Jerry Pournelle's Take" Blocking ObamaCare & Tea Party

[roo_ster]

http://www.jerrypournelle.com/view/2010/Q4/view647.html#Wednesday

A lot of insight stuffed into a small post.

A couple tidbits:

BLOCKING OBAMACARE
"First, send an Obama-care repeal bill to the Senate. See if any Democrats will vote for it. If not, get them on record. If they will, then Obama must veto it; try to pass it over his veto. Get those who are defending it on record.

Second, refuse any appropriation for enforcing it. Append "provided that no revenues appropriated under this Act shall be used in any way for enforcement of the Health Care Act" to every appropriation for anything else; then just don't initiate or pass any appropriation for its enforcement. Again make the Democrats step up and defend their agenda.

The nation repudiated the Obama agenda last night. The Republicans need to make certain that the next election is also a referendum on that agenda."

TEA PARTY
"The Tea Party can be proud. They hold the balance of power in the United States. It is no mean accomplishment.

And the Republican leadership needs to understand: the Tea Party played by the rules. They ran in primaries, and where they didn't win they still turned out to vote Republican. It is now the turn of the Country Club Republicans to learn how to play to win. The Tea Party holds the balance of power here -- and West Virginia shows there are alternatives to the Republican Party if the Country Club hasn't learned that. It's not an attractive alternative. It is better if the Republicans become a genuine center-right party."

[Hawkmoon]

I generally don't like Jerry Pournelle or his writing, but I agree with this.

[roo_ster]

I generally don't like Jerry Pournelle or his writing, but I agree with this.

I thought his military scifi beats any of the current practitioners, not to mention Footfall & Lucifer's Hammer.

[SADShooter]

I agree with his argument.

I'm rereading The Mote in God's Eye now.

[MechAg94]

If the tea party folks want to do something about the country club Republicans, they can run candidates against them.

What I am concerned about is with only the House under non-Democrat control, I don't know how much they can do besides prevent things or cut funding to stuff.  I hope I am wrong on that.  It bothers me because I am concerned a lot of the tea party enthusiasm will be gone in 2 years if the Republicans can't make BIG changes.

[HankB]

Tea Party did well for an unorganized grassroots movement that started less than 2 years ago.

What I am concerned about is with only the House under non-Democrat control, I don't know how much they can do besides prevent things or cut funding to stuff. 

Once they're sworn in, watch to see what the GOP does when it comes time to raise the debt ceiling. I think this has been done 3 times under Obama, and the last time, I read that 100% of the Republicans opposed it.

We'll see if they still oppose it this time around, when they'll have enough votes in the House to make "NO" stick; their actions (or lack of same) will set the tone through 2012.

Will they hang tough - or fold? If the past is any guide, enough will follow the latter course to give the Dems what they want, and there will be all sorts of excuses that sound like "necessity" or "compromise" or "meeting in the middle" or something similar.

[Hutch]

from Hawkmoon:

I generally don't like Jerry Pournelle or his writing, but I agree with this.

Heresy!!!  To the rack!  Srsly, dude, what's your problem?  Niven and Pournelle RAWK!  <I really shouldn't start this in the Poli forum>

[MechAg94]

from Hawkmoon:Heresy!!!  To the rack!  Srsly, dude, what's your problem?  Niven and Pournelle RAWK!  <I really shouldn't start this in the Poli forum>

I've read Footfall which was decent, but I'm not sure I have read much else. 

[lee n. field]

Niven and Pournelle RAWK!

Together better than either alone.

[Sergeant Bob]

I've read Footfall which was decent, but I'm not sure I have read much else. 

Footfall was OK but, Lucifer's Hammer and the Mote books are much better.

[Scout26]

Make the Democrats the party of "NO". 

Send the senate and Obama bills to repel Healthcare, Banking/Wall Street Reform, extend and expand the Bush Tax Cuts.  Cut the deficit/debt, make the Dems play defense, Gorram it. 

[RocketMan]

Will they hang tough - or fold? If the past is any guide, enough will follow the latter course to give the Dems what they want, and there will be all sorts of excuses that sound like "necessity" or "compromise" or "meeting in the middle" or something similar.

Sadly, this is what I expect.  The GOP - The Party the Just Wants to be Liked...sniff.