. . . and in the case of the people who vote for them, they may be right.
Follow below the fold for my rant of the day.
After watching the GOP in action for years, I can conclude only that the GOP believes the American public to be complete ignoramusses. After listening to John "Tan In A Can" Boehner this morning, I can reach no other conclusion.
Here are two points that lead me, finally, to this conclusion.
The Republicans will release today a 21-page (or so) document that they hope will lead people to vote for them in 2010 and beyond -- similar to their 1994 "Contract On America." If you haven't read the document, it's available all over the 'net -- just ignore the misspellings.
The centerpiece of this document is their promise to "repeal Obamacare."
Let's examine this claim and see just how fucking stupid this pledge is.
IN THE FIRST PLACE several provisions of health care reform take effect today. Let's look at just one of these -- the provision that allows children to remain on their parents' health insurance until age 26. Take a typical situation:
-- Previously, kids were tossed off their parents' policies at age 18, or, at 21 under certain circumstances.
-- So -- kid is 18, goes to college, is dropped from parents' policy but is able to get health insurance through the college -- a common situation.
-- Four or five years later, kid graduates from college and the school health insurance ends.
-- BUT -- because of the evil "Obamacare," the kid can get back on the parents' insurance while looking for a job.
-- Suppose this young person graduates from college, loses school insurance, is picked up on parents' policy, and can't find a job. No problem -- he/she is on the parents' policy for a few more years.
NOW, ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO THIS FAMILY AND SAY "FUCK YOU, DROP THAT KID OFF YOUR POLICY!! Oh, and vote for me because I saved you from Obamacare!!!"
Sure they are.
IN THE SECOND PLACE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR "OBAMACARE" TO BE REPEALED. Read the Constituion, you dolts!!!
In order to repeal the law, the House and Senate must BOTH PASS THE SAME REPEAL LEGISLATION. The Republicans must have enough votes in both houses to pass repeal legislation. Not gonna happen. But say they do.
Then, the President must sign the legislation. Or veto it. And guess what President Obama will do to the repeal legislation??
However, Congress can override the veto WITH 2/3 VOTE OF BOTH HOUSES and there is no way the GOP will have -- now or ever -- a 2/3 majority in both houses.
Repeal is dead. It's a non-starter. Not gonna happen.
So, if it's dead, and the GOP knows it's dead, why are they making repeal their centerpiece?? If many of the provisions of health care reform that take effect today are popular -- and they are, 60-70 percent of people support many of the provisions -- how can the Republicans think they'll jerk these away from families?
BECAUSE REPUBLICANS BELIEVE THEIR VOTERS ARE TOO GODDAM STUPID TO FIGURE OUT THAT IT WILL NEVER WORK.
And they may be right.