Supreme Court strips Romney of favorite argument
So how does Mitt Romney, the architect of RomneyCare, attack ObamaCare from this point forward?
Until now, Romney has claimed that the individual mandate is fine as policy when implemented at the state level. In fact, he has said repeatedly that he believes he did the right thing as governor of Massachusetts.
In a GOP debate in January, for example, Romney defended his plan on its merits, arguing that “everyone has a requirement to either buy it or pay the state for the cost of providing them free care. Because the idea of people getting something for free when they could afford to care for themselves is something that we decided in our state was not a good idea.”
However, while Romney argued that such an approach was right for Massachusetts, he also argued that it would be unconstitutional to implement it at the federal level. That was his get-out-of-jail card; that was the core of the distinction that he attempted to draw between RomneyCare and ObamaCare:
What was good policy at the state level was unconstitutional at the federal level.
Except that as we now know, it’s not. Romney’s argument has been rendered null and void by today’s Supreme Court decision upholding the mandate and the tax penalty used to enforce it.
Romney could, I suppose, try to seize upon the court’s description of the penalty as a tax to try to explain how his plan was different. U.S. Sen. Lindsay Thomas, in an appearance on Fox News this afternoon, was already pitching that line, claiming that “the issue is no longer about health care; it’s about taxes.”
Unfortunately for that line of argument, the tax penalty levied under RomneyCare on those who refuse to buy health insurance differs from that under ObamaCare only by degree, and not in a way friendly to Romney. You see, the maximum tax penalty in RomneyCare, at $1,212, is considerably higher than the maximum of $695 under ObamaCare.
Of course, none of this means that Romney won’t keep attacking the federal plan so clearly modeled after his own strategy. It just means that he won’t be able to do so credibly or logically.
– Jay Bookman
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1,024 comments Add your comment
getalife
June 28th, 2012
4:57 pm
The AG responds politics over public safety.
Independent investigation showed it started under w and he ended it.
Will not resign.
Have you no shame moment.
Gator Joe
June 28th, 2012
4:58 pm
It was a pleasant surprise to have Chief Justice Roberts in the majority. Perhaps he is attempting to bring this court back from the precipice of becoming a blatantly prejudicial body and by extension the perception of it’s being illegitimate.
Paul
June 28th, 2012
4:58 pm
Butch Cassidy
“Here, Obamacare broken down so a 5 year old can understand it:”
You forgot “It’s a tax increase! A stealth tax increase! Designed to wreck the economy and force America to buy stuff they don’t want!!”
ty webb
June 28th, 2012
4:59 pm
“Cue the “House holds Holder in contempt” deflection comments in 3…2…1….”
where you been? Getalife has been giving updates in haiku form for awhile.
JamVet
June 28th, 2012
4:59 pm
When HMOs are outlawed only outlaws will have HMOs.
Aquagirl
June 28th, 2012
5:00 pm
People not only have no idea but I doubt they care. Until something like this knocks on their door…..and then suddenly they get it.
A neocon is a liberal who hasn’t needed medical care…yet.
getalife
June 28th, 2012
5:00 pm
godless,
If it fails we will follow Canada so it’s a win win.
Sean Hanitty
June 28th, 2012
5:00 pm
Looks like the double barrel whammy of the Obamacare slam dunk rebuke and Holder contempt vote turned out to be nothing more than a sparkler at best, heck a match that didn’t stay lit for long
So much for the firework show
getalife
June 28th, 2012
5:01 pm
The cons turn on Roberts.
Impeach.
JamVet
June 28th, 2012
5:02 pm
Designed to wreck the economy…
NO! NO! NO!
That is the global warming hoax.
Jay
June 28th, 2012
5:02 pm
“‘the college grads that not on mommy’s or daddy’s policy and trying to pay back loans and must chose between paying loans, paying for apartment or buying insurance’
In 2014, the penalty for someone with adjusted gross income of $30,000 who does not have insurance would be a maximum of $300 a year. Consider that a premium for the catastrophic insurance coverage they would get should they end up in an emergency room, or pregnant.
Rightwing Troll
June 28th, 2012
5:02 pm
We’ve moved wayyyyyy beyond the wingnuts just looking like sore losers (which they are)… wingnuts are uniformed and simply bat $hit crazy…
I guess they’re mad because they all stayed up all night writing zingers and preparing all their gloating material… only to be shot down by W’s second stringer for CJ of SCOTUS… You all are wishing he’d stuck with his cleaning lady now… aren’t you?
getalife
June 28th, 2012
5:03 pm
That was fun.
A one two punch.
Down goes the gop.
Redneck Convert (R---and proud of it)
June 28th, 2012
5:03 pm
How many Republicans have turned to drinking today. There must be millions of Republicans out there in need of relief from the agony they are feeling right now.
Well, boy howdy! I been down in the dumps ever since that SC ruling this a.m. Now I got hope. I’m going to be keeping my eye on beer sales in the hoity-toity neighborhoods. My 401k could shoot thru the roof!
josef
June 28th, 2012
5:04 pm
FILTER
Ours is a Type 1 household, luckily with good insurance and so far none of the associated conditions. I can’t fathom what those not in our position must be going through and especially those whose children are the diabetics.
barking frog
June 28th, 2012
5:05 pm
Romney/Redneck 2012.
josef
June 28th, 2012
5:08 pm
Since this is pretty much a repeat of downstairs, I’ll say what I said there.
What’s all this “celebration” and “lamenting” about? The insurance companies have made out like a bandit which ought to be an outrage to those celebrating and a cause for ecstasy for those lamenting.
Why do I feel like Alice is calling my name?
Tundra Dude
June 28th, 2012
5:09 pm
Josef wrote:
The pharmaceutical companies have got a cash cow there and milk it for all it’s worth… that is, to me, enough to damn them right there…
Thank the Republicans. This is the only “free” country on planet earth that’s not allowed to negotiate with the Pharma Cartels.
RB from Gwinnett
June 28th, 2012
5:14 pm
Jay, if they have an income of $30k, they have an employer who will be fined for not providing their insurance. How much is the employers fine and how much of that do you believe will be passed on to their customers?
Rightwing Troll
June 28th, 2012
5:14 pm
Got a 19 yo with Type 2 in my house. This ruling does nothing to change the expenses that go along with that… Insulin ain’t cheap…
getalife
June 28th, 2012
5:17 pm
It is corporate welfare but it does help millions of Americans.
The President won the immigration and health care issues.
Move forward not back.
josef
June 28th, 2012
5:18 pm
Troll
And not to mention meters, test strips…and without good insurance, you might as well forget any of the advanced thingies like the pump…
josef
June 28th, 2012
5:19 pm
getalife
The INSURANCE COMPANIES won this one…
TGT
June 28th, 2012
5:19 pm
It just means that he won’t be able to do so credibly or logically.
You mean like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOaLLdpVzAs
Rightwing Troll
June 28th, 2012
5:21 pm
They tried, he won’t go with the pump. Needless to say, the Troll house always has been, and always will be insured, ACA or not…
pogo
June 28th, 2012
5:21 pm
Now that the Supreme Court has made its decision, I respect that decision. Unlike Jay, who just yesterday was wailing that the politically biased Court was not to be trusted, I always maintained that I would respect their decision, right or wrong. In this case, pertaining to this law, I don’t even know what the right thing is and to tell the truth everyone of you don’t either. You, just like the creators of this law, don’t know what it will mean for the people of this country. One thing is for sure; those on medicaire are about to pay more and get less. This bill essentially handed over your right to make your own medical decisions to a government panel and government panels do not have a great history of making the best decisions on anything. No longer will those on medicare and medicaid be able to just go to any doctor they please as often as they please. That is all gone. And for all of those old retirees who have been languishing out there going to any doctor or specialist that they chose, those days are about to be over. They (the government) will decide what kind of care you get based upon some flow-diagram in a triage procedure somewhere. And believe it or not but your age will be a great factor in their decisions. The older you are the less care you will be eligible for.
Another known fact is that this bill will sink this country even further into the debt abyss. There are not enough people making enough money to float the 50 odd percent who will qualify for government subsidies. So for all of you tof retirement age hat have children and grandchildren and that are enjoying unlimited government subsidized healthcare now, rejoice. You may be able to get what you want medically but you will be doing so by selling out those who come after you.
Paul
June 28th, 2012
5:23 pm
Don Abernethy
“Very sad day for America.”
Why?
Because people with preexisting conditions can buy health insurance?
Because if you get cancer the insurance company can’t drop you?
Because if you lose your job and you or a family member has a debilitating condition, you can still buy insurance?
Because people will be responsible for themselves and their families?
Why, exactly?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
5:23 pm
They (the government) will decide what kind of care you get based upon some flow-diagram in a triage procedure somewhere.
They (the insurance companies) already do that and have been for decades.
Another one late to the party
killerj
June 28th, 2012
5:24 pm
We have now taken the first step toward,s a socialistic government that now tell,s its citizen,s what they can and cannot do,tax my ass.
JamVet
June 28th, 2012
5:24 pm
The INSURANCE COMPANIES won this one…
As if they would have lost without this one?
Like the banksters and casino owners, they have won and will win almost all of the time.
Get rid of the useless bastards.
SINGLE PAYER NOW.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
5:25 pm
Socialism — BOO!
Rightwing Troll
June 28th, 2012
5:26 pm
DEATH PANELS BABY DEATH PANELS!!!
It doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as well as DRILL BABY DRILL!!! but I thought I’d try the Hill Billy from Wasilly’s new slogan…
JamVet
June 28th, 2012
5:26 pm
The INSURANCE COMPANIES won this one…
As if they would have lost without this one?
Like the banksters and casino owners, they have almost always won and will win almost all of the time.
Get rid of the useless ba stards.
SINGLE PAYER NOW.
TaxPayer
June 28th, 2012
5:28 pm
Republicans have definitely shown themselves to be totally ignorant of just about every aspect of the healthcare legislation except for one key item–the label their leaders originally imposed on it as though it would ultimately be a cross to big for Obama to Care to bear. Republicans should do themselves a service and at least read an accurate summary of what “ObamaCare” does.
Adam
June 28th, 2012
5:29 pm
RB: You’d have to be a complete moron to think the majority of the uninsured will ever be asked to pay for their own health insurance. This whole thing never has been and never will be about them having healthcare. It’s about who’s going to pay for it. And it’s going to be paid for by the same 53% who are paying for everything else.
Boo hoo. You can always move. Oh wait…
“Breaking News: Conservatives planning to leave the U.S, but can’t find a wealthy western Country without Universal Healthcare”
josef
June 28th, 2012
5:29 pm
For the diabetics, here’s another one of what’s broken in the system. As you know brittle diabetics are under what amounts to a terror, There have been some great advances made with dogs, much like the seeing eye dogs, who detect the critical drops. Great, But the insurance companies won’t cover them.
Old Timer
June 28th, 2012
5:29 pm
The INSURANCE COMPANIES won this one…
In a sense, yes—but only because ACA requires the use of private insurers. It was impossible to get 60 Senate votes for single-payer. At the same time, I’ll never understand the people who oppose ACA because of that. Would they rather have a continuation of the old system? ACA was the best possible outcome at the time. Maybe one day this country will have a true single-payer system, once the bought-and-paid-for politicians die off. And it’s unfathomable to me that we live in a country in which it is prohibited for the government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies. That, more than anything else, tells me something about the power of the insurance and drug companies.
Sean Hanitty
June 28th, 2012
5:30 pm
As we all read earlier, one of the bloggers couldn’t spike the ball so he took his ball and went home
so there
be good
Matti
June 28th, 2012
5:32 pm
Rightwing Troll:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MhgnMX73Pw
HAHAHAHA!
josef
June 28th, 2012
5:32 pm
TROLL
Watch it with that Hillbilly swipe…
Soothsayer
June 28th, 2012
5:32 pm
“When HMOs are outlawed only outlaws will have HMOs.”
You know, HMO or straight, we all have to get along.
(With apologies to Jay Leno.)
Paul
June 28th, 2012
5:33 pm
killerj
“We have now taken the first step toward,s a socialistic government that now tell,s its citizen,s what they can and cannot do,tax my ass.”
Yeah, it must grate on you to not be able to leach any longer off the rest of people who actually buy their own insurance.
Adam
June 28th, 2012
5:34 pm
RB: Jay, if they have an income of $30k, they have an employer who will be fined for not providing their insurance. How much is the employers fine and how much of that do you believe will be passed on to their customers?
None, because they get tax CREDITS for providing it. And that is a much better deal than having fines for it.
Rightwing Troll
June 28th, 2012
5:34 pm
Sorry Josef, no offense to the Appalachian/mountain dwelling folk meant…
Aquagirl
June 28th, 2012
5:35 pm
“Breaking News: Conservatives planning to leave the U.S, but can’t find a wealthy western Country without Universal Healthcare”
LOL—The Libertarian paradise of Somalia awaits. Funny how they’re not fleeing there to get away from the healthcare nanny state.
Brosephus™
June 28th, 2012
5:35 pm
<i.there’s brosephus and that broad brush of his again.
If and when I categorize ALL conservatives as such, you have a point. Saying that one doesn’t make the others look good is NOT saying that all act the same way. You should ask yourself why no self-respecting conservative calls that bullsh*t or any other stuff like that out themselves. If I were aligned with either party, I’ll be damned if I let somebody remotely represent what I supposedly stand for by looking like a jackass.
Also, if you ever read Ragnar’s posts, he’s the one I’m quoting with the “libs act with emotion” statement, although there are others who post the same thing. You don’t like it, deal with them. They’re your ideological bunkmates, not mine.
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
5:36 pm
“It is a mark of the mindless antipathy to all things Obama that conservatives would claim to be appalled by such a tax, and would build their 2012 campaign around an effort to free the moochers from any obligation to contribute to their own care.”
As I have stated repeatedly, I am not opposed to the concept of a mandate (with allowance for people to sign a waiver and possibly post a bond) As Jay and others have pointed out more than once, this was originally a conservative (not liberal) idea. And for good reason – to eliminate freeloading. It remains an almost necessary component of health care reform.
What I am very bothered by is the ham-handed way this VERY critical piece of legislation was crafted and passed (with virtually NO Republican support) and the way it paves a path for the federal government to, at some point, take over health care. I, for one, am not at all convinced this is the way to go and I would have MUCH preferred an eclectic approach that insured that 1) health care costs would be greatly reduced by a number of means 2) insurance was available to, and affordable by, all 3) truly frivolous lawsuits would fail 4) competition between insurers would be maximized. People like me deserved to be heard but feel we shut out by the Obama administration and Democrats that basically passed the bill they, in their less-than-infinite wisdom, they thought was best. And THAT is one of the main reasons Obama is detested by a whole lot of people (and NOT because he is “black”). He pretended to hear from all sides, but in the end passed the bill he liked. That is not leadership but conmanship – I mean, what does it tell you that you pass one of the biggest bills in US history by the skin of its teeth? I think it tells you it was something forced upon the people rather than decided upon for their benefit.
Now, if you somehow imagine this monstrous piece of legislation is not going to have SERIOUS unintended consequences, you are perhaps a few cards short of a deck. Again, the mandate doesn’t bother me – stupid, unthinking government intrusion into life bothers me (I guess no one remembers how postal workers used to treat their customers as a rule before someone realized they were going to be extinct if they didn’t treat customers the way businesses do).
josef
June 28th, 2012
5:37 pm
OLD TIMER
In a sense? No parsing necessary…if you can’t afford it, then get a government subsidy and go buy it from an insurance company. We have wound up with a load of crap. If you can afford it, buy it from the private sector. If you can’t afford it, the government will subsidize you to buy it from the private sector and those who can afford it get to pay for it through their taxes for those who can’t afford it. The insurance companies get their shekels either way.
A half assed boondoggle it is…
TM
June 28th, 2012
5:37 pm
“In 2014, the penalty for someone with adjusted gross income of $30,000 who does not have insurance would be a maximum of $300 a year. Consider that a premium for the catastrophic insurance coverage they would get should they end up in an emergency room, or pregnant.” Jay do you really think that his/her heath insurance premium would be $300 or less? What is going to cause a person with limit means to get insurance as oppose to paying the tax? And do you think this “penalty” will pay for all the uninsured who make the same decision
martin the calvinist
June 28th, 2012
5:37 pm
Doggone, you miss the point, if someone else is paying my premium because i am financially incapable of doing it, then I’m getting the insurance for free……
Soothsayer
June 28th, 2012
5:38 pm
Republicans vote “Fast & Foolish”(ly) to hold Eric Holder in contempt of Congress.
Just goes to show you what will happen to you if you challenge the Republicans on voter rights.
josef
June 28th, 2012
5:39 pm
TROLL
No problem…being half Hillbilly I’m half tetchy on the subject
Doggone/GA
June 28th, 2012
5:39 pm
“Doggone, you miss the point, if someone else is paying my premium because i am financially incapable of doing it, then I’m getting the insurance for free”
But, once again beating a dead horse…you originally said free HEALTHCARE, not free insurance.
TGT
June 28th, 2012
5:40 pm
So how does Mitt Romney, the architect of RomneyCare, attack ObamaCare from this point forward?
Easy. He pulls a Bookman and talks about an “activist” and “partisan” court. He says that states have powers that the federal govt. does not–or should not. What was constitutional for Mass. was not–should not–have been for the U.S. federal govt. He says, thus, since the courts have failed us (again), the ONLY way to end this monstrosity is to elect him for president. And this argument will work for MANY GOP congressional candidates as well. For evidence of this, just as many Dems are running away from the Democratic Convention, watch how many Dems RUN from this ruling (or at least try to remain mum about it). In other words, remember 2010 libs?
As I noted months ago, the Dems could not win today. As I noted then, if Obamacare is upheld, conservatives will then turn to the electorate and say, “Again, the courts let us down!” From the decision day to Election Day the GOP will run ads declaring that the only way then to reverse the wildly unpopular bill will be to elect republicans.
From its birth (pardon the pun), the unpopularity of Obamacare has proven politically poisonous for the democrats. There is NO reason to think that Nov. 2012 will be any different.
Soothsayer
June 28th, 2012
5:40 pm
Jay: I can’t believe you don’t have a thread up on this Fast and Furious witch hunt vote in Congress.
martin the calvinist
June 28th, 2012
5:43 pm
Well, if I’m not paying for health insurance, aaren’t I getting free healthcare?
barking frog
June 28th, 2012
5:43 pm
<i. josef
A half assed boondoggle it
is…
……
and made worse by SCOTUS
political decision.
pogo
June 28th, 2012
5:44 pm
And Jay, who was it that appointed John Roberts again? Oh that’s right, George W. Bush. So you and all of your liberal drones here should be thanking Bush now since his appointee was the deciding vote on this issue. He was the only one that made an objective opinion. Those appointees of the Democrat Presidents all voted in lockstep with the liberal cause and you have nothing to say about that.That says a lot about the objectivity of the liberal judges, doesn’t it? Jay, you are nothing but a small time political hack who sways like a reed in the polictical wind who makes his living by stirring people and hate up. Yesterday you hated the SCOTUS and today you sing their praises by attacking Romney based upon the very same SCOTUS decision you were wailing about yesterday. You obviously have no shame at all. No wonder you are left writing a blog for an un-important and un-respected newspaper instead of doing something that matters. Your lot in life is to be a crap stirrer. You don’t contribute anything and you make your living off of stirring political hatred. You must be very proud of yourself.
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
5:48 pm
“Those appointees of the Democrat Presidents all voted in lockstep with the liberal cause and you have nothing to say about that.That says a lot about the objectivity of the liberal judges, doesn’t it?”
As I said the other day, it is curious that some supposedly conservative appointees turned liberal but none (that I know of) the other way, whereas in society at large not a few prominent conservatives today started off as dyed-in-wool liberals (and vice versa). What is it about the SCOTUS that bucks national trends? Isolationism?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
5:49 pm
pogo melt-down.
Wont make it to Nov.
Postal pogo.
Adam
June 28th, 2012
5:49 pm
So you and all of your liberal drones here should be thanking Bush now since his appointee was the deciding vote on this issue
He Who Must Not Be Blamed, But Must Be Given Credit.
Fine. Yay for Bush. Good job. Also, Mitt Romney has a victory today, as his Romneycare was also upheld by proxy.
Feel better?
Soothsayer
June 28th, 2012
5:49 pm
Here we have the Attorney General of the United States being treated like a cheap wh*re on Saturday night.
Whatever happened to due process? The Republican-controlled House can literally bring anyone up on contempt charges and take a quick vote and find them “guilty.”
Unbelievable.
Adam
June 28th, 2012
5:49 pm
So who here thinks health care insurance providers will keep their prices really high if everyone dumps their insurance and goes with the tax instead?
ty webb
June 28th, 2012
5:50 pm
“You should ask yourself why no self-respecting conservative calls that bullsh*t or any other stuff like that out themselves. If I were aligned with either party, I’ll be damned if I let somebody remotely represent what I supposedly stand for by looking like a jackass.”
or perhaps an individual’s jackassedness is just that, his or her’s alone…by the way, that was a good one about not being aligned with either party.
getalife
June 28th, 2012
5:51 pm
Look at the glass half full by helping Americans josef.
Positive thinking.
getalife
June 28th, 2012
5:52 pm
postal pogo cracked me up.
RB from Gwinnett
June 28th, 2012
5:52 pm
Adamoron, they get 35 or 50% of what they PAY for the first 2 years. If theyre telling you it’s cheaper to pay the $2k per employee fine than to provide the policy even after the tax break, how much do you think it’s going to increase their costs and who do you thInk is going to pay for it?
People who can’t think any deeper than you being involved in policy discussions is a problem. Go work on that 6 month old research or something else useful.
Jay
June 28th, 2012
5:53 pm
I love you too, Pogo. :>) OXOXOX
More seriously, I think Chief Justice Roberts saw and responded to the same dangers that I had warned against. He understood that a 5-4 ideologically split decision overturning a major governmental program would seriously compromise the court’s credibility as an institution above the partisan fray. He recognized that this is an issue that ought to be settled not in a courtroom but in the political arena, and he found a way to make that happen.
Even if ObamaCare is later wiped from the books by a future Congress, I think Roberts’ effort will be remembered as a great act of statesmanship and wisdom that preserved public faith in the courts.
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
5:54 pm
I guess the final ruling is now up to the voting public (as it should have been from the get go on such a critical bill). I don’t fault the SCOTUS for their ruling (for a mandate in and of itself, with very strict limits, it not objectionable in this case); I fault the Democrats for forcing a highly questionable means of healthcare “reform” down the throat of at least half the people (much more if the polls are to be believed).
Doggone/GA
June 28th, 2012
5:56 pm
“Well, if I’m not paying for health insurance, aaren’t I getting free healthcare”
Did you actually read my post about my “free” healthcare that costs me $60 a month?
getalife
June 28th, 2012
5:56 pm
After billionaires united, the chief justice tried saving face .
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
5:56 pm
I fault the Democrats for forcing a highly questionable means of healthcare “reform” down the throat…
I have found that those who complain the most about having something forced down their throats are the same one’s who will swallow anything.
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
5:59 pm
“More seriously, I think Chief Justice Roberts saw and responded to the same dangers that I had warned against. He understood that a 5-4 ideologically split decision overturning a major governmental program would seriously compromise the court’s credibility as an institution above the partisan fray. He recognized that this is an issue that ought to be settled not in a courtroom but in the political arena, and he found a way to make that happen.”
Huh? If Roberts was aiming to save the court’s credibility, then perhaps he shouldn’t be sitting on the court. I mean, isn’t that kind of what southern judges did in the 20th century? A SCOTUS decision should be apolitical, as even you yourself was crying yesterday.
G Mare 71(PLEASE VOTE NO ON TSPLOST)
June 28th, 2012
5:59 pm
True that, Kam.
josef
June 28th, 2012
6:00 pm
getalife
It’s half assed, not half full…and there’s still some 25 million without coverage…this is so much horse hockey…either you know what or get off the pot…
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
6:01 pm
“I have found that those who complain the most about having something forced down their throats are the same one’s who will swallow anything.”
Have you something intelligent to say besides a crude and stupid remark you have made more than once? Is that all you got?
Don't Forget
June 28th, 2012
6:02 pm
I fault the Democrats for forcing a highly questionable means of healthcare “reform” down the throat of at least half the people (much more if the polls are to be believed).
Yeah, well I fault the Republicans for trying to turn an issue of great importance to the well being of the American people into a “Waterloo” for a president. Defeating Obama is the ONLY thing they’ve been concerned about for over 3 years.
getalife
June 28th, 2012
6:03 pm
“I have found that those who complain the most about having something forced down their throats are the same one’s who will swallow anything.”
Great stuff as usual Kam.
pogo
June 28th, 2012
6:03 pm
Besides Jay, it is now most officially, most concurrently, a TAX on the middle class. It is going to be interesting in 2014 when this monster really grows up to see how all of those that supported it see what it will mean to them. Especially the old retirees, which seem to be the majority of your readers and contributors. And all of the waivers that Obama gave to the unions and big business that will expire after he is gone from office (IF he wins re-election) will expire in the coming years. Of course Obama will be relaxing somewhere living large when that happens and he won’t give a crap what the consequences of his actions were to our nation. He and Pelosi and Reid will get all the medical treatment they want while the people of this nation will be scrambling and waiting to even see a general practioner.
Aquagirl
June 28th, 2012
6:04 pm
I fault the Democrats for forcing a highly questionable means of healthcare “reform” down the throat of at least half the people
Oh boo-hoo. Kyle Wingfield posted a 27 page “rebuttal” to people who said the Republicans offered no plan….it’s a slew of fetal personhood, repeal Obamacare, kill the lawyers, blah, blah blah. Unless you have a workable PLAN, shaddup and let the grownups work. It’s hard enough to get things done without a bunch of whining no,no,no dimwits moaning and complaining.
As every parent of teenagers knows…if you’re not willing to cook, you can eat what’s on your damn plate or starve. So choke down that broccoli, cons. Every damn bite of it.
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
6:04 pm
“Yeah, well I fault the Republicans for trying to turn an issue of great importance to the well being of the American people into a “Waterloo” for a president.”
I guess November will determine if it is a Waterloo or not.
Orange 12
June 28th, 2012
6:05 pm
“Even if ObamaCare is later wiped from the books by a future Congress, I think Roberts’ effort will be remembered as a great act of statesmanship and wisdom that preserved public faith in the courts.”
Depends on how this thing pans out Jay.
Michael
June 28th, 2012
6:05 pm
Pogo, Stirring the political hatred pot is Neal Boortz’ job. I don’t think Jay can match Neal’s 4.5 hours per day effort. If he tries to stir in a counter clockwise direction to counter Neal’s effort, he’ll break his stirring paddle.
pogo
June 28th, 2012
6:05 pm
getalife, you are the one that only lives for a blog. That makes you way beyond postal.That makes you, well, twisted. Get a real life man.
That Black Guy
June 28th, 2012
6:06 pm
I don’t understand.
Adam
June 28th, 2012
4:10 pm
The Obama administration argued the mandate wasn’t a tax
It still isn’t. You misunderstand. The MANDATE isn’t a tax because the MANDATE is to buy insurance or to have a penalty applied. That penalty is one that you actually have no legal obligation to pay.
How does ^^^^^^^^^^^^this jibe with vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv that?
Butch Cassidy
June 28th, 2012
4:07 pm
Not exactly. The penalty paid by those who choose not to het insurance is udsed to offset the cost of treatment should one need it. Unlike now where it’s a 100% free ride for anyone who walks in the door.
If I read it correctly, one is saying the fee/tax/penalty/whatever will be used to offset the cost of treatment for those who couldn’t/wouldn’t pay BEFORE the PPACA decision.
The other is saying that the fee/tax/penalty/whatever to be used to offset the cost of treatment for those who can’t/won’t pay AFTER the PPACA decision, but there is NO way to collect.
Am I missing something?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
6:06 pm
Have you something intelligent to say besides a crude and stupid remark you have made more than once? Is that all you got?
The smoking gun is the mushroom cloud.
getalife
June 28th, 2012
6:06 pm
josef.
Any bill that helps Americans out of this congress is a miracle.
I tend to focus on that fact
Towncrier
June 28th, 2012
6:06 pm
“Unless you have a workable PLAN, shaddup and let the grownups work. It’s hard enough to get things done without a bunch of whining no,no,no dimwits moaning and complaining.”
And then “grownups” would be who – you (with all of your childish batter)? Smarten up and try on a less childish moniker than that taken from a superhero (maybe your posts will improve).
You dont say
June 28th, 2012
6:08 pm
POGO
Obama isn’t going anywhere until Jan 2017, so for better or worse he will be around to see if he fd up or not
getalife
June 28th, 2012
6:08 pm
pogo,
Got a pretty good life.
Thanks for caring
Doggone/GA
June 28th, 2012
6:09 pm
That Black Guy – been trying to touch base with you for days about your question on the dogs. Are you still considering getting the Cane Corso?
Adam
June 28th, 2012
6:10 pm
RB: People who can’t think any deeper than you being involved in policy discussions is a problem. Go work on that 6 month old research or something else useful.
You may have noticed I don’t answer to you.
What you don’t understand is that it’s basically a wash. The only reason to go for the penalties is if the only plans available to the employees cost more, minus the tax credits, than the penalties. You are making an absolute fatal error in logic to assume that is ALWAYS going to be the case. In fact, your only objection to this is emotional. You proved that by striking out at me as you did, as you probably reflexively do to anyone and anything that pisses you off, including your employees. But being that much of an ass, I am sure that you STILL don’t realize that YOU are the reason employees keep leaving your business. Still, that’s not surprising. Your ego simply will not allow that to penetrate. But if you ever got it through your head, you’d start retaining employees.
barking frog
June 28th, 2012
6:11 pm
getalife
willardcare is constitutional.
willard is winning. you must
work harder.
sheepdawg
June 28th, 2012
6:11 pm
romney is a mouthpiece for the crumbling club of rich old white men, satisfying to watch their lasts gasps
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 28th, 2012
6:12 pm
Towncrier melt-down.
Should’ve bought Inbev stocks today
Adam
June 28th, 2012
6:13 pm
TBG: There isn’t “no way to collect,” it’s just that you can fail to pay it and there is no penalty for doing so. I am sure lots of mechanisms will make that an obstacle, perhaps withholding and so on that people regularly do. In a way, it will actually be an EFFORT to avoid paying the fee if you don’t have insurance, but you don’t get gone after for not paying it. The presumption I am sure is that most people will pay it not knowing how to avoid doing so even if they know they can, and that will help offset costs.
Brosephus™
June 28th, 2012
6:13 pm
Old Timer @ 5:29
Maybe one day this country will have a true single-payer system, once the bought-and-paid-for politicians die off.
Are you the same Old Timer that posted this over on Kyle’s blog???
Old Timer
June 28th, 2012
5:18 pm
Anyone want to make book on how many of Pelosi and Ree’s diciples get voted out this time? Even if Obama gets rel-elected they can keep his hands tied from more distruction of this country. As mention before I have lived through 13 Presidents and Obama is the worst–he makes Jimmy Carter look good-if his methods continue I feel sorry for the future of this country and our kids and grandkids. It won’t work–that is one of the reasons he is pushing Articel 21 of the National Nations. You folks that love Obama will eventually get your due and wonder why it is too late. Putting a degree in socialology, government or accounting won’t float in the coming enviroment. A degree in common sense might help some.
If you are one and the same, I wonder how bad the fights are that are going on inside your head. Those two posts sound about as far apart as comparing strawberries to lemons…
getalife
June 28th, 2012
6:13 pm
frog,
ACA is the new heath care bill,
The law of the land.
President Obama won this one.
josef
June 28th, 2012
6:15 pm
Okay. I polish dog t*rds. The Dog T*rd Polishers Cartel sets the price at $3.00. Now the government decides that everybody should have a dog t*rd once a month and if they can’t afford the price, then they can get a subsidy. You honestly think the Dog T*rd Polishers Cartel is going to keep the price at $3.00, much less lower it? The price of dog t*rds is about to soar and a good portion of the “buyers” are going to be paying twice.
sheepdawg
June 28th, 2012
6:15 pm
who peed in pogo’s punch?