Political Irony

Republicans are in real danger of getting something they badly want. Except that they are just realizing that if they get it, it will backfire badly on them. Rock, meet hard place!

One of the cornerstones of the Republican party over the last 6 years has been to oppose everything Obama does (even if it was their idea in the first place). There is nothing they have fought against harder than the ACA, which they have derisively labeled Obamacare. They filibustered it, but it passed anyway despite dire predictions that it would destroy the country. They have voted numerous times to repeal it and have sabotaged it at every turn, even if it meant people dying.

It is safe to say that Republicans hate Obamacare with all their heart and soul. And suddenly there is a chance to destroy it. Last summer, two Republican-appointed federal judges (despite a furious dissent of the lone Democratic appointee) ruled in favor of a patently ridiculous lawsuit that was hatched by a right-wing think tank for the sole purpose of destroying the ACA. The lawsuit takes advantage of what is widely regarded as a typo in the wording of the law. If the lawsuit wins, federal subsidies for health insurance would be eliminated in all states that use the federal health insurance exchange.

As a result, around 7 million Americans will lose their insurance. Over ten thousand people with life threatening cancer will no longer get their chemotherapy, and another ten thousand people with bad kidneys will lose their dialysis.

As New York magazine puts it:

The lawsuit works more on the level of an elaborate prank than as a serious reading of the law. And yet it stands at least some chance of success — it only needs to persuade Republican-appointed judges. That prospect has grown suddenly unnerving because, unlike previous Republican efforts to strangle the law, the current one comes as Obamacare is functioning extremely well. Premiums on the exchanges have come in well under projected costs, customers report higher satisfaction with their coverage than those who have employer-sponsored insurance, and overall medical costs have grown far below the projected rate. It is one thing to take away a scheduled future subsidy, of which most intended beneficiaries are unaware. It is quite another to take away a benefit they’re already using.

Perhaps even worse, even the health insurance companies like Obamacare, as they are making lots of money off of it. Is there anything scarier to a Republican politician that losing some fat campaign contributions?

So what do Republicans do? If the Supreme Court goes along with this stupid lawsuit, Obama will certainly propose fixing the typo in the law. If Republicans vote for the fix, they will be crucified by their base. If they vote against it, it will be a public relations disaster of epic proportions for them.

For now, all they are doing is secretly hoping that the Supreme Court rules against them!

“Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign announced that it raised over $1.5 million in the 24 hours after he announced his bid. Meanwhile, a 12-year-old on Kickstarter just raised $7 million in five minutes after announcing his idea for juice box water guns.” – Jimmy Fallon

“Today Carly Fiorina announced that she is running for president. Someone else bought ‘CarlyFiorina.org’ and posted 30,000 sad emoticons to represent all the people she laid off at Hewlett-Packard. I haven’t seen that many sad, blank faces in one place since the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight.” – Jimmy Fallon

“I read that as marijuana legalization becomes more popular, it could affect the jobs of drug-sniffing dogs. Or as those dogs put it, ‘Thanks, Bo Obama.'” – Jimmy Fallon

“Happy Cinco de Mayo. In honor of Cinco de Mayo, mayor Bill de Blasio is filling all New York City potholes with guacamole.” – David Letterman

“Congrats to Prince William and Kate Middleton, who welcomed a baby girl on Saturday. The royal baby weighed eight pounds — or around 12 American dollars.” – Jimmy Fallon

© Jen Sorensen

I am an unapologetic capitalist, but even I understand that there are some things that capitalism is not the best way to handle.

Like, once upon a time, we tried having a free market for fire extinguishing companies, and we ended up with people who hadn’t bought any fire protection having their houses burn down while competing companies stood by in case sparks ignited their customer’s houses. Of course, sparks did fly and entire cities were reduced to ashes.

Likewise, when money becomes free speech, then truth and facts become whatever the highest bidder says it is. Which is why universities were created, along with public museums. It is a system that has worked a very long time (ironically, longer than the “institution” of traditional marriage). It isn’t broken, so why are some people trying to fix it? Well, other than for profit?

© Tom Tomorrow

I think if nothing else, Obama’s presidency has been worth it to highlight both how far we have come, but even more importantly how far we still have to go to end racism.

I remember when it first became unfashionable to be racist. When people started using code words instead of being blatantly racist. The racism was always just barely under the surface, but it surprised even me at how quickly it came out into the open again. All using code words of course.