About Sonny Perdue’s health-care lawsuit
Please keep talking about the intimidation post below. But for those who have had their say on that, here’s something I’ve been thinking about since Gov. Sonny Perdue first asked Attorney General Thurbert Baker to join the multi-state lawsuit against ObamaCare:
Does anyone else think this helps Baker, a candidate for governor, in this summer’s Democratic primary?
Baker of course has declined to join the suit, and Perdue has now moved on to pursuing a lawsuit via a “special attorney general” (in this case, a private attorney/firm doing the work at no charge). Some people have accused Perdue of playing politics. But if he was, he may be helping Baker more than hurting him.
It cannot hurt Baker’s standing with Democratic primary voters for him to refuse to participate in a lawsuit whose aim is to strike down the biggest Democratic legislative victory in a generation. Giving primary voters something to associate Baker with besides the Genarlow Wilson case will help Baker’s campaign.
And it also cannot hurt Baker’s chances of forcing the party’s front-runner, former Gov. Roy Barnes, into a primary run-off. That would be a huge break for the Republicans, who are certain to have a run-off that could be nasty and quite expensive. If Barnes is able to win the Democratic nomination outright in July’s primary vote, he would get a very big leg up on the eventual GOP nominee.
I have no reason to believe Perdue had such a Machiavellian outcome in mind. But the effect could be the same. Just one more reason why it’s so fun to watch the horse race.
P.S. — For anyone who thinks I’m merely taken by the GOP’s political genius…this impeachment business is more likely than not to backfire on them. Bad move imo.
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100 comments Add your comment
mit
March 25th, 2010
5:03 pm
To all you Glenn Becks, 2010 is not 1776. America will never become a socialist country you bunch of paranoid drug addicts. Put the crack pipes down and come live in reality.
ER RN, The founding fathers were REAL men with determination and wisdom, oh yeah and slaves.
you can’t hold what was true then for what is true now. Therefore the constitution must have some kind of flexibility, these are called amendments and they let women and blacks vote and a bunch of other things that make living in this country better for people. Hence the HC bill. Maybe not an amendment but you can’t say giving people access (or better access) to health care is wrong on some level. 70% of Fox News pollers are already on Medicare. So exactly what are you whining about? Money spent? Didn’t here one of you or Fox News whining about starting wars.
Linda
March 25th, 2010
5:05 pm
One exemption in the hc care bill is for the Amish. Muslims also think they’re exempt. I’ll miss my church & car.
Charva
March 25th, 2010
5:06 pm
Linda & JES, Glad to have some back up from people who obviously just got off work.
Charva
March 25th, 2010
5:19 pm
JF I guess I was thown off by the
“whining Republican” reference. I appreciate independent thinkers. I agree with you about the stimulus money. I think it weakened our position as a state. That ship has unfortunately sailed’ but I don’t think that should stop us from fighting to keep HC from getting out of port.
Michael H. Smith
March 25th, 2010
5:22 pm
Uh, just in case forgetfulness takes second place to the moment’s jubilation, it might be worth remembering something about “the settled law of the land”: It only remains “the settled law”, until the court overturns it, or another legislative body repeals it.
Even a Constitutional amendment has been repealed.
midtownguy
March 25th, 2010
5:27 pm
The phrase “States Rights” sends a cold shiver down my spine. This was the battle cry of Lester Maddox and George Wallace.
Th
March 25th, 2010
5:29 pm
State taxpayers pay lawyers to file suit against the federal government which hires lawyers to defend itself paid for by … taxpayers. Brilliant! Reminds me of the idiotic law suit against Dekalb County for collecting fire taxes. Even with our state not paying Perdue’s lawyers, we are still paying the lawyers on the other end.
Kyle could be right on the politics here, I always assumed Barnes would cruise to a first round victory. Sounds like Perdue is auditioning for that VP spot in 2012.
If Sonny wants to do something productive, I have a suggestion. Each state can establish their own health care system if they want but has to, at least, set up an exchange for the individual insurance market. Build a better mouse trap that other states. Our economy has more and more jobs that can be done from anywhere, why not here? Think about the sales trainer or software consultant who makes a good living and only needs an internet connection and an airport. We already have the doctors and hospitals, make the insurance easy to navigate so that Georgia is more attractive than Colorado or Texas or NC. How about this, open the state health care system to anyone who wants to buy a policy right now. No subsidies until 2014 but you don’t have to deal with the insurance companies alone. Try doing something to make Georgia look good other than firing teachers and jacking up tuition at colleges.
Michael H. Smith
March 25th, 2010
5:38 pm
States Rights are also protected under the Constitution. Any rights not “expressly granted” to the Federal government in the Constitution are reserved “Rights” for the States or for the people.
A Federal government with “Unlimited Rights” should scare the Holy Be-Jesus out of anyone.
CJ
March 25th, 2010
5:38 pm
Michael H. Smith is actually right this time. The activist judges that sit on the SCOTUS (i.e., Roberts, Alito, Scalia,…) have demonstrated that no problem with overturning precedent and/or acts of Congress, despite their assertion to the contrary in their hearings before Congress.
As previously stated, it’s worth noting that so-called conservatives hate judicial activism…except when they don’t.
Linda
March 25th, 2010
5:39 pm
I’ve got some good news & bad news.
First the bad news & please don’t tell anyone. It’s still a secret. During the final bribe sessions over the weekend, the Dem “representatives” were promised ambassadorships when they get defeated this fall. What they don’t know is that they ran low. The only ones left are in Somalia & Yemen.
The good news is that the Fuller Brush Company is offering positions to a deserving two or three of the Dem Congresswomen who get dissed this fall as test pilots for their broom factory.
Kyle Wingfield
March 25th, 2010
5:50 pm
PSA: I’m going to be away for most of the next few days, and all comments will have to go through moderation during that time. I’ll check the queue as often as possible. Thanks for your understanding.
Michael H. Smith
March 25th, 2010
5:53 pm
CJ, why thank you. You bet I’m right, as a matter of the Constitution – not merely as a matter of Justices’ Roberts, Alito, Scalia, Thomas. Even though we conservatives will gladly take all the help we can get since from the court. We paid a heavy price to stop you liberals from legislating laws from the bench that you couldn’t otherwise pass in Congress and at State levels.
So, how does it feel now that the left foot is wearing the right shoe, CJ?
November my friend, Obumercare will be on the ballot and don’t be late!
Chris Broe
March 25th, 2010
6:13 pm
I’ll have a full report of all the cyberbullying on this blog in your absence, Kyle. You can count on me.
Myrtle Beach Bill
March 25th, 2010
6:54 pm
What an idiot Sonny is. He’s gone!
Lex
March 25th, 2010
7:38 pm
Sonny lied to the ancestors of Confederate soldiers….
joe salter
March 25th, 2010
8:00 pm
always —- whenever the government gets involved the results are catasthropic. our country has lost its leadership, its vision, and its direction. will some groups and individuals please turn us around before its too late.
larry
March 25th, 2010
8:51 pm
Someone has to got stop those Nazis in DC. Baker won’t do it because he is of their party; his actions are vile and venal. Good for Perdue for being willing to withstand the yammerings of the left (read: media) and do what has to be done.
tylerdee
March 25th, 2010
9:28 pm
“Mit” Your comment was well said…….I say no more.
kj
March 25th, 2010
9:46 pm
Sonny Purdue is a redneck idiot. Now if he sued and said mandating car insurance was unconstitutional he might get my vote.
tylerdee
March 25th, 2010
9:46 pm
Oh by the way…Republicans and Democrats have the best health care in the country, while some of you posting comments and getting angry about a bill that is in your favor……PROBABLY don’t have health care from the start…..How ironic is that?? Think People!
Paula
March 25th, 2010
9:46 pm
“mit” the HC bill is not something that makes living in this country better for the people. It is unconstitutional to force a person to purchase a product they don’t want. I like my health care even though I pay a fortune for it. That was my freedom of choice. You obviously don’t care about your freedoms. You also don’t care that Obama broke his promise not to tax those making less than $250,000 per year. These very people, myself included, will be paying higher taxes in the form of higher Medicare taxes as listed on pay stubs, and a new federal sales tax, just to name a few. Won’t take long before everyone in the country chooses to opt out of health care, pay the fines, and purchase health care only when confronted with an emergency. Heck, why not? Save the individual money. With the HC bill that you are soooo proud of, it will be legal to do this, because no insurance company can turn down anyone with a pre-existing condition. Hmmmmm, HC bill definitely doesn’t sound like it will make living in this country better for the people. Only seems like the government will bankrupt itself. “mit” what will you do then? There won’t be anymore entitlements for you!
By the way, I watch Fox News, I don’t receive Medicare, and I appreciate every penny spent on wars. Especially when it keeps the fighting off the US shores!
Thank you, “Michael H. Smith” for “A Federal government with “Unlimited Rights” should scare the Holy Be-Jesus out of anyone.” AMEN!!!
Sally
March 25th, 2010
10:16 pm
I think you just don’t get it. The reason Sonny is pursuing this is because the vast majority of Georgia residents want him to. Maybe it helps Baker in the Democratic primary, I have no idea. It certainly will not help him in the general election.
django
March 25th, 2010
10:43 pm
…this is a priority? Right now the state has so many other issues and this is a priority?
Paul
March 25th, 2010
11:10 pm
Baker just another Democrat lackey who cares more about shafting the people of Georgia with Obama Care.
Acer706
March 25th, 2010
11:15 pm
Honestly, I love to see citizens using their rights to be heard and to speak out against their Government. Although, I do feel Purdue and other critics are taking at risk politically. The fingers were pointed across isles before the Healthcare Bill the Presidents desk. However, Purdue represents a majority that does not want this bill effecting our state. He has the right to counter Washington’s orders and the ability, and is standing up for what is right for Georgia.
The swift attention to demonize critics of this bill was taken due to the ability to organize a movement against those who passed it.
Mike "Hussein" Smith
March 25th, 2010
11:42 pm
those goobers at the Gold Dome are too incompetent to handle issues Georgians have been complaining about forever — like the traffic situation in metro Atlanta — so they may as well waste more time and money on something as childish as what undoubtedly would be a failed attempt to impeach and remove Baker just to further their political goals. Taxpayers shouldn’t have to pony up for that.
Idiots are Still In Georgia
March 25th, 2010
11:54 pm
The State of Georgia needs to worry and concentrate on our kids education & schools. How many lawsuits were filed when Dumb & Dumber was in office? Bush & Cheney? None. Let Pres. Obama do his job. If you don’t like it, too bad, try to vote him out next term. The majority has spoken. The Republicans are trying to go at Pres. Obama because they want to take the attention off the war in Iraq that never shoudl have been. That’s when the rage and lawsuits should have been flying, but because their are yet a few idiots in the world, they want to give THE PRESIDENT hell. Where was the hell when Bush was screwing up the Country. It will take 800 years to undue the mess he has gotten America in with his only 8 years of being in the White House.
Leave The President Be & Let Him Do His Job
March 25th, 2010
11:58 pm
ENOUGH SAID. I really do hope the day will come when you or someone close to you won’t have health insurance. I bet Healthcare Reform will really look good then. The health insurance companies have been lining the pockets of politicians for years & don’t care about the American public & neither does the politicians that are against Pres. Obama’s Healthcare Reform. You will pay more for an uninsured patient than you will for one that has healthcare. Grady will get at least 200 million of their money back out of over 300 milliion. Fulton & DeKalb are the only counties that pay for Grady, but everyone in the State of GA. uses them. Is that fair? NO IT IS NOT!!
JIMMY P
March 26th, 2010
12:22 am
So Sonny wants to have the AG impeached for not listening to him! Better get out a large stack of paper for the people in Georgia who have never listened to Sonny or believed a word he ever said as GOV.
irishmafia
March 26th, 2010
12:37 am
Another Democrat going against the will of the people.
Apathetic independent
March 26th, 2010
4:54 am
Hey Sonny- When you sued Baker over who was in charge you lost; when you got in a lawsuit with Alabama and Florida you lost -do you get the picture? Maybe you should challrngr Obama to a fishing contest.
Joan Moon
March 26th, 2010
5:10 am
Perdue should be sued for tax evasion on his shady land deal.
concerned
March 26th, 2010
6:03 am
I think things that are as important as the health care bill should be voted on by all of us. So often, our reps (both sides) do NOT vote the way we want them to OR some of them don’t even bother to show up and vote at all. I disagree with the fact that THEY will receive top health care for life just for serving- how unfair is that?
beanball
March 26th, 2010
6:08 am
What better name could you have if you’re a right wing gas bag. Kyle Wingnut. Kyle, elite, holier than thou, I know more than you, geek. Wingnut, well no description necessary.
That couldn’t be his real name. No wonder he’s writing for the AJC.
Lewis
March 26th, 2010
8:35 am
The Legislature has spoken on health care Why look for activist judges to overturn a legislative decision? Isn’t that contrary to conservative dogma?
independent
March 26th, 2010
8:41 am
The Governor wants to question the constitutionality of the Health Care Bill. Then, he circumvents GA’s constitutional process by ignoring the duly elected States Attorney General and hand-picking his own.
He says it isn’t political theater, but he can’t explain why it takes a dozen states, all Republican AGs or Governors, to raise the same question. If it were unconstitutional, it would apply to all states and be struck down nationally; but when following the Republican Party’s national orders, all Republican Governors, legislatures and AGs are being advised to waste the states’ time and money on political folly.
reebok
March 26th, 2010
10:38 am
the republicans have abandoned the middle completely, and now they’re even abandoning the right…to move out into far-right-crazy territory. the GOP needs to realize that it can’t win elections based on the 20% of the electorate on the far right fringe. they should probably also acknowledge that their decision to say ‘No’ to everything Obama proposes…not on principal, but for politics…has backfired miserably. when a woman as widely disliked as nancy pelosi cleans your clock, you need to start doing some serious soul-searching, not just turn up the anger and screaming another notch.
JF McNamara
March 26th, 2010
10:49 am
Charva, I’ll be sure to throw in a whining Democrat reference when we get to financial overhaul…if the Republicans actually decide to participate this time.
Gman
March 26th, 2010
10:53 am
“…the legal work will be provided by a private firm, pro bono.” Does anybody on this blog remember the old saying, “You get what you pay for.” Sonny doesn’t have a snowball’c chance in hell of winning this law suit.
BusyDad4x
March 26th, 2010
10:59 am
BRAVO, Mr. Perdue, for speaking for Georgians in opposing ObamaCare. Shame on you Mr. Baker for your transparent partisanship. Shame on those posters who now suggest just ‘getting over it and moving on’ — this sheepish response is what the federal government counts on to perpetuate progressive advances.
Break the grip of big government on the individual —- “Man is not free unless government is limited” – Ronald Reagan
Wesley
March 26th, 2010
11:06 am
How can anyone argue the government has the right to regulate the commerce of those who are not even participating in that commerce?
Give me Healthcare Now...
March 26th, 2010
12:03 pm
Help me out…Wasn’t the will of Georgia known when the legislature voted against pursuing this matter. So now the governor wants the elected Attorney General to pursue this on the behalf of a few. We elected those in Washington and that is separation of powers Governor Perdue the chicken. Take care of Georgia…where is our transportation bill, water bill, and budget for that matter.
The Snark
March 26th, 2010
12:16 pm
Getting through the primaryis not the only thing on a candidate’s mind. A tactic that wins one side and screws you with the other is not a shrewd tactic, and Baker is nothing if not shrewd.
Do you think it’s possible … i mean, just even barely a possibility … that Baker actually declined to file the suit because it has no merit?
Dusty
March 26th, 2010
12:44 pm
What??Gov Perdue is following the will of the people and he is suspect?
The majority of people in Georgia do not want TOTAL federal healthcare. When overuled in Washington by a few small votes after favors, armtwisting and threats got a majority, Americans still do not want what was passed there. Governor Perdue is doing what the majority of citizens of Georgia WANT. AG Baker decided on politics instead of the will of the people who pay him. As he has been overuled, I see no point in persuing his interests. He is out of this picture as far as I am concerned.
Let the governor do the right thing. If he and other governors win on legal grounds, that is good. If he fails, he has tried to do what the people of Georgia want. Georgia is NOT a doormat for Washington. I believe that is why we have a governor in the first place.
Intown
March 26th, 2010
1:36 pm
I don’t think Gov Perdue’ staff thought much beyond this neurotic need to keep fighting the healthcare reform even after they’ve already lost and to reopen the Perdue v. Baker rift that was so handily decided in favor of Baker by the Georgia Supreme Court at the beginning of the Perdue administration. Baker is right. the case is a loser. Perdue should not be allowed to hire private attorneys, pro bono or not, to represent the State of Georgia. That is the purview of the Attorney General who is independently elected … apparently for good reason.
EP
March 26th, 2010
3:04 pm
Correct me if I am wrong, but states are given the option to opt out of the health care reform. Its in the new law, if people would read and not just regurgitate misinformation. Let the governor waste more of our money and time needlessly on a frivolous lawsuit.
independent
March 26th, 2010
7:22 pm
@@ Against the will of the people?? Did you think the elected Reps were sent to DC to call home for each vote? What happened to all the representative government the GOP use to talk about?
The Reps are supposed to be informed, get informed and keep informed, then vote what they believe is best for their constituents. If they haven’t a clue, for whatever reason, sure phone home. Otherwise, vote your conscience and take your lumps or office at the polls. Stop this “against the will of the people, unless you plan to do away with democracy.
If you want to get heated about something, something all voters would support, and many reps won’t, strengthened and independent ethics and transparency right here in GA.
Cheryl
March 31st, 2010
12:06 am
How about something as important as attacking another sovereign nation and spending $1 trillion to do it is so big, it deserves a vote from the American People? I mean if we are going to go changing the way this government works, I mean our constitutional representative republic, then let’s just get to it, but ask yourself, why now? Should I really be more upset because I MAY have to pay for my health insurance, and because I may lose my right to allow a corporate entity to abuse me at will, than I am with we go into war, on false pretenses, which almost bankrupts our country, places our families in debt, raises the indebtedness of our children to an astronomical amount and costs the lives of over 4,000 of our brave soldiers? Really in perspective, what in the world is wrong with you people. Does Money mean that much to you…..Where you treasures are, there lies your heart…….
John Jones
March 31st, 2010
12:51 am
ObamaCare is unconstitutional and does not allow us to make decisions about our own health, but instead lets death panels decide. I don’t even care if the democrats win again, this country has already gone to hell. I am just going to stop paying taxes.
Jenny
March 31st, 2010
11:17 pm
To “John Jones”…so you’re going to stop paying taxes?…DON’T DROP THE SOAP!!!