President Obama, I’ve been with you throughout on the health care roller-coster. Even as many fellow liberals pilloried your willingness to compromise to get a bill done, I thought it was your pragmatism in letting Congress get it sorted and get the votes that was just what was needed. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t everything we wanted but it was pretty darn good given what you were up against with the Nelsons and Landrieus and Liebermans to contend with.
And right now the bill is one vote away from reaching your desk – a vote in the House on the Senate bill – and you seem to be caught in the headlights, unsure of your next steps or even whether health care can happen at all. As a strong supporter I find your behavior since the Coakley defeat massively disappointing. Your party is calling you for a lifeline and your not answering the damn phone.
I have found this whole notion that Democrats should be dispirited because of the health care compromises ridiculous – until now. I felt that all the people pissed there was no public option were missing the point and all too willing to let the perfect be the enemy of the good. But, after all the compromises, all the work, all the other issues that have been overlooked for the last six months – if you give up the fight for health care now, then why should we fight for it or for you for that matter.
I understand you’re not sure you want to double down on this bill given the hand Scott Brown dealt you. I can see why you would want to walk away from comprehensive reform and start talking jobs and deficits (which of course the health bill reduces). But, defeat now after getting so close would make the defeat of Hillarycare look like a minor setback. This defeat would represent a colossal failure.
So Mr. President please don’t give up the fight. At least not yet, until you are sure there is no more options left – whether its the House passing the bill or maybe even locking the pathetic and scummy Olympia Snowe in the White House until she caves (and boy do I hope the people of Maine see Olympia Snowe for the cowardly and ignorant politician she is – as her only position seemed to be asking for more time to consider things even as she voted no).
Your election was one of the high-points of my life. Your presidency has been distinguished and classy and composed and competent. Its been what I was looking for. This however is a seminal moment. We need leadership. We need that now. The country needs to see that the change you offered is still possible.
is “screw them”
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p>They never went away. They are the same slimeballs as they always have been for the past 30 yrs.
Obama will be jettisoning healthcare, just like he did his grandmother during the election. It is not politically expedient for him anymore so healthcare and many of your left wing causes are going down.
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p>Get used to hearing more and more Republicans on the air and involved in the running of our country again. We need balance and its a coming.
‘We need a balance’ means ‘we need to dominate’. Republicans aren’t bi-partisan; they’re obstructionists. They have no idea how to balance-they only know how to bully.
I’d be happy with a 51 vote majority. Anything more and I start to get nervous.
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p>I think your line about being bullies is pure bullshit!