Senate Democrats are dropping hints that they’ll pursue filibuster reform at the beginning of the next congress, which really, is the proper response to flagrant Republican abuse of the maneuver. But that has got me thinking; if Senate Democrats are genuinely interested in reforming the filibuster — and if House Democrat are serious about passing legislation — then passing health care reform is as important as ever. The only way the Senate will be in a position to change the rules come next January is if Democrats maintain control of the Senate, and passing health care reform makes it far more likely that Democrats will escape November with their majority intact.
Beyond that, Democrats must know that in addition to dooming their efforts in November, failure to pass health care reform will signal to Republicans that there is nothing to stop them from running roughshod over the remnants of the Democratic agenda. If Democrats are actually interested in governing for the rest of the year (and beyond), the only real option they have is to pass health care reform.
I think you have it backwards, Jamelle. The only way the Senate will be in a position to change the rules come next January is if Democrats maintain control of the Senate, and passing health care reform makes it far less likely that Democrats will escape November with their majority intact.
Why do you think Pelosi and Slaughter are trying the rules change to “deem” ObamaCare to pass in the house without having actually voted on it? House Dems are afraid to vote in favor of the Senate bill because it would cost them the upcoming elections.
So…ObamaCare or maintaining control of Congress? That’s their dilemma.
Read my previous post about enthusiasm.
I did; it’s at odds with the apparent political realities of today. Otherwise the professional “office holders” wouldn’t be acting as rhey are.
It’s pretty established fact that mid-term elections are turnout elections, and they key problem facing Democrats isn’t that health care reform is unpopular or that Republicans are popular, it’s that Democrats aren’t motivated to vote for their candidates. Passing health care reform will fix that problem. Beyond that, the trend is towards greater public support for health care reform. Unless you can prove to me or show me an instance where a party delivering on its key campaign promise was damaging to its election chances, I’m just going to assume that you either a) don’t understand the data or b) don’t care.
Jamelle,
If ObamaCare was actually delivering on a campaign promise you’d be right. But current leftist public sentiment is that it doesn’t deliver on that promise. So much for motivation of the Left.
On the other hand, it would motivate the Right in greater numbers to vote the Dems out of office.
I think the difference is that you’re discussing healthcare reform whereas I’m speaking of the legislation in Congress.
Yeah, you don’t know what you’re talking about. You just have to quickly peruse liberal blogs to see that most liberals want this thing to pass.
Or one could look at various polls which cover a broader selection of the populace than the blogging community does. Those polls show a strong bipartisan disapproval of ObamaCare and one that is getting stronger everyday.
Jamelle, do you think we’re normal? You, I, and the rest of political bloggers are far more polarized in our beliefs, far more researched, and farm more likely to be involved than most of America. Don;t judge society by what we do.