I don't need the introduction, in fact I probably don't even need to post this diary at all, but there are some points that need to be re-emphasized.
- If the Senate bill doesn't get passed, the political consequences will be basically apocalyptic. You want to see Obama do anything, ever again, for the rest of his presidency? Then this bill needs to get passed, in whatever form. Its sole provision could be free blowjobs for Cigna execs and it would still be worth passing.
- Any healthcare legislation, anything that helps anyone in any way is an INCREDIBLE concession from the right. They're happy with things just the way they are, thank you very much. Kos says "Where's the compromise?" The compromise is that the bill is even under discussion. The compromise is an insurance-friendly entitlement program. It doesn't really solve any problems but it does throw money at them, and that IS better than nothing at all.
- If this health care bill is passed, there will be chances to pass others, improvement and tinkers and tweaks, without the same sort of massive political resistance (I'm not saying this is likely, but it is at least possible). If it doesn't get passed, then health care legislation of any kind will probably never happen, ever. At all. This is why liberals can't walk away from the table, they need this to happen way worse than the right needs it to not happen.
- You want climate change legislation to happen? Labor legislation? Regulatory legislation? Official Roasted Walnut and Candied Yam Appreciation Day? Then this bill needs to get passed, in whatever form, by whatever means necessary. This isn't just health care, this is every liberal priority on the line. Otherwise Republicans will have proof that just sitting on their hands and screaming is a political winner.
We can either play the purity game, or we can realize that it's a turd sandwich that does more harm than good, but still at least does SOME tiny little bit of good, and that's better than nothing, which is what we're gonna get otherwise. No health care subsidies, no climate legislation, no help or progressive legislation of any kind, and the political pendulum will swing back and that will be pretty much it for Obama and liberal priorities. I don't mean to sound like an Obamabot, but politics is the art of the possible, and a good bill is not possible, not now and probably not ever (ninety years and still waiting).
Let's take the turd sandwich, cause otherwise we're gonna starve to death.