Obamacare, Impeachment, Iran, and More Political Predictions for 2014

[DonViejo]

By Michael Tomasky December 30th 20135:45 AM

Sure, budget brinksmanship and Hillary presidential hints are a given. But millions more sign-ups for health-care coverage and the ousting of Mitch McConnell? They could happen, too.

Whatever else the week between Christmas and New Year’s is, it’s a godsend for columnists who are short on serious ideas, because we get to do things like write predictions columns. Thank you, Pope Gregory. But I promise you a few surprises, and a couple made of concrete so that you can hold me to them and wave them in my face a few months hence.

1. Situation: Budget Deadline. Prediction: Deal reached after 9 p.m. on January 14.

The year will start bleakly—really going out on a limb there, eh?—as January 15 arrives. Remember, the budget deal reached in December did not appropriate any specific dollars toward any specific program. It just raised the ceiling on the amounts that may be appropriated.

So between now and January 15, congressional appropriators have to set those levels. One has to assume that the GOP establishment’s “no more stupid shutdowns” rule will still have force. But there will be enough Tea Party members willing to create enough mischief to make things suspenseful again. I somehow suspect that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), notably sidelined during the December negotiations, won’t be quite so cooperative this time around.

I’d still say there won’t be a shutdown. House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have that much control over their caucuses. But it’s just the rhythm of these things that the radicals have to flex a little muscle this time. I predict a really, really last-minute deal, in which the radicals won’t get anything but will have reminded the establishment that they’re not lying down.

2. Situation: Debt Limit. Prediction: Obama Will Go Big, Tempt Impeachment Charges.

:::snip:::

full article
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/30/obamacare-impeachment-iran-and-more-political-predictions-for-2014.html

[Gothmog]

1. The GOP will try impeachment at some point

This concept is popular with the GOP base. At some point, the GOP will try to impeach President Obama which is why the DNC is calling out the GOP idiots who held impeachment hearings http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/dems-call-out-bachmann-and-co-who-wanted-impeachment

The Democratic National Committee wants supporters to remember which lawmakers suggested impeaching President Barack Obama.

In the recent fundraising email, the DNC highlighted quotes by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (R-MI), and Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-TX), all of whom have suggested moving to impeach the president.

"What do these people all have in common?" the email read before quoting Inhofe saying "People may be starting to use the I-word before too long."

"We can have an impeachment hearing in the House and in my mind the president has committed impeachable offenses," Bachmann is quoted as saying in the email.

Bentivolio is quoted saying that if he could write a bill impeaching Obama "and submit it, it would be a dream come true."

[onenote]

3. If you mean an impeachment resolution will be introduced

the odds are with you. After all, impeachment resolutions have been introduced against every president since (and including) Bush I). Only the resolution against Clinton went anywhere and I think that the lesson learned from that exercise will prevent any serious attempt against Pres. Obama.

[RBInMaine]

2. There will be WELL OVER 7 million newly insured when those who stayed on parents' plans are figured.