I Triple Dog Dare You

Who created the game of Chicken? Do you think it was a couple of cavemen who thought it would be funny to run full speed at each other and see who flinched? Or maybe the origins aren't quite that ancient. Maybe it was in Rome with gladiators and the lions. Wherever it started, I think that we can all agree that it is not a game that should be played between the President of the United States and the American public.

Today, President Obama mocked talk of repealing the healthcare bill in a speech in Iowa. In his prepared remarks he said, "They’re actually going to run on a platform of repeal in November. You’ve been hearing that. And my attitude is: Go for it. " That of course was followed by applause by the University of Iowa crowd. My question is Mr President, did you hear the thunderous roar outside of the arena? That was the barrage of the American public as you once again pooh-pooh their will and their convictions.

Already in the past 48 hours, the Attorneys General for 14 states have filed suit against the healthcare bill. There are at least 25 other states considering the same types of litigation. That's 39 states. The last time I looked three quarters of fifty is 38. Sixty-eight percent of people think that the quality of healthcare will either stay the same or worsen once this legislation is enacted. Seventy-six percent of the American public think that the cost of healthcare will stay the same or be raised. Seems to me that the majority of the American people are probably not going to be terribly thrilled when the IRS is charged with monitoring healthcare policies every month and probably less thrilled when they realize that even the immediate benefits that have been touted (lifting of pre-existing condition provisions for children and coverage limits) don't and won't actually go into effect until 2011.

So is it really a stretch to think that the (dare I say 3/4) majority of the country might be a little angry at the big government takeover of the healthcare system. I don't know if repeal is possible. I don't know if de-funding of the bill is the answer. What I do know is that throwing down a challenge to the people of the greatest country in the world is probably not the best idea unless you are ready for the fight of your life. Anyone remember the mood after September 11? We're pretty easily rallied when we're threatened.

So here it is, the President has dared us to fight. Well Mr. President, okay, I triple dog dare you. Now watch us go. Make sure the Secret Service has some hot water and gauze before you put your tongue on the flagpole.

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Is it red or blue?

A memo was issued by the OMB (Office of Management & Budget) informing all Federal agencies of a US District Court ruling that in essence found that the Congressional blocking of funding to ACORN was unconstitutional. This memo tells the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Treasury, Commerce, and Defense, and the Environmental Protection Agency that the previous ruling has been overturned which one would intimate opens the doors for ACORN funding to be reinstated immediately. With all due respect, what?!?!?!?

Let me get this straight. ACORN, an organization shown to have a less than stellar record of playing by the rules, is about to get their funding back at just the moment when its been reported that they are folding. A Fox News story quotes ACORN spokesman Kevin Whelan saying, "It's really declining revenue in the face of a series of attacks from partisan operatives and right-wing activists that have taken away our ability to raise the resources we need." Well how convenient that, in the wake of healthcare passing and everyone's focus shifted to the "historic" events, this agency so beneficial to the President's election has regained funding in the nick of time to save themselves.

Do not be fooled when the ACORN spokespeople say that they are shutting down, the most important of all offices have already taken steps to distance themselves from the news media scrutiny. The New York and California ACORN offices broke away earlier this year by changing their names in hopes to salvage the outside funding that they receive. I am sure though that in the name changing process that they made sure to keep in their charters the ability to receive the Federal funding due under the original name.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the President continues to surround (rather than distance) himself with people and organizations that are champions in the art of getting what they want by any means necessary. The President himself stated (in an interview last week) that, " I don't spend a lot of time worrying about what the procedural rules are in the House or the Senate." No Mr President, I don't think you do spend a lot of time worrying about rules. Now. Because as is evidenced with your 129 "present" votes in the Illinois state Senate, I believe that you spent years learning the rules so that you would no longer have to "worry" about them. The idea that you were okay with the "deem it passed" scenario for healthcare is further evidence that you are well aware of the rules and how to use them to reach your end game.

All of this being said, the biggest slap in the face of the OMB's memo reinstating ACORN funding has to be the line "Federal agencies are hereby advised that the District Court has declared the above-listed legislative provisions unconstitutional". Great, its unconstitutional to block funding to a corrupt organization but its totally okay to tell private companies how they must operate and to force the American people to buy a product that they do not want.

Excuse me but is it the red pill or the blue one that will get me out of this wonderland?

(Feel free to email the author at stephanie@vpmedia.com)