Support for ObamaCare Falls Still Further, and Yet Republicans Won't Press Their Advantage

Symbolic gestures won't fix a real problem.

Sometimes this party, of which I am no longer a part, just baffles me. I understand when they chicken out on pushing unpopular stuff -- most people aren't heroes, and I would imagine the Hero Gene is less likely to be found in politicians.

But I don't understand why they chicken out when they actually have the more popular position, and it's part of their core doctrine to boot.

I understand when a guy wants to sleep with a girl but doesn't make a move because he's all a-scared.

But if a guy wants to sleep with a girl and she gives him a small hint about her own interest in such a thing, such as casually dropping the subtle romantic overture...

"Get all up in that! Hit it like you hate it!"

...then I don't understand why he decides to go home and ride his palm. Or I do understand: he's got issues.

Anyway, per CNN, support for ObamaCare is falling.

In January 51% said they favored all or most of the provisions in the new law. Now that figure is down to 39%.

Support has dropped in virtually all demographic categories, but it has fallen the farthest among two core Democratic groups – women and Americans who make less than $50,000.

“Those are also the two groups that are most likely to pay attention to health insurance issues, and possibly the ones most likely to be affected by any changes,” adds Holland. “That may be particularly true for lower-income Americans who are most likely to have part-time jobs, be on Medicaid, or not currently have health insurance and thus be the first to have to navigate the new system.”

The House passed a bill to block the subsidies for ObamaCare until the now-shelved-by-Executive-fiat verification system was up and running.

I don't know what it's going to take, though, to get these guys to actually make a move.

Hit it like you hate it, fellas. She's really not being too coy about this.

Quoting Gabe: I sort of agree with this, but for nonobvious reasons:

You know where I come down on this. Not even conservatives believe Obamacare is actually going to be defunded this month. Even conservatives admit (or lament) that what's going to happen if the House provokes a shutdown is that Republican congressmen from purple districts (aka RINOs, squishes, traitors who just want to keep their seats) will peel away to side with Democrats to avert both the shutdown and, incidentally, Obamacare defunding, which makes conservative insistence that the House try it anyway utterly insane. If we're all agreed that this course of action is doomed to failure and likely to make Republicans look bad, I'd just as soon avoid that course of action. No, "principle" does not require that we publicly shoot ourselves in the face. Neither is that a good strategy for taking back the Senate next year.

I agree with this because the GOP has already announced "We'll fold like a cheap suit." (Caveat: Although cheap suits will fold, so will expensive ones; this metaphor is what we call in the writing business "a mistake.")

The GOP has already pre-announced their failure. It does seem silly to go ahead with the Pantomime under such conditions. They've already said "We're not serious, we're letting ObamaCare remain law, we're too afraid to push hard on the issue."

Under such conditions, what would be the point of a government shut-down? How long would it be in effect? Six hours?

You don't have to call a man's bluff if he's already folded.

Which is the actual problem. Gabe is right, I suppose, as far as going forward: The GOP, having already announced their unwillingness to chance anything to pursue what is allegedly a core promise to their voters, cannot effect any positive outcome by pretending at something they've already disowned.

However, it is worth asking, "How did we come to this point, and is a Party which is so unwilling to fight for even the popular parts of this agenda really deserving of votes?"

The GOP is currently not a viable governing party. Like ObamaCare, it needs to be reformed or replaced.

posted by Ace at 01:04 PM

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