Ace of Spades HQ

November 26, 2013

Hoopity-Doo and Much Ado: Ten Point Swing in Generic Congressional Ballot, Putting GOP Ahead by Two
— Ace

From Democrats +8 to GOP +2 in CNN's latest poll. The Real Clear Average of all recent polls has the GOP up by +1, a seven-point swing in two weeks.

From the CNN poll:

Democrats a month ago held a 50%-42% advantage among registered voters in a generic ballot, which asked respondents to choose between a Democrat or Republican in their congressional district without identifying the candidates.
...
But the Democratic lead has disappeared. A new CNN/ORC poll indicates the GOP now holds a 49%-47% edge.

The Obamacare "Winners" and "Losers" seem to be realizing who, exactly, is who:

"It looks like the biggest shifts toward the Republicans came among white voters, higher-income Americans, and people who live in rural areas, while Democrats have gained strength in the past month among some of their natural constituencies, such as non-white voters and lower-income Americans," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.
"If those patterns persist into 2014, it may indicate that Obamacare is popular among those who it was designed to help the most, but unpopular among the larger group of voters who are personally less concerned about health insurance and health care," Holland said.

Democrats have gained strength among non-white voters? I saw several polls showing a big drop in Obama's and Obamacare's approval among Latinos, and his popularity with blacks seems so high it cannot be improved; so which minority voters are all aflutter to vote Democratic? Asians only?

I was always a little baffled by Democrats', and the media's, and Establishment-aligned Republicans' worry about the shutdown. Yes, there would be some damage; but did they really all imagine this would be permanent damage?

Have they talked to Americans lately? Americans seem hardly capable of remembering who their Vice President is, let alone a 16-day shutdown of 17% of government which happened (from the point of view of the 2014 elections) more than a year ago.

But it does seem that the Democrats think that these microissues will pay huge dividends for them. For example, Greg Sergeant of the must-read comedy site The Plum Line thinks the Hobby Lobby case represents the return of Excalibre to Arthur's hand:

Dem leadership aide, in SCOTUS/contraception: "This is the kind of issue that can change the ACA debate." http://t.co/XIHejUmKlK
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) November 26, 2013

Ah yes. That should do the trick.

That seems unlikely to me-- I don't think people are going to be super-psyched that they're getting their $9 birth control pills paid for by the state. I think they will notice that their premium increases of $1,000-$10,000 rather exceed the cost of the pills.

I don't share Sergeant's Unhinged Optimism about the debate on Obamacare being changed by a reminder that taxpayers are now on the hook to pay for Sandra Fluke's lifestyle purchases, but I am curious to see how this plays out. The GOP has been losing (or not winning enough of) white suburban voters lately, possibly because of their disagreement with the GOP on cultural issues.

I'm curious to see what wins out here -- economics or cultural gestures. I think Sergeant is wrong, but what I'd like to see is that he's really wrong: I'd like to see a large-scale migration of these swing voters to the conservative banner.

I can't help noticing that the left is avoiding the issue that the Big Thing -- Obamacare -- is very unpopular, and that they're counting on Small Things -- the shutdown, subsidized condoms -- to carry the day for them.

Wouldn't a rational person expect that the Big Things would matter greatly, and the Small Things hardly at all?

Byron York, meanwhile, writes that the slack that the public has given Obama is now gone for good.

In April, Real Clear Politics' average of polls showed that 47 percent of Americans opposed Obamacare, while 41 percent supported it Â— a 6-percentage-point edge for opponents of the president's health care law, which at the time was still months away from implementation.
The latest average of polls, less than two months into the law's rollout, shows 57 percent opposing Obamacare, with 38 percent supporting Â— an enormous 19-point gap between opponents and supporters.
The two numbers explain why Republicans made little progress when they tried to warn Americans about Obamacare. For years, GOP warnings about Obamacare were about something that had not yet arrived. People had not experienced Obamacare, did not have friends who had experienced it and didn't fully understand what it was. Many tuned out the Republican alarms.
Now that has changed. Millions of Americans are unhappy with what they have experienced under Obamacare Â— canceled policies, higher premiums and sky-high deductibles. They are also much more likely to believe predictions of future problems. They've seen what has already happened and now know it can get worse.
So how can it get worse? So far, Obamacare has upended the individual market for health insurance, which covers about 10 million people. The next step, according to the respected health care analyst Robert Laszewski, will likely come in the small-employer market, meaning businesses with anywhere between two and 50 employees. That covers about 45 million people.
"Obamacare is impacting the small-group insurance market in many of the same ways as the individual health insurance market," Laszewski writes.

Ah yes -- that small minority of 80 million people (or "trade-offs," as the Administration euphemizes the people they're directly harming with their law) who will be soon losing their insurance as well.

Almost 80 million people with employer health plans could find their coverage canceled because they are not compliant with ObamaCare, several experts predicted.
Their losses would be in addition to the millions who found their individual coverage cancelled for the same reason.
Stan Veuger of the American Enterprise Institute said that in addition to the individual cancellations, "at least half the people on employer plans would by 2014 start losing plans as well." There are approximately 157 million employer health care policy holders.
...

And those cancellations, and the following days of sticker shock, are currently slated to begin before the midterms (though if I were a betting man, I'd bet everything that Obama will delay this).

"They're going to start doing that in the summer or early fall but certainly before the midterm elections," said Veuger.

More poll stuff at Hot Air.

Regarding that Iowa Senate poll that Freddoso commissioned, and that The Meatball just discussed-- I was struck that the Democrat led the race, when he was named. Apparently that guy has high name recognition.

But when the question was asked whether people would be voting for "the Democrat" or "the Republican," "the Republican" moved into the lead.

Ah well.

I'm sure a few tweets from Sandra Fluke on Reproductive Freedom will right this boat.

Posted by: Ace at 03:07 PM | Comments (153)
Post contains 1155 words, total size 8 kb.

1 PREMERO?

Posted by: Paladin at November 26, 2013 03:09 PM (+Wvn3)

2 primero..segundo

Posted by: Paladin at November 26, 2013 03:11 PM (+Wvn3)

3 Sssssssssssssssssssss...

Posted by: The Fuse on the Employer Mandate Bomb at November 26, 2013 03:11 PM (8ZskC)

4 Just how much more support can Democrats garner among non-white voters? Is that even possible?

Posted by: no good deed at November 26, 2013 03:11 PM (HsJeN)

5 It ain't the way I wanted it! I can handle things! I'm smart! Not like everybody says... like dumb... I'm smart and I want respect!

Posted by: Barky O'Genius at November 26, 2013 03:12 PM (8ZskC)

6 I'm pretty sure I swore off reading much into polls on the 6th of November, 2012. Can't help but laugh at these though.

Posted by: akula51[/b][/i][/s] at November 26, 2013 03:12 PM (lyTr/)

7 Reminder: FDA is banning 23andme's DNA test. You give them saliva sample and they analyze your DNA. You get to learn your genetic ancestry, plus whether you have genes that cause many diseases. FDA is not saying 23andme's DNA tests aren't accurate. They are saying you are not qualified to know your own genetic code.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at November 26, 2013 03:12 PM (ZPrif)

8 You can fool some of the people some of the time. But you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

Posted by: Abraham Lincoln at November 26, 2013 03:12 PM (V70Uh)

9 In related news, FDA just approved foreign fish raised on a diet of pig shit. Â“Asian Seafood Raised on Pig Feces Approved for U.S. Consumers.Â” - See more at: http://marginalrevolution.com/#sthash.Y3zuEFm2.dpuf

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at November 26, 2013 03:13 PM (ZPrif)

10 Pig shit fish is fine. Knowledge of your own DNA -- too dangerous for consumers.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at November 26, 2013 03:14 PM (ZPrif)

11 9 In related news, FDA just approved foreign fish raised on a diet of pig shit. Â“Asian Seafood Raised on Pig Feces Approved for U.S. Consumers.Â” - See more at: http://marginalrevolution.com/#sthash.Y3zuEFm2.dpuf Posted by: Flatbush Joe at November 26, 2013 07:13 PM (ZPrif) Definitely not kosher for Passover.

Posted by: Insomniac at November 26, 2013 03:14 PM (UAMVq)

12 It's all about the ladyparts, folks.

Posted by: Sandra Flook at November 26, 2013 03:14 PM (Dwehj)

13 My health care > somebody else's birth control.

Posted by: RS at November 26, 2013 03:14 PM (YAGV/)

14 Hoopity-Doo and Much Ado Ace, onions tied to the belt are passÃ©.

Posted by: fluffisimo at November 26, 2013 03:14 PM (Ua6T/)

15 Hmmm... interesting thought... Not applying the Big Business portion of O'care... while applying the individual portion... hurts those who buy individual insurance... Could there be a Class Action suit, to force O'care to be applied equally? ie... not let O kick the can down the road, as he is trying to do?

Posted by: Romeo13 at November 26, 2013 03:14 PM (lZBBB)

16 Obamacare is not the hill to fight on.

Posted by: Mitch McConnell at November 26, 2013 03:16 PM (Pr6hk)

17 8 You can fool some of the people some of the time. But you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. Posted by: Abraham Lincoln at November 26, 2013 07:12 PM (V70Uh) But you can Buy Off enough of the voters, enough of the time...

Posted by: Democrat Strategeryist at November 26, 2013 03:16 PM (lZBBB)

18 I was watching Special Report. Gee, if Krauthammer ever converted to Christianity it would have to be Catholicism.

Catholics and Jews share a special bond.

Guilt.

I am a Catholic and I know of what I write.

btw, after John Roberts, I will never ever trust a Catholic judge or politician. There is too much of that "Social Justice" shit running through their veins. To them, Jesus said "Let Caesar tax the crap out of you and trust Him to take care of the poor."

Posted by: Jimbo at November 26, 2013 03:16 PM (V70Uh)

19 Yo &

Posted by: fluffé at November 26, 2013 03:17 PM (Ua6T/)

20 Could there be a Class Action suit, to force O'care to be applied equally?

There's a medical practice in FL suing over the scattershot and lawless implementation...could end up as a class as it moves forward.

Posted by: StPatrick_TN at November 26, 2013 03:18 PM (un8zR)

21 23 Skidoo!

Posted by: garrett at November 26, 2013 03:18 PM (HOcHF)

22 Stay out of my bedroom. It's always crowded.

Posted by: Sandra Flook at November 26, 2013 03:18 PM (Dwehj)

23 As I asked in Meatball's thread. What if Ocare is repealed? And it very well could happen, especially if dems start seeing their hopes and dreams smashed because of it. What then?

Posted by: Soona at November 26, 2013 03:18 PM (FtgP2)

24 Does Obamacare pat for contraception for everyone? Including the Irish? Cuz that's a deal breaker.

Posted by: Dr Spank at November 26, 2013 03:19 PM (xlX1p)

25 >>The two numbers explain why Republicans made little progress when they tried to warn Americans about Obamacare. For years, GOP warnings about Obamacare were about something that had not yet arrived. People had not experienced Obamacare, did not have friends who had experienced it and didn't fully understand what it was. Many tuned out the Republican alarms. >>Now that has changed. It has only begun to change. Pain works.

Posted by: JackStraw at November 26, 2013 03:19 PM (g1DWB)

What then?

Cats and Dogs living together.

Posted by: garrett at November 26, 2013 03:19 PM (HOcHF)

27 What then?

Posted by: Soona at November 26, 2013 07:18 PM (FtgP2)

Absolute hairy chaos for a while. Then, who knows? It depends on how the whole mess is replaced.

Posted by: StPatrick_TN at November 26, 2013 03:19 PM (un8zR)

28 >>> Stay out of my bedroom. It's always crowded. I'm just looking for my car keys.

Posted by: fluffy at November 26, 2013 03:20 PM (Ua6T/)

29 22 Stay out of my ~~bedroom~~ cooter. It's always crowded. Posted by: Sandra Flook at November 26, 2013 07:18 PM FIFY.

Posted by: Insomniac at November 26, 2013 03:20 PM (UAMVq)

30 "Ok, we'll take the n***ers and the Ch**ks, but Not the Irish!

Posted by: Gaby Johnson at November 26, 2013 03:20 PM (V70Uh)

31 23 As I asked in Meatball's thread. What if Ocare is repealed? And it very well could happen, especially if dems start seeing their hopes and dreams smashed because of it. What then? Posted by: Soona at November 26, 2013 07:18 PM (FtgP2) The nation wanders in the wilderness for 2 years while insurance companies get their act back together. Meanwhile, Republicans get blamed for causing the chaos.

Posted by: jwb7605[/i][/u][/b] at November 26, 2013 03:20 PM (Qxe/p)

32 Whatever happened to me? I sure wish the Dems would drag me and Julia back out onto the public stage for another pity party. It's lonely on the bottom.

Posted by: Sandra Flook at November 26, 2013 03:21 PM (Dwehj)

33 @23 Soona Chaos. It took three years to get to this point. It cannot be undone immediately. The old markets will have to reform. Better than what we've got, but the One has completely f-ed up health care in this country for a long, long time.

Posted by: RS at November 26, 2013 03:21 PM (YAGV/)

34
I'm just looking for my car keys.

Posted by: fluffy at November 26, 2013 07:20 PM (Ua6T/)

Were they not in the bowl with everyone else's?

Posted by: StPatrick_TN at November 26, 2013 03:21 PM (un8zR)

35 The Fluke Cooch is actually on MSNBC tonight. Back in the saddle.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at November 26, 2013 03:21 PM (ZPrif)

Jimbo,

Justice Scalia would like a word with you...

Posted by: chip the wonder dog at November 26, 2013 03:21 PM (CYZWA)

37 VP? That's a tricky one.

Posted by: joey biden at November 26, 2013 03:21 PM (JlX6q)

38 "Many tuned out the Republican alarms."

This is a problem in and of itself, there needs to be a fix here and it might be bigger than just who controls the media.

Posted by: Adam Smith's Invisible Pimp Hand at November 26, 2013 03:21 PM (WdbF7)

39 Gentlemen, this is encouraging news, but do I need to remind you once again what you shouldn't start doing? I didn't think so.

Posted by: Winston Wolf at November 26, 2013 03:22 PM (HHwIp)

40 32 Whatever happened to me? I sure wish the Dems would drag me and Julia back out onto the public stage for another pity party. It's lonely on the bottom. Posted by: Sandra Flook at November 26, 2013 07:21 PM (Dwehj) Your bottom is never lonely.

Posted by: Insomniac at November 26, 2013 03:22 PM (UAMVq)

41 Isn't Sandra Fluke going to be on MSNBC tonight discussing contraception and ass to mouth?

Posted by: Dr Spank at November 26, 2013 03:22 PM (xlX1p)

42 Sorry. I was just responding to a deleted post.

Posted by: Gaby Johnson at November 26, 2013 03:22 PM (V70Uh)

43 Timothy P Carney ‏@TPCarney So it's @SandraFluke and I on MSNBC at 8. We're talking contraception.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at November 26, 2013 03:22 PM (ZPrif)

44 Where ground is soft, most often grows

Arise, arise, arouse, arose!

A... a rosy nose?

Posted by: Jeremy Hillary Boob, PhD. at November 26, 2013 03:22 PM (3SzC3)

45 The Fluke Cooch is actually on MSNBC tonight. Back in the saddle.

I am? Damn, I'd better call the guys and tell them tonight's a no-go.

Posted by: Sandra Flook at November 26, 2013 03:23 PM (Dwehj)

46 off topic, but CBS learned its lesson (from yahoo news):

CBS ordered "60 Minutes" correspondent Lara Logan and her producer to take a leave of absence Tuesday following a critical internal review of their handling of the show's October story on the Benghazi raid, based on a report on a supposed witness whose story can't be verified.

The review, by CBS News executive Al Ortiz and obtained by The Associated Press, said the "60 Minutes" team should have done a better job vetting the story that featured a security contractor who said he was at the U.S. mission in Libya the night it was attacked last year.

Questions were quickly raised about whether the man was lying Â— something "60 Minutes" should have better checked out before airing the story, the report said.

The report also said Logan should not have done the story in the first place after making a speech in Chicago a year ago claiming that it was a lie that America's military had tamed al-Qaida.

Posted by: Mallfly at November 26, 2013 03:23 PM (bJm7W)

47 How the fuck can the dems and obama be gaining amongst backs when he already had 98% of their vote?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at November 26, 2013 03:24 PM (t3UFN)

48 I am a big fan of Justice Scalia. He clearly didn't buy into the social justice bs.

Posted by: Jimbo at November 26, 2013 03:24 PM (V70Uh)

49 It's still 98%, But the intensity is higher.

Posted by: Jimbo at November 26, 2013 03:25 PM (V70Uh)

50 > Stay out of my bedroom. It's always crowded. >>I'm just looking for my car keys.
I think you mean "car".

Posted by: andycanuck at November 26, 2013 03:25 PM (JlX6q)

51 >>> Were they not in the bowl with everyone else's? I'm hoping to drive out of here. Shine that light over this way, would you please?

Posted by: fluffy at November 26, 2013 03:25 PM (Ua6T/)

52 Chaos. It took three years to get to this point. It cannot be undone immediately. The old markets will have to reform. Better than what we've got, but the One has completely f-ed up health care in this country for a long, long time.

Posted by: RS at November 26, 2013 07:21 PM (YAGV/)

-----------------------------------------------

I think we'd be surprised how quickly the market would probably recover from this. But I was asking more about the election prospects. Would repeal save a lot of the dems' asses?

Posted by: Soona at November 26, 2013 03:25 PM (FtgP2)

53 It's still 98%, But the intensity is higher. Posted by: Jimbo at November 26, 2013 07:25 PM (V70Uh) So what your saying is crack is cheaper than obamacare?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at November 26, 2013 03:26 PM (t3UFN)

54 So generic ballot has R ahead by 2, Dick Durbin within striking distance by a R in Illinois (member of the terminally boned), former R gov candidate there running even with the sitting D governor, Michigan, South Dakota, Minnesota, North Carolina, Montana, etc Senate races trending towards the R candidates? What more could I want?

Oh Yeah. Matt Bevin to knock out that bitch Mitch McConnell in Kentucky.

Posted by: NWConservative at November 26, 2013 03:26 PM (M1gmo)

55 How the fuck can the dems and obama be gaining amongst backs when he already had 98% of their vote?

New dead blacks are being discovered all the time. George Washington Carver just announced his support.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at November 26, 2013 03:26 PM (8ZskC)

56 How the fuck can the dems and obama be gaining amongst backs when he already had 98% of their vote?

Percentages are meaningless.

Posted by: Chicago Democrats at November 26, 2013 03:26 PM (Dwehj)

57 How the fuck can the dems and obama be gaining amongst backs when he already had 98% of their vote?

Heh.

Posted by: The trunk of a Chevy Cavalier at November 26, 2013 03:27 PM (Dwehj)

58 I have absolutely no faith in the GOP and even less in the electorate. America is no longer a great country filled with great people. Does anybody really think the GOP will be able to or really even try to capitlize on the obamacare fiasco? I have seen no evidence to show me any different.

Posted by: Kreplach at November 26, 2013 03:28 PM (ihCPW)

59 Imagine for a moment what this country would be like if Obama and Biden obliged us with some Seppuku.

John Boehner as POTUS.

Harry Reid ready to pass all of his nominations by a simple majority in the Senate.

Cantor as Speaker.

Posted by: Frankie Goes To Seppuku at November 26, 2013 03:28 PM (e8kgV)

60 ClusterFlukeCare is unpopular outside the FSA because those people are "among the larger group of voters who are personally less concerned about health insurance and health care?" I'd say they're more concerned by an order of several hundred dollars a month, especially if they're self-employed.

Posted by: Long Haul Plucker at November 26, 2013 03:28 PM (tLpBf)

61

Sorry -- won't believe it until it's published somewhere respectable like TheFederalist.com

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at November 26, 2013 03:29 PM (kdS6q)

62 "...but unpopular among the larger group of voters who are personally less concerned about health insurance and health care,' Holland said."

Say what? Since when do those actually paying the bill actually have less concern about their insurance and health care?

Absurd.

Obamacare was sold as a lie. Now, some people who are paid off for the lie are OK with it because they're getting a cut of the action. Those getting cut? Yeah, they're pretty pissed off, and it isn't because they have fewer concerns.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at November 26, 2013 03:29 PM (eHIJJ)

63 But I always voted Republican.

Posted by: zombie George Washington Carver at November 26, 2013 03:30 PM (JlX6q)

64 Anyone besides me detect the Liar-in-Chief say "folks are now getting healthcare for the first time?"

They have been getting it all along.

Posted by: Jimbo at November 26, 2013 03:30 PM (V70Uh)

65 But I always voted Republican.

Posted by: zombie George Washington Carver at November 26, 2013 07:30 PM (JlX6q)

So did I.

Posted by: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at November 26, 2013 03:31 PM (V70Uh)

66 Sorry -- won't believe it until it's published somewhere respectable like TheFederalist.com Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at November 26, 2013 07:29 PM (kdS6q) *cracks knuckles*

Posted by: CAC at November 26, 2013 03:31 PM (AdVnn)

67 Seppuku? Fuck, I hate that number game. They never add up for me.

Posted by: joe biden at November 26, 2013 03:32 PM (JlX6q)

68 This just in!!!!!! 113% of self-identified Black-African-Americans will vote for Obama in 2016, based on 'man in the street' interviews!

Posted by: PROBEUS at November 26, 2013 03:32 PM (vHRtU)

69 Speaking as a single female living in Northern Virginia who was bombarded with multiple mailers from all sorts of left-wing organizations in addition to the state Dems for weeks before the election, "I don't want to have to pay for someone else's birth control" gets turned into "That mean, nasty Republican wants to take away your free birth control!" The implication being that the mean, nasty Republican doesn't want you to have it at all.

Posted by: Vendette at November 26, 2013 03:32 PM (MpP9p)

70 64 He is a poor bullshitter but his profligacy is formidable.

Posted by: Beto at November 26, 2013 03:33 PM (MhA4j)

71 Anyone besides me detect the Liar-in-Chief say "folks are now getting healthcare for the first time?"
They have been getting it all along.

When I have the sniffles, I go straight to the ER. They treat me real nice and it's free!

Posted by: Low Information Voter at November 26, 2013 03:33 PM (Dwehj)

72 I'm sure a few tweets from Sandra Fluke on Reproductive Freedom will right this boat Given the ability of the Democrats to make absolutely inane memes the subject of the day (thanks to the gullibility of their voters and the compliance of the media), I don't know that I share the sarcasm in that, Ace. The cities could be burning from an alien invasion and you'd still have a block of Dem voters running to the polls to vote against Republicans because someone, somewhere said 'fag.'

Posted by: --- at November 26, 2013 03:34 PM (MMC8r)

73 Sargent likely gets his political insights by staring deep into his naval and contemplating the position of the lint therein.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at November 26, 2013 03:34 PM (oFCZn)

74 With Obamcare, maybe I'll finally get rid of the itch and odor

Posted by: Sandra Flukes massive black hole at November 26, 2013 03:35 PM (ygAxO)

75 72 THREADWINNER!!11

Posted by: K,tnx,bye at November 26, 2013 03:35 PM (RPDkq)

76 The Breitbart piece linked at Drudge on the SCOTUS case has 3,000 comments, most by libs. They're panicking.

Posted by: Tattoo De Plane at November 26, 2013 03:35 PM (Y92Nd)

77 Then the stupid party will pass amnesty and and throw away their advantage. Idiots.

Posted by: Dan in Michigan at November 26, 2013 03:35 PM (Jb9NO)

78 Republicans can win the LIVs on the issue of contraception. They just need to focus on condoms rather than the ever popular birth control pill. LIVs (and really, most honest people) hate condoms.

Posted by: wooga at November 26, 2013 03:36 PM (TaITa)

79 "That mean, nasty Republican wants to take away your free birth control!" The implication being that the mean, nasty Republican doesn't want you to have it at all.

Posted by: Vendette at November 26, 2013 07:32 PM (MpP9p)

This. We should start saying if you like your birth control you can keep it.

Posted by: Adam Smith's Invisible Pimp Hand at November 26, 2013 03:36 PM (WdbF7)

80 Sargent likely gets his political insights by staring deep into his naval and ...

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis

From his inside.

Posted by: weft cut-loop [/i] [/b] at November 26, 2013 03:36 PM (nq+/u)

81 Serious question on the filibuster, you guys. If the Democrats lose control of the Senate at the mid-terms, can't they simply vote to restore the filibuster just before the Republicans take over power? Is there any reason to believe they wouldn't?

Posted by: Piercello at November 26, 2013 03:38 PM (P4dpU)

82 Well, my daughter who has moved out and trying to make it on her own, complained that she has been told at every job interview that she will not be given more than 30 hours due too, as she put it "cufking obamacare". How many people who already have a job have had their hours reduced, lost their health coverage, or lost their jobs all together? Some, of course, will believe the bullcrap that it is the obstructionist republicans fault but I think most will not.

Posted by: California Witch at November 26, 2013 03:38 PM (Xcvk0)

83 All the Liberals I know (and I know a lot) say that the Affordable Care Act is wildly popular and that any polls to the contrary are Tea Party propaganda.
I swim in such a Liberal soup every day that I mostly just hear, "Blah, blah, blah, Obama, blah, blah, blah, Tea Baggers, blah, blah, Hitler!" It's just background noise, but if I concentrate I can hear it.

Posted by: FART at November 26, 2013 03:38 PM (i14bS)

84 If the Democrats lose control of the Senate at the mid-terms, can't they simply vote to restore the filibuster just before the Republicans take over power? Is there any reason to believe they wouldn't?

Posted by: Piercello

No Congress can hold a future Congress to anything.

Posted by: weft cut-loop [/i] [/b] at November 26, 2013 03:40 PM (nq+/u)

85 "As I asked in Meatball's thread. What if Ocare is repealed? And it very well could happen, especially if dems start seeing their hopes and dreams smashed because of it. What then?
Posted by: Soona at November 26, 2013 07:18 PM (FtgP2)"

Hopefully, the experiment with "comprehensive" health insurance will be seen as a misguided one which will never be revisited and, rather than larding up policies with 'essential' benefits, the bulk of the market will be 'catastrophic' coverage policies. It will work like life insurance. Life insurance doesn't pay out a little bit of the death benefit when you get a boo-boo, it pays out a lump sum when you shuffle off this mortal coil. It also seems to work just fine for just about everyone.

In order for that to happen, people will have to take responsibility for saving for whatever health needs they may have in the future before those costs are incurred, rather than relying on insurance companies to pay the bills as they arise. Just take the freaking money consumers pay in premiums, put them in a savings account of some sort and then draw them down as costs are incurred. If you can't save enough to cover your costs, you will have to rely on charity or go into debt and then pay it off over time.

That said, there are some benefits to being part of a large purchasing group like a health insurance plan, such as pre-negotiated prices for certain products and services. Retain those and get rid of the 'essential benefits' bullshit, which, while it may have made some sense at one point, has just become a regulatory mechanism for wealth redistribution in the form of medical care.

Posted by: Sudden Clarity Clarence at November 26, 2013 03:41 PM (XVWHG)

86
Sticking with my prediction of +6 gop gain in senate.

but we'll get amnesty before that.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at November 26, 2013 03:41 PM (iGPSR)

87 2014 hasn't arrived yet and the voting season of 2014 is way far away. But come October of 2014, and people with employer insurance are going to find out just how expensive the employer mandate will become for 2015. Tens of millions of people are going to simultaneously get a big shock to their finances and well-being. Our company's insurance broker told us our program for 2014 will be about the same as the past years' , but they have no idea what is going to happen in 2015. And it is likely that many small companies that are going to be struggling, will dump their employees into that sub-optimal exchange thingy. Come the Fall of 2014, this is going to be......epic.

Posted by: Severe Conservative riding Orca at November 26, 2013 03:42 PM (v6hyJ)

88 74 With Obamcare, maybe I'll finally get rid of the itch and odor

Toots, try keeping multiple strange jissom outta yo' snatch!

Posted by: the itch and odor at November 26, 2013 03:42 PM (RPDkq)

89 "If those patterns persist into 2014, it may indicate that Obamacare is popular among those who it was designed to help the most, but unpopular among the larger group of voters who are personally less concerned about health insurance and health care," Holland said.

Personally less concerned about health insurance? I'd say they're VERY concerned, being that it's going to be taking very large chunks out of their wallets.

But to a journalist covered by employer plans for now, it's the Free Shit Army getting something for nothing who are very concerned about the cost of health care?

They really have to get out more

Posted by: kbdabear at November 26, 2013 03:42 PM (aTXUx)

90 And when ( if) we get a GOP majority Senate it will get us what?

Posted by: steevy at November 26, 2013 03:43 PM (zqvg6)

91 It amazes me that these hacks think people aren't going to be pissed off having to pay hundreds of dollars more each month for less coverage and higher copays and deductibles.

Posted by: François Villon at November 26, 2013 03:43 PM (kkbgQ)

92 The last time they were this high in the CNN poll, it was right before the 2010 wave election.

The two polls have interesting crosstabs too:

Republicans are tied with suburban voters 48-48, a ten point deficit in October's poll.

They have a 30 point advantage with rural voters from an 8 point advantage in October, but are still losing to the urban vote by a 21 point margin (although better than the 25 point margin in October).

My FAVORITE part of this poll has the Republicans winning the independents by nearly 20 points at 53% and they are winning every age category except the 18-24 year olds (54-41, although Obama won in 2012 in that group by 67-30!!).

Posted by: NWConservative at November 26, 2013 03:43 PM (M1gmo)

93 76 The Breitbart piece linked at Drudge on the SCOTUS case has 3,000 comments, most by libs. They're panicking. Posted by: Tattoo De Plane at November 26, 2013 07:35 PM (Y92Nd) I lost ability to view any/all comments at Breitbart. No clue what happened ...

Posted by: jwb7605[/i][/u][/b] at November 26, 2013 03:44 PM (Qxe/p)

94 You know what else is causing political swings? Americans finally putting two and two together and understanding Democrats in general, and Obama specifically in grand fashion, have been serially lying.

It isn't a stretch to say that voters see the epic "health care" lie and that induces some of them to ask themselves, "If Obama et al. lied about this so brazenly, what else have they been lying about?"

There's real opportunity for the GOP to widen the wedge here by bringing up all the other scandals that had been glossed over to this point. Start with the lie that is Obamacare and then expand to Fast-N-Furious, Benghazi, IRS targeting, press spying, NSA, drone, and on and on. That is the meta scandal that must be amplified and that will have longer-term influence as far as party identity goes. Begin with a policy catastrophe; finish with a trust/corruption designation.

And then hope the GOP doesn't screw over conservatives yet again for the umpteenth time to snatch back the "party of corruption" label.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at November 26, 2013 03:44 PM (eHIJJ)

95 I lost ability to view any/all comments at Breitbart. No clue what happened ... Did you install NoScript?

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b] at November 26, 2013 03:45 PM (sByIH)

96 Selective 'retirement' of General Officers SHALL result in a safe environment while the last of the Constitutional Officers are eliminated...

Posted by: PROSTATUS at November 26, 2013 03:47 PM (vHRtU)

97 And when ( if) we get a GOP majority Senate it will get us what?

Posted by: steevy

Ace's Plan: One year sunset on PEEPEE CACA, during which the GOP holds planning sessions and crafts an actual market-based reform: interstate insurance, portable plans, tax-deductions for individs, etc.

Two roadmaps are out there. Heritage has one and the NRC (?) has another.

Posted by: weft cut-loop [/i] [/b] at November 26, 2013 03:47 PM (nq+/u)

98 "I'm just looking for my car keys."

Go look under the street lamp. The light's better there.

Posted by: Baron Von Ottomatic at November 26, 2013 03:47 PM (kUgpq)

99 Sticking with my prediction of +6 gop gain in senate. but we'll get amnesty before that. Posted by: Guy Mohawk at November 26, 2013 07:41 PM (iGPSR) I'd almost take 20 million Mexicans if it would mean the end of McPain and Missy.

Posted by: BignJames at November 26, 2013 03:47 PM (j7iSn)

100 I just love this portion of the quote, That Obamacare and therefore Democrats are:

unpopular among the larger group of voters who are personally less concerned about health insurance and health care

They just can't make that great logical leap forward and say that it is "unpopular among the larger group of voters who are personally forced to pay more for less health insurance and health care". I agree with you wholeheartedly, Ace, that as more people realize what a pig-in-a-poke they've been sold here, the numbers will look even more gruesome. I'd put even money on most of the Senate Dems in contested seats campaigning on repeal.

Posted by: Kevin in ABQ at November 26, 2013 03:47 PM (BvTwT)

101 Bet it all on Hawaii ace

Posted by: Dave in Texas at November 26, 2013 03:47 PM (l7DqC)

102 NO-SCRIPT kills everything...

Posted by: OG Celtic-American at November 26, 2013 03:49 PM (vHRtU)

103 No Congress can hold a future Congress to anything.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at November 26, 2013 07:40 PM (nq+/u)

Yeah that is what really pisses me off about the panty wetters in the GOP freaking out about the IPAB Obamacare board. If no one gets appointed to the board, all their power is transferred to the HHS, aka Sebelius. They are freaking out that it would need 67 votes in the senate to stop any regulation they put out. Someone needs to remind the idiots that the filibuster was just changed by 52 votes in the senate. You don't need 67 votes for anything in congress just because a prior congress said so. Heck we don't even need the filibuster for anything, we could just amend it again, JUST LIKE REID DID.

Posted by: NWConservative at November 26, 2013 03:49 PM (M1gmo)

104 And another thing. The suit from the Hobby Lobby and the Catholic Church, etc., is really only peripheral to birth control, etc. It is about freedom of conscience. People understand that. It is freedom of religion from State coercion. People understand that. If the Misinformation Media wants to play it all up about contraception, they fundamentally don't understand their own country, or are deliberately trying to mislead people. And that's why they are the Misinformation Media, because they are misleading people....again.

Posted by: Severe Conservative riding Orca at November 26, 2013 03:49 PM (v6hyJ)

105 Did you install NoScript? Posted by: bonhomme at November 26, 2013 07:45 PM (sByIH) No. I've got "YesScript" installed. Tried adding "Breitbart.com" to it. No help. What's up?

Posted by: jwb7605[/i][/u][/b] at November 26, 2013 03:49 PM (Qxe/p)

106 is it me or does valerie jarett look like moe from the three stooges?

Posted by: phoenixgirl @phxazgrl at November 26, 2013 03:49 PM (8JJ6O)

107 Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at November 26, 2013 07:44 PM (eHIJJ) Yup.... IF GOP had an ounce of fight in them, you'd see a series of commercials... 1. Obama "you can keep your Doctor" then a simple graphic, "What else has he lied about?" 2. Obama "average price will go down $2500"... graphic, "What else has he lied about?" 3. Obama Benghazi started as a riot .... graphic... 4. I won't raise taxes on the middle class.... graphic... 5. From his senate days, 'unpatriotic to raise the debt ceiling.... graphic.... He is a SERIAL teller of Lies..... call him on them...

Posted by: Democrat Strategeryist at November 26, 2013 03:50 PM (lZBBB)

108 is it me or does valerie jarett look like moe from the three stooges? Posted by: phoenixgirl @phxazgrl at November 26, 2013 07:49 PM (8JJ6O) He was funnier and better looking

Posted by: Nevergiveup at November 26, 2013 03:50 PM (t3UFN)

109 If the Democrats lose control of the Senate at the mid-terms, can't they simply vote to restore the filibuster just before the Republicans take over power? Is there any reason to believe they wouldn't? Posted by: Piercello at November 26, 2013 07:38 PM (P4dpU) Sure they could. But in doing what they did last week they started a new precedent: The Senate's rules can be changed in the middle of a Congress with a simple majority vote. Therefore, Republicans would be able to change the rules themselves if they wanted if they were in the majority.

Posted by: Vendette at November 26, 2013 03:50 PM (MpP9p)

110 Sure they could. But in doing what they did last week they started a new precedent: The Senate's rules can be changed in the middle of a Congress with a simple majority vote. Therefore, Republicans would be able to change the rules themselves if they wanted if they were in the majority. Posted by: Vendette at November 26, 2013 07:50 PM (MpP9p) There is only one rule now: there are no more rules Kinda like a knife fight

Posted by: Nevergiveup at November 26, 2013 03:52 PM (t3UFN)

111 Sure they could. But in doing what they did last week they started a new precedent: The Senate's rules can be changed in the middle of a Congress with a simple majority vote. Therefore, Republicans would be able to change the rules themselves if they wanted if they were in the majority.

Posted by: Vendette at November 26, 2013 07:50 PM (MpP9p)

Lets get a show of hands if Majority Leader McConnell would do that.

Posted by: NWConservative at November 26, 2013 03:52 PM (M1gmo)

112 Typical LIV: "But OMG Ted Cruz is creepy. I can't vote for a Republican." That's the BIG thing the Dems still have. They control the media narrative.

Posted by: Peej at November 26, 2013 03:52 PM (xYVem)

113 No. I've got "YesScript" installed. Tried adding "Breitbart.com" to it. No help. What's up? Breitbart uses Disqus for its comments. Try adding Disqus as a whitlisted site.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b] at November 26, 2013 03:52 PM (sByIH)

114 The CNN Polling Director thinks that Obamacare is only unpopular among "the larger group of voters who are personally less concerned about health insurance and health care". Really? So people who were previously insured, but had their policies cancelled and have to pay much much more now, don't care about healthcare or health insurance? Then why did they have it in the first place. They obviously felt the need to purchase a product, which is not a small point of purchase product, freely without Big Brother telling them to.

Posted by: Styro at November 26, 2013 03:52 PM (MheaI)

115 Sauce for the goose... '14 and '16 are gonna be BITCHS for specific constituencies...

JOIN TRUE THE VOTE DONATE $ AND MOST OF ALL VOLUNTEER AS A POLL WATCHER!!!!!!

Posted by: OG Celtic-American at November 26, 2013 03:54 PM (vHRtU)

116 "That seems unlikely to me-- I don't think people are going to be super-psyched that they're getting their $9 birth control pills paid for by the state. I think they will notice that their premium increases of $1,000-$10,000 rather exceed the cost of the pills." Exactly. Lots of people want "the government" to do more to help the poor. Lots of people won't mind if "the government" does more to help the poor, and it only costs them ~$5-$10 more out of their take home pay every month. When that "help" starts costing ~$200 more per month, attitudes shift rapidly. My guess is it will be the same thing for "helping" people with contraception. Before Obamacare started hitting, a lot of people were probably ok with the idea of a new law making sure young single women got financial help getting birth control if they needed it. But now that the dreaded cancellation letters have gone out, and more and more people are finding themselves to be not just Obamacare Losers, but losing a significant amount of money in order to have WORSE insurance than they had before, attitudes will change rapidly. Before, it was totally awesome!!11!!! to help young women afford birth control. Now, it will be more like this: What, you need birth control?!? Pay for it your damn self. What, you can't afford it?!? Well, piss off. Either don't have sex, or learn how to finish him off with your hand or your mouth. Oh, and there's always anal -I hear that's more and more popular these days........

Posted by: Captain Glenn Quagmire at November 26, 2013 03:54 PM (1o4B5)

117 Lets get a show of hands if Majority Leader McConnell would do that.

Posted by: NWConservative

( cough )

Posted by: Kentucky in the Straw [/i] [/b] at November 26, 2013 03:55 PM (nq+/u)

118 113 No. I've got "YesScript" installed. Tried adding "Breitbart.com" to it.
No help. What's up?
Breitbart uses Disqus for its comments. Try adding Disqus as a whitlisted site.
Posted by: bonhomme at November 26, 2013 07:52 PM (sByIH)

I disabled "YesScript", still no help.
I'll try un-installing it.

Odd thing is that I went to Discus and was able to manage my profile.

It's an ampersand thing, right? :-)

Posted by: jwb7605[/i][/u][/b] at November 26, 2013 03:55 PM (Qxe/p)

119 All the Liberals I know (and I know a lot Posted by: FART at November 26, 2013 07:38 PM (i14bS) Sorry. First mistake.

Posted by: Golfman in NC at November 26, 2013 03:56 PM (YVXLf)

120 Divisive social issues That help Democrats= good Divisive social issues that help Republicans = evil

Posted by: Mr Pink at November 26, 2013 03:57 PM (c8owl)

121 Is it a day too early to bake a pie/dessert for T-day?

Posted by: [/i][/b][/u][/s] Tami at November 26, 2013 03:57 PM (bCEmE)

122 I disabled "YesScript", still no help. I'll try un-installing it. After disabling YesScript, try restarting the browser. Maybe it's a caching issue.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b] at November 26, 2013 03:57 PM (sByIH)

123 Ace: I love it when you wax poetic.

Posted by: Bookworm at November 26, 2013 03:58 PM (OCtZf)

124

>> Is it a day too early to bake a pie/dessert for T-day? <<

Pumpkin, no. Apple, yes.

Posted by: garrett at November 26, 2013 03:58 PM (q/93j)

125 "I was always a little baffled by Democrats', and the media's, and Establishment-aligned Republicans' worry about the shutdown." Wishin' and hopin' And plannin' and dreamin'

Posted by: Meremortal at November 26, 2013 03:59 PM (1Y+hH)

126 Pumpkin, no. Apple, yes. Posted by: garrett at November 26, 2013 07:58 PM (q/93j) Choc. pecan and caramel apple cheesecake bars?

Posted by: [/i][/b][/u][/s] Tami at November 26, 2013 03:59 PM (bCEmE)

127 >>> Is it a day too early to bake a pie/dessert for T-day? Call it practice. I'll help you to perfect your recipe and technique.

Posted by: fluffy at November 26, 2013 04:00 PM (Ua6T/)

128

Yeah, I would think that those should keep just fine.

Posted by: garrett at November 26, 2013 04:01 PM (q/93j)

129

I'm sure a few tweets from Sandra Fluke on Reproductive Freedom will right this boat.

Posted by: Ace at 07:07 PM

a few qweefs from Sandra Fluke should do the trick.

Posted by: burmatar at November 26, 2013 04:04 PM (x6Qp7)

130 Is it a day too early to bake a pie/dessert for T-day?
No. But keep it away from the ONT.
And Ace got a wax?

Posted by: andycanuck at November 26, 2013 04:04 PM (JlX6q)

131 From now on, "tweets" are called qweefs.

Posted by: burmatar at November 26, 2013 04:05 PM (x6Qp7)

132 >>> And Ace got a wax? A wax ...what?

Posted by: fluffy at November 26, 2013 04:05 PM (Ua6T/)

133 It's a shame that voters really did need to see what was in it first. Nancy nailed that one.

Posted by: Dave S. at November 26, 2013 04:05 PM (UvR6d)

134 Oh, oh. Is it a new DOS attack on the HQ? My "page loading" icon using Firefox is running in circles like it started out yesterday.

Posted by: andycanuck at November 26, 2013 04:06 PM (JlX6q)

135 New thread up.

Posted by: Vendette at November 26, 2013 04:07 PM (MpP9p)

136 Posted by: Democrat Strategeryist at November 26, 2013 07:50 PM (lZBBB) In all good conscience, I cannot my candidates to use negative campaign ads based on the truth! Focusing on amnesty is a positive winning strategy for us, so that's what you will see from your establishment candidates. Besides, we, and our friends across the aisle, already have the bipartisan legislation written and ready to go!

Posted by: Karl Rover at November 26, 2013 04:07 PM (XdnQT)

137 From now on, "tweets" are called qweefs. I prefer "toots".

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b] at November 26, 2013 04:07 PM (sByIH)

138 The subsamples that include white, nonwhite, men, women, age, etc all have a sampling error of +/- 8.5 percentage points.

The nonwhite vote went from 63-29 in dems favor to 68-25 in dems favor today. But with a sampling margin of error as high as that is, it may as well be 59-33 or 76-17.

Posted by: NWConservative at November 26, 2013 04:07 PM (M1gmo)

139 A poetic wax, I understand.

Posted by: andycanuck at November 26, 2013 04:07 PM (JlX6q)

140 If my fiance's lib brother and sister and law dare try using those talking points from Dear Leader, I'm going to do a demonstration of my own and illustrate the redistributive effects of the law with the cheesecake we're bringing.

Posted by: Dave S. at November 26, 2013 04:08 PM (UvR6d)

141 What, at this point, does it matter ?

Posted by: sock-rat-eez at November 26, 2013 04:10 PM (+jyzN)

142 Ok, thanks garrett!

Posted by: [/i][/b][/u][/s] Tami at November 26, 2013 04:11 PM (bCEmE)

143 Even the worst of the polls indicate better than one out of three people approve of Obama and Obamacare. I find that inexplicable and frightening.

Posted by: whoever at November 26, 2013 04:24 PM (yUY1h)

144 "There's a medical practice in FL suing over the scattershot and lawless implementation...could end up as a class as it moves forward." Oh goody. The lawyers will get $10 billion (+ expenses) while the people each get $0.98 .

Posted by: whoever at November 26, 2013 04:27 PM (yUY1h)

145 Both parties and most of the public seem convinced that banning insurance companies from considering pre-existing conditions is the right and most holy thing to do, so insurance will continue to be very expensive from now on.

Posted by: whoever at November 26, 2013 04:59 PM (yUY1h)

146 Gotta let this stinking O-Care pot stew a bit longer. Wait until main street folks with O-Care start to get their hours and/or wages cut because of a slowing economy. Then find out that O-Care keeps sucking it's regular premiums right out of their fast dwindling bank account...

It's gonna get better by the day... Just not for the Ocrats...

Posted by: Seipherd at November 26, 2013 06:14 PM (AortR)

147 Yea, the GOP gets to go after icky birth control pills.

The media will make sure it's people who think birth control should be legal vs those that don't, and we'll of course get a helping hand from idiot SoCons from the Santorum/Cuccinelli wing of the party that truly does want to outlaw birth control.

Posted by: Uniden at November 26, 2013 06:20 PM (pS6g3)

148 The neo-Birchers really want to lose our chance at the Senate, don't they?

I know this risks me getting in trouble with Ace, but please, please don't read Breitbart. The people who run it now are complete clowns. Matthew Boyle has been caught lying several times. It's ridiculous.

Posted by: Shoot Me at November 26, 2013 07:39 PM (qiXMt)

149 "And those cancellations, and the following days of sticker shock, are currently slated to begin before the midterms (though if I were a betting man, I'd bet everything that Obama will delay this)." Ah, he can delay the deadline, but he can't really force the insurance companies to wait for the deadline. I'd lay bank that they bite him in the ass and send the notices out a couple of weeks before the election. It's too late for effective retaliation then.

Posted by: Auntie M at November 26, 2013 10:06 PM (AIC5Z)

150 The Republicans up only two in this inexplicable, shocking, astonishing trainwreck of an administration? I have no words. I tried. This is the worst thing I've ever heard.

Posted by: Lisa at November 27, 2013 04:17 AM (htpIa)

151 "voters who are personally less concerned about health insurance and health care"

Yeah, right. I guess I'm "less concerned" about health insurance. I'm concerned, just not in the way you want me to be.

Posted by: Dang at November 27, 2013 06:09 AM (YWXTN)

152

Thinking out loud/idle speculation. Do you think it is likely that ObamaCare is ultimately a defacto single payor? Decree most individual policies non-compliant and extinguish them. Decree most compliant policies [except the ones held by cronies] as Cadillac Plans and tax the hell out of them, leaving Obama exchanges as the only place to obtain health insurance without paying a "JR" [which is a penalty that is inaccurately designated a "tax" for Supreme Court purposes].

Furthermore, what is the impact of throwing a good number of people on Medicaid [and maybe moving lots of Medicare "folks" to Medicaid]? My state has expanded the income eligibility for Medicaid. However, there is no change to "estate recovery" provisions for Medicaid which state that if the state pays for your health care it has a lien against your estate when you die. So if you are on limited income but own your house and then shipped into Medicaid, guess what: the State takes your house to pay for your subsidized healthcare. There are restrictions on "transfers without consideration" which may lead to criminal prosecution of those who you attempt to give it to prior to imposition of the lien. In other words, the State forces you to borrow money from it and then recoups it when you die. Jokes on you. And its not an estate tax, mind you; it's just business.

Posted by: The Poster Formerly Known as Mr. Barky at November 27, 2013 09:26 AM (OPzNA)

153 Yeah as Stalin said it doesn't matter what the vote is, it matters who counts the votes. And there are far more dead Democrat voters than you can ever imaine. And they vote suckers.

Posted by: Veritas at November 28, 2013 02:17 PM (UOONO)

Hide Comments | Add Comment | Refresh | Top

Comments are disabled. Post is locked.

154kb generated in CPU 0.0325, elapsed 0.2756 seconds.
64 queries taking 0.2512 seconds, 281 records returned.
Powered by Minx 1.1.6c-pink.