I'm one of those rah-rah Obama cheerleaders who "real" progressive denigrate as, well, "rah-rah Obamaphiles." Unlike some fellow activists, I do not expect the perfect president, the perfect congress, or the perfect legislation. I am one of those willing to accept moving forward in steps.
Today I am dismayed at seeing virtually the entire Dem caucus, including POTUS, give up on HCR because we lost one single seat in one single branch of government. Then Gibbs comes out to the podium to say absolutely nothing about the HCR plan. Nothing, other than vague "remains committed" and "nothing will happen before Brown is seated."
Two bills have already passed. We do not need the Senate to pass anything more to get a bill to the president.
I volunteered in four different states during the presidential primary and general, donated the maximum, have donated to DNC for health care, and made more than 100 calls into MA over the long weekend to help save Coakley. I am as "base" as it gets.
We lost. But if Democrats let HCR fall apart because of it, I swear to my higher power, not another dime, not another minute. I will turn 100% of my activist focus to local community issues where things might actually happen. I'll be sad when Republicans again take over in 2010 and 2012, when they fill SCOTUS with extremists and send us to more unnecessary wars, but I can't want Democrats in power more than the elected leaders themselves. I cannot watch the most important Democratic issue die because we lost one seat in one branch of government.
Step up, Obama. Step up now.