Another perfect storm?
Published September 3, 2013
by Thomas Mills, Politics North Carolina, September 3, 2013.
In politics, Labor Day marks the beginning of the political season. In even years, that means the beginning of the fall campaign. In odd years, we see the fields in various elections take shape. Candidates announce and issues emerge.
In North Carolina, 2014 is likely to be a referendum on the Republican legislative session. That’s bad news for the GOP. Their approval ratings are in the tank and their policies are unpopular. And if either Thom Tillis or Phil Berger is the GOP nominee to face Kay Hagan, the U. S. Senate race will be localized, making that race part of the referendum.
Republicans are banking on two things: the failure of the Obamacare implementation and the short memory of voters. They’re also hoping against hope for a rapid economic recovery to justify their tax cuts and denying unemployment benefits. None are very good bets.
In North Carolina, Republicans are doing everything they can to sabotage the implementation of Obamacare. At a time when the state needs any influx in cash that it can get, the legislature has ordered the return in millions of dollars in federal funds to promote and educate the public about the new program. It also rejects money to upgrade infrastructure and computer systems. By starving the roll out, Republicans are hoping they can say to voters, “We told you it would be a mess.”
However, the Republicans’ argument is all about process, something that bores voters. Democrats’ argument, in contrast, is going to be, “Republicans denied 500,000 North Carolinians health care in the midst of the worst recession in 75 years.” I’ll take the latter.
As for those short memories, the Moral Monday protests are hell bent on making sure nobody forgets. Besides, anybody who has children in public schools knows that Republicans are asking our kids to do more with less. According to my Facebook focus group, there are a whole lot of people who didn’t like Obama who don’t the Republicans in the legislature, either.
Finally, North Carolina’s economy is not performing like the rest of the country. Our unemployment is heading in the wrong direction and Republicans did little to change that. In 2011, the GOP issued more than $1.5 billion in tax cuts that were going to get the economy moving again. It didn’t. So, they doubled down, offering businesses and rich people even bigger tax cuts with no infrastructure or jobs programs. If the state’s unemployment is among the nation’s highest a year from now, the GOP might have hell to pay.
Democrats would be wise to spend their time recruiting candidates. They should fill every slot on the ballot, regardless of resources. Perfect storms are rare in politics but they happen.
The GOP’s shrill warnings about Obamacare are not coming true in other states and the program is proceeding relatively smoothly. There are plenty of voices to make sure nobody forgets this past session of the legislature. And if the unemployment rate is still hovering around 8% at this time next year, Republicans are likely to face the wrath of voters.
September 3, 2013 at 8:55 am
TP Wohlford says:
Well, first, it wasn't "Finally". I hate that.
Second, if we can blame the GOP after 2 years, can we hold the Dems in DC responsible for their 8 (Congress) or 6 (White House)?
My bet -- you hold the GOP accountable for anything bad that happens, up to and including bug bites and the death of Aunt Bea's dog. And anything good that happens, up to and including the rising of the sun and the taste of fried bologna, you will credit to the Dems.
September 3, 2013 at 10:27 am
Norm Kelly says:
"the program is proceeding relatively smoothly" - from blog post.
Once again, a statement not found in fact. You know, those things liberals ignore. Let's tackle this one before we get into anything else in the post.
Just recently, Mr. Obama admitted how poorly the plan is working out when he violated the law named after him and postponed the implementation of the corporate mandate. The law requires that the plan start effective Jan 1, 2014. By executive caveat, Mr. Obama decided that the plan wouldn't be able to effectively start on Jan 1, so he changed his mind on it. He didn't ask Congress to change a law that's on the books. Mr. Obama simply made the change himself. Like he's the dictator and not the president. Why do Dems support breaking the law so blatantly? Is it because he's one of theirs and the party comes before the country? Dem party before the law? What other explanation is there? When Republicans try to do the correct thing for the country and get Obamacare overturned, liberals respond with "but it's a law already on the books, so it's too late to do anything about it". Double standard at work? No, not possible. There is NO such thing. There is no there there.
Second, the administration recently admitted that the system would NOT be in place to verify eligibility starting October 1, 2013. Also contrary to the law as it was passed by Congress & signed by POTUS. Anyone can sign up for an exchange starting Oct 1. No matter income level. No matter availability of coverage elsewhere. No matter if you are a US citizen or not. No verification will be possible. Anyone can scam the system. Not just somebody hell-bent on trying to scam the system (say it doesn't happen!). But anyone can scam the system starting Oct 1. And, if memory serves correctly, Mr. Obama also indicated that WHEN the verification system is in place, if anyone was in the system in error, they will not be penalized.
So, once again, we have liberals, like this blogger, claiming success simply because the attempt was made to do something "good". (of course, it's "good" as defined by liberals.) Nothing good has to come out of their intentions, as in the case of Obamacare. It just has to have been a good intention in order for them to get credit.
Like another comment says, anything "good" will be credited to the liberals. Anything "bad" will be credited to Republicans (specifically!).
Again, show us where socialized medicine has improved the health care delivery system, show us where socialized medicine has reduced the overall cost, show us where socialized medicine has made the country of origin more stable financially, show us where socialized medicine has reduced wait times for care. When these tasks are complete, then you liberals can start claiming "the system is proceeding smoothly" and that the future of socialized medicine in the US is successful. But not before.
"Feel good" isn't as convincing as "facts". (darn it! i keep using that dreaded word. when will i learn?)
September 3, 2013 at 11:32 am
Norm Kelly says:
more thoughts about "relatively smoothly" after original reply.
The IRS expressed it's desire to not be held under the thumb of Obamacare. So if the people enlisted to force me to participate in Obamacare want to be exempt from it, how good does that indicate the plan is? Smooth, debatable. Good for people and the country? I'd say not, if the IRS is opposed to it.
Major unions around the country have been exempted from Obamacare. Because it's so darn good?
Congressional staffers received their exemption from Obamacare this summer. Because it's so darn good?
Will Congress exempt themselves from their wonderful law? I haven't seen yet where they've done this, but they have considered it. Have they considered exempting themselves because it's so darn good?
Are these examples of "relatively smoothly"?
Obviously I am not an Obama supporter. If I were, I would have asked for my exemption & it would have been granted. But since I'm not an Obama supporter, I haven't gotten my exemption. And I pay attention to when the law is violated, how the "rules" are being implemented by His Holiness's cabinet, and when liberals are being hypocrites.
States controlled by Republicans are not implementing their own exchanges, not accepting temporary money from the feds to implement exchanges because they realize Obamacare is NOT good for their state. They are hoping that Republicans in Congress finally get enough votes from thinking Democrats to get a repeal passed. Because 1.)it's such a darn good law, and 2.) because it's implementation is going so smoothly.
