The Liberal Democrats misuse of Parliamentary Procedures

The year was 1994 and President Clinton was trying to get his health care reform bill passed through Congress. In the beginning, the public supported his and Hillary’s health care reform. It sounded good on paper. At the time, the Senate like the House was controlled by Democrats. The Democrats held a 14 seat majority in the Senate (57 Democrats; 43 Republicans). In the House, the Democrats held 258 seats to the Republican’s 176, with one Independent.

Once the Clinton administration announced that 40 percent of insured Americans would pay more in health care premiums, public support began to fade. Members of Clinton’s own party ran from “HillaryCare.” This left the president and democrats in the Senate no choice but to use reconciliation if they wanted the president’s legislation passed.

The Senate would be stopped from voting on the bill by the “conscience of the Senate”, Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV). Senator Byrd said that the health care plan “was out of bounds for a process that is theoretically about budgets.” Hmm, perhaps Obama and Reid should listen to him. If the only way Democrats can pass their nationalized health care bill is to use a measure reserved for budgetary items only, then they should rethink the bill altogether. Senator Byrd also stated that “using reconciliation to expedite health-care reform would be an outrage that must be resisted.” Apparently no one is listening to him.

The democrats are correct that reconciliation has been used and used by both parties. Of course, they are just rambling off their talking points about when Republicans have used it, not when they have used it. For those that don't know, the primary and only use for reconciliation is for the “consideration of a contentious budget bill;” the operative word there being budget. Reconciliation is not meant to be used to pass any type of “comprehensive, rational overhaul” especially one that will affect 1/6 if the economy.

When former President Clinton met with Senate Democrats in 2009, he told them that the reason they lost the Senate in November 1994 was because they didn’t pass his legislation. WRONG. The reason the democrats lost their majority was because Americans weren't too keen on the nationalization of health care and there was growing concern among Independents and “soft partisans” about the amount of government spending and the rising national debt (sound familiar).

In comparing Obama’s desire to take over health care to that of Clinton, The Economist of London observed “Not since Franklin Roosevelt’s War Production Board has it been suggested that so large a part of the American economy should suddenly be brought under government control.”

Democrats tried and failed in making their case for nationalized health care. They had 60 votes in the Senate and the 218 needed in the House. As time went on, Americans increased their opposition to the Senate and House bills and now to the Obama bill because all three cost too much and force individuals to purchase coverage.

The administration and Congress have decided to ignore the will of the people. If the Democrats want to try again and use reconciliation to pass a bill that is highly opposed by the American people, let’em. It’s the equivalent of committing political suicidal. According to Speaker Pelosi, she is willing to give them the rope to hang themselves.

Obama’s first year in office – a missed opportunity

Instead of listening to the American people whose focus in 2009 was the economy and jobs, this president decided to spend his first year on health care. Because as he said, seven presidents have tried and failed in getting health care legislation passed and he was bound to make history and be the last. Forget about the millions who lost jobs in 2009, he focused on what he wanted and in return...

Missed an opportunity;

The elections of Republican governors to New Jersey and Virginia aren't anything new. Virginia has for the most part been a red state and every once in awhile New Jersey elects a Republican to lead them. But again, this president didn't listen to the voters. Instead, the White House reported that he didn't even watch the returns and brushed the results off stating that they had nothing to do with him. President Clinton brushed of the New Jersey and Virginia Republican gubernatorial wins in 1993 and he lost his majority in November 1994. It appears President Obama…

Missed an opportunity;

The election of Senator-elect Scott Brown in Massachusetts should have been a wake up call to President Obama. The state was electing someone to fill a seat held by a democrat for more than 50 years. In the bay state, Democrats out number Republicans 3 to 1 and Independents out number Democrats 2 to 1 so the White House should listen to the voters. Like in 1994, Independents tried to tell the Democratic Party that they weren't happy with their tax and spend policy and their desire to take over the health care system. This special election was an opportunity Bill Clinton didn't have in 1994. It appears President Obama….

Missed an opportunity;

Many pundits thought that with his party losing in MA the president would have no choice but to move to the center. But his State of the Union speech showed us that he won't give up trying to change the tone of Washington and continue to use liberalism as a way to separate America. During his address, he scolded Democrats, Republicans, Washington, the Supreme Court and the American people. Since his election, he has talked to the American people as if they were school children. The "we know what is best for you" attitude isn't cutting it with voters. We might as well have all been sent to after school detention. It appears President Obama...

Missed an opportunity;

When Obama campaigned for president, he promised hope and change. After one year, the “change-agent-in-chief” is showing us he has nothing to offer but more of the same. Back doors deals with democratic senators in order to get their vote and deals with union leaders in order to get their support, just to get his agenda passed. With a super majority, he could have taken the high road and worked with the opposition party. Instead he decided to tell them to get out of the way. He told them during the summer that he didn't' want the people who created this mess to do a lot of talking, just get out of the way. It appears President Obama…

Missed an opportunity.

A year ago the nation handed him a super majority and skyrocketing approval ratings. After one year, his approval ratings have plummeted and his super majority decided to not become “yes men” to his agenda. On top of that, he let far left groups such as Apollo Alliance write major legislation like the stimulus bill. When Bill Clinton lost his majority in 1994, he rolled toward the center. He knew there would be “painful compromises” with Speaker Gingrich and his party. But some of Bill Clinton’s most successful legislation (welfare reform in 1996 and balanced budget legislation in 1997) came about when he worked with the Republican Party.

According to Rep. Marion Berry, democrat from Arkansas, the president told him that the Democrats in Congress have one advantage they didn't have in 1994, the president himself. When the Democrats lose control of the House and the Senate is split 50/50, will the president miss another opportunity?