Here's a little tutorial. USA has a "federal" government. Massachusetts has whats called a "state" government. The Constitution supports a [states right] to create a mandate for their citizens; a right NOT extended by the Constitution to the [federal] government. Does this little civics lesson help? :-)

apparently the conservatives have it wrong, then, as the individual mandate is their idea. their CONSTITUTIONAL idea.

it became unconstitutional when President Obama put it on the table to try to get repub votes.

mitt romney seemed to think it was a fine idea, along with ALL THE CONSERVATIVES IN WASHIBNGTON, to make this a NATIONAL health care plan. ask mitt romney who he sent to the white house to help set up his individual mandate? mitt romney sent his guys to the white house to talk to Obama's guys. in 2009 james inhofe said he thought he individual mandate was an idea they could all work with. HE WAS LYING.

the "unconstitutionality" of this law is founded on the repubs promise to each other to say NO to any and all of president Obama's economic policies.

ask the conservatives about the unconstitutionality of the individual mandate.

i know a hell of alot more than you do about the history of the individual mandate. it goes as far back as nixon, and mark pauly, one of the originators of the individual mandate, was associated with the h.w. bush administration. he is disgusted with the repubs in washington, acting as if they have never heard OF THEIR OWN IDEA, and wonders how they will address health care if they ever decide to, now that they have denied and slandered their very own idea. he is emabarassed of and ashamed of the repub party.

this is one of mitt's mitt-flops.

do some research, and then maybe we'll talk.

Just as it was the Liberal 'right' of Wisconsin Democratic Senators to flee their state when Walker implemented his plans; it's the duty of the GOP in Congress to vote NO when Obama attempts to implement his failed policies that would further damage America. GOP stay the course till November!

The nation can't afford another default because of Republicans staying the don't raise the debt ceiling to pay our debts course. Thank your wacko republicans in congress like Michelle Bachmannfor downgrading the credit of the nation. S&P does but that won't stop you right wing morons from claiing otherwise. It is a consequence of your reality optional mindset.

S&P downgraded the nations credit rating due to mismanagement of the economy by Obama and the Democrats that controlled the Senate and House; providing no federal budget or plan to bring down the debt as they increased it by $5 Trillion - from $10 Trillion to $15 Trillion. This was the 1st time in our nations history, and it happened on Obama's watch. You seem to forget what Obama said about raising the national debt ceiling, so I'll refresh your memory.

sfcmac.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/obama-raises-debt-ceiling-to-an-unpatriotic-16-4-trillion/

Please see article on Marketwatch re spending:

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Of all the falsehoods told about President Barack Obama, the biggest whopper is the one about his reckless spending spree.

As would-be president Mitt Romney tells it: “I will lead us out of this debt and spending inferno.” Almost everyone believes that Obama has presided over a massive increase in federal spending, an “inferno” of spending that threatens our jobs, our businesses and our children’s future. Even Democrats seem to think it’s true. But it didn’t happen. Although there was a big stimulus bill under Obama, federal spending is rising at the slowest pace since Dwight Eisenhower brought the Korean War to an end in the 1950s. Even hapless Herbert Hoover managed to increase spending more than Obama has.

Here are the facts, according to the official government statistics:

• In the 2009 fiscal year — the last of George W. Bush’s presidency — federal spending rose by 17.9% from $2.98 trillion to $3.52 trillion. Check the official numbers at the Office of Management and Budget.

• In fiscal 2010 — the first budget under Obama — spending fell 1.8% to $3.46 trillion.

• In fiscal 2011, spending rose 4.3% to $3.60 trillion.

• In fiscal 2012, spending is set to rise 0.7% to $3.63 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office’s estimate of the budget that was agreed to last August.

• Finally in fiscal 2013 — the final budget of Obama’s term — spending is scheduled to fall 1.3% to $3.58 trillion. Read the CBO’s latest budget outlook.

Over Obama’s four budget years, federal spending is on track to rise from $3.52 trillion to $3.58 trillion, an annualized increase of just 0.4%.

There has been no huge increase in spending under the current president, despite what you hear.

Why do people think Obama has spent like a drunken sailor? It’s in part because of a fundamental misunderstanding of the federal budget.

What people forget (or never knew) is that the first year of every presidential term starts with a budget approved by the previous administration and Congress. The president only begins to shape the budget in his second year. It takes time to
develop a budget and steer it through Congress — especially in these days of
congressional gridlock.

The 2009 fiscal year, which Republicans count as part of Obama’s legacy, began four months before Obama moved into the White House. The major spending decisions in the 2009 fiscal year were made by George W. Bush and the previous Congress.

Like a relief pitcher who comes into the game with the bases loaded, Obama came in with a budget in place that called for spending to increase by hundreds of billions of dollars in response to the worst economic and financial calamity in generations.

The reason S&P downgraded the nations credit rating was due to Cantor and his playmates using this country economy to play chicken - he blinked and our Country lost.

We lowered our long-term rating on the U.S. because we believe that the
prolonged controversy over raising the statutory debt ceiling and the related
fiscal policy debate indicate that further near-term progress containing the
growth in public spending, especially on entitlements, or on reaching an
agreement on raising revenues is less likely than we previously assumed and
will remain a contentious and fitful process.

-S&P

Now you may know what S and P think more than they do but they make clear the prolonged inaction by the Congress, the people who actually control the budget and are responsible for it no one else is at the heart of their growing doubt. Anyone the least bit familiar with the constitution knows the executive and judiciary hold little weight on taxation and fiscal issues. The president and judges can't order congress to do anything. Congress knew the issues were coming up and didn't act. When they did you had the wackadoodle caucus led by Michelle Bachmann saying "don't raise the debt ceiling" they refused to vote to raise it. they stalled the process and in doing so damaged the nations credit. The far right said don't raise the debt ceiling had they not it is unlikely the events would have transpired to end in the way they did.

All of congress failed to give the executive something to sign until the 11th hour. Now if you live in the alternate tea party universe you will never admit this but it;s true. Of course truth never stop you people from spin and fake outrage.

That's a brilliant plan. Which box of cracker jacks did that one come out of? I love posts by radicals :)