Dixie - In Memoriam
New member
In spite of giddy Liberals dancing in the streets today, the ruling of the Supreme Court on Obamacare is actually one of the biggest defeats of Liberalism in 100 years. Roberts has brilliantly played the long game here, and the Liberals have no idea of what has just happened. While they celebrate this seeming 'victory' for something they really really wanted, they fail to realize the consequences of this ruling.
The most important aspect, is the rejection of Liberals argument that the Federal government can do things like this under the commerce clause. That argument was refuted by the court, and actually defines the limits to the commerce clause. Something the Liberals have often used to pass more and more government intrusion into our lives. So that whole 'commerce clause' argument ends as of today. Never again, can we have Liberals trot out a liberal idea and cite the commerce clause as their basis for authority. This is HUGE, and a HUGE win for conservative small government philosophy.
The next thing, is the finding by the court this has to be a TAX. Obama has argued it's not a tax, and actually ran on a promise to not increase taxes on those making under $200k.... that's out the window now... We just had the largest tax increase in human history... thanks to Obama! The funding can not come from Medicare, which also means, the CBO will have to re-score Obamacare, and it will dramatically effect the budget deficit. Again, something Obama and the Liberals often used as a shield, is gone. They were able to tell us this was not going to increase the debt, it was going to actually reduce the debt, according to proponents... well now, it's going to necessarily increase the debt, because it can't be paid for with Medicare funds.
Finally, it is important to note, this doesn't seal the fate of Obamacare. If the court had gone the other way, it would have sealed the fate of Obamacare for certain, but in upholding the law, it doesn't solidify the law itself, it can still be repealed. The Roberts ruling only makes the 2012 elections THAT much more important. Obama will have to defend his largest tax increase in history, and the challengers still get to run on repeal of Obamacare.
Let's summarize...
Commerce clause can be used to enable federal expansion of power.... GONE! Never again can it be used by Liberals!
Obamacare is not a TAX... GONE! Making Obama a LIAR by giving us the largest tax increase in history.
Obamacare Reduces the Deficit.... GONE! Can't be paid for with Medicare... HAS to INCREASE the deficit.
In the short term, I would have loved to have seen the court strike down Obamacare, and I believe they should have done so. But if the court were going to find in favor of it, there isn't much of a better scenario than this, as a constitutional conservative. The legal barriers Roberts has now placed on future Congresses is monumental, and gives us a commerce clause definition that has been lacking for the past 100 years. It is a victory for states rights as well, and these are the kind of fundamental things that are being overlooked in the decision. But I don't blame pinheads... they needed something "good" to lift their spirits.
The most important aspect, is the rejection of Liberals argument that the Federal government can do things like this under the commerce clause. That argument was refuted by the court, and actually defines the limits to the commerce clause. Something the Liberals have often used to pass more and more government intrusion into our lives. So that whole 'commerce clause' argument ends as of today. Never again, can we have Liberals trot out a liberal idea and cite the commerce clause as their basis for authority. This is HUGE, and a HUGE win for conservative small government philosophy.
The next thing, is the finding by the court this has to be a TAX. Obama has argued it's not a tax, and actually ran on a promise to not increase taxes on those making under $200k.... that's out the window now... We just had the largest tax increase in human history... thanks to Obama! The funding can not come from Medicare, which also means, the CBO will have to re-score Obamacare, and it will dramatically effect the budget deficit. Again, something Obama and the Liberals often used as a shield, is gone. They were able to tell us this was not going to increase the debt, it was going to actually reduce the debt, according to proponents... well now, it's going to necessarily increase the debt, because it can't be paid for with Medicare funds.
Finally, it is important to note, this doesn't seal the fate of Obamacare. If the court had gone the other way, it would have sealed the fate of Obamacare for certain, but in upholding the law, it doesn't solidify the law itself, it can still be repealed. The Roberts ruling only makes the 2012 elections THAT much more important. Obama will have to defend his largest tax increase in history, and the challengers still get to run on repeal of Obamacare.
Let's summarize...
Commerce clause can be used to enable federal expansion of power.... GONE! Never again can it be used by Liberals!
Obamacare is not a TAX... GONE! Making Obama a LIAR by giving us the largest tax increase in history.
Obamacare Reduces the Deficit.... GONE! Can't be paid for with Medicare... HAS to INCREASE the deficit.
In the short term, I would have loved to have seen the court strike down Obamacare, and I believe they should have done so. But if the court were going to find in favor of it, there isn't much of a better scenario than this, as a constitutional conservative. The legal barriers Roberts has now placed on future Congresses is monumental, and gives us a commerce clause definition that has been lacking for the past 100 years. It is a victory for states rights as well, and these are the kind of fundamental things that are being overlooked in the decision. But I don't blame pinheads... they needed something "good" to lift their spirits.
