The problem is the dems fumbled on second down and lost the ball. The GOP has the ball and is taking a knee to run out the clock. Which is fine with me BTW.

It's like Rahm Emanuel has been replaced by Herm Edwards.

Thus raising the eternal question:
CAN'T ANYONE HERE PLAY THIS GAME!?!?!?

Regarding the GOP: They are who we thought they were.

Quit encouraging the sports nuts, who see a football parallel in every twist of fate because it's all they pay attention to. Football and politics have nothing in common.

If you must draw sports comparisons, try boxing and check out the editorial in WaPo, where the current intelligence occupying the former Fred Hiatt's identity (while the real Republican-sympathizer Fred Hiatt lies in a big leathery pod in his closet) is putting the gloves to Mitch McConnell. This is the second time in about a week that Fred has gone to town on the Republicans; what's next? Talking dogs? Purple sky?

Steve-- I think you missed the point of that... If they're behind by 5 points, a field goal would only get them 3, and a punt, of course, nothing...

So Toles was pointing out that, per their game plan, whatever they do, they plan to lose...

Speaking of metaphors -- could someone PLEASE tell David Axelrod that Obama is the center, the middle, wahtever. And that that should be the immediate response to any stupidities from the MSM clowns like David Gregory.

Don't want to get my football/healthcare reform metaphors mixed up...

Is this the same game where Lucy keeps pulling the ball away when Charlie Brown tries to kick? Or did we already lose that one?

I think you need to make an alteration to the Lucy/Charlie Brown metaphor at this point Steve--cuz it's looking more and more like Obama is Lucy and the American people, led to believe that help was coming very soon only to have Obama give up the fight and let it whither on the vine, are the Charlie Browns here.
Obama has to personally fight to get this done, and I don't see him doing it. Sure, he's saying they should, just like he said they should have a public option included in his HCR speech last year, but I see no evidence of him actually doing what it takes to get it done. This is why I didn't watch the SOTU speech--I know he can give a good speech and energize Dems for a few days or a week--but what happens after that? I want action, nothing else interests me at this point.

I think the metaphor is apt, but a little off.

Sure, the ball's on the one yard line, but the other team (the GOP) has convinced a large portion of the fans (the public) that the ball (the HCR bill) is really a bomb and that the fans don't really want to see it get into the end zone or it will explode and turn all of them communist. In addition, a large part of the offense (Dems) wants to walk off the field and go play something else. Also, there's a sniper (media) in the crowd taking shots at the ball and the quarterback.

I could go on, but I think I hear the Puppy Bowl starting on Animal Planet...

The ball may be inside the five, but the Dems don't seem to realize that, even if it is the bottom of the ninth, the shot clock hasn't been turned off. The repubs are doing an excellent job of penalty killing, and if the Dems don't make a move on the home stretch they just might lose on penalty kicks.

YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!!!

- Herm Edwards, (D) New York

To go with the Charlie Brown metaphor, Charlie needs to get a good running start and kick Lucy in the head.

"It's the last play of the game. It's fourth and one inch. We're behind by five. What do you think? Field goal, or punt?"

The answer to Toles' question is, "Take a knee."

Unfortunately, the over/under in this game is overspending and underproviding.

We no longer have leaders. We have bean counters and cowards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Miracle_at_the_Meadowlands

Everyone already knows the Democrats do not want universal health care or the current system reformed in favor of the working class citizens, it is nothing more than a ruse, to trick people into voting for them much like the republicans trick the religious right into voting for them, to over turn abortion rights or the second amendment and those who support gun rights. They are just not going to do it at all.
Making cute analogies about how both parties continue to fuck over the American people may distract some people for a short time they will get back to what really needs to be done, as they watch the property and money continue to lose value.

Anyone who saw how Edwards mismanaged the clock in many games and, in particular, set Doug O'Brien up for failure against Pittsburgh in a divisional playoff game, knows that the man simply has no killer instinct.

Back in October I wrote a metaphorical piece about Obama and football that actually made it on AMERICAblog. Funny, though, John Aravosis didn't quite understand the analogy even though he featured it.

These recent football quotes from the administration are mostly centered on health care, and are meant to give us the understanding that those in support of health care reform are going to go all out. Unfortunately, thus far, the Obama administration has been more like the analogy in my post.