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« on: March 01, 2017, 01:08:28 PM » |
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The Patriot Post Digest 3-1-2017
From The Federalist Patriot
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Mid-Day Digest
Mar. 1, 2017
IN TODAY’S EDITION
Trump delivers his best speech yet. We offer the highlights.
There are five key problems with ObamaCare that illustrate the need for repeal.
Justice Department drops its suit against Texas' voter ID law.
Daily Features: Top Headlines, Cartoons, Columnists and Short Cuts.
FEATURED RIGHT ANALYSIS
Trump 2.01
By Thomas Gallatin
Donald Trump has a knack for delivering the goods when all the odds makers are predicting failure. After a shocking election victory that was followed by a contentious first month in office, many expected to see only more of the same from Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress2. And then last night happened, leaving Democrats and the mainstream media stunned and questioning if they had just witnessed Ronald Reagan resurrected.
Yes, Trump’s speech was that good and that powerful. No embarrassing gaffes, no petty recriminations against his detractors; Trump simply reiterated his core campaign promises while reaching out with a genuinely unifying message. The whole speech was woven together by its optimistic outlook for the nation’s future. Aside from his very presidential demeanor, the most powerful aspect of Trump’s speech was how he showed his heartfelt concern and love for the American people.
From the beginning, Trump reached across the aisle and disarmed his critics. “We may be a nation divided on policies,” he said, but “we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms.”
Trump’s overall tone was both realist and optimistic. He stated, “Each American generation passes the torch of truth, liberty and justice — in an unbroken chain all the way down to the present. That torch is now in our hands. … A new chapter of American Greatness is now beginning.”
He also gave voice to genuine pride and love for America saying, “A national pride is sweeping across our Nation. … What we are witnessing today is the renewal of the American spirit.”
Throughout the speech Trump remained future focused, with several references to America’s 250th anniversary nine years from now.
Heavy on both substance and conviction, he once again reminded Congress and the American people of his campaign promises. He listed may of the actions already taken to rouse the economy, drain the swamp and fight against illegal immigration. He also touted his nomination of Neil Gorsuch to become the next constitutionally committed Supreme Court justice.
Trump also espoused a decidedly different tone on law enforcement than did Barack Obama, who was more apt to question police motives and practices rather than condemn deeds of lawless. As Trump put it, “We must work with, not against, the men and women of law enforcement. We must support the incredible men and women of law enforcement.”
Trump did not waver from his inauguration speech commitment3 to lead with an America first policy, but he hit a much better tone in stating it: “My job is not to represent the world. My job is to represent the United States of America.” On foreign policy he reassured America’s allies of the U.S.’s commitment to NATO, while at the same time acknowledging their need to meet the fair demands of agreed upon financial commitments.
Fifty-three times Trump received a standing ovation, but the highlight of the night and the most touching and memorable moment was his recognition of Carryn Owens, the widow of Navy SEAL Ryan Owens, who was killed in the recent mission in Yemen. Trump said, “Ryan died as he lived: a warrior, and a hero, battling against terrorism and securing our nation. Ryan’s legacy is etched into eternity.” This brought a standing ovation that lasted two minutes. This moment more than any other displayed Trump’s big heart. As public as it was, it seemed also to be a window into Trump’s ability to personally connect with people. Despite the Leftmedia caricature, he is a man who sincerely cares for others.
Trump concluded his speech with similar magnanimity to how he began it: “We all bleed the same blood. We all salute the same flag. And we all are made by the same God. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless these United States.”
One of the more noticeable and quite frankly best indicators of Trump’s successful address Tuesday night were the shell-shocked expressions on the faces of all the Democrats. Humorously, several Democrat women had chosen to dress in white in a display of protest against Trump’s supposedly anti-woman policy. Yet like snow on a warm day, as soon as the speech ended they quickly evaporated to the exits, assuredly looking quite foolish.
Was this speech a rebirth of Reagan? No. Trump is populist as fully evidenced last night, whereas Reagan was a traditional conservative, and Trump’s was not a call for shrinking the size or cost of government. Yet Trump did capture, like Reagan, the hope and optimism in the American spirit. America now has a president who undoubtedly loves his country and has her best interests at heart. Trump displayed why so many voted for him and are hopeful in his leadership.
TOP RIGHT HOOKS
Five Huge Problems With ObamaCare4
In Donald Trump’s Address to Congress2 last night, he made much of repealing ObamaCare. “Mandating every American to buy government-approved health insurance was never the right solution for America,” he said. “The way to make health insurance available to everyone is to lower the cost of health insurance, and that is what we will do.” He laid out the guiding principles for reform: “First, we should ensure that Americans with pre-existing conditions have access to coverage, and that we have a stable transition for Americans currently enrolled in the health care exchanges. Secondly, we should help Americans purchase their own coverage, through the use of tax credits and expanded Health Savings Accounts — but it must be the plan they want, not the plan forced on them by the government. Thirdly, we should give our great state governors the resources and flexibility they need with Medicaid to make sure no one is left out. Fourthly, we should implement legal reforms that protect patients and doctors from unnecessary costs that drive up the price of insurance — and work to bring down the artificially high price of drugs and bring them down immediately. Finally, the time has come to give Americans the freedom to purchase health insurance across state lines — creating a truly competitive national marketplace that will bring cost way down and provide far better care.”
Most Americans at this point know that ObamaCare isn’t all it was cracked up to be. But do they know just how bad it’s been? Hudson Institute senior fellow Jeffrey Anderson explains5, “In passing Obamacare, its supporters promised the moon. Obamacare was allegedly going to cost $938 billion over ten years, result in 23 million people getting insurance through its exchanges as of 2017, reduce the typical family’s premiums by $2,500 a year, and make sure that if you liked your health plan and doctor, you could keep your health plan and doctor. Seven years later, Obamacare is projected to cost $1.938 trillion over ten years (exactly $1 trillion more), only 9 million people have insurance through its exchanges as of 2017 (just 40 percent of the original CBO projection), the typical family’s premiums have exploded, and millions of people who liked their plans lost their plans, as Obamacare effectively banned them. Many of them lost their doctors as well.”
That’s pretty bad. Anderson also lays out the five worst things about the law.
It denies Americans choice and undermines their liberty.
It denies Americans affordable health insurance.
It raises federal spending by about $2 trillion when we’re nearly $20 trillion in debt.
It fuels the unseemly alliance between Big Government and Big Business.
It consolidates and centralizes power and money.
That’s all why repeal is so critical. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker made just that case, saying, “This is an important issue because I don’t think we can reiterate enough, ObamaCare is collapsing. The Affordable Care Act is no longer affordable, and not me or any of these [Republican] governors … but a Democratic governor said that last year. It is collapsing right now and to show compassion [toward] our fellow citizens, we’ve got to do something about it. That’s why we’re on top of it.” Let’s all encourage our elected representatives in Congress to repeal this monstrosity. |
