The President had his head handed to him by the American public when he tried to take over healthcare and turn it over to the bureaucrats to run. Senate Democrats lost their filibuster-proof, 60-vote margin as a result, and Democratic majorities in both Houses of Congress are sure to be reduced come November, and there is even an outside chance Republicans could gain control of one or both Houses.
It is not surprising that President Obama is clamoring to “restart” negotiations with a healthcare summit. If he can get agreement between now and the mid-term elections in the fall, he will dissipate voters’ anger or displace it onto Republicans.
What is amazing is Republicans appear to be
going along with the idea of a summit and simply arguing over the starting point. Republicans want to start from scratch; Obama and the Democrats want to start where they left off before the Massachusetts election derailed ObamaCare. This is sort of like conceding a thief’s right to burgle your house and demanding he negotiate the terms of what he will take.
For most of the year, congressional Republicans were content to concede some form of government takeover of healthcare because they thought it was inevitable, and oh by the way, they thought a government takeover would improve their electoral chances in November. It took virtually a grass-roots uprising to convince Republicans they must object, obstruct and delay the Senate health bill. SSI was at the forefront of badgering Republican leaders.
We made the point tirelessly that obstructionism in defense of liberty is no vice and cooperation in pursuit of tyranny is no virtue. Finally, talk radio and the blogosphere picked up the message, and eventually the “object, obstruct and delay” campaign was championed by national conservative talk radio personality Rush Limbaugh and RNC Chairman Michael Steele. This campaign forced the Senate Republicans to change strategy and effectively delayed the passage of ObamaCare through the Senate long enough for the Massachusetts Special Election for Ted Kennedy’s seat to matter. The delay tactic also had the beneficial side effect of causing Democrats to let the Death Tax expire.
Now, Republicans have reverted to their old ways and appear prepared to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory once again. Instead of negotiating the point of departure of their own defeat, Republicans should be insisting on postponing any consideration of healthcare reform until after the new Congress convenes in 2011. This Congress has lost all legitimacy where healthcare is concerned. This is a lame duck Congress, and it is time for it to fold its wings and float on the pond in silence and inaction until the people have an opportunity to vote for a new Congress a few months hence.
So, here we go again. Hey, Republicans, heads up, ears open, eyes on the prize: Object, Obstruct and Delay any effort by the White House and congressional Democrats to revive the death march toward nationalization of healthcare. And most importantly, don’t do anything to allow RhinoCare to be resurrected from the dead.
Remember, obstructionism in defense of liberty is no vice and cooperation in pursuit of tyranny is no virtue.
This Congress is lame; don’t give it legs.
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