Vox

Musings, rants, rambling, general nonsense

How Obama Wins the Shutdown Showdown

Posted on | October 9, 2013 | No Comments

Sad Panda ShutdownBarack Obama, Jay Carney, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid – all keep repeating the same position, “We will not negotiate with the GOP to end the shutdown” There is no ground whatsoever they are willing to cede.

None.

The House passed a continuing resolution that funded everything, every piece of government spending, with only two conditions: Repeal the Medical Device Tax, and delay the start of the ACA for one year. And the Senate says no way. Obama says he would veto that. Not even going to discuss it.

Here’s the kicker, though.

  • The Medical Device Tax is universally unpopular. Senators on both sides of the aisle have noted its job killing effects.
  • Barack Obama already delayed the start of the ACA for businesses (extra-constitutionally BTW) Why would he dig in his heels over a delay for individuals (which would be constitutionally sound BTW)?

Now we know that, despite having 3 years to prepare, the ACA systems are not ready to go. Even late night comedians know it. Jon Stewart knows it. Actual members of the MSM have been forced to make note of it.

Should Barack Obama call up John Boehner and accept that original continuing resolution, he would look like a magnanimous negotiator, a savior of the poor furloughed government workers, and he would lose nothing. Eliminating the Medical Device Tax is a minor compromise, and delaying the ACA for everyone is not only fair – it gives the administration a chance to get their act together. Literally.

Barack Obama comes off as the winner and he gets to claim he saved the day.



Comments

Leave a Reply





Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA.

  • Meta

  • Vox AZ's bookshelf: read

    Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune
    Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living
    In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom
    True Crime Addict: How I Lost Myself in the Mysterious Disappearance of Maura Murray
    Emma
    The Walls Have Ears : The Greatest Intelligence Operation of World War II
    Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever
    I Loved Her in the Movies: Memories of Hollywood's Legendary Actresses
    B is for Bubblegum
    How Iceland Changed the World: The Big History of a Small Island
    License to Parent: How My Career As a Spy Helped Me Raise Resourceful, Self-Sufficient Kids
    Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff
    On Liberty
    Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician
    Chatter: Dispatches from the Secret World of Global Eavesdropping
    The Women with Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II
    Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide
    Hallowe'en Party
    If You Really Loved Me
    I Don't Need Therapy: and other lies I've told myself


    Vox's favorite books »