Health Care or Bust

It seems clear at this point that the Democratic majority will continue to make attempts at health care reform until... well, bust-- if only because the political ramifications of not successfully passing SOMETHING after 9 months of this ridiculousness is much greater than any backlash the public might have about the way the bill is passed or the contents of the bill. I for one think it's about damn time to stop the hedging and pass the damn thing, in the dirtiest way possible if necessary, and as liberal as possible, if possible.

At this point I believe that energizing the base is much much more important than trying to continue to reach out to the few independents and centrists who seem to still like the Democrats, primarily because it's the base that elects these people (they volunteer, they fund, they scream). Now, I know that's not the direction the Democrats have been going these days, they are trying to incorporate a large variety of views and people into the party to make it as large and powerful as possible (diluting as well, unfortunately), the big tent approach. At this point however, the Republicans seem to have managed to brand a relatively centrist approach to government as so liberal it's going to change the entire world, and end it, and the only good thing that might come out of it is that Jesus definitely will come back when the world has gone that much to shit. So at this point, what do Dems have to lose by appearing as dirty and liberal as Republicans have branded them? Hey Democrats, why not go ahead and "force health care down the throats of Americans," since no matter what you do, they'll think something is being forced somewhere, regardless of how pretty you try to make the process. The faster you can shove a bill up the Republicans' proverbial ass, the faster you can remove their talking points, and move on to letting America forget you ever brought up the subject in the first place. Which is where you want to be right now, trust me. America can remember again in a few years when the thing kicks in, and they realize they wanted it all along.

Nate Silver over at 538 has a terrific article suggesting, I think very correctly as I've pointed out here, that not just on health care, "what Obama has wound up with is an unpopular, liberal sheen on a relatively centrist agenda." Check out what he has to say, it was partly inspiration for this piece.

One development that seems to be worth watching is the increasing unease House Democrats have with passing the Senate version of the health care bill. As the unlikeliness of that vote increases, so does the unlikeliness of passing health care before the President's State of the Union Speech. There had been a vested interest in passing health care before the speech, so that the President could tangibly declare victory and move on. As the speech approaches don't be surprised to suddenly find Democrats at the cusp of a clear solution, one way or another.