ObamaCare – The Future Is In Massachusetts

MPPI’s Marc Kilmer gives us a glimpse into Maryland’s future.  Simply look to the north.

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney promised many of the same things to his voters regarding RomneyCare that the messiah promised to the rest of America.  Have they come true?

Health care costs continue to rise in the socialist paradise of Taxachusetts.  Emergency rooms are still overcrowded, despite promises from Romney, and now Obama, that this problem would disappear.

One problem faced in Massachusetts that the feds won’t have to face – at least in the immediate term – is the huge shifting of resources into health care from other programs.  The anointed one will simply borrow until US sovereign debt shares the same risk rating of Greece.

The problem is, it may be too late to do anything about it then.

Sphere: Related Content

Support Conservatives – Not Republicans

Former New York Gov. George Pataki has endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman over GOP candidate Dierdre Scozzafava in the race for New York’s 23rd Congressional District.  Principle over party is now the cry!

As Hoffman narrowly moves into first place in a three way race, we are fast seeing who is willing to take a stand:

• George Pataki
• Sarah Palin
• Tim Pawlenty
• Sen. Jim DeMint
• Fred Thompson
• Steve Forbes
• Dick Armey
• Tom Cole (former RNCC chair)
• Ed Meese
• David Keene
• Al Regnery
• David McIntosh
• Brent Bozell
• Jim Miller
• Richard Viguerie
• Tony Perkins
• Tom Winter
• Ken Blackwell
• Craig Shirley

Who is supporting Scozzafava?

• Michael Steele
• Newt Gingrich
• The RNCC

Gingrich has ceded all ties to the conservative movement with this move.  Steele never had any.  Their support of liberal Wayne Gilchrest merely made them look foolish.  However, this race has the potential to be as meaningful to conservatives as the 1976 GOP presidential primaries.  Assuming Hoffman pulls off a victory, Steele’s resignation should be demanded immediately.  Those on the RNC who voted for Steele over Ken Blackwell should be ashamed!  As for the RNCC, no conservative should donate a dime as long as the House GOP caucus is led by the likes of Boehner and Cantor (see below).

Worst of all – Who is standing on the sidelines?

• John Boehner
• Eric Cantor
• Mike Huckabee
• Mitt Romney

This is merely a warm-up for next year.  We are witnessing the GOP elite support statist candidates over true conservatives.  We need to support people like Marco Rubio in Florida and Chuck DeVore in California.  As Neil Stevens recently reminded us, there are two kinds of Republicans.  We know which kind our country needs.

Sphere: Related Content

Frank Kratovil and the Taxachusetts Plan for Health Care

My Red Maryland colleague Brian Griffiths has an excellent post which discusses just some of the pitfalls of the Mitt Romney health care plan now reeking havoc on the poor citizens of Massachusetts.  Reading it I was reminded of some statements made by then candidate, now Congressman Frank Kratovil (D-MD).

At a Big Labor forum in September, 2008 Kratovil openly endorsed the Taxachusetts plan.  Blue Dog Frank was particularly in love with individual mandates.  As Griffith’s post notes, these mandates are nothing more than a tax on middle class citizens who choose to carry coverage that isn’t quite as robust as bureaucrats would like.

Should we be surprised?  No!  While Blue Dog Frank ran around Maryland’s First District telling middle class white folk that he would be “INDEPENDENT”, Kratovil was pitching himself to the African-American community as:

PART OF BARACK OBAMA’S TEAM FOR CHANGE

At least he didn’t lie to ALL of the District’s voters.  PORKULUS.  Cap and Tax.  We’re all waiting to see how he can explain a vote for ObamaCare.

The big question will be – if Kratovil votes against ObamaCare … to save his seat … will all of that left wing money dry up?

Sphere: Related Content

Mitt Romney on the Economy

While I have made no secret in the past of my disdain for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as a Presidential candidate, I have never disputed that he has a first rate mind.  His article at National Review Online is a MUST READ.

While I can’t imagine supporting Romney for President, it’s pretty obvious that he’d make an awesome Treasury Secretary.

Sphere: Related Content

Romney Slams Obama-Biden in Apparent Audition

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was leading the pro-McCain forces in Denver Tuesday in what appeared to many to be an audition for the number 2 spot on a McCain ticket. Romney drove home the fact that Obama’s “qualifications” for the White House stem more from celebrity than leadership or experience.

I admire Romney’s drive and willingness to back McCain after he failed to earn the nomination himself. I just don’t believe that he would make a good VP nominee. In many ways Romney is too much of a faux conservative, parroting the right lines to values voters – but without the conviction necessary to drive them to the polls. Fiscally, he’s more of a Bush / US Chamber type than a NFIB type.

Four years ago, this may have worked. Fortunately, more and more social conservatives are realizing that too many Republicans have pandered to them for their votes. Ditto for many economic conservatives. Social conservatives would obviously prefer someone that they are 100% in agreement with. However, they would also likely support a conservative who is not in total lock-step with the movement but is willing to be honest about any differences.

McCain’s performance at the Saddleback Civil Forum should be the benchmark for Republicans to aspire too. Be honest.

2008, conservatism, politics, GOP, campaign, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Barack Obama

Powered by ScribeFire.

Sphere: Related Content

McCain the Conservative

Daniel Ruwe draws some interesting comparisons in a post on The Next Right. He correctly points out that former Massachusetts governor and Presidential candidate Mitt Romney “is as far left as McCain, but without the experience and with better pandering skills (my emphasis)”. While I continue to hold certain disagreements with McCain, Ruwe’s point about Romney’s “pandering skills” only lends credence to my argument that McCain is far more trustworthy than Romney will ever be, despite my policy disagreements with the Senator.

Ruwe also notes Rush Limbaugh’s great contempt for Sen. McCain and also notes that McCain is “at least as conservative as (President) George W. Bush.” While I would argue that McCain is far more conservative than Bush, if you define conservatism in its Goldwater – Reagan form, it is disheartening that Limbaugh was such a Romney cheerleader and continues to be a Bush apologist – while claiming to be the voice of the conservative movement.

Is McCain a replacement for Reagan? Of course he isn’t. Will he lead this great nation far better than Barack Obama on his best day? Absolutely.

Sphere: Related Content

Do We Want a Whiner-In-Chief?

Up to now I’ve been a McCain supporter for several reasons. Lord knows the man isn’t my idea of conservative perfection, but despite my disagreements I appreciate his honesty. I’ve never said that I couldn’t support Mitt Romney (if he won the nomination). Unfortunately, that time is coming.

Why? When I vote for a candidate for President I’m actually voting for several things; one of which is a Commander-in-Chief. If I want a “Whiner-in-Chief” I’ll vote Democrat. During Wednesday’s debate at the Reagan Library Romney showed himself to be a whiner. Read more

Sphere: Related Content

McCain, Clinton Win Florida Primaries

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) pulled out a five point victory over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in Tuesday’s Florida GOP primary. While there is still no clear victor for the GOP nomination, this win was particularly important victory for McCain. After McCains victory in the South Carolina primary, pundits repeatedly made the point that McCain had yet to win a closed GOP primary. The New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries are open primaries allowing any registered voter to cast a ballot. Closed primaries, like Florida’s, only allow registered Republicans to vote.

Florida GOP Primary Results
John McCain	36%
Mitt Romney	31%
Rudy Giuliani	15%
Mike Huckabee	13%
Ron Paul	3%

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) managed to beat Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) with 50% of the Democrat vote compared to Obama’s 33%, with 14% going to former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina. This should not be viewed as a particular victory for Clinton. Given that the DNC forced candidates to pledge not to campaign in Florida after Clinton had already built an organization in the state gave her a huge advantage. Despite this huge advantage, Obama still pulled within 17 points, far less than his victory over Clinton in South Carolina.

cross posted at the Campaign Edge

Technorati Tags: 2008, GOP, Democrat, primary, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, politics, Florida, Florida politics

Powered by ScribeFire.

Sphere: Related Content

The False Apostles

I love to hear radio pundits like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity wail about John McCain and pontificate as to their bona fides in securing the legacy of Ronald Reagan. Limbaugh sits back, puffs on his cigar and hints that he may not support the GOP nominee in 2008 because preserving conservative ideals are what’s at stake.

That sounds great. I’ve always been a Limbaugh fan (though I haven’t had much use for Hannity). I just wonder … where were Rush and Sean in 1976? How about 1980? When Limbaugh went national in 1988 he had nothing but love for then Vice President George H. W. Bush, a man worthy of great respect but never a leader of the movement. He dived right in with Bob Dole in 1996, and his criticism of George W. Bush has been pretty rare, until enough listeners pointed out that President Bush is no more a movement conservative than is Rudy Giuliani. Where was the grave concern over a GOP Congressional majority that simply sold our principles down a muddy river? Do we want a Speaker Pelosi? Of course not, but a Speaker Boehner would only be marginally better. Read more

Sphere: Related Content

GOP Hopefuls Agree on One Thing – Hillary Clinton is Unworthy of the White House

The GOP Presidential candidates put aside their differences long enough at Thursday’s debate to agree that Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) is unworthy of being President. The candidates agreed that Clinton is “weak on Iraq” and that she is sure to raise taxes.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) went so far as to state that Clinton would “waive the white flag of surrender” if elected.

cross posted at the Campaign Edge

Technorati Tags: 2008, GOP, campaign, debate, Hillary Clinton, Iraq, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, Ron Paul, taxation

Powered by ScribeFire.

Sphere: Related Content

Next Page »