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Mitt Romney’s performed a disappearing act of sorts during three days of hearings before the Supreme Court on President Obama’s health care law, arguably the most high-profile of issues during the 2012 election, and the motivating issue for conservative primary voters.
Romney has held just one public event, a speech at a medical device company outside San Diego, over the course of three days of oral arguments before the high court.
The Republican presidential frontrunner has good reasons to be off the trail. He’s spent the past few days raising needed money to finance his campaign, and because there is no primary until April 3, Romney is able to use this week for some down time.
But as the fate of Obama’s signature health reform law is being litigated in both the court and in the national media, Romney, perhaps by coincidence, largely ducked out of public view.
Romney’s stop Monday at Nuvasive, a spinal-surgery device company less than 10 miles from Romney's La Jolla home, included only perfunctory criticism of the health care law. The ex-governor decried the law's tax implications and said as many as 30 percent of Americans would likely lose their employer-based insurance once the law were fully in effect.
But Romney, who has famously had to wrestle with the similarities between Obama’s law and the reforms Romney had signed as governor of Massachusetts, neglected to make any direct call for its repeal, or concrete mention of how it would be replaced.
In fact, Romney, who stood in front of a giant banner reading "Repeal and Replace Obamacare," and had the same printed on a podium placard, did not once make mention of the Supreme Court case being argued that very day, the outcome of which might render the law moot before a Republican nominee is even decided. Indeed, his last major health care event came on Friday, when he held a "repeal and replace Obamacare" event in Louisiana.
The court’s decision will likely come at the end of its term in June, and the combative tone of oral arguments during the last 72 hours have led court-watchers to speculate that the court is likely to strike down part, if not all, of the law.
But regardless of the decision in June, the court’s ruling is sure to re-insert Obama’s health care law into the presidential debate. And at this juncture, it appears that Romney is the Republican likely to be left standing as Obama’s challenger when the decision lands.
It’s concerns about Romney’s ability to prosecute the case against “ObamaCare” (as conservatives have derisively called it, a term the Obama campaign recently embraced) that have prompted Rick Santorum, Romney’s primary campaign rival, to ratchet up his attacks against the former Massachusetts governor.
“There's one candidate who is uniquely disqualified to make the case. It's the reason I'm here and he's not," Santorum said on the steps of the Supreme Court on Monday, looking to drive home his point in literal fashion.
The perils of discussing "Obamacare" for Mitt Romney have been well-documented. His Massachusetts health care law, and the individual mandate upon which it rests, has been widely credited as the intellectual forebear of President Obama's federal legislation, leading White House senior adviser David Plouffe to even label Romney the "godfather" of the president’s plan.
(Romney said in response yesterday to Hugh Hewitt: “I can tell you one thing. If I'm the godfather of this thing, then it gives me the right to kill it.”)
And while Romney has pledged time and again to issue waivers for states to opt out of Obamacare, and then to eventually repeal it, any mention of the law so hated by conservatives inevitably invites comparisons with Romney's law in Massachusetts, and distracts from the governor's core message of economic expertise and of the necessity of replacing President Obama.
That’s part of the reason why Romney, at his stop on Monday, focused primarily on the economy and Obama’s controversial comment to his Russian counterpart. Any day when Romney is forced to talk about health care, it’s a day when he must play defense, and is forced to pivot away from his core message about jobs and the economy.
What’s more, Romney’s prescriptions for health reform in the absence of Obamacare – either because of its Supreme Court review, or a repeal effort – can seem somewhat vague. He wrote of the "need to limit Washington's control by spurring competition, creating maximum flexibility and enhancing consumer choice" in a USA Today op-ed. The solutions are intended to be market-based, but the candidate sometimes struggles to convey his vision for national reform.
Appearing as a guest on Tuesday's Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Romney was pressed on how he might help Americans get coverage if Republicans were to achieve the repeal of the president’s law, which guarantees coverage of individuals who suffer from pre-existing conditions.
His response – including his suggestion that those who wait until they’re sick to obtain coverage might be out of luck ("Hey guys. We can't play the game like that") – drew sharp criticism from Democrats and a pointed follow-up from Leno, who said he had auto-industry friends who were very happy to finally get any kind of coverage under the president's health plan.
"We'll look at a circumstance where someone is ill and hasn't been insured so far, but people who have the chance to be insured, if you are working in the auto business for instance, the companies carry insurance, they insure their employees, you look at the circumstances that exist, but people who have done their best to get insured are going to be able to be covered," Romney offered in response. "But you don't want everyone saying I am going to sit back until I get sick and then go buy insurance, that doesn't make sense. But you get defined rules and get people in who are playing by the rules."
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For once, Willard is doing the smart thing...
Especially after listening to him stumble around on Leno last night on how he
wouldwouldn't cover pre-existing conditions;In other words, as usual, Willard has NO clue!
What a DOLT!
Romney is in hiding, from Republicans!
Just goes to show what kind of
cowardstand up guy Romney is! If Romney can't stand up to his own party, what does that tell you about what kind of "world leader" he would be.Come on out Romney! Eric Cantor and Mitch McConnell have already kicked Boehner's hind parts for opening HIS mouth.
Your turn!
Obama / Biden 2012
Without question, the biggest hypocrite and LIAR in all this is Mitt Romney. Yet again.
He's a man without a plan. Mention Romneycare and he looks perplexed. Too bad, Romneycare appears to be working. But don't mention that elephant in the room, the republicans might bolt.
Romney is running away from Romneycare? Let me show you my shocked face. I can't wait to see this play out in the general election...
Dont_carry_it_all(and others) -- So true about Romney being perplexed. He's not stupid like Palin, Bachmann, Perry, etc., but there's something about Romney that's not particularly bright. He's grown up in a bubble of privilege along with the Mormon "in the world but not of the world" naivete, but there's something else not quite right -- Maybe book smart but not people smart, I don't know, but he doesn't seem to be the sharpest tool in the shed. At the minimum, he's like Palin who thinks he knows better than everyone else so doesn't do well with advise.
Pat Boston MA. -- The non-stop lying, even about small things and when it's not necessary, and especially when slinging mud at others (and then crying about being attacked by his opponents) -- I suspect this is the "spoiled brat" side of Romney.
In any event, the more we see of him, the more apparent it becomes that he is not presidential material.
TO: Dont_carry_it_all who wrote:
Exactly! The point is, Romney won't stand his ground ON ANYTHING! Romney changes his opinion based on who he's talking to, NOT what he believes in. (Rick Santorum made that point VERY clear with the 'etch a sketch' argument that made a lot of sense!)
Of course I suppose we can venture a guess, based on how he made his millions: Romney likes to buy up companies with large pension plans, keep the employees' pension money, lay off the employees, liquidqate the business, and ship ALL of those American Jobs Overseas.
Oh yeah, and he's even willing to play along with the wackos, if it will help HIM get what HE wants.
Obama / Biden 2012
TruePatriot, no question. There is a real sense of spoiled brat side to him. Only he's a little old to be pulling that off, isn't he? There is no rhyme or reason to his candidacy. None.
"OBAMA / 2012 Guaranteed" By a landslide !!!
Pat Boston MA.-- Romney is a "man boy" who hasn't had to grow up, has never faced any adversity, and has no clue what it really takes to be successful without the advantages he's enjoyed. He probably runs to Ann (surrogate mother) for comfort, with the entire family uniting in support, enabling his delusions and wussy-ness.
I can guess at this based on other Mormon men I've done business with -- I'm not trying to be snarky or mean -- This is really a cultural thing that has developed within the religion in comparison to the population at large (and they know it; they know what I'm talking about).
But what American wants a "man boy" as POTUS and leader of the free world? Haunting.
The only rhyme or reason to his candidacy, aside from his wealth to run, is the GOP tradition of waiting one's turn and then they will support that individual no matter how unqualified s/he is.
American Girl-724855-- Romney has been discarded by his own Party repeatedly, and only gets worse with each run. This time he is benefiting from the Field of Clowns and desperation of Teapublicans who realize he's all they have now. And we know this is true because we don't even see the right-wing riff raff in here expressing support for him.
True Patriot and American Girl -- I too look forward to the general election. Romney hasn't been directly challenged on his positions yet. Should he win the nomination of his Party he will then have to face the President in one on one debates. Romney doesn't stand a chance in that arena, IMO. Let the games begin!
True Patriot - Romney has not been discarded by the leadership, the majority of them have endorsed him! What is not accepting him is over half of republicans.
DB Akron-- I was making reference to previous presidential runs in which Romney has not become the nominee, so it looks like we agree that at least half of Republicans don't accept him. Also, I referenced the GOP system in which it is Romney's turn (the leadership endorsing him now), and realization that Romney is all they have. And I take it your post is as close as we'll get to a right-wing expression of support for him. So what's your point?
What?! Romney slinking away from a controversial topic that he has flip flopped on frequently?! Say it ain't so!
OK, now that all you liberals have had your uninformed say let me tell you how this is really going to play out. The Obama care will be shot down by the supreme court because it is unconstitutional. With that in mind Romney is smart not to comment because nothing he says will change what the supreme court does and will simply open him up to further attacks by good folks like yourselves.
After the law is struck down Rick Santorum will lose his best talking point against Romney. There is no need to have a president to prosecute a law that no longer exists. Further more, it will really hurt Obama because Obamacare is his signature piece of legislation. Besides, what kind of Constitutional lawyer pushes through legislation that is so blatantly unconstitutional.
End result, Romney wins the nomination before the end of April. My guess is Santorum drops out before he suffers the embarrasment of losing his home state in the primaries. Then, Romney wins the presidency. Thank goodness. I like Obama personally and I really hoped he would be a good president because at the end of the day we are all Americans and we need good leaders but Obama has proven to be a very charismatic but ulimately out of his depth leader of the free world.
Go Mitt!
hes been missing because hes giving his etch a sketch a good shake!
Rhino -- You are not thinking straight. Let me straighten you out. Should any or all of ACA be struck down, as a democrat, I have no problem with starting over from scratch to fix our healthcare system. I appreciate the attempt that both Congress and the President made in trying to resolve the crisis in our healthcare system. If something is wrong you fix it. And if you don't get it right the first time you keep trying until you do. That's where we are at. Understand now?
Now contrast that with the republicans who continue to ignore the problem and the plight of many affected by their inaction or intentional neglect of the healthcare crisis this country faces. It's wrecking lives and the economy as a whole. Wake up, please!
there is a perverse part of me that wants to see all the people who have been helped so far (those no longer being denied coverage for pre-existing conditions, kids under 26*) get letters from the insurance company telling them they are no longer being covered if the ACA is considered unconstitutional. And then breakdown that group even further to see how many of those people were against the ACA. I wonder how many of those people will blame the goverment for what the private insurance companies will continue to do.
And for those that are complaining about their premiums going up before 2014 (when that will (or would of) taken place) don't think for a minute that the private insurance companies are going to lower your premiumn if the ruling goes against the ACA. And if you are complaining about the costs, isn't that how the free market/ capitalism (which you support) is about?
@Dont_carry: Ummm, I think you forgot the part where you strighten me out. Here I will help you. Here are the main points of my last post.
1. Obamacare is unconstitutional.
2. Rick Santorum will drop out of the race by the end of April
3. Romney will be the GOP nominee
4. Our President, who is also a professor of constitutional law, pushed an unconstitutional bill through. This is the only legislation he can hang his hat on. It will define his presidency, and it's about to be struck down by the SCOTUS.
5. Because of this huge set back Romney will win the Presidency in November.
Now, feel free to straighten me out on any of these points.
PS> we are all willing to go back to the drawing board on healthcare. It's not that we don't want to address it, we just don't want our constitution destroyed in the process. There is good reason why the government cannot mandate the people to buy a good or service.
Rhino:we are willing to go back to the drawing board on healthcare" How many years should we wait this time. It took 40 years to get this far; should we wait another 40 or so? I\
Romney will LOSE in November. His fellow GOP's have seen to that, with their attacks on womens health care, the ridiculous attacks in individual state to resrict women's medical treatment.
I am quite sure the people who put this bill together took into account all the possible objections that might be raised; these people are not fools.
Check out Romney's promise for deep cuts to Social Security/Medicare should he be elected.
See: www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-marans/gop-social-security-medicare_b_1280257.html
Remember that come election time!
Rhino -- Who is we????? Last time I looked Romney had no solutions. So again, who is we?
@don't_Carry: So I see you are not able to straighten me out. Thank you for conceding on those points. Now we can move on. As to Romney, specifically with regards to health care he is the ONLY candidate that has ever had a real plan and successfully implemented it. He even managed to make sure it was within the powers of the constitution before he did it.
You know for a bunch of people who claim to want healthcare reform you all seem strangly dead set against the one man who has ever shown the ability to actually make a difference. You all need to stop looking for the candidate who just tells you what you want to hear, and start looking at the guy who has actually done what needs to be done, and done so in a way that will not be thrown out by the courts.
Obama is a great speaker, Romney is a great doer. Your choice america. Do you want rousing speaches or actual reform.
also largely missing this week is President Obama at a time when his administration's self-proclaimed signature accomplishment is being challenged in the highest court in the land. what gives with that?
and his spokesperson says they have no contingency plan should the ACA be declared unconstitutional. so he goes quiet and has no backup plan. not what i expect from a leader.
we may need another "hot mic" moment to learn the President's real strategy
Rhino40 - Romney is NOT a great doer or anything else. Although parts of the Healthcare program may have to be re-done, it will NOT be declared unconstitutional. Plus, I love how many in the GOP house said they had a better idea for Healthcare - which they all said was in dire need of a program - then came up with nothing - zilch - nada! Typical Republicans - do nothing! Typical Romney - say nothing and do nothing. He's embarrassing he's so incompetent!
James 1937.... The President is missing because he is at a summit with world leaders. But, I'm sure you think he should have just skipped that! Get a clue. The President has to be able to do more than one thing at a time!
Rhino -- Romney hasn't put a damn thing on the drawing board. As for straightening you out, I hope I at least made clear my perspective as a democrat. You made an assumption in your first post that is not true as far as I'm concerned. Enough said.
@Marlen: first off, any article from the huffington post is generally about as reliable/accurate for Republicans as Fox News is for Democrats. They even admit in the article that they have parced out specific bits to make their point. You should also notice that what Romney said was that SS benefits would only be cut for the highest earning Americans. In other words Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and yes, Mitt Romney, will not get their $1,700.00/month when they retire. I think they will be OK.
You should also realize that so far the only person to actually take money out of Medicare is President Obama. 500 Billion to help fund an unconstitutional law. Even worse, that 500 billion is only a fraction of the 2+Trillion this thing will cost. Thats $5,500.00 for every man women and child in this country. I have a wife and 4 kids. So essentially the Government is comming to me and saying, we are going to provide health insurance to the 15% of Americans who currently don't have health insurance, isn't that great? And all it will cost your family is $33,000.00. Oh and by the way you still have to keep paying for the insurance you already have. Currently I pay about $8,000.00 per year to insure my entire family. Now the Government is telling me that not only do I have to keep paying that but I have to pay an additional $33,000 bucks to insure other people. Then you when you consider that half of Americans don't even pay taxes, my share actually jumps up to $66,000.00.
Tell me, how is this supposed to be a good deal?
@seekingsanity: Well thats an appropriate name for you. You will have to let us all know when you find it. As to Romney not being a doer. Here is a short list of things Romney has in fact done.
1. Instituted health care reform in Massachuessetts. (funny how even Obama says it was his blue print but you all won't give him credit for it because he does not have a D in front of his name)
2. He took out a 3 billion dollar deficit in Mass.
3. He balanced the budget every year he was in office.
4. He saved the SLC Olympics
5. He has created more jobs in this country as a private business man then Obama has created as President of the United States.
6. He saved 70% of the companies he invested in and he risked his own money to do it. Obama has invested billions of your money into companies that have all gone bankrupt but not before their executives took huge bonuses for themselves.
How is this man not a doer?
seeking -- as an Obamapoligist i understand your need to continue to make excuses for this President. when folks gave him grief for going to a basketball game we were all assured that if needed he would be available. as the ACA is in dire straits right now one would think he would be there to reassure us but maybe he has gone back to his 2008 campaign days when he said the individual mandate was a bad idea.
you are correct he was meeting with world leaders. he even tried to share a private moment with Medvedev to ensure that Putin understands that he can get what he wants from the President once he is reelected and no longer needs to pander to the various constituencies in his base.
what flexibility do you think he was referring to if he is reelected? and why would he not tell us now what his ideas are?
Rhino4 - I'm seeking sanity in the GOP but none is to be found. Sorry! Actually you're listening to the lies of the GOP way too much. Talk to anyone from MA. They'll tell you Romney almost ruined their state. When he ran it they ranked 47Th in jobs creation. But, you go ahead with your little made up numbers if it makes you feel better. You're a prime example of why I'll never find sanity in the GOP. He reduced the deficit in MA by creating more fees and closing corporate loopholes - a move the GOP would NEVER allow him to do if elected President and a move he won't even bring up in his campaigning.
Romney sent more jobs overseas than anyone who has ever run for President. You forgot that little nugget. Romney has his money in offshore account - such a great example for a man who wants to be President. Romney is only running so he can say he did better than his father. He is pathetic excuse for a man.
James - no one needs to make excuses for President Obama. But I'm sure everyone from your parents up continues to make excuses for you. And your stupid comment about the open mike statement to Medvedev shows how little you know about politics or leadership - in any capacity.
I can ask you the same questions about Romney, why does he not have idea one that he will talk about? Oh that's right - because he changes his ideas from one campaign stop to another.
sanity -- good job deflecting on the job creation from the point that Romney has created jobs during his career to just when he was Governor. a bit of apples and oranges.
can you point me to your source on the numbers of jobs Romney created overseas as compared to Obama, Bush (43), Clinton (Bill) and Bush (41)?
why is having money in an offshore account bad in your view? i have money invested in a mutual fund with international investments; does this make me a bad person?
James - with the companies Romney broke up he sent thousands of jobs overseas. Actually, I stand corrected. Bush (dubya) clearly sent more jobs overseas. I should have said anyone currently running for President.
And, when you're running for President it obviously (to any sane person) look very bad that most of your money is in offshore accounts. He is supposed to be supporting our country - having his funds where they don't do any work for the country speaks very badly for him.
@searching: Yup, Romney was 47th in the nation on job creation. Did your little numbers also tell you that under his watch unemployment in his state went from 5.9% to 4.7% It's hard to create lots of jobs when everybody already has one. As to talking to people from Mass. I talk to them almost every day. I have many good friends in the boson area. Some really like Romney others don't. That's normal. But what is indisputable is that his health plan is still preferred in the state by a margin of 2 to 1. Whats also true is that if the folks in Mass. don't like the plan they can repeal it.
Here is another fun fact for you. If Mass. really hates Romney so much then why did 72.2% of the folks there vote for him in the last Primary. I mean, you generally expect a guy to win his home state but 72.2% is pretty amazing for a guy who everybody supposedly hates. One would have to be insane to beleive that.
seeking -- can you please share your source for your information, preferably a non-biased one. if these are just the standard base-less talking points that would be good to know.
i think you are exaggerating his offshore holdings. he is generally presumed to be worth about $250m and it is generally estimated that at most $32m is offshore. let me know if you disagree with these numbers.
Obamacare or Romneycare part 2 the federal version, I can't wait to hear more, why is affordable healthcare is a bad idea for the American people? Tell us Mittens!
affordable care is a great idea for the American people. the ACA is an abominaion and needs to be scrapped. there are many ideas floating around that are far less intrusive and bureaucratic that can have a significant impact.
and help me understand how the following contributes to more affordable health care:
The Internal Revenue Service says it will need a battalion of 1,054 new auditors and staffers and new facilities at a cost to taxpayers of more than $359 million in fiscal 2012 just to watch over the initial implementation of President Obama's healthcare reforms. Among the new corps will be 81 workers assigned to make sure tanning salons pay a new 10 percent excise tax. Their cost: $11.5 million.
"The ACA [Affordable Care Act] will require additional resources to build new IT systems; modify existing tax processing systems; provide taxpayer outreach and assistance services; make enhancements to notices, collections, and case management systems to address and resolve taxpayer issues timely and accurately; and conduct focused examinations to encourage compliance," said the newly released IRS budget.
In its request, the IRS explained that the tax changes associated with health reform are huge. "Implementation of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 presents a major challenge to the IRS. ACA represents the largest set of tax law changes in more than 20 years, with more than 40 provisions that amend the tax laws."
Mitt was ahead when he was the unknown challenger. Maybe he should disappear from view and give people a chance to forget they don't like him.
There's a strategy! Hey I should be the new Karl Rove.
Amy - just as long as we don't have to ever see or hear from the old Karl Rove.
The entire industrialized world operates healthcare as a single payer system (AKA Universal Healthcare). Why? Because it works. God forbid America follows suit, that would not be the American way ... to learn from others. Someone has to win and someone has to lose. That's the fair way of doing things in the American myth.
Ideology,
Sad to say, as long as our politicians are owned/swayed by the rich and powerful insurance and big pharma lobbies, no real reform will happen. Small rural hospitals are so far in the red because of the cost of healthcare that many are considering shutting - including the one here in my community. That would mean the closet one could go for any kind of emergency service would be at least 30 minutes away. (With no traffic)
Ideology, I have a friend in Australia where health insurance is mandatory, he thinks our system is nuts, and it is. Not to mention, this friend is the Australian version of a Republican, and he is happy with paying the tax that gets him covered.
Hi Amy. Here's another Australian who thinks the American idea of no healthcare coverage for the poor is ridiculous. I love my healthcare and so do all Australians. I also vote what is considered your version of Republican. All sides of our government agree with healthcare for all - we would kick the bastards out if they tried to take it away.
Susanai-1...please don't kick anyone else out. We're still trying to deal with Rupert Murdoch. ;)
If the Supreme Court strikes down the individual mandate it's egg on Romney's face as well. After all, he's the one who in his 2009 USA Today op-ed...
"First, we established incentives for those who were uninsured to buy insurance. Using tax penalties, as we did, or tax credits, as others have proposed, encourages 'free riders' to take responsibility for themselves rather than pass their medical costs on to others."
Romney, in that passage, just described the individual mandate. If it's declared unconstitutional, Romney was for it.
(...before he was against it.)
Romney is just waiting to see which way the wind blows today. The man has no core, zero. He just wants to be president for no other reason other than he's bored with Bain and his children are grown and he's got nothing else to do that will boost his ego. He will say anything to get elected regardless of whether or not he believes it or whether or not it's the truth. Politicians and their religion are always on display but they have no difficulty compromising the truth or telling bold faced lies if it will get them where they want to go. Romney is, by far, the most ethically challenged candidate in a political party full of hypocrisy and the morally derelict.
DeMerl, I enjoyed your post. I have been thinking about your sentiments for the past few days and I began thinking back to presidential candidates who I thought sincerely wanted to be our president. Reasons that had nothing to do with being rich or being from a famous family and such.
Jimmy Carter comes to mind. I though his heart was always in the right place. Barack Obama the same, as well as Richard Nixon. Bill Clinton I'm not so sure. JFK not really. LBJ yes & no. GWB, no. McCain, no. Reagan, yes.
I believe people should run for the presidency for a reason, not just because a party has fallen out of favor or that they have a shot at it because connections/money will help them. It takes a certain passion and dignity as well as a gift for talking to the world and understanding all cultures. Someone who is willing to have an open heart and open mind. Nixon somewhere along the way lost it. Obama hasn't. Carter I thought was tremendously qualified and such a decent, honest intelligent man.
Something interesting about Richard Nixon. I read a new book a few weeks ago entitled Enemies: The History of the FBI written by Tim Weiner. And in it he talked about Watergate and how normally the Watergate job was something J Edgar Hoover would have in years past carried out. But he and Nixon, although their relationship had gone back to 1946, grew to distrust each other. Nixon was planning to fire Hoover after his re-election in '72, but never got the chance because Hoover died. Nixon wanted Hoover to go after Daniel Ellsberg and Hoover refused. So hence the plumbers came into being.
Nixon didn't seem to like or trust many people. But I always felt he wanted to be president, not for ego, but because he sincerely wanted the job. Carter and Obama I believe the same. Romney wants the job precisely because of the reasons you stated.
J Edgar Hoover. He was such a staunch anti-communist his entire life and bent over backwards breaking all kinds of laws, with a wink and a nod from former presidents, trying to nail them.
Yet as the author pointed out, Hoover couldn't get the one truly dangerous communist who was right under his nose - Lee Harvey Oswald.
Excellent post, per usual, Pat. Please keep them coming!
Reminds me of Goldwater. Couldn't stand him as a candidate, but recently a close friend from AZ, who is very much into AZ history, clued me in on his biography. She didn't like him either back then. Apparently he never wanted to be President, was was pretty much groomed and forced into the candidacy by his party. His family was very much into the native American Indians of that state. Barry Goldwater basically just wanted to follow a career as a landscape photographer. I would love to get my hands on a good biography of him. I think you can find some of the beautiful desert photos he took online. I've seen a few.
Ties into what you said. The motivation behind wanting to be POTUS is critical.
And your comment about Carter being honest and decent. Sure is telling what ex presidents do after they serve in office. For some reason I have a hard time envisioning Romney strapping on a carpenter's belt and building homes for the homeless.
PatBoston, I'd much rather have someone in office who wanted to be President because he or she feels the country should go in a right direction, taking care of the poor, making the people who make obscene money pay their fair share and so on.
People don't want to look at the fact that the Feds already pay somewhere around 60% of all healthcare. And the insurance industry knows that. I get Social Security and VA care. I get free medications from the VA. But with Medicare, I pay about $100 for part B with a 20% co-pay. Part D costs more to get. Therefore I use the VA, unless something comes up that I can't wait on.
Candy, I dated Goldwater's niece back in the day when I lived in Palm Springs. Barry was a good man who basically wanted to be left alone to do what he wanted to. The Republicans at that time knew they had no chance against LBJ. As the election went, it was a real landside for LBJ. But that didn't keep Goldwater from being a good, decent human being who didn't really want to be President.
Jimmy Carter was and is a good man. A really poor President but that didn't make him a person who didn't want to help his country and his fellow man/woman. He does so much for the poor around the world. Bill Clinton, when he could easily have had his office in the middle of Wall Street instead opted for Harlem. Look at some of the things he's done for the betterment of people. Nixon, Carter and Clinton wanted to be President because they really felt they could do something for this country. Sure Nixon was a Republican, but he still fell into the ilk of wanting to help his country, not because he just felt entitled. Unfortunately, his innate dislike and mistrust of people caused his downfall. Of course Nixon would be drummed out of the Republican Party today as too liberal. I really don't think he'd like the Teabaggers in the least.
“I can tell you one thing. If I'm the godfather of this thing, then it gives me the right to kill it.”
No!
Mr. Etch, that's not the role of a 'godfather'! As the 'godfather' you're supposed to stand up for the legislation...guess you're not Don Corleone!......lol
I guess Romney thinks he's Michael Corleone and health care reform is Carlo Rizzi.
Yikes!...... Where's the piano wire.
Romney should just fade away - far away as far as possible !!!!!! This man should never be considered for the Presidency. He has shown time and time again that he has no idea what he is saying or doing. Lord help Americans if he should reach the White House.
If only he'd stay down there with a low, low profile....
Romney is just waiting to see if he should flip or flop.
Yeah, if you have been continually covered, then you should be able to keep your insurance - even if you get very sick. WOW - now that's a program. But since almost everybody changes jobs, it means virtually nothing - like everything else Mittens says. Weather Vane doesn't like it when the wind blows really hard. He likes gentle gales - noncontroversial topics like how you like your grits. When that wind blows really hard, his jelly like knees give out. He can't answer things like what should happen to people that develop diabetes and then try to change jobs. Whew, that is so tough. Should they die? Should they take bankruptcy? Should they remain in the most deadend job of all time just to stay covered? He won't answer a tough one like that. In fact, he ain't answering anybody's questions lately - no more pesky reporters.
the problem with health care insurance is you need healthy people to support the sick. The government is so beholden to the insurance Healthcare business that they got greedy in passing this monstrosity. They should have just taxed at 20 percent and subcontracted it out like part d. Instead, they wanted to soak the middle class and force people to purchase or pay a fine. .IE if you don't like what I am selling, I am going to ram it down your throat. . too bad, the constitution doesn't allow this type of manipulation. Romney stated he wants the states to take over. Unfortuantely, you run into the same problems. People jumping in and out of the market. That aint gonna work.
TO: jolly joker who wrote:
Nooooooooo!
That would have been the highest tax of ANY entitlement program, in fact, 20% of a person's gross wages is more than the IRS, Social Security, and Medicare deduct from our paychecks COMBINED!
AND that's what insurance companies wanted -- only insurance companies wanted 17% of the gross wages of every working person's pay, PLUS they wanted everyone "gene tested" which would have told the insurance companies what, if anything, you were born with so that anything you were born with would NOT be covered because it would be considered a "pre-existing illness".
And THAT is why President Obama pushed through Obamacare, to STOP insurance companies from taking 17% of the gross amount of every working American's paycheck, and then denying us health care.
I prefer "single payer," if not that then the "public option," and if not that then whatever President Obama says is our best deal for quality affordable health care for all Americans!
Obama / Biden 2012
whaaaaatttt??? More repubs crapola!!! We now have insurance companies that can not deny coverage to sick children. We now have insurance companies saying that they will put a "cap" on what they will - like $1,000,000 for lifetime coverage and we will soon have insurance companies who can NOT deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions (as I do). I have lived this nightmare and President Obama has and will continue to move in the right direction. Yep tax the repubs and teabaggers and all the other million and billion aires - that's right - tax em -no more loop holes - and let them pay for the health care!!! Have you ever even considered how much they have all gotten away with over these years and how much money they truly owe this goverment? TAX EM ALL
GIRL: It's enough to make me puke. When I think of not only the amount of blood, sweat and tears put into enacting this program but the fact that the "Individual Mandate" was a CONSERVATIVE CREATION and was championed by many Republicans still serving in Congress. Of course, the moment Obama is for it, they do a 180 reversal, in much the same way as Willard has reversed himself on almost every position he's ever held.
So, if the Supreme Court finds that the ACA is unconstitutional, would that, in turn, translate to Romneycare being unconstitutional? Will he have arrived at the point where he has to applaud the Supreme Court for rejecting his own creation?...or will he have to condemn the Supreme Court for upholding his creation? Why doesn't he just come right out and say that he hates the job he did as governor?...or did he hate what he did as governor but loved being governor?
Easier to hide in La Jolla, I guess...the poor little baby.
Good question Shocked! If SCOTUS renders Obamacare (and I do not use that word disparagingly) unconstitutional, will that strike down MA state law and throw that health care system into chaos?
You can run but you can not hide!!!! We all know you don't need health care - heck - you can pay for half of the Americans with your wallet and tax loopholes!!!!! It will pass the supreme court and President Obama will win in 2012 and YOU WILL NOT TAKE AWAY OUR HEALTH INSURANCE CAUSE THOSE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE IN YOUR POCKET!!! YOU WILL NOT GIVE US $125 OR SOME SUCH RIDICULOUS AMOUNT TO PAY FOR OUR HEALTH CARE!!!! YOU WILL NOT - NEVER - TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CAN NOT DO WITH MY OWN BODY - BUT THEN TELL ME HOW YOU DON'T WANT BIG GOVERNMENT - BUT YOU'LL SIT ON THE EDGE OFMY BED WATCHING WHAT I DO AND HOW I DO IT AND MANDATE WHAT I CAN DO WITH MY BODY - OVER MY DEAD BODY YOU WILL!!! Keep you religious insanity and thinking to yourselves. You will not take away my Medicare, and Social Security that I've paid into all these years - YOU WILL NOT - UNDERSTAND THAT???!!!! YOU WILL NOT - so run Romney RUN - run far far away - never to be seen or heard from again - hopefully.
Want to read something funny? And that will make you think?
Google Romney's Adverb Addiction
Very good article!
Wow Mr. I like to Fire People Romney is hiding out on the (not) Healthcare Debate? So what Happened to his support of Romney-care? (Google it)
The Cowardly Hypocrite!
The Republican Party has moved so far to the right you can’t recognize Mitt Romney...Bill [Maher] had it exactly right; he said that Mitt Romney has changed positions more often than a pornographic movie queen~~Former Republican Now Democrat (Same Party) Senator Arlen Specter, Pa.
March 27th 2012 The Occupy Wall Street movement had a real impact on business and it will continue to hurt past the election (71%). What? Those jobless idealists? Sniff. ~Time
Google it!
Please join OWS this Spring and help US keep impacting these Corrupt Mega Corporations unduly influencing Our Government and Our Court Systems!
This is a pure Media Matters hit job on Mitt Romney, designed and ordered by the DNC to slam Romney, because they know they'll lose to him. Tricky Ricky is the one they want to run against. Look up these two jokers, "Garrett Haake and Michael O'Brien", they are all employed first and foremost by Media Matters.
ROMNEY/RUBIO 2012 & 2016
Keep dreaming...you clowns have nothing.
And once Obamacare is struck down, neither will Obama.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
RafftheGreat - oh, you're leaving????
SeekingSanity -
Still trolling I see. Even at the cusp of Obamacare being struck down, hoping and praying it will stick around, but alas, it will not. Good luck trying to find a way for others to pay for your free crap.
RafftheGreat - I believe the troll here is you! I don't need anyone to pay for my stuff - don't know what "free crap" you're referring to but clearly you're very familiar with free crap so my guess is you don't have a job. I have two so you'll see why I find you so pathetic. So, go back to trolling as I'm guessing that is what fills up all of your time! Me, I'm back to work!
If you mean trolling MSDNC and being a paid blogger(its obvious because you upvote your own posts), then ok, see ya later. As for me, I protect your sorry ass. Aint life grand, the people you hate allow you to troll freely on the internet.
RafftheGreat - I don't hate anyone. I do find some incredibly childish in their assumptions (you in particular). I don't even know how to get to be a paid blogger - although it would be fun I don't think it would be challenging enough to keep me happy. As for upvoting my own posts, nice try there but no dice. And, I doubt you protect anyone.
The Health Insurance Mandates were originally a Republican Idea put forth first by the Heritage Foundation, then Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich.
This is the Epitome of Obstruction.
Another Four Years of our lives wasted while Republicans keep getting Handsome Taxpayer Funded Government Salaries and Gold Plated Government Benefits...
We are the Only Industrialized Nation on Earth not to have Universal Health-care.
Israel even has Universal Healthcare and we continue to send them Billions in Taxpayer Dollars every Year!
At least the Democrats tried to do something about the Health Insurance Swindle in Modern day America...
@Ted
The last thing the Republicans want is for "Obama Care" to be found unconstitutional. That would mean they might have to actually do something besides phony social engineering and stopping anything and everything the President wants to do. They might have to actually show a little imagination and try to come up with a healthcare solution that might work. They won't have some tired old idea like trickle down to fall back on. This could be the end for them. People might actually expect them to legislate. Now THAT'S a joke. Mitt better duck and cover on this. It will come back and bite him. Democrats are going to have so much ammunition if he gets the nod to run against President Obama. Between his own actions and what the other tea party bridesmaids(Newt, Ron, Rick) have said about him, well, it's going to be fun for us.
Dennis=-
I don't want the Republicans, Democrats or anyone in the govt meddling in my decisions about healthcare. They have no authority in the Constitution to do so.
The amzing part is how the insurance industry and the Repuplicans have hoodwinked the American people about this entire issue. Whe ACA is polled using the individual aspects large majorities agree with every part except the "Personal Responsibilty Clause" as it was named by the GOP that insisted it be part of any healthcare plan.
Most of the nations that have national healthcare are spending in the neighborhood of 9% gdp on healthcare. America is at about 20% and expected to rise to 25% as the babyboomers age. The health insurance industry needs to be put out of business. Yes, i realize the loss of commerce and jobs. Those jobs and that commerce are a gaint leech sucking the lifeblood out of our country.
Larry - no one wants to make your healthcare decisions for you. Stop listening to the idiotic right!
SeekingInSanity -
Individual Mandate - Buy healthcare insurance or else we will tax-penalize you. Still believe that crap? What a dolt.
RafftheGreat - what an idiotic simpleton you are. You don't even understand the post.
SeekingInSanity -
Why do you choose to complicate the most simple of concepts. The individual mandate states that you are required to buy health insurance and if you dont, the government has the right ot tax-penalize you. What about that dont you get?
In essence, Larry is right to not want the government in his healthcare decisions. If he doesnt want to pay for health insurance, thats his right. If he wants to pay out of pocket if the need arises, then so be it. But what I do not condone is the people that dont buy it and then expect to be taken care of for free.
Mr. Romney, like Mr. Bush before him, seems determined to move the United States further in the direction of a banana republic. Let the sick and poor die in the streets.
Mr. Romney's success depends on the number of fools who believe the preposterous proposition that government policies that are designed to make the rich richer are good for everybody else!
Mr Obama like so many marxist Democrats before him, seems determined to move the US further in the direction of complete socialist totalitarianism.
That a way Larry. Socialist, Marxist, totalitarianism, all straight out of the talking point lists and all of it meaningless. You wouldn't know what any of those are any more then you know about the constitution. Those are throw away words nobody pays attention to any more, mostly because those using them don't know or understand them. Just BS from the feeble minded. All of your postings are just tiresome anymore. Same thing over and over again. Yawn!
Dennis- if you libs don't like it, stop supporting marxist socialism.
Larry - when you start using the "marxist" word people don't even bother to continue reading because we know the rest of the post is pure ignorance. Please - grow up. The marxist socialism comments just make your stupidity clear to everyone!
"Don't Get Sick! And if You Do Get Sick, Die Quickly!"' the Republican way!!!!!!
Romney - The liberals' favorite GOP Candidate. Don't vote for Romney.
Please tell all your friends to vote, we need a big turnout.These are a few reasons why Romney is considered liberal:
1) Romney created RomneyCare which ObamaCare is based on. Kennedy
helped develop RomneyCare. Romney said he would repeal ObamaCare. Why
would he if he supports RomneyCare, he is not telling the truth.
2) Most decisions Romney made as Govenor was liberal, not
conservative. So, what make you think he will be conservative all of a
sudden?
3) Romney lost to McCain by a landslide last GOP Primary, and McCain
lost to Obama by a landslide. So, how is Romney going to win this
time?
4) When Obama wishes Romney well in the election and name calls and
villianizes the other candidates, beware!
5) Have you noticed the mass press and critics have shredded apart
every GOP candidate except Romney? That is because they know Romney
fits their agenda.
Please, if you love the USA, vote for any GOP but Romney.
George,
You Pubs are running no candidate this time, so therefore your post:
Your "anyone" is no one! You Pubbies can't even decide which GOP Clown gets your nod!!!
Give it up and try again in 2016.
this piece of crap always keeps a low profile when a stand needs to be taken and a decision made
slime
people that we'll vote for him - extremely stupid
There is a legal precedent for mandated health insurance in America.
And it was under the founding fathers, that it was passed into law.
In 1798, under President John Adams, a law was passed mandating that merchant sailors purchase health insurance. Those are private sector sailors.
If anyone knew what was constitutional, I think the founding fathers knew, since they wrote the constitution.
Where is the lawyer bringing up this precedent in their arguments to the Supreme Court.
The CEO of insurance company United Healthcare made $83 million last year. He made $760 million for the past ten years. That's 1,600 times as much as a $50,000/year worker makes. Since his company makes more profit, the less healthcare they provide, he has been richly rewarded for denying health care. This is a financial industry business, not healthcare.
What a contribution to society. But they tell us not to punish success. Anyone here naive enough to think he acually "earned" that much money?
Remember back during the healthcare debate, how at least a dozen GOP legislators quoted United for Health? like it was an unbiased source?
United for Health IS United Healthcare insurance co.
The personal mandate provision of the healthcare law was a Republican idea to begin with.
In the 1990s, when Bill and Hillary Clinton tried to reform healthcare, there was a provision mandating that employers provide a health plan for workers.
The GOP didn't want to burden businesses, so they came up with the personal mandate idea.