Thoughts Post Passage
Honestly, after thinking it over, I don’t quite feel the sense of loss I thought I would. I’m actually excited about the fact that states are attempting to assert their rights (see Malkin’s article) . The honest truth, as much as my partisan GOP cheerleader friends don’t want to admit it, is that we’ve been on a slippery slope headed toward socialism anyway, and would’ve gotten there fully eventually – and faster than anyone wanted to admit we would have if McCain were President. Truth be told, we’ve needed something this radical to wake us up. I’d rather this pass and engage in an epic battle over state sovereignty and constitutional limits on government than to let the Republic devolve slowly into a totalitarian cesspool – which is the path we were headed down with a GOP that consistently voted to expand entitlements and engage in deficit spending.
At least now we’re engaged in a serious and active battle over what the true role of government is. Furthermore, it looks like the GOP won’t be able to get away with NOT fighting to repeal this. Even Bailout Boehner had more balls on the House floor tonight than I ever expected; and with an engaged electorate to hold his feet to the fire, maybe we can actually fight for a repeal. I won’t hold my breath – but hell, this kind of resistance is more promising than feeling helplessly subjected to the creeping socialism that’s been permeating our nation as a result of lackluster opposition to slow but steady increases in government.
Has this radicalism truly awakened a sleeping giant? Can we reverse the trend?
In an odd screwed up way I think this is a necessary step to unite true conservatives into a true movement, from a ragtag Tea Party protest.
I agree. The battle lines have been drawn. Now we get to see who the heroes are, who the weaklings are, and what value federalism still has. But we have to keep the fires burning, and the pitchforks in the air. I don’t trust our representatives to do anything without the loud and unnerving voice of the people, murmuring angrily behind them.
I’m with you, Cameron. That’s my point exactly.
Nerdy historical reference:
The emergence of the Tea Party movement was like the Continental Army defeating the Red Coats at Dorchester, and running them out of Boston.
Tonight’s vote is like the epic defeat that the Continental Army experienced in New York City …
So, what comes next?
Hell, maybe a win for the good guys. Stranger things have occured, no?
Not to be a buzzkill but putting things into perspective: it took 13 years to repeal prohibition.
Yeah, Brian, when things were actually done via constitutional amendment. Not that I necessarily have a great deal of faith in the courts, but this is a totally different situation, and the logistics of it cannot be compared to prohibition.
OK, more contemporary: campaign finance reform. It still has yet to get over-turned.
Piece by piece it’s being challenged … But can you really compare the insulated, political issue of campaign finance reform to a sweeping health care mandate that will force individual citizens to purchase something from a private entity at the government’s will? What we’re dealing with here is unprecedented in scope and impact.
Limiting free speech is FAR from spurious. And that’s assuming I’m using the word “spurious” appropriately.
At last! Smoenoe who understands! Thanks for posting!
I agree that limiting free speech is a huge issue … but “campaign finance reform” isn’t something that’s going to affect the daily lives of average Americans. Sure – it limits free speech, but not in such a direct way that would outrage your everyday non-political American. This is totally different.
This ain’t the bill that killed us, it’s the bill that showed us how dead we are.
Agreed. However CFR directly affected the 1st Amendment in the Bill of Rights. Where exactly in the Constitution is it explicitly decreed that the govt cannot compel you to purchase something? If there was something in the Constitution forbidding it, I’d concede it’s a larger assault on the Constit.
CFR still has the support of the populace, albeit a misguided one, whereas this abomination that emerged from Congress is already DOA. This is an unprecedented disregard of constituent support and legislative proceedings and smacks of tyranny.
Yeah as far as CFR goes you have to be willing to say that anonymously donating to a campaign of your choice is pure speech. Then you’d have to say that CFR is directed at the content of that speech. The law allows for speech to be regulated, just for very specific reasons and by very specifically tailored measures.
This? This is an assault on due process, Article I, the right to contract, the breadth of the commerce clause/ welfare clause, and my general right to liberty. Aside from those very real Constitutional concerns this bill has foreclosed my ability to live free. Two words come to mind, they’re crass but to the point: FUCK THAT.
Well of course, now that it has passed, we get to see what’s in it!!!
Rob I hear ya, frankly I am tired of playing nice. The tree of liberty has grown stale and needs to be refreshed with the only mechanism we have left. We can’t do this incremental attempt at change anymore, but Scott Brown has demonstrated to me that America is not ready for reality. Too many are stuck in la-la land and think they can solve problems by voting in Republicans. My only hope is that we are so rapidly heading off a cliff that we might have a wide awakening, but if history is any precedent, we are likely going to be boiled alive first.
Spot – ON Corie! I couldn’t agree more, and am thinking of getting more actively involved in my local political scene.
Absolutely. I just hope we can keep it peaceful.