Columns

It's not just Republicans who are unhappy with Obamacare. Labor union leaders have been complaining too. In July, the presidents of the Teamsters, United Food Commercial Workers union and UNITE-HERE (combined membership: 2.9 million) wrote a letter to congressional Democrats saying that Obamacare will "destroy the very health and well-being of our members along with millions of other working Americans."

It was a terrible year for Tehran. With the 2009 election fast approaching, the mullahs tried to buy votes by giving away free produce. Rather than appease the masses, the giveaway sparked cries of "death to potatoes."

The numbers are in for the evening news coverage of the shutdown. During the first 15 nights of October, ABC, CBS and NBC blamed the Republicans 41 times for the shutdown, blamed both sides 17 times, and blamed Obama and the Democrats ... never.

During the White Houses much-maligned Affordable Care Act rollout, President Barack Obama suggested purchasing health care insurance would be as easy as ordering a TV from Amazon.

The constipated debut of Obamacare has reduced the president of the United States to the status of TV pitchman. "Act now" to get this great product, he exhorted listeners on Monday, offering testimonials from one of the rare successful purchasers, promising limitless benefits and low prices, and even an 800 number.

WASHINGTON -- Two things are often said in this town: "A day is a year in politics." And, "It's all about 2014." Combined, the two statements mean that much can happen between now and the midterm elections next year when Republicans hope to hold the House and gain the Senate -- and Democrats intend to hold the Senate and recover the House.

"We told you you would lose!" wail the Beltway bundlers of the Republican establishment. "We told you you would lose!" moan neoconservative columnists from their privileged perches on the op-ed pages of the Beltway press.

To hear Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., tell it, Americas long national nightmare is over.

Amid all the tussling over the government shutdown and the debt ceiling, a couple of bombshells went off in the blogosphere that may prove of more enduring importance.

The government shutdown has made it abundantly obvious that the anti-conservative news media and the anti-conservative Republican establishment have joined together to the point where it's almost impossible to see where one ends and the other begins. Some might say they merge every day on the set of "Morning Joe."

The best Democrat to run for governor is a name not even being mentioned. He is their best hope because Nan Rich and Charlie Crist are not going to defeat Gov. Rick Scott.

It's clear to all but the most blinkered that the "Defund Now!" strategy for blocking the implementation of Obamacare has been worse than a failure.

"History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme." Mark Twain's insight comes to mind as one observes the panic of Beltway Republicans over the latest polls in the battle of Obamacare.

What appears to be just the next evolution of the successful use of standards and accountability that has improved public education in Florida has fostered rather strenuous opposition.

WASHINGTON -- In trying to understand the Republican Party's internal battles, it helps to think of Michael and Sonny. Corleone, that is.