Repeal and replace... (and recycle!)

"Repeal and replace will be the slogan for the fall," McConnell said in an interview on John King, USA.
CNN

So the mantra for the fall is revealed. This is perhaps breaking news. Now that you've heard the news, straight from Sen. McConnell's mouth, let's have a little bit of discussion about it... and then, you, the reader, don't have ANY reason to watch the news, yet alone Republicans for that matter. Because you and I know that if this is really what Republicans are going for, then they will shove it down the American people's throats like there's no tomorrow. Now for a more or less substantive talk about this slogan:

This is a really problematic slogan. Sure, it has two 'r's in it, but both of the ideas that they're advocating are nonsensical and ridiculous. I guess the ultimate goal of this midterm election would be to oust the Democratic Party completely from any and all seats they hold, and then immediately repeal the bill just signed into law. This is a very bleak possibility and would certainly exacterbate the growing tensions in the US between reform and conservatism. The country is polarized as it is, and this slogan is only going to increase the divide between Republicans and Dems. It's a slap in the face to have a bill immediately repealed, especially after a year. It'd be the death of Barack Obama's presidency. This notion is an affront to the progress accomplished so far and convinces me that all Republicans want to do is drag their knuckles and spout off about how the Dems are a bunch of "baby killers".

Moreover, it's untenable to really believe that repealing the bill is somehow possible. Unless something huge goes down and public opinion radically shifts (knock on wood), the Democrats will almost certainly retain a majority in at least one of the houses, making the possibility to repeal the bill close to nil. Additionally, Barack Obama will still be President, so any legislation they manage to put on his desk will be promptly cast off with contempt. Barack will be like, "Get that s*** offa my desk!" And everyone will film it. And Conservatives won't have the 2/3rds required to override the bill.

Furthermore, what would one want to repeal the bill for anyway? For one thing, the bill just did a whole lot of good in this world. It immediately eliminated pre-existing condition discrimination by healthcare companies against children, which is a very messed up practice if you ask me. It allows people under the age of 26 to stay on their parents' health plans. It will eliminate pre-existing condition discrimination for all, and it will probably save money and reduce the deficit if you believe the Congressional Budget Office. And Republicans want to repeal all this. Does the GOP think it's okay to discriminate against people and not offer them a health plan because they have an illness? So, it's okay to do that to children? Obviously conservatives must believe that we must continue being slaves to the healthcare companies, who rob us of our money for things we had no control over (being sick), and screw us over by dropping us when we become sick? These are things that are not consistent with the way I want my country to be run. This is corporate-run America, ladies and gentlemen, and I'm hearing the crybabies demanding like children that we return to it. "MAMA I WANT IT BACK GIMME IT!!"

I suppose I'll touch a little upon the word "replace" as well. My first impression was that they wanted to replace the POTUS, the President of the United States. Upon further reflection, it must be about replacing the Congresspeople who voted for the health care package. But the sentiment is still there--the President did this country a wrong and he, too, should be "replaced." In this three-word statement there exists a great deal of latent animosity, hidden behind those words. They might as well say their slogan is "Socialist and Abortionist", because I, for one, can detect the sentiment behind those words, and what they really mean to conservatives. These are not things that people normally say right after legislation is passed, even controversial legislation. This slogan does a great job of portraying how damn riled up they are. And it's going to cost them, too. People make all the wrong decisions when they're mad, even Republican strategists. This slogan was obviously constructed out of fear and anger, and they're going to use and abuse these tactics day in and day out for the past six months, in hopes that they can convince a few more idiots that "Barack's a damn Socialist! (And BABY KILLAH!)"

Upon even further consideration, I can see them using this slogan to further co-opt the Tea Party Movement. They want to "repeal" a lot of things, including Barack's package. It's so funny to think of these organizations as distinct entities anyway. It's interesting because the Teabaggers were financed by Fox News from the start. I know that there are some Libertarians and people who call themselves Libertarian in the movement as well, but the way that these rallies are politicized on TV serves to suit the Republican Party. This is because of the way that Fox News has power over these protests from the get-go. They pump enormous amounts of money into the Tea Party Movement by hosting rallies across the country. Fox advertises on its shows that their anchors will speak at these Tea Party rallies (bias? what bias?). And then they bring out their cameras to film their people talking at these rallies, making all the points that Fox News has told them to make. And to top it all off, they broadcast precisely edited clips of these rallies on the show, and broadcast them 24/7. (Some call that news, I call it 21st Century propaganda). Parting shot: the Tea Party was once an interesting objection to the government excessively controlling our lives, but the fools at Fox News have muddied the waters to the point where they have completely co-opted the Tea Party's discourse. They are using the Tea Party protesters to shout obscenities and slurs at minorities and gays in Congress. They are using the Tea Party to incite violence and nothing else.

Republicans are going to milk the healthcare issue for the next couple of months, probably spread some more false rumors about some supposed ill effects of the bill somehow already manifesting themselves (even though most of it hasn't gone into effect, LOL), and pretty much fuss around Washington fuming and saying Nay and No to progress. Being out of power is a real bitch, eh?