President Silky to Congress: Enact my policies — or I’ll take away your health care
posted at 1:35 pm on November 13, 2007 by Allahpundit
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One of the dark ironic consolations of a Democratic adminstration will be tracking the ways in which they engage in Bushian behavior and receive some very un-Bushian treatment for it from the media. Here we find Captain Smarm actually threatening a co-equal branch of government with a loss of benefits if they don’t do as he tells them, a power the president almost certainly lacks and which, per one lefty blog, probably violates the 27th Amendment given the time frame Edwards is imagining here. That’s our Silky, though: always up for a cheap populist gimmick, whether or not it’s feasible or, um, legal.
Keep your eye on this meme of Democrats behaving Bushly and the media rolling over for them, as it’s already starting to bear juicy fruit. You’ve all seen the bulletin on Drudge this morning about Hillary’s camp trying to bully Wolf Blitzer into not doing anything boorish at the next debate, like asking follow-up questions. Trust me when I tell you that you can’t appreciate it unless and until you’ve read this story from yesterday’s TNR, laying out the myriad creepy types of intimidation practiced by the World’s Smartest Woman and her acolytes on the press. My favorite is the incident with hated Times reporter Anne Kornblut, where the Glacier herself drops a dark hint to Kornblut about knowing her whereabouts. “It’s one of the few times I’ve seen journalists respect someone for beating the hell out of them,” says one Dem operative, referring to the generally sweetheart coverage Her Majesty gets despite the campaign’s brass-knuckles approach. Note too the aside near the end of the piece about being aggressive to appeal to the fight-fight-fightin’ nutroots. The silver lining is that she’s risking a backlash, but one that can’t and won’t come until Obama makes a race of it: no one in the media’s going to risk alienating her and jeopardizing their access to a second Clinton White House so long as she looks like a sure thing and you’d better believe they’re not going to turn on her once she has the nomination and the only alternative is Mitt or Rudy. So it’s now or never. If Obama can close the gap, what a sweet dam burst it could be.
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Hmm. Imagine the outcry if Bush did this. Course, he can’t… and anything he tried would be overridden by Congress. I’m sure they won’t let any president take away their porky perks.
I too hope Obama can come back on Hillary. The nutroots hate her guts, though, so that helps.
Vanceone on November 13, 2007 at 1:43 PM
Bush should use the same tactic to cancel the 2008 election. He should say to Congress, “If I don’t have a job, then you shouldn’t either.”
pedestrian on November 13, 2007 at 1:44 PM
Yes, because they are all part of the VRWC.
Rick on November 13, 2007 at 1:45 PM
‘Shame on you Congress people for not stealing enough. If you don’t steal from America, I’m going to steal from you.’
It’s your choice America. Vote for Edwards and you’ll vote for the biggest heist in the history of mankind.
ThackerAgency on November 13, 2007 at 1:47 PM
I think all americans should get the same medical coverage that congress gets. two americas, right?
I also think all americans should get access to the same retirement plan that congress gets. congress, as you know, -is- able to put part of their money into private accounts and not into social security. why do they deny us a privilege that they get? two americas.
lorien1973 on November 13, 2007 at 1:48 PM
Isn’t it kind of dumb to pick a fight with the guys signing the checks? Sure, Congress has to make use of COBRA for up to 18 months, but what will President Edwards do when Congress cuts off all funding to the Whitehouse, right down to the electric bill?
rw on November 13, 2007 at 1:48 PM
This guy could definitely be Senator from NY. All the schmucks here would fall for his crap hook, line and sinker.
JiangxiDad on November 13, 2007 at 1:50 PM
I’m sure his bright, bleached teeth will show us the light.
lorien1973 on November 13, 2007 at 1:50 PM
Let’s not forget the hair. That’s President Pony’s pride and joy.
Rick on November 13, 2007 at 1:53 PM
The spot should end with this tagline:
“I’m John Edwards, and I’m as dumb as a sack of doorknobs.”
Bryan on November 13, 2007 at 1:56 PM
Which ‘power as President’ is this asshat talking about?
Remember that YouTube interview he did where at the end they asked him if things were a right or a privalge and he essentially got them all backwards from a factual standpoint (though not in the bizzaro world of Democratic politics)?
Has this guy even read the Constitution or is that just a detail on the way to pandering to Democrats?
Drew on November 13, 2007 at 1:57 PM
The legacy of the Liberal in politics - Benevolent Despotism.
We know what’s best for you. It will be done. Shut up and let us take care of you. Do as I say, and shut up.
OhEssYouCowboys on November 13, 2007 at 2:00 PM
Hahaha!
“I’m John Edwards, and if you don’t do as I say I’ll hold my breath and stomp my feets.”
Kini on November 13, 2007 at 2:14 PM
Will anyone in the MSN ask Mr. Edwards about his incredible assertion that the president of the United States has the sole authority to determine Congressional medical and dental benefits and to unilaterally terminate health care plans for members of Congress. The logical extension of Edwards’ assertion of executive power gives Edwards the right as president to terminate medical and dental benefits for members of the US Supreme Court and other federal judges. The question should be posed to Edwards: If you can take away the health care plan for members of Congress because you don’t like the legislation that the Congress has passed or because you are angry at Congress because it did not pass any legislation, can’t you also take away benefits from the Supreme Court members because you didn’t like one of the SC’s rulings or because the Court would not grant a writ of certiorari in a case you care about?
Edwards would, of course, have no coherent answer. But because he is a self declared hero of the poor and downtrodden, he will never be asked that question.
Larraby on November 13, 2007 at 2:15 PM
I wonder what he has to say about Hugo Chavez
AlexB on November 13, 2007 at 2:18 PM
“I’m John Edwards, and I’m as dumb as a sack of doorknobs.”
“I’m John Edwards, and I’m as dumb as a box of sinkers”
saiga on November 13, 2007 at 2:19 PM
Wow — that Hillary story is just creepy. I almost stopped reading after this:
…but decided to read the whole thing. It’s really amazing how far their reach goes.
It’s interesting that the Mr. Crowley does not say what the “Bushies” have “lied” about. Despite the premise of his article, he still treats Shrillary with more respect than Bush. (figures)
lan astaslem on November 13, 2007 at 2:20 PM
I’m John Edwards, my wife approves this message.
JiangxiDad on November 13, 2007 at 2:22 PM
Compassionate Draconian?
TheSitRep on November 13, 2007 at 2:26 PM
Sign. Under what authority? Also, they would be allowed to keep their pay for their own health care coverage for 18 months under Federal COBRA. Yes, yes, yes…they’d have to pay the premiums themselves. Like they couldn’t afford it.
GogglesPisano on November 13, 2007 at 2:29 PM
Holy Christmas…this guy is as much a thug as Clinton was.
Yeesh…I’d almost go so far as to say Obama might be better.
MadisonConservative on November 13, 2007 at 2:45 PM
Here is the transcript from Drew’s You Tube link. His ignorance of the definition of ‘right’ is amazing. Let me just say he isn’t right, he’s 100% wrong. AND PEOPLE CONSIDER VOTING FOR HIM!?
ThackerAgency on November 13, 2007 at 2:54 PM