Now, most of these provisions that should appeal to Blue Dogs are a source of agitation for liberals. But liberals seem to have made the following calculation: In order to get a bill that covers 30 million Americans, with insurance reforms that protect consumers, they will swallow hard and accept several provisions that anger them. It’s called compromise—and, in some quarters, it’s also known as governing. Liberals shouldn’t be the only ones who bear the responsibility to govern. That falls to the whole Democratic Party—its right, left, and center. – A Blue Dog Dream
Democratic insiders, represented by Neera Tanden above, have decided that passing Pres. Obama’s Senate copied proposal is the definition of “the responsibility to govern.” Too bad this theory is running smack into the Founders’ intention that awful legislation should not pass easily.
The congressional Democratic majority needs to do some soul searching. Because if they vote to pass the current health care concoction they will not be rewarded. That’s because Pres. Obama and the Democratic Party have so botched the messaging on the health care reform effort that without the public option, which is the only thing the people support, voters will pull Washington down around Democrats who are foolish enough to believe the current health care bill is worth the onslaught.
Mr. Stupak should vote against the Democratic health care bill. He’s proven he’s not a very serious person through relegating his entire approach to health care via the abortion debate, also siding with Republicans in his efforts. Rep. Raúl Grijalva should vote against it too. In fact, so should Blanche Lincoln, Ben Nelson, Sherrod Brown, Dennis Kucinich, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Rep. Weiner and all the rest of the Democrats who believe that health care reform is a serious issue that shouldn’t be sold out for the sake of a political win. Because don’t kid yourself, the current bill is a gift to for profit insurance companies, not the American people.
The Democrats and Pres. Obama have botched the entire effort. Those who helped sell out the cause of real health care reform should admit it. They might actually win some of the people back. Then Democrats should keep on working. The notion that this is the last chance for health care is preposterous. Everyone knows it has to be done. It’s just Obama’s racing to be the one who does it regardless that the proposal as it currently stands isn’t worthy of the year-plus efforts of his party.
Besides, the circus act of Rep. Bart Stupak, helped along by people like Chris Matthews, illustrates that disingenuous politicians like Mr. Stupak and others of his ilk really don’t care about health care reform. What they want to forward is their religious beliefs put into policy that Speaker Pelosi and other leaders have helped legitimize. Because making health care reform about abortion is what un-serious people do to advance their pet cultural gripes, which shouldn’t be condoned by anyone. That Speaker Pelosi and other progressives kowtowed to Stupak, Nelson and Casey on the abortion issue proves the inability for the Democrats to lead and their inability to keep their eye on the ball, which is people who are truly sick needing serious help.
The health care proposal Pres. Obama is now trying to get through Congress via reconciliation is simply not worth it for his party. The trouble is not passing some sort of health care package, no matter how bad, will be a humiliating defeat for Pres. Obama and his party.
Tough choice.
Getting their just deserts, Democrats find themselves in this position because they can’t keep their priorities straight, their goal in focus, partly because they don’t have a president who can tell the difference between good legislation and bad, with his goal simply a political “win,” which is described by the Democratic elite as “governing.”
“A single-payer system in America……..would neither be practical nor realistic.” That’s the reality. So……pass any bill that gets you at least some distance down the road. Good, bad or ugly. It makes no difference. Given the current political climate (the Republican Party of “No” and the Emanuel Blue Dog Democrats) this bill is not only the best that can be got, it’s all that can be got. Let’s pass it and move on to other issues. Like closing Guantanamo, getting KSM tried in a civilian court in NTCity, getting all of our troops out of Iraq and ending the war in Afghanistan ASAP. And maybe some cap and trade legislation. Peace
Appreciate your opinion.
However, whether this bill is passed or not Obama will get us out of Iraq, is still working on a solution to Gitmo, will NOT end the war in Afghanistan, with cap and trade already on the block because it’s an election year and the only thing that matters is JOBS; plus the fact that Democrats have absolutely no capital left to spend.
This bill is crap. Passing it won’t do much of anything and makes a framework that could be made worse in the future.
Playing devil’s advocate, Ga6thDem (or anyone else), what about the political fall out and catcalls of “failure” if Dems don’t pass it?
“absolutely no capital left to spend” is an interesting area to explore. Because it’s not only true here at home, but it’s also true overseas. Obama is seen by the political class in most foreign countries as unable to deliver the mail. Now me, I think that that is a very good turn of events, but those to the right of me (which includes most of you) may see it as bad news. If Obama can get the health care bill passed, and soon, it could begin to change the attitude of foreign learders about his ability to get things done. But, you all agitate in any way that you see fit on the passage of the health care bill. Either way my side comes out the winner. Peace
You’re basically an isolationist on foreign policy, Imhotep, which is hardly to the left of anyone around here.
So you feel that using the military to invade and occupy someone else’s country defines you as a Progressive, a Liberal or a Leftist? Which means, I suppose, that Adolf was a Liberal? Peace
I was against the Iraq war when it was very unpopular to opine on that belief, so I’m just fine with my intellectually sound foreign policy prescriptions. I’ve also continually pushed back on the bomb Iran crowd. Additionally, I’ve supported the Goldstone report findings as well.
So, I have no idea what you’re talking about and neither, obviously, do you.
Imhotep I fail to follow your logic. You are all for standing up to what you consider principle on FP but you are willing to let any piece of crap fly domestically to save your guy’s butt??? Where is the principle there? Are you more concerned with unknown people of foreign countries than you are your own next door neighbor? Are you an the kind of leftest who can care for people in the aggregrate but not individually? Do you hate your own countrymen because they are the ones in desperate need of a sane healthcare policy?
Tweety was spectaculary uninformed and stupid last night.He has started his own “special comment segment” as if one is not embarrassingly enough on MSNBC. He calls it “let me finish” which is hilarious considering that has to be what all of his guests are thinking. Like the poor guy who is challenging Blanche Lincoln in AK. I was very interested in what he had to say but he could hardly get a word in edgewise because of what Tweety considers his raphid fire challenging of guests. Of course what it really is, is repetitive,interruptive, nonsense.
Last night he gave his incoherent argument for passing Obama’s botch job. Another pundit who is having a hard time realizing that thrill up his leg was based on an illusion.
LL – LOL — “Tweety was spectaculary uninformed and stupid last night.He has started his own “special comment segment” as if one is not embarrassingly enough on MSNBC. He calls it “let me finish” which is hilarious considering that has to be what all of his guests are thinking.”
Really whitepaw his brain has been boiled in the strong brew of DC insider spirits.
LL — You are on FIRE today!
Lake Lady, I’m the kind of Leftist who will take what they can get and live to fight another day. Much in the mold of Ted Kennedy. I am not the kind of Leftist who will strap on a suicide vest and blow themselves, and everyone around them, up because I can’t have everything that I want this very minute. I am also the kind of Leftist who knows the difference between an “isolationist” and a “non-interventionist.” I am also a consistent non-intervationist Leftist. One who believes in self-defense, but not in the arrogance of military action to change another groups society to fit my own point of view. What sort of Lefist are you? Peace
Much in the mold of Ted Kennedy.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was a 100% AIPAC voting, “special relationship” with Israel supporting “Leftist.”
Mr. Kennedy wasn’t financially or militarily neutral on anything regarding Israel.
Since 9/11, there is no such thing as financial or military neutrality in foreign policy. Wishing doesn’t make it so.
whitepaw says:
04 March 2010 at 11:49 am
Indeed.
Well, Taylor Obama has led them dems into a corner where it’s win/win for the GOP. Yes, the catcalls are going to be bad but they are going to be bad if it passes too. I mean the excise tax alone give the GOP a huge leg up.
Agreed.
See new post, including update with Howard Dean quote.
Ga6thDem says:
04 March 2010 at 1:53 pm
Well, Taylor Obama has led them dems into a corner where it’s win/win for the GOP.
I, too, agree. If it passes, the health care insurance corporations do very well. If it doesn’t pass, the health care insurance corporations do very well.
My point was much narrower on Kennedy, but since you expanded it why didn’t you include the fact that Bobby was assassinated because he was even more pro-Israeli than was his brother Ted? Peace
Because you brought up *Ted* Kennedy, Imhotep.
You seem to have a knee jerk habit of expanding the topic in order to support you wild rhetorical hallucinations. I simply address them, though I’m not going to bite on Bobby, which is way too far afield even for you.
The Congress has allowed it to happen, Joyce.
I’d like to see everyone start clamoring for Congress to actually do Congress’ work. Not simply be patsies for the presidency.