GOP Ready To Go to the Mattresses?

By: Charles Cooper
Topics: In The News

John McCain

(Credit: CBS)

Well, that certainly didn't take long. One day after losing the health care reform battle to the Democrats, Republicans are well along their seven stages of grief. First came the anger. Now comes the hissy fit.

John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Monday told the Democrats to take a flying leap for the remainder of this year - and maybe beyond? - as payback for the Democrats' use of budget reconciliation. "There will be no cooperation for the rest of the year," McCain said during the course of an interview with an Arizona radio station earlier today. "[Democrats] have poisoned the well in what they've done and how they've done it."

Holy Yarbles, Batman, I suppose that means the GOP plans to downshift from no cooperation with Democrats to less-than-no-cooperation with Democrats (if such a thing is possible) Would it matter if it was pointed out that the Dems moved to reconciliation in the first place because of the GOP's blanket opposition? Exhibit A being the interview Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell accorded to a reporter from the New York Times where he spelled out the strategy.) McConnell must have thought that Republicans had the votes in hand because he was refreshingly honest about his intention to grind the legislative process to a stop. All the more reason, then, why I found McCain's public sulk to be so extraordinary. After all, this is John McCain, Republican Party elder and a former contender for the White House. If he's decided that it's time to go to the mattresses, that would put the kibosh on any hope for bipartisan work , at least through the November elections. (Remember the reaction of Sonny Corleone after the Bruno Tattaglia hit?)

McCain may be ticked off, but the really hard core elements in the party are utterly furious. On a conference call sponsored by the "Patriotic Resistance" Dave Camp, the ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, said the fight was only now was warming up and he promised a move to "repeal and replace" the health care reform bill. He also said that up to 30 state attorneys general are looking to challenge a requirement that people would need to buy health insurance. If true, we're set up for a `beaut of a states rights battle with Uncle Sam sometime soon.

When a listener complained that Democrats "want to take control of all of our schools, they're programming our children to be socialists and communists," Camp responded, "I couldn't agree with you more."

Another questioner, who described the health care legislation as "a socialist takeover," added that Democrats were using "totalitarian tactics." He said that tea party activists need to "stand firm on this kind of rhetoric" so they can better frame the question.

"Exactly right," Camp said.

File all of the above under coming attractions. The fall campaign will be starting early and it's going to get rough in a hurry.

Charles Cooper is an executive editor at CNET News. He has covered technology and business for more than 25 years, working at CBSNews.com, the Associated Press, Computer & Software News, Computer Shopper, PC Week, and ZDNet. E-mail Charlie.
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by imnho April 7, 2010 9:51 PM EDT: If they go to the matress this early it's a sign of a part that is out of touch with reality. The constant drone of them saying "NO" and not coming up with a resonable compromise will have the reporters giving them an answer that they can't refuse.; Reply to this comment


by ianlou April 1, 2010 4:24 PM EDT: CBS:GOP Ready To Go to the Mattresses

Mattresses? They had Mattresses in that Strip Club?; Reply to this comment


by NinthSt78 April 1, 2010 3:15 PM EDT: It takes a lot of feathers sometimes to keep those cushy Wash DC mattresses plump...; Reply to this comment

by RobAla March 28, 2010 8:55 AM EDT

You bet the Republicans can use this corrupt health care bill against Democrats in November; and you can bet the majority of the American people want this bill repealed. This bill is a disaster in the making.

The working poor, who had no health care insurance, will be covered in the future. This is good, but consider the following:

The middle class will see:
1) Their state and federal taxes go up ? including Medicare taxes
2) Their private insurance premiums go up

Seniors will see:
1) $500 billion less in Medicare
2) Fewer doctors willing to accept Medicare patients

States will see:
1) Federal government expansion of Medicaid ? adding financial burden on the states
2) This action forces the states to greatly raise taxes on citizens of each state

Businesses will see:
1) Federal mandates which force them to provide insurance ? adding financial burdens
2) This action will cause many to have to lay off more workers

The majority of Americans:
1) Asked for reform on a few specific areas ? but will see health care turned upside down
2) Have been ignored, after stating in polls that they do not want this bill

The federal government will see:
1) Itself much more empowered over individuals and businesses
2) Additional deficit spending after the CBO scores the impact of the reconciliation bill

This is a historic day, but also a very dark day in history for citizens of the United States. States and legal foundations plan to take this administration and Congress to court. The main complaint of Americans regarding health care has been the rising costs, and this bill will not address that problem (it actually will result in even more cost in taxes and premiums). The majority of Americans have been ignored. Take note on all those who have voted to do this to our nation, and remember them.

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by HGOODGUY April 5, 2010 3:32 PM EDT: RobAla

HERE IS ANOTHER RANTER SPREADING TONS OF MIS-INFORMATION LIKE FERTILIZAR!!

I MIGHT ADD THAT THE "MAIN COMPLAINT" IS SO MUCH CONFUSION AND TECHNICOLOR BULL$HIT THAT PEOPLE ARE POLORIZED AND RUNNING SCARED AND THIS MAKES THEM EASY PREY FOR ALL THIS CRAP!!!


by NowBeWithThat March 24, 2010 11:30 AM EDT: Hey isn't it about time for a negative Sarah Palin item, CBS? People are logging on to other news sites.

What's up with that? You're late today.; Reply to this comment


by ilgoldstein March 23, 2010 6:28 PM EDT: So now "party of 'no' becomes an official party plank?; Reply to this comment


by noloyalisti March 23, 2010 1:27 PM EDT: This is FUN! If the CONS party continue to be little babies, it is just going to get worse and worse for them. They will gets their butts kicked again in the election. Especially when the people see how good change can be.; Reply to this comment


by krusenjames March 23, 2010 12:50 PM EDT: Just an aside; I thought the expression was "go to the mat", as in another kind of wrestling altogether.

Love the Norman Fell school of Dialectics though. Will we next consult the "world's greatest authority" Professor Irwin Corey?; Reply to this comment


by krusenjames March 23, 2010 12:34 PM EDT: And when they DO go to that mattress, just who will they be winding up "in bed" with?; Reply to this comment