With the loss of a Senate seat, the white house is obviously looking at different options to pass healthcare reform. But what might they be considering, you ask? Reconciliation? Working with the house to pass the senate bill? Passing a bill before Brown in sworn in?
The answer?
None of the above!
According to New York Times, the plan is likely to be to strip down the bill even further, if that is even humanly possible, to satisfy Republicans and get that ever-elusive bipartisan agreement! More below.
In an article titled "Obama Weighs Shift in Health Plan, Seeking G.O.P. Backing", The New York Times reports that
President Obama on Wednesday signaled that he might be willing to set aside his goal of achieving near-universal health coverage for all Americans in favor of a stripped-down measure with bipartisan support.
How many times, oh lord, must it happen? Bipartisanship!?!? How many times must Democrats get their asses kicked before they realize that appeasing Republicans is a losing strategy, both electorally, and for good public policy? The White House obviously doesn't believe the wisdom of this Senate Staffer, who gives 20 years of inside history to demonstrate the obvious: that Republicans are assholes and Democrats are pussies.
Mr. President, for the love of god, pull up your pants. Put on your boxing gloves. Stand for something. Say it with me now: APPEASEMENT - IS - NOT - WORKING. It never has and it never will.
Take this attitude everywhere you can. Fight the banks instead of wagging a finger at them. Fight dirty for HC reform instead of saying "Gee, we really ought to have it". Twist arms for a good energy bill instead of giving another stump speech at a "Green jobs" factory. Please. I spent months of my life fighting for you to get elected. Now fight for me.
And to the rest of us, keep sharpening the pitchforks and keep fighting. We will be heard.
And forgive the offensive metaphor here - I don't mean to offend with the imagery here. And certainly the president shouldn't be singled out for criticism - I could have written this diary about half the Democrats in congress. But I do mean to offend anyone who thinks that the current approach of the Democratic party isn't an absolute train wreck.