Blowing It

I like to think big picture. You have to, right, in this world? If you're not a couple of steps ahead of something, you might as well be SOL. I subscribe to this theory for most important things in my life. Why not apply it to our elected leaders? Namely, the spineless Democrats.

Let's look at the facts of the last year or two, shall we?

1. The U.S. has a president elected decisively in most areas of the nation (west/east/north) as he ran on one major domestic issue: health-care reform.

2. In the last 2.5 years, the country has elected a sizable, solid majority in Congress. In fact, the Democrats have 60 votes in the Senate, a filibuster majority.

3. A Republican party beaten to a pulp by their own unlawful and incompetent style of governing (or is it anti-governing?) through a national security crisis, record income equality, fake wars, botched wars, spying on their own citizens, black sites and Katrina.

You add those three, what do you get? A certified, powerful majority in government to do what you said you'd do. It's a democracy people. Do what we all elected you to do, as you said you would, as I thought we all understood you would do in really fighting for health care, strong climate legislation and at least an acknowledgment that our country's policies toward gay citizens is atrocious. Give us something.

Eschaton:

I appreciate the "an ok bill is better than no bill" arguments, but things have changed since 2004. Health costs have continued to go up at absurd rates. Dems have 60 senators, a big majority in the House, and we just elected a popular president whose central campaign issue was... health care reform. There can be incremental improvements later, possibly, but they can also make it worse. Given the way things work in that stupid town, we get one big bite at the apple. An "ok" bill lets the insurance company skimmers keep stealing their share for doing nothing useful other than denying people care. Maybe it means they get to do this a bit less aggressively than they do now, and maybe it means some more people get somewhat better health care, but it also leaves the skimmers in place.

I understand that not everyone is expected to walk in lock-step, but, come on. Act like something you talked up is going to happen. You'll claim Iraq, but that was winding down anyway (Bush's old military is now Obama's. Remember that when you hear from these generals and military officials.) And you think you're headed to "bipartisan" education policy in 2013? You've seen how old white people reacted when they thought you were going to send them naked out in the snowy woods at a certain age? What do you think will happen when you try to "SOCIALIZE!!!" all the kids' schools? OUR CHILDREN? With you godless, savage Democrats that will only force abortions and indoctrinate the State into malleable brains? No thanks Commie!

Ultimately (if it hasn't happened already) the Right and the press will detest Nancy Pelosi as vehemently as the Left did Tom DeLay. But you know what the difference is between those two strong-arms of the House? "The Hammer" DeLay was a crook and an influence peddler. The Right's big problem with Pelosi? She doesn't have a dick.