A Glimmer of Hope…

Word from the bizarro world inside the beltway is the progressives in the Democratic Party finally took their balls out of their collective pockets and figured out what they’re for.  After a completely watered down compromise on the health care bill was agreed to yesterday,  the progressives are today drawing a line in the sand.  Forget that 72-78% of the nation wants a strong public option- forget that the reason support for the President’s health care plans is slipping is really because the plan is getting weaker- forget the Republicans’ cries of a secret euthanasia provision hidden in the folds of the bill- the most important news coming out of Washington yesterday is the pulse- weak, maybe- but the promising hint of a pulse from the progressive wing of the Dems.  

For those who ever thought this fight would be short, or easy, I encourage you to go back in time to your elementary school days, and watch Schoolhouse Rock’s “I’m Just a Bill.”    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dVo3nbLYC0

Truly an informative piece of work.

Are you kidding?

Is this how it’s really going to play out? After the campaign to kick off the 2009 health care battle began with a blustery fire and brimstone burst of high-minded rhetoric, we’re going to fold up the tents and retreat from the battlefield claiming victory,  waving a white flag at half mast as we dash toward our home districts for the August break ?

And are you really going to try to pin the blame on the Republicans? Yes, I know they are a bunch of obstructionist pricks, and yes, they more often behave like a group of extras from a D.W. Griffith movie than elected officials entrusted with representing ALL their constituents, but you have to admire the way they don’t form a circular firing squad when they pick a fight.

I am so fucking sick of Blue Dog  Elephant Democrats, and I am so sick of trying not to get sick until we get a decent health care plan, and now I have come to the conclusion that the only way I’ll be able to obtain health care is to go on Arizona’s public program.  My family actually brings home about 50k a year, and that still isn’t enough to afford health insurance. 

I don’t know if Barry Crimmins was the first one to say it, but he sure said it eloquently:  “Whoever introduced the  profit motive to health care is an evil, evil man.”  Even in a capitalist system, some things are off limits.  Health care is one of them.