Sighingly, I have to say that for many Republican politicians, that’s the part of the meme they either forget or wish that WE would forget. However, more and more, the utter disdain and the [political] sins that many of the Republican “leadership” have participated in are, as Rev “G-D America” Wright used to say, coming home to roost. Nationally, we see the outsiders (e.g., Trump, Cruz, Carson) far outstripping the Establishment approved Prez candidates. The base is ignoring what the Party bosses want us to do. Why?
They’ve shown that they take the base for granted. “Support the Party – look what the Dems have done” – and then vote to raise the national debt, and support other Obama policies (right, Kelly Ayotte). “Vote for us, we Conservative Republicans” – and then pass Medicaid Expansion (right, Jeb Bradley?). Speaking of supporting Obamacare’s Medicaid Expansion, Democrat appointed NH Speaker of the House Shawn Jasper is now showing that he is truly bought and paid for; from the UL (reformatted, emphasis mine):
Reauthorizing the NH Health Protection Program or Medicaid expansion is one of the top issues for the upcoming session. Medicaid expansion is also the first salvo in the already-begun race for House Speaker, even though the general election is nearly a year away. Rep. Laurie Sanborn, R-Bedford…is campaigning for the House’s top post, although House Speaker Shawn Jasper has already said he will seek to maintain the title.
On Friday she said a number of people have approached her about running for the Speaker’s post. “A number of people are concerned about the Speaker’s policy positions,” Sanborn said. “If you want a conservative liberty oriented representative who shows respect for everyone in the House, I would be that candidate.”
OK, a race that many expected. But on what? The front end of this post’s title is “Winning is a precursor”; a necessary but certainly not the main point from the base’s standpoint. What good is it to back a Republican that will then turn around and stab you in the back (politically)? And note – we ALL know what that is – refusing to back what the base wants. What does it want? That’s simple:
VOTE THE FREAKING PLATFORM, MORONS!
Sorry, had to get that little bit of Trump out. But I scream lightly – others will and ARE using much shorter words with much earthier connotations. And this Speaker race may swing on that – what is it that has been promised? Consider yourself served, Jasper:
…Wednesday, in an email to members of the House Republican caucus, Sanborn asked Jasper to call the caucus together to discuss Medicaid expansion. She reminded Jasper that the caucus’ legislative agenda includes ending Medicaid expansion, as does the state Republican Party platform.
And the Establishment wonders why the outsiders in the Prez race are doing so well? This IS the point of the spear of contention – if you promise, if the Party states, you ought to vote in that way. People are mad, people are angry, and Republicans are walking away. If our elected Representatives REFUSE to hew to Republican Principles and instead, SUPPORT the Democrat agenda items, what good are they?
Sanborn is exactly on point and exactly articulating the question the base keeps asking: WHY are you doing this, Jasper? WHY would you chance alienating a sufficient number of Republican leaning voters by voting like a Democrat on such a singular issue? Is that your desired outcome? Is losing what you actually want?
“There are rumors floating around that you have committed to members of the Senate and to the House Democrat caucus that you would be advocating for the re-authorization of Medicaid Expansion. I certainly hope this is not the case,” Sanborn wrote. “Yesterday, at a NH Forum event, I personally heard Senator (Chuck) Morse and Senator Molly Kelly both say that you were in agreement with their initiatives in 2016, which specifically includes Medicaid Expansion.”
Reached by phone, Sanborn noted that some reliable sources have said Jasper has told Democrats he will advocate for reauthorization.
I’ve railed against all of the NH State Republican Senators for supporting Obama in this. Certainly, the Chair of the Republican Party, Jennifer Horn, REFUSES to defend her own Party’s Platform, lending more credence to the phrase “not a dime’s difference between”. So what does that say about either her willingness to stand up for what is right? Or is she in cahoots with this cabal of craven connivers?
And remember, it is not always NOT what politicians say but what they refuse to say:
Jasper called the email political and said it was Sanborn’s way of trying to “get some traction” for her run for Speaker. He said he has no intentions of calling a Republican caucus to discuss Medicaid expansion at this point.
First off, Jasper, EVERYTHING in the NH House, in the NH Legislature, is political. That’s the definition of what you do down in Concord, so why waste your breathe on a throw-away line? Oh yeah, to set up the deflection:
“We’re in the middle of the drug task force,” Jasper said, “to talk about a bill that has not been heard or looked at in any way is a waste of time.” Jasper and Senate President Morse have said the priority is legislation dealing with the state’s opioid epidemic and passing those bills quickly so they can go to Gov. Maggie Hassan for consideration.
Yeah, let’s just keep spending more money not in the budget and expand Government in more ways – the new Republican way as defined by our R Overlords. “Always believe what we say in campaigning and ignore what we do” is the new Party watchword?
The hypocrisy is absolutely astounding. And “get” this little snippet of solipsism – that old “holes, trucks” thang:
“We’ve got to get through this issue with (the) task force first,” Jasper said. “I’ve made it very clear there will be no Medicaid expansion with state funds. Certainly, there is nothing I’m supporting involving new state dollars.” When the Legislature and Hassan approved the state budget in October, Jasper appeared to soften a bit on Medicaid expansion, which he said should end when he took over as Speaker. He said he opposed asking New Hampshire taxpayers to pay for the program.
Calling Obama and Jeanne Shaheen?? You know, the ones that funded Planned Parenthood after the Exec Council refused to fund them? Hey, sport, NH taxpayers ALREADY are paying for this – we’re also FEDERAL taxpayers. But that’s just a nasty aspect to this whole tap-dance, isn’t it? And the Feds 100% funding stops in a year – so what’s the plan, Stan, on filling that money bucket?
Will it be by underfunding current programs? Or will it be by actually cutting unnecessary programs? Or if you tell me there are no unnecessary programs, are you, the rest of your Jaspercrats, and the Dems willing to ax lower priority programs?
Of course not – your raising of the drug task force, according to many thinkers in the R base, is just the camel’s nose for agreeing (oh, with much wailing and rending of other peoples’ sackcloth) to broadbased taxes. For you see, none of us out here believe you are cut from the same cloth as Bill O’Brien with respect to backbone, Principles, smarts, and a willingness to do the right thing. We all believe that you ARE for Medicaid Expansion – all you’re doing is looking for the right manner in which to implement that which your Dem masters desire.
Yay – way to help the Governor become the Senator by just GIVING Hassan a big ole kiss up.
“If there is a way to continue with a trigger mechanism that does not cost taxpayers anything,” Jasper said Friday, “we ought to have a serious discussion about something like that.”
Right – now we’re back to that “morons” word. Please, don’t patronize us or try to pat us on the head. TANSTAFFL – There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch and it works for everything other than lunches. EVERYTHING that government does costs taxpayers (else, there’d be no taxpayers). You already know there ARE no triggers and that NOTHING about Medicaid Expansion is free (except for those receiving it but based on the growing number of docs no longer accepting Medicaid patients, we appreciate the new Ponzi scheme. Or is this another play on that old Soviet joke (paraphrased) of “they make believed they paid us, we make believed we worked”.
“A Republican House caucus would be very helpful, so that we can have an open discussion BEFORE any Medicaid expansion bills are heard in the House or Senate,” wrote Sanborn in her email. “I would very much like to see all House Republicans united in their opposition to re-authorization of Medicaid Expansion in any form.”
Bringing a Big Flashlight to dark corners. Put them on point, on notice, and in the spotlight. After all, why does Jasper hate openness and transparency?
