I have a big question for you experts here at Daily Kos: Why do Democrats, the majority party, allow Republicans, the obstructionist party, to dictate the "Hoop Height", or the number of votes it takes to pass health care reform?
Follow along with me below:
I'm a relative newcomer, but I have been following the healthcare debate. I keep hearing how Olympia Snowe is someone we should allow in the inter-sanctum of healthcare debate. "She could be one of us," we hear. But there is no showing she is one of us, if "us" means a public option.
Why are we listening to her? Why do we need her? And above all, why are we letting the minority party dictate that the "hoop" Rachel Maddow describes has to be 80 votes when 51 was the previous standard. Democrats can't be that dumb. Or maybe I am. I simply don't understand this philosophy. That if the Republicans--the Grassleys and Enslis of the world, decided that we have to set impossible standards but somehow hint to us, (wink, wink) that they are with us--contrary to everything they say to the media--we have to believe or obey them. Who are we? What do we want?
I suspect the whole problem is that we elected a bunch of turncoats, Benedict Arnolds, in the form of Bluedogs. They don't stand for anything good for the people, just the lobbyists.
My strong impression: if the Bluedogs fail to whip us, if the Republicans' dirty tricks fail at it, I'll bet you that their constituents will be the first in line--their big hands reaching for any benefits that are gained by what the Democrats (true Democrats) fights so hard, sacrifice so hard, to gain.
I have watched my Republican family until I am half sick. In fact, I moved as far away from them as I could get. They go to their mailboxes every time a Social Security check comes, or the advice that Medicare has paid for all their heart procedures, and they give no credit to how much abuse the Democratic Party takes to get this legislation through. We get called everything from Hitler to baby or old-folk killers, and yet when the legislation makes it through, their hands are there clasping, and giving no credit to the people who make it happen.
So many old people live in dignity and security because of these systems. I wonder how many are out there buying the messages of the fear mongers. You watch. I feel I am right. They'll be there to accept the benefits and give no credit to the people who take the hammering.
Rachel Maddow is a national treasure. Without her, I think the television media would just buy anything the Republicans want to spin. She does not. And if it takes a hoop and a basketball player to demonstrate her point, Rachel will do it. I am grateful to her.
Yet I still have the question: why are we letting the do-nothing party, the know-nothing party, the minority party dictate new numbers for what it takes to pass this legislation?
We need a stiff spine, and someone needs to :"Out" the Bluedogs constantly for the Republicans that they are. They should not be allowed to go on hiding behind their cowardice. They owe this country, as we do, and somewhere along the line they need to pay their debt to the ordinary people instead of the insurance lobby.