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta). “Like Dr. [Martin Luther] King he was one of the towering figures of the last 60 years in this nation. And we are becoming a blacker and browner state and nation.”
No problem. At the same time we should establish the following:
NAAWP – National Association for the Advancement of White People
UCCF – United Caucasian College Fund
WET – White Entertainment Network
White History Month
Embracing my Anglo-American heritage… I will be silent no longer!
#1 Foxy Lady
March 31st, 2010
2:19 pm
You mean there’s some hesitatin’ on the hatin’?
Obama is show’n ‘em that they can:
SUCK IT, LOSERS!!!
USinUK
March 31st, 2010
2:19 pm
Bosch – you seen Kam lately??? horrible news – Mr Potatohead may have broken his foot AGAIN before the Cup!!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/wayne-rooney/7542001/Manchester-United-striker-Wayne-Rooney-set-to-be-out-of-action-for-up-to-four-weeks.html
Peadawg
March 31st, 2010
2:22 pm
I kinda agree w/ Whatever. What about national holidays for Alexander Graham Bell(telephone), Ben Franklin(electricity), Willis Carrier(air conditioning), Henry Ford, etc.
Peadawg
March 31st, 2010
2:23 pm
“Obama is show’n ‘em that they can:”
Can what? Raise premiums on everyone? You’re proud of that?
FinnMcCool
March 31st, 2010
2:23 pm
I still see no reason to give any Republican -politician or voter – the benefit of any doubt. Really, NOTHING in their camp has changed since the elections of 2006 and 2008 that suggest they have gained anything — advantage, insight, respect, a clue.
In fact, Jay could post the same blogs from Dec 2008-Jan 2009 about the reeling Republican party, lost in the woods, etc., etc, and it would be just as relevant today.
AmVet
March 31st, 2010
2:24 pm
“The No. 1 concern of the public is jobs and people losing their homes,” he said. “The administration has been obsessing on this health care bill.”
Sorry Senator Cronyn, the last administration turned the White House into a massive septic tank. And now you’re b_tching that certain t_rds aren’t being “focused” on while others are.
it’s gonna take along time to get rid of the nastiness those vandals left behind…
USinUK
March 31st, 2010
2:24 pm
“GOP Senate candidate Mark Kirk of Illinois was promising two weeks ago to “lead the effort” to repeal the measure. “On Tuesday, when asked repeatedly by reporters whether he still wants it repealed, Kirk would say only that he opposes the new taxes and Medicare cuts associated with the law”
boy-howdy, there’s a guy who definitely fits the bill for Dave R’s Groucho quote: “Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others”
in fact … I think we may need to come up with the Smoking Duck Award for pols who fit the bill (get it? bill … duck … oh, I kill me sometimes)
so, congrats Mark Kirk of Illinois on winning today’s Smoking Duck
Whatever
March 31st, 2010
2:24 pm
Drill, Baby, Drill!!!!!
Environmentalists must be screwing themselves through the roof….
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
2:25 pm
USinUK,
I just saw that on Sports Center! And was thinking why hasn’t USinUK told us about this! That’s a really rotten bit of luck there. If it is indeed just four weeks, he’ll be ok for the Cup.
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
2:26 pm
Peadawg,
We’ve got enough Old White Guy holidays – why not let the Hispanic folks have some fun?
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
2:27 pm
Peadawg,
Oh, and Henry Ford? Are you kidding? That dude had some serious issues.
Peadawg
March 31st, 2010
2:27 pm
““The No. 1 concern of the public is jobs and people losing their homes,” he said. “The administration has been obsessing on this health care bill.””
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t buy insurance w/out income. Man, common sense is hard for Obama, ain’t it?
AmVet
March 31st, 2010
2:27 pm
Whatever, fine.
Just know that you union-busters and the anti-organizing gang should be required to work on Labor Day.
With lots of overtime and no extra pay…
jewcowboy
March 31st, 2010
2:28 pm
“Willis Carrier(air conditioning)”
I am all for celebrating this man!
USinUK
March 31st, 2010
2:29 pm
Bosch – 2:25 – the sports page isn’t my first stop in the morning … but it made the front page of the Evening Standard on the way home … I hope he’s able to recoup in time – he was sidelined in 2006 with a broken foot – everyone has tapped him as being captain material, so I’d like to see him be able to rise to the challenge …
FinnMcCool
March 31st, 2010
2:31 pm
Atlanta and the South in general would be a lot less populated if it weren’t for the invention and innovation of air conditioning. I don’t see many from up north moving down here without that key factor.
Whatever
March 31st, 2010
2:31 pm
And Chinese and Colombians and Vietnamese and Russians and Irish and Indians and Eskimos and Canadians and on and on and on…
How about this? We celebrate the FOUNDING FATHERS of our nation on national holidays. Then celebrate the contributors to the nation on days similar to Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day, etc.
And the whole Black History Month thing….That’s got to go….
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
2:32 pm
HEY EVERYBODY I FOUND OBAMA’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE!!!!!
http://www.leftcoastrebel.com/2010/03/obama-finally-aknowledges-tea-party.html
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
2:32 pm
USinUK,
“the sports page isn’t my first stop in the morning ”
WHAT? Hehehe. J/K But despite the fact that I think Rooney in that big ol’ head of his is not much more evolved than your typical variety garden slug, England needs him for real.
Hey, did you hear? Peadawg called jewcowboy a Ding Dong. I can’t believe Jay allows such language.
FinnMcCool
March 31st, 2010
2:32 pm
You know, that’s what you Republicans can shout about and spread the word on in your hate groups:
“They’re a gonna take our guns…and then they’re gonna take our air conditioning…and then….”
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
2:33 pm
Oh yeah, LA’s awake from his nap.
Peadawg
March 31st, 2010
2:33 pm
“Oh, and Henry Ford? Are you kidding? That dude had some serious issues.”
Some people wanted Michael Jackson’s bday…..
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
2:36 pm
“Oh yeah, LA’s awake from his nap.”
Der der der Bosch.
USinUK
March 31st, 2010
2:38 pm
“Peadawg called jewcowboy a Ding Dong”
classic … haven’t heard that in ages … pea, you going retro on us???
TaxPayer
March 31st, 2010
2:43 pm
They were asking the wrong question in their polls. If they had asked whether they wanted the Republicans in Washington repealed and replaced, then they would have received a clear majority of “Yes” responses.
Lord Help Us
March 31st, 2010
2:44 pm
Whatever, I can’t imagine why you got banned…
Maybe you could post over at the Hutaree website:
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/for_hutaree_militia_ethos_extended_to_family_life.php?ref=fpblt
Rumor has it, the Maid of Honor is available…
Mr. Snarky
March 31st, 2010
2:45 pm
So, the motto “Repeal it!” is being replaced with “Those Democrat have misplaced priorities!”…Wow. That’ll motivate the base.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
2:48 pm
“There is really no reason whatsoever to call jewcowboy a Ding Dong. I expect better than that from you.”
Bosch really does think he’s the blog police.
Citizen of the World
March 31st, 2010
2:49 pm
I’ve been thinking Peadawg and LA are one and the same. They certainly have the same style.
Doggone/GA
March 31st, 2010
2:49 pm
“Bosch really does think he’s the blog police.”
and wasn’t it YOU who was complaining about someone’s language a little while ago? “Blog Police” indeed.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
2:50 pm
“As the story notes, GOP Senate candidate Mark Kirk of Illinois was promising two weeks ago to “lead the effort” to repeal the measure.”
Doesn’t matter what Kirk says or doesn’t say. He’s in Illinois and Illinois ain’t turnin red anytime soon. In fact, Illinois is about to see a mass exodus of people when Pat Quinn raises taxes by 50%.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
2:50 pm
“I’ve been thinking Peadawg and LA are one and the same. They certainly have the same style.”
At least we have style.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
2:51 pm
“and wasn’t it YOU who was complaining about someone’s language a little while ago?”
Uh……not sure how “ding dong” and “a-hole/dick” are in the same category of insults.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Impeach Drunken Fool obozo! Just sayin...
March 31st, 2010
2:52 pm
I’m pretty sure the strategy has been slightly changed to focus on getting Republicans elected in November so that they can repeal this disgusting obomination, just sayin….
It ain’t gonna go away, Bookman.
In fact, the more the American people find out about it, the more they want it……uh, repealed.
AmVet
March 31st, 2010
2:52 pm
Who dat, are you really the thrice banned LA?
Now that the topic has been raised, i do some uncanny similarities…
USinUK
March 31st, 2010
2:52 pm
Doggone – 2:49 – it’s all part of the complete WATB package
Doggone/GA
March 31st, 2010
2:52 pm
“in the same category of insults.”
Way to miss the point completely. Just to spell it out, don’t compaling about “blog police” when YOU do the SAME THING.
TGT
March 31st, 2010
2:53 pm
Rasmussen:
“One week after the House of Representatives passed the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats, 54% of the nation’s likely voters still favor repealing the new law…Repeal is favored by 84% of Republicans and 59% of unaffiliated voters.”
Real Clear Politics summary of polls (about a dozen) show that by about a 10 point margin (51 to 41), Americans oppose Obamacare. The margin is about 13 points if you only consider polls that include RV or LV.
Peadawg
March 31st, 2010
2:53 pm
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704100604575146002445136066.html
Interesting article.
“Meanwhile, Henry Waxman and House Democrats announced yesterday that they will haul these companies in for an April 21 hearing because their judgment “appears to conflict with independent analyses, which show that the new law will expand coverage and bring down costs.”"
So, Democrats used “independant analysis” to output the numbers that they wanted output. Interesting…