When Jim DeMint declared the Democrats and Obama's Waterloo would be HCR, he was absolutely right, as long as the GOP was able to hold it up or kill it. Had that happened, had the Democrats with a huge majority in both houses and controlling the White House not got this done it would have shattered the party for a decade at least. The Democrats would have proven themselves to be the spineless and directionless entity that so many of the American people believe them to be. That's exactly how it would have happened.
Except it didn't.
It was X-Mas of 1984 and I had just opened what was the greatest present in the history of Santa. I got the Millenium Falcon. It was AWESOME. It had the gun turrets, you could open the top and have Han and Chewie sit at the chess table. I was certain that there was no way I would ever be that utterly satisfied again.
Then I met my wife. We went for coffee, we went for drinks, we dated, fell madly in love and when I asked her to be my wife a year later and she said yes, I knew that I was wrong. This was the happiest I would ever be.
Then came the kids. First my son and then my daughter. Anyone and I mean anyone who has held their newborn child for the first time and looked down at that tiny face knows exactly how that feels. There aren't words.
Now while I have never experienced anything approaching my wife's acceptance of my proposal and the birth of my kids, there have been two times that have rivaled the Millenium Falcon. Once was Nov 4, 2008. The other was March 21, 2010. While my health care bill ideal is Single Payer, I am thrilled with this giant step in the right direction. My fellow Kossacks know this and we understand that change comes in steps. This is the beginning.
What terrifies the realists in the GOP is that now that HCR is ready to go and that they opposed it unilaterally, November 2010 is a lot less rosy for them. The American people with now have over 7 months to see that no, there was no Bolshevic takeover of the Washington Monument, that government death panels did not in fact come to grandma's house to smother her in her sleep, that hordes of lesbians with pink machine guns did not in fact storm Mount Rushmore and carve George Washington into Ani DiFranco. What will happen is that while the Dems will still likely lose a few seats come November, that comfortable majority will remain in place.
Here's the thing. American voters like guts. They like winners. They like it when someone gets some skin in the game and beats the other team with determination. What (the smart) GOP strategists have figured out and have even had the temerity to say in public (David Frum for one) is that this is a seriously bad beat for the GOP and that their complete lack of support for this legislation is going to be VERY hard to overcome. If by 2012 the re-elect Obama campaign can say;
- Economy saved? Check
- Health Care reformed? Check
- Iraq stabilized and substantial troop withdraws? Check
- Reputation and Image restored around the world? Check
how can President Obama lose? Is he going to be outperformed in the debates? The guy who took on 135 Republicans at once and kicked their asses? Not likely. The GOP has someone who gives a better speech? Uh, yeah not likely. Maybe someone who appeals to independents? Like who? A moderate Republican can't win the nomination. This is not the West Wing and there is no Alan Alda in the wings of the GOP waiting for his chance. Senator McCain is as close to a moderate as they have and Obama already trounced him.
The bottom line. It was definitely Waterloo. The GOP's problem is that President Obama and Speaker Pelosi are finding out that it's good to be Wellington