Like many progressive Democrats I've been busy thinking, arguing, praying, calling, writing letters and otherwise trying to push health care reform. The Republican opposition has infuriated me, saddened me, rattled me and toughened me up. Despite the fact that I am extremely political, I have viewed health care reform as a policy issue and hadn't thought about the political ramifications too much except to believe that if the Democrats failed to pass health care reform they would pay a heavy political price. That kind of changed today.
Earlier this afternoon I started noticing (via Twitter) some interesting comments and actions by Republicans.
@JonathanSinger reported that GOP Congressman M. Diaz-Balart, running in a competitive district just voted with Democrats on Health Care Reform amendment in Budget committee.
ABC News blog says
Former Republican House Majority Leader and current Tea Party leader Dick Armey said today that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is "inept" but that Congress would likely still pass health care reform.
@mattyglesias reports DeMint "less confident' that health care reform can be stopped.
Open Left says
While there is still much work to be done, the momentum is on the side of passage right now. Those who seek to stop it can only lose three (or even one) more votes. The way things are going, that is a real longshot.
Chris Bowers :: With only 219 "no" votes on health reform, maximum, momentum shifts toward passage
This smattering of reports makes it clear that HCR advocates seem to have the wind at their back this week. This very, very tough job may actually get done. Some Republicans are beginning to prepare their ardent supporters for failure by warning that passage is imminent. And today, for the first time, I'm wondering what their supporters will think and do.
What's going to happen now? Will Republicans hold their leaders responsible for failing to block passage of reform? Will some Independents get caught up in the post-passage euphoria that will be associated with passage of historic legislation like they did following President Obama's election? Will the Right go crazy and get more fired up? Or will these teabaggers--many of whom are 55+ years old and have spurned political activity for their whole lives--give up on the political process?
I really don't know the answers to these questions....I feel like we are on the brink of something very important. And I just can't wait to see what happens next.