One of the most memorable and heartening lines of the Obama campaign was, "I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change."
He was absolutely right about that and the ways of Washington have not changed. Tonight we got a flavor of what is to come if the ways of Washington do not change.
I wish this diary came in a nice neat package with a bow around it. I wish I could say, "Here is what's wrong. Here is how to fix it." But I don't. Washington is still a toxic waste dump where good ideas go to die. We would have health care reform today except that Republicans have leveraged every single asset they have. They have taken advantage of rules. They have taken advantage of Obama's good nature. They have taken great advantage of such craven politicians as Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman.
Jim DeMint got it right. Stopping health care reform would significantly damage Obama's popularity. With Obama slowed, they could regain their power in Washington.
My advice to Obama is to get out of Washington. Washington is the problem. The process is the problem. Get out into the states and campaign for what you believe in. Forget the sausage making. Its time to work with the only real asset you have ever had: the support and goodwill of the American people.