The ever optimistic liberal health care journalist Jonathan Cohn
explains
how a limited breather from working on the issue could
potentially help Democrats pass the legislation:
Use the coming days, or maybe weeks, to improve the Democrats’
political standing by focusing on jobs and banking regulation;
allow congressional members time to digest the political shock
of Massachusetts and figure out that their best political
interest lies in passing a blll; give Congressional negotiators
the time and space to work out a new House-Senate compromise.
I’ve heard this argument a number of times and I’m not really
sure how this would work in practice. Even assuming that
Democrats, within weeks, magically repair their political
standing by addressing other issues, why would they then want to
return to the issue that caused them to lose political standing
in the first place?
Barb| 2.2.10 @ 12:45PM
They believe this rot because they believe 'we the people' are like little children who will 'calm down and forget' what they did in the first place. These people are truly filled with hubris.
Fiat Voluntas Tua
NVA Patriot| 2.2.10 @ 12:54PM
They are operating from a premise that the oldstream-media still set the news agenda. If your friends set the agenda, then of course people will not be reminded of the HELL the democrats put the electorate through in 2009 fighting against healthcare.
No one forgets a battle, especially a battle won.
They and their old-stream friends don't realize that WE the PEOPLE set the agenda - made easier now that we get the right information - Thank you Fox, Glenn, Rush, Redstate, Michelle, American Spectator, and the rest of the conservative team.
Tim| 2.2.10 @ 1:02PM
For Democrats. politically, it is all down hill from here until the next Bush Administration.
Assuming deveastating defeat in November, would they try to pass healthcare in a December lame duck session? I wouldn't put it past them.
ggoblue| 2.2.10 @ 2:21PM
OMG you nailed it...thats exactly what they did between reagans landslide and inauguration....passed budgets 20 years into the future...then anything reasonable became a draconian 'cut'....
i have no doubt they will try this. you nailed it.
DrTomVoter| 2.2.10 @ 3:12PM
Nailed it is right. I'd go so far as to bet on it. Lame duck Reid. Pelosi's SOTH reign ending. The many defeated Blue Dogs, who were only blue due to fear of not being re-elected. Oh, and let's not forget a President who knows that in a matter of weeks he won't get squat out of Congress for the rest of his term.
Ramming thru healthcare? Heck, think of the whole enchillada of socialist bills.
Thanks for ruining my day, Tim.
martin j smith| 2.2.10 @ 1:06PM
The quote is interesting because it says that decsion to pass or should I say Jam thru ( reconciliation ) Healthcare would be in their "political interest. Note, not the interest of the American People. Yeah I know, this smartaleck will say that American and democrat political interests are one and the same. This where the concept of alternate reality comes in. And, why it is vital for voters who are on the side of Freedom
for th American people must always be alert as to what the so called Democrat Party is up to. That includes Information about what the Left is up to .
Finally, getting ready for 2010 and 2012 NOW: Information to the public as to how badly our economy and therefore our national seurity will be hurt. And what can be done. Plus get out the vote and anti-voter fraud organizing.
Siegfried X| 2.2.10 @ 2:14PM
The Democrats have missed their window of opportunity. Health care is now just another piece of legislation. In order to pass it, they would need to start over and renegotiate.
David| 2.2.10 @ 3:15PM
Look at the polls. Every time health care gets pushed from the headlines, Obama's poll numbers go up. Let's not forecast the Democrats' demise too early. We need a strategy for keeping up the pressure.