Sausage Making (Posted by AS)

Yes, I am still alive out there. Lest you millions of devoted readers think that DT has completely taken over this blog, I thought it was time for another post. For now, just a few observations from watching the deliberations in the House over the health care bill last night. I turned on the TV at 8:00, having been told that each side would get one hour of "debate". Of course, 2 hours in Congress is like the last 2 minutes of an NCAA March Madness game. Both take MUCH longer than the actual time allotted on the clock.

1. CNN's coverage was (somewhat) surprisingly lame. Wolf Blitzer, who is purported to be a political sage, was more of a play-by-play man. In fact, Joe Buck could have done a better job. Wolf's primary responsibilities consisted of letting viewers know that the vote had not yet happened and re-introducing the esteemed panelists. I know it was a Sunday, and maybe his contract requires him to have a day off, but I would have much preferred Anderson Cooper driving the bus. Blitzer provided absolutely no insight, but only directed the camera to the various panelists. As for said panelists, only Sanjay Gupta, Donna Brazile, and the token Republican strategist (whose name eludes me) brought anything to the table. The problem seemed to be that CNN was so worried about being labelled pro-Democrat that it bent over backwards to have its own version of "fair and balanced." There were far too many commercial breaks, most of which seemed to be taken when Democrats were speaking. All in all, CNN's coverage fell flat, but I really had no choice. On principle, I refuse to watch Fox. And CSPAN? Well, its not in HD. C'mon, are we barbarians?

2. In the long run, the Republicans did their party a tremendous disservice last night. History will not judge them kindly. The sheer hypocrisy of expressing righteous indignation for procedural matters which they themselves have used many times is astounding. And then, the outrageous gall to accuse the Democrats of arrogance, is so hypocritcal it should collapse under its own weight. I mean, who are the Republicans to claim the mantle of speakign for "the American public"? Yes, lots of Americans oppose the legislation (mostly because they are ill-informed but that's a different argument), but guess what guys? There are millions of Americans who support it too! Talk about arrogant!

3. Nancy Pelosi should be discouraged from speaking publicly as much as possible. She is hardly the face that the Democrats should put forward. I know, she's a very smart woman and an astute politician. She didnt get to be Speaker of the House for nothing. But her final speech was nothing short of disturbing. Her oratory skills are poor. What was that strange humming and muttering? Bizarre.

4. John Boehner is truly frightening. To quote Jason Berlin, he must sleep in a coffin during the day. See my point #2 above for my substantive disagreement. In my opinion, it's absolutely shameful for a party leader to rant and rave the way he did.

5. After last night, I have a lot more respect for John Stupak and Steven Lynch. Even though I disagree with Stupak on the abortion issue, good for him for standing up for his principles and good for him for calling out the Republicans for cynically trying to kill the health care bill in the name of being pro-life. As Stupak so eloquently pointed out, you can't be "pro-life" without also caring about the lives of the pregnant women carrying the fetuses in their wombs. I hope that the irony and idiocy of the Republican representative who shouted out "baby killer!" as Stupak was speaking further exposes how the right is motivated by blind ideology.

As for Rep. Lynch, he also stuck to his beliefs in the face of what must have been withering pressure from the White House, Unions and just about everyone else in his power base. I found it very funny that he was labelled one of the so-called "Brave Democrats" to vote against the bill, when the reason he was voting against it was that he felt it didn't go far enough to controlling insurance company profits or providing a public option.

6. Speaking of "bravery", it's quite revealing that not a single Republican house member had the guts to vote for the bill. You mean to tell me that not a single one of them supported the idea of insuring 35 million uninsured, or the ability to continue coverage despite illness or a pre-exising condition? Were they so scared of their own leadership, or the perception that a vote for the bill meant an automatic defeat in November? Because it appears to me, that a large part of the opposition to the bill was based on fear, but fear is not an appropriate motivation for passing or not passing laws.

7. I think it was a mistake for the Democrats to invoke Ted Kennedy's legacy as a reason to pass the bill. Yes, Kennedy toiled tirelessly and made it his life's work. But that's putting sentiment before substance. By the way, I wonder how all the Massachusetts voters feel who voted for Scott Brown because they were convinced that he would be the hero would would kill health care reform? Kind of like being stood up waiting for a prom date? Or sold the deed to the Brooklyn Bridge? Unfortunately, many Brown voters are not even politically aware enough to realize they've been duped.

8. The Republicans, despite their loss on this issue, still seem to be better at getting their message out, and energizing their base. Obama's Cult of Personality notwithstanding, the Republicans still maintain a large enthusiasm advantage. Of course, some of this comes from the Tea Partiers, but in many ways, the Democrats fall far short in getting their core message out.

Time will tell how things play out on health care, and other important issues, between now and November, and beyond. But if nothing else, last night's scene on Capitol Hill confirmed the old adage that people who enjoy eating sausage should never watch it being made.