I'm struck by the complete lack of competent leadership of the Democratic Party. It's absolutely shocking. Can you imagine Lyndon Johnson putting up with this? They have a majority in both houses and they can't pass a health care bill. Instead I see Howard Dean arguing with Senator Landrieu on Hardball. I know Will Rogers was joking – I don’t belong to an organized party, I’m a Democrat – but this goes beyond the pale. Clearly, the Democratic Party is a ship without a rudder and it's about time someone gets control of the boat before it hits an iceberg. Who is at fault for this? Let me count the ways.
First, President Obama, I get that you think you should be above all of this and normally I'd agree, but it's your Administration and the buck stops with you. How about getting out of character and using the power of your office to get things done? It’s your ass that’s on the line, protect it.
Second, Republicans. How about this Democrats? Instead of arguing amongst ourselves, come out and attack Republicans for accepting the status quo and eyeing the demise of Medicare. How about instead of Democrats going on Hardball to debate the bill we get a couple Democrats to simply get on the tube and call out Republicans for the phonies they are.
Third, Lieberman. You sleep with a prima donna you get burned. Think of it. An independent, who is a member of the Democratic caucus refuses to vote for cloture of a Democratic bill and there are no consequences. You have got to be kidding me. At the caucus meeting yesterday, he was reported to have said it hasn’t been easy for him. Poor Joe, but it really hasn’t been easy on the 47,000,000 who don't have health insurance or the 40,000 people who die each year because they lack coverage. Poor Joe, he’s taking heat because he’s playing a game of chicken with the lives of the uninsured. What a dick. (WAD).
Fourth, get the bill to vote and see what happens. Will these Senators really stop health care on a cloture vote? Right now, it’s just an abstract argument, but when the vote comes down and lives are involved will Lieberman, Landrieu, or Nelson be so cavalier. There are American lives on the line. (I have particular disdain for Landrieu. When Louisianans needed help after Katrina I was all for the helping, but when other Americans need help, she’s arguing with Dean on national TV.)
Fifth, stop making conservative Democrats committee chairs. The problems with the health care bill lead back to Senator Baucus of Montana. Montana? Pretty state, but Christ, San Jose, California has as many people.
Sixth, Rahm Emanuel. I get he thinks he a wheeler dealer, but he shook my hand at the Jefferson Park train station in Chicago when he was running for Congressman, and, frankly, if it takes that to get elected he isn’t the hot shot he thinks he is – you’d have to see the Jefferson Park train station to understand. Wake up Rahm, there is a powerful wing of the Democratic Party that isn’t really happy with what is going on and when push comes to shove they did far more to help put the Democratic Party into power than you think. I know you think we are the equivalent of the Republican’s Christian Right, but we aren’t quite that blind.
Well, I’m sure there are others, but this is a good start. In the end, this bill needs to be voted on immediately. Any further delays will continue to weaken this bill and the Administration to the point of ridiculous.