According to Jonathan Strong at National Review, Republicans are beefing up security at their district offices because federal workers are going to miss their paychecks today. He also says that Republican lawmakers are spooked by the polls.
A new poll from NBC and the Wall Street Journal is putting a new sense of fear into the hearts of House Republicans. The poll showed Republicans’ favorability had dropped to its lowest rating ever for that poll while Obama’s ratings remained stable.
Nonetheless, they are still engaged in delusional thinking.
Still, Boehner allies fear a CR without something in it related to Obamacare would face the wrath of the right flank of the conference. However, Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise suggested on CNBC last night he would be fine with some concessions unrelated to the health-care law.
The options on the table for a small Obamacare win are the same that have been talked about for some time: delaying the individual mandate, repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board, repealing the medical-device tax, and eliminating the Obamacare subsidy for congressional staffers.
They are not going to get any ObamaCare win. They aren’t delaying the mandate. They aren’t eliminating the “Death Panels.” They aren’t going to get to screw their staffers out of their employer subsidy. And, if the medical-device tax is going to be eliminated, it will only happen after the Republicans capitulate, and only if the revenue is completely replaced.
But, whatever. Let them keep their delusions a little while longer. At least they’ve smartened up enough to be afraid.
