The Crucifixion

I just posted my previous piece about "compassionate conservatism." In re-reading it before posting, it really drove home for me the reason why Republicans should not go to the February 25th meeting Obama has called on health care.

In the "compassionate conservatism" piece I recalled all the things Bush did - No Child, massive increases in progressive pet social programs, prescription drug benefits and African AIDS - to try to appeal to the left, and what did he get for it? Defamation, ridicule, finger-pointing and spurious allegation after spurious allegation. No matter how far Bush tried to move in the progressive direction he was attacked by them no matter what, so why set ourselves up to be defamed again?

Now dovetail the current health mess, the fact that Democrats will not vote for it, Obama blaming everyone but himself for any failures and the upcoming elections and I think this is a setup of monumental proportions.

The health initiative was not Obama's anyway. Oh sure, it's one of his signature issues but recall he told the progressive led Congress to get it done - see, even his management style is arrogant. He figured since he had such huge majorities in both houses they would just steamroll this junk. But the citizen's interceded and stopped it, since Democrats will not give him what he wants, he turns to Republicans so that he can blame them.

This isn't about actually fixing anything. Were it to be Obama with a sweep of his pen could take the first step and install portability. Tort reforms would be easy too - just a have bipartisan commission decide what is reasonable and fair and make it so. When they agreed on fair and workable solution, send it to Congress for approval. These two initiatives alone would bring down costs by as much as 10% right off the top.

I ask the reader, if there are workable and doable solutions to PART of the problem, why not do them? Must we do everything or nothing at all? Why? Progressives have an agenda that fixing tort law and portability will not address and that agenda is greater control over the system, thus the citizens. Can anyone give me any other rational reason why this cannot be addressed in pieces? Isn't it about fixing it? If it were, every small step is a good step, no?

Instead there is Obama insisting it be the massive and sweeping deal that is convoluted and full of things we know little to nothing about. When 10 pages can make the Constitution, do we really need 2700 for this?

This is all a setup. Obama will hold his televised meeting as if it were an open and even handed give and take. Yet we now know the progressive Congress has revamped a lot of what they have done already and will show up with their desired plan in place. So, if they have a desired plan already drawn up and agreed upon, how can there be a fair and unbiased negotiation? That's not a negotiation - that's a trial. Ya know, where the DA has his beliefs decided upon and it's up to the defendant to prove he didn't do it? Yeah, like that!

Republicans will be behind the eight ball from the opening gavel. This is not, as has been positioned by the prevaricators extraordinaire, a totally new meeting where the table is cleared and all comers are welcome - not by a long shot.

If Republicans show up and act at all as Bush did and try to be compassionate in addressing the situation the result will be the following: Either nothing gets settled and Obama has his tape to scream "Republicans are the Party of No," or Republicans cave and govern like progressives, which as we now know, only harms the conservative/Republican brand in huge ways. It is not a sin for Republicans to have a position from which they will not move - I mean progressives are not willing to move one bit off of what they want, are they? So why are Republicans bad if we have the same positioning and determination?

This is a political calculation on the part of the Chicago Mob. They are going to make an "offer we can't refuse" so that when we do refuse it the progressives will try to capitalize upon it and use it to try and keep their Congressional majorities. If we cave they will use that fact to scream "This is bipartisan," all in an effort to keep progressives from suffering the mid-term backlash that polls now point to is coming in a huge way come November.

Obama and progressives need Republicans to share any blame the populace apportions so they don't loose their Congressional majorities - that's what this is all about. Or if Republicans walk away from the table Obama will scream and claim this nation would be all fixed up and spic 'n span if Republicans were not obstructing him.

Recall that just before Obama came up with the Blair House meeting proposal he said quite publicly that it seemed health care reform was dead in this Congress, yet a couple days later this magical plan is proposed. So, what changed in a matter of days? None of the Republican rhetoric changed, so what then? The answer is Obama and the Chicago Mob came up with yet another grandstanding show that will not settle or resolve anything, but it will make awesome political theater.

Didn't Obama, in proposing this meeting tell us he has "some things off of which he will not move?" (paraphrased) He damn sure did. He laid out his demands that are non-negotiable, so how again is this a negotiation? If they wanted fair and level they would not have come with a new plan upon which the progressives have settled.

Republicans only viable option is to demand a cleared table with NO pre-decided upon progressive plans, or not go to the meeting. If the Democrats already have a new plan with what they want, why don't they just vote in chambers on the damned thing? Because they know the Democrat caucus is afraid of the electoral backlash the voters have promised if they vote this into law over the clear objections of the vast majority.

This is an attempt at a crucifixion. They need them evil Republicans to try to provide them some cover. Sorta like when al-Qaeda surrounds themselves with civilian hostages and dares us to do anything about it. Progressives need cover and that is why they want a suddenly public meeting, when before all was done under cover of darkness. Republican's need to be smart about this and just say 'No!"