Yes, the Senate bill is a horrible bill. But it's still a lot better than doing nothing, which is the only other option. I know it. You know it. Hell, the Republicans know it, which is why they are giddy that the Democrats are about to kill it. And the House has to know it too. But we can't get them to commit to passing it.
At times like this I find myself thinking that it would be great to be a member of the GOP. Truly I do. If I was a Republican, look what I would get:
* My party gets a 1-vote majority (relying on the VP to cast the deciding vote) and we enact our agenda as if we'd gotten a sweeping mandate.
* I get absolute party loyalty from all members, even the ones whose electoral chances would actually be improved by bucking the party.
* I can lose two consecutive landslide elections and continue without nary a thought that maybe the people don't like what I'm doing and saying.
* I can watch my entire foreign policy program bring on disaster and be certain that it was the out-of-power, ineffective opposition party that caused all problems.
*I can watch my tax cuts and deregulation policies bring on the worst economic crisis since the Depression, and blame it all on the man who was president 30 years ago, or the guy who wasn't even in office yet.
That must be nice. It looks even better after watching the Democrats in the Senate run around like a bunch of hyperactive 2 year olds - all running in different directions and each of them demanding to be made the center of attention - then running around like panic monkeys and screaming for their mommies at the first sign of something slightly worrisome.
I hate Democrats. I really, really hate them. In fact, the only thing that I hate worse than Democrats is Republicans.
Yeah, call your representative and tell him/her to vote for the Senate bill. After all, we're the only spine the Democratic Party has.