The Nuclear Obamacare Option
Carl Levin stood up today to fight against tyranny of one party-rule and taught a history lesson about the sort of abuse seen this afternoon in the Senate.
One of the best quotes from the debate today, although I don’t agree entirely, came from the mouth of my favorite non-Republican, Carl Levin: “In the short term, judges will be confirmed who should be confirmed…But when the precedent is set that a majority can change the rules at will on judges, that precedent will be used to change the rules on consideration of legislation, and down the road, the hard-won protections and benefits for our people’s health and welfare will be less secure.” He also taught senators a history lesson on the nuclear option in his floor remarks.
What does this have to do with Obamacare?
Short Answer: Everything.
This administration is simply the Hugo Chavez junta in a cooler locale. Yes, Hugo is dead, but his socialism still reigns. There is no need to go over every thug-like edict employed by the Obama administration over the past five years. When it comes to the Democrat led Senate itself, they changed the rules to make Obamacare a budget item which made it only need a simple majority to pass. Otherwise, it would not be the law of the land.
Recent polls have shown that support for the Unafordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, has dropped 12% this month. Headlines on Drudge just today (November 21st) cite the following:
A Time Magazine cover featuring the words “Broken Promise”
Obama, Dems dump ‘Obamacare’…
Website Crashes on Boehner…
California Rejects ‘Fix’…
Older hill aides shocked by prices…
Plans sold through exchanges not accepted at some prestigious NYC hospitals…
WSJ: Forced into Medicaid…
Doctors concerned about new pay scales…
Obamacare is an albatross around the necks of every Democrat. This nuclear option enacted by Senate Democrats should be known as the Nuclear Obamacare Option (or something similar) because now, a new Health and Human Services Secretary, if Sebelius resigns, can be nominated and passed with only 51 votes. That secretary is in charge of implementing Obamacare and at times can make their own edicts on who can and cannot live. The Independent Payment Advisory Board (known by their popular name as “the death panel”) will be filled with political appointees which can now not be filibustered.
What happened today in the Senate was not just a nuclear option, it was the nuclear “Obamacare” option. It should be labeled as that or some similar term because Obamacare is wildly unpopular. Senators in red states who voted for this option now have one more stone that can be thrown through their Obamacare plate glass window.
The Democratic led Senate shoved Obamacare down the throats of the America people and now, their opponents in the Senate have no power to stop the bureaucrats who will have final say on who lives and who dies in America. This is the nuclear power Kay Hagan now has. This is the nuclear power Mary Landrieu now has. This is the nuclear power Mark Begich now has. These senators not only voted for Obamacare but they have now voted to change a Senate rule which has been in force since 1789 in one form or another. This rule change made by these vulnerable senators has given Obamacare the nuclear power needed to destroy the healthcare and lives of their constituents.
Will Kathleen Sebelius Now Resign?
There’s nothing to stop the resignation of Kathleen Sebelius now. When there were frequent calls for her resignation in the first few weeks after the devastating Obamacare rollout, it was surmised by pundits that she would never resign because it would be impossible to get a new nominee through the Senate, not now. We’ll see what happens, but if that thing called a website doesn’t develop into some creation better than a 3.0 version of Facebook or Twitter by Nov. 30th, you just may be able to start the Dump Sebelius countdown.
Nuclear Option Quotes
Here are some quotes on the nuclear option. Let’s begin with Sen. Carl Levin today and proceed into the vaults to find hypocrisy from Obama, Biden and Reid:
“Arguments about the nuclear option are not new. Senator Arthur Vandenberg, confronting the same question in 1949, Senator Vandenberg, who was a giant of the Senate, one of my predecessors from Michigan, said that if the majority can change the rules at will — quote — “there are no rules except the transient unregulated wishes of a majority of whatever quorum is temporarily in control of the Senate.” – Carl Levin on the Senate floor Nov. 21, 2013
“And what I worry about would be you essentially have still two chambers — the House and the Senate — but you have simply majoritarian absolute power on either side, and that’s just not what the founders intended.” – Sen. Obama at the National Press Club on April 26, 2005.
“Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to think about the implications of what has been called the nuclear option and what effect that might have on this Chamber and on this country. I urge all of us to think not just about winning every debate but about protecting free and democratic debate.” – Sen. Obama on the Senate floor April 13, 2005
“This nuclear option is ultimately an example of the arrogance of power.” – Senator Joesph Biden in 2005
“The American people want less partisanship in this town, but everyone in this chamber knows that if the majority chooses to end the filibuster, if they choose to change the rules and put an end to democratic debate, then the fighting, the bitterness, and the gridlock will only get worse.” – Senator Obama April 13, 2005
“I pray God when the Democrats take back control, we don’t make the kind of naked power grab you are doing.” – Senator Joseph Biden May 23, 2005
“Some in this chamber want to throw out 214 years of Senate history in the quest for absolute power.” – Harry Reid on May 18, 2005.
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