Back in July, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to file a historically unprecedented lawsuit against President Obama for delaying Obamacare's employer mandate. But months have since passed, with no news that a lawsuit has been drawn up or filed. There's been some speculation that Speaker John Boehner was intentionally slow-walking the process until after the election, not wanting to jeopardize the party's potential Senate gains by reviving headlines of House GOP overreach.
This week, however, Politico's Josh Gerstein and Maggie Haberman reported that Boehner's actually been having serious problems even finding a law firm willing to file the suit — two have tentatively signed on, and then gotten cold feet. Originally, attorney David Rivkin — who crafted the unique legal arguments Boehner used to justify the suit — was supposed to draw up the suit itself. But his firm, Baker Hostetler, pulled out. More recently, Bill Burck of the firm Quinn Emanuel was also tentatively hired, until similarly backing away.
Of course John Boehner does not actually want to sue the President.
The lawsuit is just a bone that Boehner threw to the rabid Right Wing to keep them from pushing Congress to impeach Obama. Which Boehner knew would, number one fail, and number two energize the liberal base making it almost impossible for the Republicans to hang on to closely contested seats in this election cycle.
However, and this is what we need to keep in mind, IF the Republicans gain control of the Senate there is literally nothing holding them back from actually attempting to impeach the President, dismantling Obamacare, and undoing many of the President's most important policies.
That is why it is beyond critical for all of us to show up and vote at the polls.
If we think things are bad now, we are in for a very rude awakening once the Republicans get a lock on power in Washington.
Talk about a 'lock on power'...check out this info on the 'dark money' being spent in the last months of this election cycle:
ReplyDeletehttp://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/republicans-winning-dark-money-spending
And, here is part of an on-going effort at Mother Jones to shine light onto the 'dark money' phenomena of the Koch Brothers, in particular:
Deletehttp://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/11/koch-brothers-web-influence
The House already has enough votes to bring formal charges against the President. That's the actual impeachment, but then the charges have to be brought before the Senate
ReplyDeletefor the acquittal or guilty verdict on each charge.
The House only has to have a simple majority to bring charges but the Senate has to have 2/3 or 67 Senators vote guilty on each of the charges . If they don't get those 67 votes
it's the same thing as an acquittal.
You need to read Stonekettle Station and relax!
ReplyDeleteThey cannot dismantle Obamacare (it's law!) as they'd screw Americans (millions) that are already enjoying its benefits - which include Republicans, Independents and Democrats.
ReplyDeleteA lack of intelligence on their part means they would most certainly try. There is very little "they cannot" do if the votes are there.
DeleteAs for it being law, that can be altered by them if they have the votes. Hell, we've even revoked an Amendment!
And they really don't give a DAMN about who would be hurt if they did dismantle the ACA.
The Republicans can't find a law firm to sue President Obama? That's an easy fix, just use the same law firm Sarah Palin is using to impeach President Obama.
ReplyDeleteThere are sanctions for attorneys for frivolous lawsuits, both $ penalties (liability for attorneys' fees incurred by the other side) and ethical ones. I can't imagine any major law firm (or any ethical lawyer) taking on this baseless lawsuit.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe impeaching the President (even successfully)* means that laws which he signed are therefore no longer the law of the land.
ReplyDeleteThey would be dealing with a seriously pissed off President Biden who I believe would joyfully and happily take pleasure in doing every single thing he could to maintain President Obama's legacy, especially the "BFD" that is the ACA. Think back to his happy, happy, shark-like smile during the VP debate as he chewed up Ryan and scattered bits of him around the stage while laughing in his face.
That being said, why have two years of republicans wasting time and millions of dollars and trying to destroy the country if we possibly can avoid it?
VOTE!
*67 senators voting in favor? Please.
"...IF the Republicans gain control of the Senate there is literally nothing holding them back from actually attempting to impeach the President, dismantling Obamacare, and undoing many of the President's most important policies."
ReplyDeleteNothing except the Constitution.
It would be almost impossible for them to do anything in the way of forcing the repeal of anything that has been passed already, even if they do take control of both houses of Congress.
ANYTHING that is passed by the Congress can be vetoed by the sitting president. Once that happens it takes a 2/3's vote of the present members OF BOTH HOUSES to override the veto!
Can you even imagine a veto proof Congress? It would mean they would have to control 291 seats in the House (which would mean they would have to gain almost 50 seats!) and 67 in the Senate! THEN they would have to have every last Repube willing to vote in favor of over-ride. Possible? Yes. Likely? Hell no.
I read on Politicususa (sorry don't have the link), that Mr.Knucklehead is now going to use attorneys that work in the house to sue. Therefore we the taxpayers are paying for his third attempt.
ReplyDeleteYou know it's bad when the ambulance chasers know you're beyond crazy. Time to get drunk, catch up on your tanning machine, and have a good cry. LOL He didn't even have an exit plan and relied on the democrats to craft a "Plan B". Starting to make Sarah look sane by comparison!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete