By way of introduction, I have a pretty low ID number. I used to comment a lot. Wrote a diary or two. I have been avoiding commenting or even reading much in the midst of the HCR debates. It was too painful, I didn't have much to say, and much of what I'd see from both conservadems and progressives made my blood boil. Besides, to the extent that I was following things, they were actually tracking as well as could be expected. I would describe my policy positions (such as they are) as center or center left. Now, for the first time since Bush unilateraly sent us to war in Iraq, I'm really really angry with the Democrats. I'm sure I'm not the only one, and I wish they would listen.
Being angry with Republicans is a way of life, sort of like breathing. There's not much you can do with them. At this point, those who had any sense have left the party, so there's even less you can do with the ones who are left.
Still, being a moderate Democrat means I've been pretty happy with Obama, and not more than mildly annoyed at congress. I've actually enjoyed dialing back on my politics fix for most of the last year.
But these latest developments are bringing me screeching back.
I had no particular attachment to the public option--there didn't seem to be much point in forming one, considering that it was extremely unlikely to get through the senate. Like most of my fellow citizens, I know very little about the details of the options on the table--I do know the broad strokes, which seem to indicate all options being considered are pretty sizable improvements, on balance, over the status quo. I firmly believe in politics as the art of the possible. Sure, there's a lot of value in asking for more than you can get, because you never know how far you can move the window. But there's also value, when you are actually trying to get something enacted, to know what the limit is, and stop noodling so that you can get something done.
But let me get this straight. The house passed a bill. check. The senate passed a fairly similar bill. check. (and if you think they aren't similar, consider what a Democratic vs. Republican bill would look like--or even the current bills vs a progressive dream bill) While neither bill is close to the holy grail, an array of people I trust say that they are a marked improvement over the status quo. check. OK, because of the latest shake up of the senate, does the senate have to vote again to pass their own bill? No. OK, in the current climate, can we get a more progressive or wider reaching bill through? No. Are we unable to get the senate version through and then have to settle for something worse? Um, no.
What? I get that politics is the "art of the possible"--but passing the senate bill is still possible--and it's better than other options on the table. So maybe it will take them some time to wrap their heads around it, and maybe there are measures made through reconcilliation that can be done to make the whole thing happen, but get out of the fetal position, Dems--your jobs depend on it. Because I know that your enemies will be stronger and your friends more apathetic and your chances of getting something through on jobs and financial regulation will become close to nothing if you can't get your act together and get this passed. And if you take a little time and find that you're between only the senate bill and no bill, tough luck--pass it anyway.
I'm not sure who is responsible for the House "not having the votes". (Speaking of knowing what is possible, it's simple. Any non-Republican vote is a possible vote. Dems in the house have enough of them to get the senate bill through, period) I imagine it's a combination of 1. progressives (what, suddenly you can't steamroll progressives--isn't that a given in politics?) 2. conservadems (guess what guys, "I was for it before I was against it" was really not a winning line before, and it sure as heck isn't going to be now) and a separate pro-life subset (just sit on those people until they cry uncle). All of those people need to knock it off.
Support for Democrats (especially of the more than just voting kind) depends on people being engaged and energized. Sure, you can downplay progressives as the "far left" or terms less kind and try to use them as a foil, but if you lose us moderate Democrats, those of us who were perfectly fine with the house or senate bill as a first step, but NOT fine with doing nothing, because it's too hard, or you're too scared, or too myopic. I don't want to have to keep ranting--it's not my style--and frankly, if you rant all the time, people stop taking you seriously. But this is demoralizing beyond belief and just reinforces the worst fears of the left and best hopes of the right. So stop it--we will not forgive you if you let healthcare dribble away despite having the means to enact it right in front of you, and don't try to distract us with other "popular" issues--we're not that stupid.