Is it just me or has what has transpired over the last several weeks seemed like the ultimate chess match?
On July 13, which now seems like eons ago, Obama moved the first pawn:
President Obama had a message Monday morning for critics who say his bid for a health care overhaul is losing momentum: “Don’t bet against us.’’
After a week-long trip overseas, Mr. Obama returned to the Oval Office to begin what advisers say will be a full-throated attempt to regain control over the debate about health care, and also the economy. Appearing in the Rose Garden to announce Dr. Regina Benjamin as his nominee for surgeon general, Mr. Obama began by taking a sharp swing at his critics.
“I just want to put everybody on notice, because there was a lot of chatter during the week that I was gone,’’ the president said. “We are going to get this done. Inaction is not an option. For those naysayers, cynics who think that this is not going to happen: Don’t bet against us, we are going to make this thing happen because the American people desperately need it.’’
Game on:
I remember thinking at the time that Obama knew exactly where this was going; he sized up his opponent, and knew they were about to get a lesson on how to play the game.
Enter the Teabaggers during the Congressional recess in August.
To make your objections heard in Washington, simply place a tea bag in an envelope along with a short and polite letter explaining your protest. Send it to your elected representatives in D.C.. You can find your representatives and their addresses by entering your zip code at the congress.gov website. You can also send a similar protest letter and tea bag to President Obama as well as the leaders and key committee chairs in the Senate and House. Ordinary first class mail letter postage will be sufficient. UPDATE: Some people have written in to say that there may be problems with a tea bag getting through security. You may want to just include the tag from the tea bag, an empty tea bag, or print out a picture of the tea bag. Feel free to use the flagged tea bag image on this website if you want.
Nothing more than the right picking off a couple of pawns, yet claiming victory because they had more pieces than Obama.
Once congress got back into session, it was time for the rooks, bishops and knights to do their thing. Nancy Pelosi did her thing, and took out the other opponents bishops. Ignoring the pawns (the media talking heads on both sides), she hit them where it hurt.
Eventually, the game became serious, with the Republicans trying their damnest to stay in the game and remain relevent.
To no avail.
Check.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) announced Monday that he will seek to bring a health-care bill to the Senate floor that includes a government insurance plan, a major reversal from just two weeks ago, when Reid was leaning against the idea.
He also called for the bill to include a version of the so-called public option with an clause that would allow states to decide by 2014 not to participate in the government plan.
"The best way to move forward is a public option with the opt-out provision for states," Reid told reporters, adding that he "clearly" believes that such a bill would have "the support of my caucus."
Games not over yet, but the writing is on the wall...