We've gone from the Teddy Kennedy health care bill to the Joe Lieberman bill.
The Senate is proving it's a failed institution if the Democratic majority can only support legislation that does nothing close to what its original intent. Senators are unwilling to stand up on principle rather than the holy writ of getting any win, no matter what it means. But the anger directed towards Joe Lieberman is off-base; where this failure lands is on the doorstep of Pres. Obama, an executive who can't bring himself to lead.
Pres. Obama is desperate for "a win" on health care (and everyone, especially Joe Lieberman, knows it), because he took for granted that it would be easy to get it done. Naive doesn't even come close to the President's miscalculation, but that's what happens when you stand too long looking into the reflecting pool.
A commenter who has frequented my blog, a Republicanturned Obama Democrat, wrote this yesterday on my Facebook page:
Lieberman is disgusting. I'm furious with the entire Democratic party. To think I switched party for change, what a damn laugh. I agree with Howard Dean. vote down the bill in the Senate. Harry Reid is a creep and a sleaze. These guys all are just concerned with themselves, not the American people.
Pres. Obama doesn't care. It's a win or bust for him, with the health care train now careening towards an end of the year crash.
First Obama let the August recess come and go without a bill. Getting bested by Sarah Palin's "death panels" squeal came next. The finale of getting beat by Joe Lieberman having operatic overtones, given Joe's recent history with progressives in Connecticut. Mr. Obama doesn't care about the details as long as he can say he beat seven presidents who failed that came before him. He's betting history won't remember the minutia; it will simply be written that it was Barack Obama who got it done.
He never expected Dr. Howard Dean to throw a rhetorical grenade in the middle of his end of the year finale. (continues here)
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