Keith Olbermann joins the self-destruction chorus and tries to lead Democrats off a cliff
Here’s another example of why progressives can’t govern. If they don’t get what they want, many of them get self-righteous and go home. It’s pitiful.
I’m watching Keith Olbermann, and he’ll soon be giving a “special comment” and it looks like he agrees with Howard Dean. Dean’s notion that we can just go to reconciliation or take this up again next year or in two years is the dumbest thing I’ve heard in years. Killing the bill is a political disaster for Democrats, and for President Obama.
It’s a good bill. Get it passed.
Olbermann is arguing that reconciliation is a real option. It’s not. It’s a last resort for a reason – you can’t get much done with it. It’s messy as hell and will hold up a host of other progressive priorities. If this deal blows up, of course I support reconciliation, and if the threat of it helps move the last Senator now, then I’m all for the bluster. But the best option is to pass the bill now.
Fortunately, congressmen like Anthony Weiner are not rushing to side with Dean. That’s been left to the blowhards.
UPDATE: Markos was on Olbermann and sounded much more balanced on this issue. Surprisingly, he didn’t join the “kill the bill” chorus and expressed some hope the bill would be improved through the conference. Of course he was pessimistic as hell, but at least he’s not being as unhelpful as Howard Dean.
UPDATE 2: This is Olbermann at his worst. He’s focusing on the name-calling coming from the right. He’s lost in the politics. In his mind the bill will “cost Obama the left.” Really? He’s completely lost his mind.
Posted in: Democrats, Health Care, Liberals
Tags: Anthony Weiner, blowhards, Howard Dean, Keith Olbermann, kill the bill, Markos, progressives
The question to ask here is– why the hell watch KO?
Ha! Good point (if he keeps this up).
Regardless of how one feels about the bill, his advice his is stupid from a political point of view.
Olbermann is right, Dean is right. What’s wrong with you people? You may think it is normal for the powerful to be entitled to a pound of flesh whenever there’s a reform to be passed, but the rest of the world calls that corruption. If Olbermann is wrong about anything here is that he still thinks that Obama can be saved. He is bought and sold. He’s a triangulationist of the worst type and will lead his party to the abyss as happened in 1994. Why, even Rahm Emanuel participated in that debacle with his NAFTA arm-twisting. Funny how he always twists the arms of the progressives and gives the Blue Dogs a pass, and even tried to pack more Blue Dogs in Congress in 2006 though failed miserably yet the so-called liberal media claimed that this was his historic congressional victory and not Howard Dean’s…
I think Obama really wants the Republicans to take Congress… then he’ll get to tell people that they have no choice but to swallow the sacred bipartisanship.
Has it also occurred to people that the parts of the bill jettisoned in the name of “political reality” are the parts that people like, that each jettisoning to appease the Rights and the “moderates” makes the bill less popular? That people, including Independents and Republicans, like the public option? How is it good politics to make the bill less popular?
So interesting:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30737.html
Without bashing Obama too much (or I’ll try not to), I think his lack of experience has caught up with him, in a huge way. The Right obviously hates the bill, and the Left obviously hates the bill. I really think Obama and the dems are in grave danger here and it’s difficult to find a way out. Furthermore, the more this thing languishes in the senate the more the regular folks don’t like it, and the worse congress looks(if that’s even possible).
I can’t, for the life of me, see how the left can consider this a good bill, I just can’t see it-why not tackle things like tort reform, cross state lines for insurance, increase tax free Health Savings Accounts- why not do those sensible things first?
It’s a mess.
Dear A-O, the only good politics is what will pass! Popularity means nothing if you can’t get the votes.
Nick – We disagree on the merits (naturally) and the politics. The bill will be a huge political plus once it passes. The negative poll numbers have more to do with the process.
Gerardo, if you consider saddling the working folks with more red tape and costs a huge political plus, I gather you refer to those who oppose it upon principle the rightful heirs to that “huge political plus” come midterms in 2010? I smell the ever so suble yet distinct scent of change in the air. After all, hope springs eternal.
Most “working folks” will now be able to get health care. Million will get subsidies. This bill helps the working poor more than anyone.
Also, Howard Dean has now flipped and supports passage.