Apologies for having to use the WallStreetJournal as a source, as they think principled conservatives are all hobbits up to shenanigans (yeah, I caught that 'antics' reference). However, Strassel's piece does capture the hypocrisy of the Left. Now, had folks within the establishment channels gotten behind Cruz/Lee's principled defund effort (or even the delay effort), Republicans could have owned this, instead of Democrats coming to the rescue of themselves (a preferred media narrative, just as the promise that the website will be fixed by the end of November). Strategies, guys...Principle will provide it.WSJ: Jeanne Shaheen doesn't sound like a Democrat who just won a government-shutdown "victory." Ms. Shaheen sounds like a Democrat who thinks she's going to lose her job.
The New Hampshire senator fundamentally altered the health-care fight on Tuesday with a letter to the White House demanding it both extend the ObamaCare enrollment deadline and waive tax penalties for those unable to enroll. Within nanoseconds, Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor had endorsed her "common-sense idea." By Wednesday night, five Senate Democrats were on board, pushing for . . . what's that dirty GOP word? Oh, right. "Delay."
After 16 long days of vowing to Republicans that they would not cave in any way, shape or form on ObamaCare, Democrats spent their first post-shutdown week caving in every way, shape and form. With the GOP's antics now over, the only story now is the unrivaled disaster that is the president's health-care law.
Hundreds of thousands of health-insurance policies canceled. Companies dumping coverage and cutting employees' hours. Premiums skyrocketing. And a website that reprises the experience of a Commodore 64. As recently as May, Democratic consultants were advising members of Congress that their best ObamaCare strategy for 2014 was to "own" the law. Ms. Shaheen has now publicly advised the consultants where they can file that memo.
Related link: Now Dems are suddenly open to a 'delay' in the individual mandate?
