There's a diary up on the rec-list about last nights The Rachel Maddow Show. Another show in which she dominates the political climate and explains to her viewers that what is going on in Washington is so partisan and so political that republicans are voting against their own proposals. Some of the comments in the thread of the rec-d diary call for more analysis of the video clips shown....so I edited some of the clips and have given a bit of a summary of the clips both shown and what I edited out.
Here's the republican inclusion in the Senate Bill. The clip shows the 4 requirements Minority Leader Boehner said had to be in any health-care reform bill in order to get republican support. #1. Buy across state lines...in the bill. #2 Allowing individuals and small business's to band together and buy plans that lower the costs....in the bill. #3 Give states the tools to create their own, good reform....in the bill. and #4. Tort reform....in the bill.
The republican response to having all of their policies in the bill? Scrap the bill! The part I don't include is Rachel talking about the failures of striving for bi-partisanship. She goes on to explain how after months and months of concessions and trying to get republicans on board has resulted in ONE republican member of the house voting for Health-care reform.
We pick it up with Ezra Klein:
Klein goes into how the Dems started out by scrapping the public option in a move to compromise with the republicans. Meaning the bill is a POLICY compromise already. The part that has yet to be figured out is how to POLITICALLY compromise with the Repubs who have no real interest in achieving a POLITICAL compromise. He then talks about hos Bob Dole, Howard Baker, and Tom Daschle came up with a pretty bi-partisan bill that looks a lot like the Senate Bill today, yet is getting NO republican support. It is obvious to Klein and Maddow that the objection by the republicans has nothing to do with policy and everything to do with politics.
This final segment is my favorite part of the show and where the net-roots can get active. You really gotta watch the whole thing to really enjoy the magnitude of the hypocrisy. Maddow goes through the list (and boy is it long) of republican House and Senate, and Governors, who railed and even voted against the Stimulus Package, who then took the money and held ceremonies taking credit for securing the funds provided by the Stimulus. She shows clips of these same people who voted against the Stimulus handing giant checks out to their constituents. If we can get wind of when these events are going to take place perhaps a few of us could show up to ask why these same people voted against the bill they are touting as a success? You know...do the job our media has decided against doing?
Here are some links to the stories Maddow cited. Think Progress's report on republican hypocrisy. Politico's report on republican hypocrisy. Washington Times report on republican hypocrisy.
I will also keep the link to the original diarist's blog..it seems like a good one to check out. Also, I live in Ohio and support Jennifer Brunner...if you want more and better dems in the Senate give her some love. Or some time.
Hope everyone is enjoying the snow!!!