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1.) NObamacare — Republicans are politely asking the president to “permanently delay” Obamacare. That’s a euphemism for asking him to throw out his signature domestic achievement. TheDC’s Alexis Levinson reports:
“Senate Republicans are asking the White House to ‘permanently delay’ the implementation of the new health-care law for everyone, after the administration announced last week that it would delay implementation of the business mandate until 2015. In an effort led by South Dakota Sen. John Thune, 45 Republicans signed onto a letter to the White House requesting the permanent delay. ‘The Obama administration was forced to admit this last week that Obamacare is not working as was advertised,’ Thune said at a press conference Thursday afternoon, criticizing the administration for ‘endorsing delaying a key component to protect businesses from the very law that they still vigorously defend.'”
At first TheDC Morning was highly skeptical that Obamacare could be dismantled after President Obama won a second term. But given all the problems that have arisen, it is no longer inconceivable.
2.) Spitzer, the college years — Even in his youth, Eliot Spitzer was a bit unbearable. Charles Johnson reports for TheDC:
“Eliot Spitzer, the disgraced former governor of New York who is trying to make a comeback running for New York City comptroller, got his first taste of bullying opponents and pushing technocratic rule when he served as the elected president of the student body at Princeton University. Elected in 1979, Spitzer, class of 1981, gave a youthful demonstration of his expansive attitude toward power by broadly interpreting the purview of what is generally viewed as a symbolic office.”
3.) Simply unbelievable — Sarah Palin says she is considering a run for Senate, but good luck finding anyone who believes her. TheDC’s Alex Pappas reports:
“The Mama Grizzly says she’s considering running for the U.S. Senate in Alaska. But Republicans involved in Alaska and Senate politics tell The Daily Caller they believe there’s little chance Sarah Palin will actually pull the trigger and launch a campaign for the 2014 election. ‘It’s my sense her signing with Fox is a good indication she will not run,’ said one Republican who works in Alaska politics, referencing the former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate’s rejoining Fox News as a commentator last month.”
While Palin probably won’t run for president, she will be able to get some publicity and maybe even book some lucrative speeches by pretending she might.
4.) A slow go fo sho — On immigration reform, the House plans to take it slow and steady. Whether or not it will win the race, nobody knows. TheDC’s Alexis Levinson reports:
“House Republicans are in no hurry to pass immigration reform. The full House Republican conference held its first confab on the issue Wednesday, following the Senate passage of the comprehensive immigration reform bill before both chambers recessed for the week of July Fourth. Members speaking to the media after said that leaders had not put forth a clear timeline or strategy for moving forward on the issue. ‘We don’t want to rush anything,’ said House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan. ‘We want to get it right.’ Congress will recess from August 5 through September 6. When they return in September, the end of the fiscal year will be upon them, and they will have to take up the issue of raising the debt ceiling, a contentious annual fight between Democrats and Republicans.”
5.) Tweet of Yesterday — Jim Antle: Only way Obama will answer. RT @AlexPappas: Word on the street: a grassroots campaign emerging for @NeilMunroDC to audition for the View
6.) Today in North Korean News — BREAKING: “Kim Il Sung, Peerlessly Great Man”
VIDEO: Raul Labrador takes on entire MSNBC panel on immigration