Politics isn't about trying to solve problems. For most voters, it's about maintaining tribal identity. For organized wealth, it's about increasing power. For legislators, it's about keeping their jobs so as to get rich faster.
The fact is, our country is broken. Nobody, from B. Obama to the nuttiest tea party shrieker, wants to or can acknowledge that reality.

So many Dems just care about re-election. They hear from their donors and are afraid. They hear Fox News and are afraid. And even after selling-out, they'll get crushed in Nov, 'cause they are stupid and short-sighted.

When I read pieces like this, I sometimes just shake my head...

Sometimes??!? Seems like all I do these days is go 'round shakin' my head at one idiot or 'nother.

Republican argument: We're the greatest country in world history; therefore, we have the greatest health care system in world history. You can put that on your bumper sticker. Failure is success.

We have nothing to fear but fear itself!
Any political agent -
elected or paid for a living -
peddling fear
should be called out
loud and clear! -Kevo

Slightly, but not really, OT. There is a well-argued, well-written--even eloquent--piece by Al Gore, laying out the case for action to ameliorate global warming in today's NYT. The tone is restrained and understated, and that much more powerful for being so. The case itself seems unanswerable. I don't see how anyone not blinded by prejudice could read it (or pay attention to Al Gore's speeches and writings since 2000) and continue accepting the absurd caricature of AG. Among other things, it acts as a sad reminder of what genuinely thoughtful public figures concerned with the common good are like. I expect it to have approximately zero impact. The noise machine, which can produce lies and slanders to order on an industrial scale at a moment's notice has done its work. It's a black mark against our society, that thousands, tens of thousands, hundred of thousands (I'm not sure) make their living fighting to prevent the public from grasping the truth about the world they live in. No doubt some of the people employed in this way are nice in enough in person, are good parents, command talent and ingenuity, which put to other uses would be worthy of admiration.

I'm not usually into praising fictional sociopaths, but what the Democrats could use right now is a consulting session with Keyser Söze. It is truly all a matter of will.

Do they want this to happen bad enough to upset the Republicans, to turn their cozy little social circle over and make David Broder annoyed with them? Are they willing to actually RUN the government instead of watching events happen around them and whine about how helpless they are? Are they so terrified of taking action and making DECISIONS that they would they prefer the humiliating defeat of their cause and their party? There are any number of ways to win. All it takes is will and effort.

And the bad news for Democrats is that throughout history THE most radical factions have usually won the day because of their single-minded radicalism, at least in the short run. That was true for the bolchiveks in Russian Revolution, and especially Jacobins of the French, who were able to liquidate their more moderate adversaries until public disgust with the chaos, division and bloodshed their radicalism created caused the public to turn in desperation to a one-man dictatorship, Napoleon.

It is amazing how easy it is for the radicalized minority Republicans to frame both the terms of debate and rules of the game, thanks to the corruptions of a beltway establishment and a toothless press.

After two humiliating national elections Republicans decided that the path back to power was to bring the government to a complete halt unless Democrats governed exactly like right wing Republicans. No compromise allowed. And by sticking together and filibustering everything Republicans have been able to create a "new normal" that the beltway establishment and its captive press have passively accepted that 60 votes are now required to pass anything in the Senate -- just because Republicans, acting unilaterally, decided that this is the new rule.

Therefore, whenever Democrats try to get around this New Rule Republicans have created with their unprecedented level of obstruction, Democrats are accused of "ramming" things through on a partisan basis. Republicans are laughing all the way to the bank as Democrats get leveled with charges of "rank partisanship" that Republicans know perfectly well rightly belong to them.

Just a few minutes ago, in fact, Candy Crowley of CNN did it again on that abomination of a show, Howard Kurtz's Reliable Sources, when she said that Democrats were trying to use reconciliation to "get around the 60 votes required in the Senate." That may be techically true, but when Crowley neglects to mention that it's Republican obstruction that makes this 60 vote supermajority necessary the impression her report leaves with more ininformed viewers is of a stubborn Democratic party willing to break the rules in order to get its way -- instead of the other way around. This was also the show, by the way, that said Republicans were able to "win" the health summit this weak by not revealing themselves to be the knuckle-dragging Neanderthals they really all, which was a pretty low bar to clear. Good grief!

Fighting these distortions on a day by day basis requires a lot more media and educational resources than liberals and Democrats currently have at their disposal right now to combat a relentlessly partisan and dishonest right wing media that feels perfectly free to make up any damned nonsense it wants and have pretty high confidence that the establishment is going to swallow it whole.

Mr. Frier, I think what you're driving at is:

Corporate interests=right-wing politicians=mainstream media

They're all one and the same now, aren't they? Just like in Nazi Germany... and our "resistance" is composed of groundhogs who run at the sight of their own shadow. So long, America. It was nice knowing you.

Steve B: I hope you'll get a chance to look at of what could happen between now and 2012.

Note that Congress under Republican leadership was once able to pass landmark legislation... and NOT decades ago, but in the last decade. You may not like the GWB tax reform-- or the invasion of Iraq-- but they sure were landmark events supported by the Congress. Democrats need only look to themselves for their problems.

The Republicans passed serious legislation without ever having 60 Senate Republicans. You think if Palin (or whatever Republican) is President in 2012 and they control each House by 1 vote, serious legislation WON'T get passed? You may not like its content, but it sure as !@#$%^&* will be serious.

The GOP forumla.....

Delay delay delay....

and give big money a chance to roll in the heavy artillery and lay down a blanket of lies and obfuscation heavy enough to kill it.

Has worked pretty well for the past 9 years and no reason to think it won't happen again. After all, Obama has given them two MONTHS to pass HCR via reconciliation.

Using the nuclear option, America is opposed, we can't afford it, death panels, socialized medicine.......

The firing has already commenced.

This is all well and good as far as exposure; and discouraging as far as content--but WHAT are we to do? The people who would benefit from our progressive programs have fallen in line like ignorant sheep because bumper stickers are easier to comprehend than "single payer", "cap and trade" and "public option". We were always fighting uphill battles-all progressives do--but WHAT do we need to do now. I do not think things are hopeless, we won the last Pres election, we won the argument against Bush--but for some reason WE are not good at winning when we're in power--THAT is where we need to look for a solution . . .

I wrote my republican congresscritter explaining I am retired fed employee, along with 4 years military, explaining my benefit has decreased the last 3 years due to health insurance premiums being more than the cost of living raise. I got the standard blah, blah, blah. I think I shall make a personal appearance at her local office. My Senators are both dems and support the bills.

I don't think the average person who only watches the nightly news (probably Fox although I don't know that it would make a difference) and sometimes reads the paper stops to think about the hidden "tax" health care is and the toll it takes on their family's finances. It's incremental. You know, you copay goes up $5 every visit, your prescription copay goes up $10 for medicine,etc. They don't stop to sit down and calculate the cost of their health care. It's like going on a budget and having to write down every expense. For some people, it's an eye opener, but we have gone so long tolerating the abuses of insurance companies that we are just immune and consider it a necessary expense and nothing we can do about it. Same with banks and credit cards. Perhaps if the Democrats made the case about their health insurance NOT staying same if health care reform fails, maybe it would gain some traction, although I don't believe you can count on the MSM. Instead of being upset at Washington for not doing anything (although a valid argument in most cases), the tea partiers should be protesting outside insurance companies and Wall Street. I'm not holding my breath.

"The efficacy of the right-wing noise machine is really a sight to behold."

Steve, when are you going to stop complaining and begin to do something about it? As part of the progressive community in DC, you are a typical representative of this community. Shedding tears about the right-wing media operation rather than get together and organize into a coherent message delivery for the left.

Instead of constantly praising the Republican noise machine, why don't you get rid of your pessimism and cheer what Democrats are about to accomplish - pass the healthcare bill.

Republicans push their story constantly. Democrats are constantly worried about what Republicans and other people will say. Our message, that we must repeat over and over again, is simple: "We are eager to help all Americans with their healthcare problems and we will pass the healthcare bill as soon as possible. And we will have an up-and-down vote in the Senate to do this."

I suppose the longer this goes on, the uglier the implosion will be and single-payer will become inevitable. The current health care legislation will at best slow the the train down, but the wreck is coming.

"We know the system is broken; we know we pay too much and get too little."

And yet this legislation actually promises the drug industry that we will not address drug prices. It promises the hospital industry that we will not address the cost of hospitalization. So we are yelling that reform must be passed to drive down costs, and we are exempting more than half of that cost from being driven down.

This is on a par with "freezing the budget" to drive down the budget, except for 89% of it that is too essential to freeze and which must, in fact, be increased. Kabuki theater.

This bill is going to be a disaster for Democrats. It will pass and Dems will do okay in 2012. In 2013, people will be mghtily angry because their insurance is still going up and lots of them still can't get insurance. You think any of them are going to listen to the, "Well it doesn't go into effect until 2013" arguements?

How well is the "Well much of the stimulus money has yet to be spent" arguement working?

It also raises the question; why does it not take effect until 2013? The Dems think people don't need insurance until then?

What I find amazing, is how the wealthy get the less fortunate folks to vote against their best interests.

Thousands of people out protesting to defend the rights of the trillion dollar healthcare corporate empires??? How does that happen?