The real reason why Republicans oppose universal health care

It’s not just because Republicans believe the market will fix all ills. Turns out, the real reason why conservatives oppose health care reform for the US is simply political – if it passes, then Democrats can have a better claim to helping the working man.

All the way back in 1993 Bill Kristol wrote why:

December 2, 1993 – Leading conservative operative William Kristol privately circulates a strategy document to Republicans in Congress. Kristol writes that congressional Republicans should work to “kill” — not amend — the Clinton plan because it presents a real danger to the Republican future: Its passage will give the Democrats a lock on the crucial middle-class vote and revive the reputation of the party. Nearly a full year before Republicans will unite behind the “Contract With America,” Kristol has provided the rationale and the steel for them to achieve their aims of winning control of Congress and becoming America’s majority party. Killing health care will serve both ends. The timing of the memo dovetails with a growing private consensus among Republicans that all-out opposition to the Clinton plan is in their best political interest. Until the memo surfaces, most opponents prefer behind-the-scenes warfare largely shielded from public view. The boldness of Kristol’s strategy signals a new turn in the battle. Not only is it politically acceptable to criticize the Clinton plan on policy grounds, it is also politically advantageous. By the end of 1993, blocking reform poses little risk as the public becomes increasingly fearful of what it has heard about the Clinton plan.

Wow. So – that’s it? Because it would make the Democrats look better? I mean, ignore doing what’s right for people, or what would be economically useful. Nope – oppose health care reform because it’ll make the Democrats look better.

Asstastic!

So how bad it it, Republicans? Oh, pretty bad.

They say that confession is the first part to spiritual healing. So when Republicans got together last week and had a discussion on just went wrong with the last two election cycles, it might be helpful.

What I was interested in how the splits are along age lines. It seems the older Republicans blame McCain and say things will get better. Younger Republicans seem to think that after 8 years of saying “deregulation, ignoring the rule of law, supporting torture, and ruining the economy ROCKS”, that maybe Republicans should rethink the message.

Top GOP members blame Bush and Rove – They are Wrong

Sure, there are more and more Republicans speaking out about the failures of the Bush/Cheney/Rove era. Oh, if only we had known about the incompetency, the inability to see there were problems with the economy, how they would fail at Katrina! We didn’t know!

Only – all during that time, they cheerleaded every Bush task. While Bush called for tax cuts during a war, they shook their pom-poms. While Bush decided to invade Iraq with bad evidence, they browbeat anyone who said “That’s stupid” as unpatriotic bastards. When Bush decided to screw with the Justice Department, to reveal undercover agents, to pad his administration with unqualified people, the Republicans formed a human pyramid to block any attempts to stop him.

So no, Bush wasn’t the problem. It was everyone – Democrats included – who enabled his stupid ass, and it’s the fault of every US voter who voted for him twice. Shame on Bush, double shame on the Republicans who helped him –

And shame on us all as a nation for letting him get away with it.

GOP: Beware one party rule! By, uh, Democrats!

I remember 2000, when Republicans were sweeping and taking control of all three branches of government. Finally, we were told – finally we’re going to see what Republicans can do! Lower taxes, no more nation building, less government interference into your lives! It’ll be great.

Er – um. Yeah. We could pretend that nearly 8 years of Republican rule in the White House, the Congress, the Senate, and the Supreme Court has been good for the environment, safety soldiers, finances, jobs, response to natural disasters – we could pretend that any of that is any good. It hasn’t.

So its hilarious now to hear Republicans warn people against one party rule – but only if that’s the Democratic party. Because next thing you know, we’ll be out of Iraq, fighting terrorists where they are, installing a real health care plan, instituting market regulation to prevent the rampant fraud – I mean, who wants that?

CA Republican Group. Racism. You get the picture.

The Republican group of San Bernardino County, stating they had no racist intent, put this picture out.

DO I NEED TO SAY ANY MORE?

Governor accused of threatening to rape woman. Not cool.

Even though the charges were already out there when he was running for governor, Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons has now officially been charged in a lawsuit with threatening to rape a woman.

The good news is, as a Republican, at least Gibbons can take refuge he’s accused of trying to have sex with a woman, unlike that other Republican charged in a sex scandal. No, not that one. Or that one. Maybe that one. I can’t decide any more.