The Quiet Conservative 03/12/2010
Crossing the Rubicon
The term “Crossing the Rubicon” means the point of no turning back. It derives from when Julius
Caesar crossed the Rubicon River separating Italy from Gaul. By crossing this river in 49 B.C. with his
legion, he violated Roman law and started a civil war.
We are at another Rubicon. Despite the fierce opposition of the American people, the Socialists in
Congress and the administration (including the president), are forcing through health care legislation
regardless of consequences or legalities. At this Rubicon they realize that if they can cross it, there is
little chance of it being rolled back. They can restructure, in one move, one sixth of the economy and
destroy personal freedom for all. That is too tempting a chance to remake America from a nation of
free individuals to subjects dependent on the state.
Promoted as the “will of the people” and “reform” it is anything but. It is a naked grab for power that
will strip individual choice in health care and destroy the health insurance industry. But, is that such a
bad thing? Haven’t you seen on the news the protesters ranting against runaway insurance company
profits? Just like when the same rent a mobs were used against the oil companies? Have you stopped
to notice that all the signs are professionally done and many are wearing the same pre-printed t-shirts
over their clothing? The very gall of the press and Democratic leaders to call real citizens groups
“Astro-turf” and their own hired stooges the real grassroots, doesn't just smack of Soviet era tactics,
they are Soviet era tactics. The Left needs an enemy. They need to have a bad guy to blame so they
can move their agenda forward. You have seen those they have targeted: “The evil oil companies” or
“Wall Street” or “Bankers” or “Insurance Company Execs” or even the vast "Right Wing". By giving
people someone to hate, they marginalize the opposition to their conquests.
The press loves the advance of Socialism and has promoted it constantly with propaganda instead of
news. How widely has Senator Dick Durbin’s admission gone that instead of reducing the average
health insurance premiums for the average family, they are going to increase? The Democrats know
this. They have no intention of reducing the burden on you, they intend to subject you. But have you
read this in the local paper? Seen it on the local news? You will either be losing your current health
insurance or be forced to pay a huge increase in premiums for reduced services. Bon Appétit.
Meanwhile, the press lionizes the new fake “coffee parties” the same way they vehemently denounced
the true tea party spirit of the unconnected, but patriotic, Americans that were protesting this hostile
takeover of America. With the lying press leading, the Marxists in the legislature are pulling out all the
stops to get this going by hook or by crook. They have even rolled the nationalization of student loans
into the mix hoping that by piling in as much as they can they can make us all choke it down. The
more mixed and convoluted the mess, the more cover they create by allowing the Democratic
Congressman to say: “I voted for some of it, but not all of it. Especially, the part that bothers you,
the voter, here at election time.” I would have infinitely more respect for these Marxists if they just
pulled out the red flag with the hammer and sickle on it and flew it behind Speaker Pelosi’s podium in
place of the American flag. At least they would be honest in their evil machinations. The press would
also be more respectable if they simply put PRAVDA on their banners and allowed the White House to
dictate their content. Although, with the number of journalists that suddenly quit their old jobs to join
the White House after the inauguration, that is exactly what might be happening.
By next week the Socialists think they can hold the vote. These anti-freedom activists do not know if
they have enough votes, or fear they don’t, so they are trying to see if they can do it by another
means. The new tactic being floated is the “Slaughter Rule.” The House Rules Committee Chair,
Louise Slaughter (D NY), is trying to say that they can just declare the bill as passed as they have
already passed one version of the House bill. They can deem the Senate bill “passed” and then vote
on a compromise measure to reconcile the House bill to the Senate bill.
Louise Slaughter is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. This is the caucus in
Congress dedicated to the advancement of Socialism in Congress. Founded by avowed Socialist
Bernie Sanders (D. VT), now US Senator Sanders, the Congressional Progressive Caucus is now the
largest Democratic Caucus in the House. Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, was a CPC
member until she resigned all caucus positions to take up the Speaker’s job. No wonder Slaughter is
her ‘go to’ gal. The idea received the backing of Lynn Woolsey (D CA), the CPC co-chair, so this has
the backing of the rest of the Socialists. This would avoid the bloodbath of cramming through a bill
that the people hate, but the Socialists see as the brass ring. The theory is, that by election time the
people will become distracted enough and the press will have lied and vilified the Republicans enough,
that any outrage will be diffused and the Democrats can remain in charge.
The only thing that stands in the way of simply declaring the bill passed and sending it up to the
President is the Constitution... Oh, that shouldn't be a snag. The President has portrayed himself as
something of a Constitutional scholar. He probably can recite the part of how un-Constitutional the bill
would be as he signs it into law. It goes like this:
“All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate
may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.” Article 1. Section 7. Clause 1.
I am almost embarrassed to say it, but that cut and paste of the Constitution came from the United
States House of Representative’s web site. Perhaps Congressperson Slaughter hasn't gotten around
to scrubbing the document from the site yet. Progressives have a long proud tradition extending back
to Stalin of making things disappear that do not coincide with the wishes of the State. She must simply
be distracted with the brilliance of the Slaughter Rule and hasn't gotten around to contacting the web
master yet.
To be Constitutional the bill must first originate in the House. Yet this isn't what happened. The
Senate bill is different than the House. The House must pass the Senate bill. Then there is the
promise of compromise afterward (Yea, right.) Does anyone think that once the Senate bill got passed
and was sent to the President to sign, the Marxists wouldn't move on to destroying the energy sector or
jobs? Here is the rub. If it was that easy they would have already done it. They know they are doing
something wrong. The question is whether they feel they can get away with it.
Not that Constitutionality is deemed an impediment to this legislation. The bill itself is flatly
unconstitutional. As a scholar the President must know this. So why is he promoting it so hard?
Because he cares no more for that antiquated document called the Constitution than he does the people
it protects. He won’t define when life begins. He won’t defend the right to life. He won’t defend the
elderly, the sick, private property, the nation’s defense, etc. He wants this passed because it is
permanent power for Socialism. Control a person’s health care and you can threaten him, his family,
and with the criminal provisions, his job and his home.
But in crossing this Rubicon, what die has been caste? When Caesar crossed the Rubicon the civil war
that was set off found him victorious. Obama is no Caesar. Crossing this Rubicon may very well spell
the end of his party and Socialism in America. At least if I have anything to do with it. Nationalized
health care is tyranny, and America doesn't submit to tyranny.