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Well, Then, Democrats: Get It Done

by: Dean Barker

Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 05:42:37 AM EST
Landrigan on President Obama's visit to the southern New Hampshire city (over the border and just north of Scott Brown's voters)::
But Obama's defiant defense of the need to reform health care drew, by far, the biggest response.

..."I do not quit; we are going to get that done," said Obama, claiming comprehensive health care reform is near the finish line rather than out of the running.

A standing ovation from this crowd of more than 1,000 at Nashua North High School began slowly but steadily grew, prompting Obama to nod and twice repeat, "We have to get it done."

And for the Claire McCaskills of the senate who are wondering whether they should emulate Evan Bayh's reelection strategy rather than practice public service: are you anxious about using reconciliation to fix the worst parts of the bill?

Well, then, Judd Gregg's got your bipartisanship right here:

"The point, of course, is this: If you have 51 votes for your position, you win," Gregg told his Senate colleagues on the floor.

He added, "Reconciliation is a rule of the Senate (that) has been used before for purposes exactly like this on numerous occasions... Is there something wrong with majority rules? I don't think so."

In other news, that standing ovation must surely have come from the Tea People who snapped up all the tix to "crash" the event "inside and outside".

Adding:

But even if his newly combative approach notches the president some rhetorical wins, he risks alienating people at the same time.
Earth to AP: the President already has alienated people throughout 2009, the year of Lucy and the Football.  Scott Brown kept all the McCain voters; Not so much for Coakley and the Obama voters.  In that margin was the GOPer victory, and not all of it can be blamed on Coakley's astoundingly poor campaign.
Dean Barker :: Well, Then, Democrats: Get It Done
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Well, Then, Democrats: Get It Done | 5 comments
Whoops! (0.00 / 0)
Wrong picture!

We believe in prosperity & opportunity, strong communities, healthy families, great schools, investing in our future and leading the world by example. We are Democrats; we are the change you're looking for.
In the grand tradition of local NH politcs, (0.00 / 0)
the Republicans have resorted to; "If he's fer it, I'm agin it."  

Apparently, AP hasn't brushed up on definitions of irony.  I'd point out that perhaps Obama's patient and long-term approach is starting to bear some, well if not yet fruit, some buds on the branches of the media.  Check out the Washington Post calling out McCain today for shifting his position on DADT:

McCain appears to shift on 'don't ask, don't tell'

This process is working to isolate those opposed to the changes.

The public is not aware of and does not care about parliamentary procedure. (4.00 / 2)
The fact that everyone on the hill and most news junkies and activists are aware and do care does not make this relevant to electoral politics.

If the Republicans try to campaign on the idea that Democrats cheated by using budget reconciliation, overruling the parliamentarian, people will tune out, and the the response is, "a majority of the House voted for it, a majority of the Senate voted for it, and the President signed it. It's that simple." That and seeing the government get things done are all most people care about.

That's how you get votes.  Ask any Republican who's won a national election in the past 40 years.

--
Hope 2012

@DougLindner

The majority cheated, because they didn't let the minority win. (0.00 / 0)
"They had more votes than us, and they didn't let us win."

That's their argument.

I'm happy to have them make that argument from now to election day.

Oh, and by the way, guys?  The reason we have more votes than you is that the American people kicked your asses out of power.  "For cause," as Jennifer Horn likes to say.

[ Parent ]
I'm not dismissing the importance of rules in Congress--I wasn't among the first to suggest killing the filibuster. (0.00 / 0)
But with that power comes a responsibility to play nice.  If the minority party pulls out all the stops procedurally, they can't be trusted with the privilege of procedures that only work in the more congenial body that once was.

There's a broader point here, too.  Sometimes those in the center of everything don't realize what people on the outside are aware of.  There's a lot of posturing and hedging with words, votes, and procedure on the Hill, and a lot of it is pointless because it's not getting anybody any votes.  If Blanche Lincoln gets re-elected, it won't be because she stood up in a meeting and suggested that the President be 'more moderate'.  If the bill passes and Ben Nelson doesn't vote for it, his constituents won't forgive him for being a Democrat when the Democrats were for this bill.  That's not how it works.

Sometimes, the perception of scrutiny is all it takes for things to become nasty.  Sometimes I think we'd all be better off if members of Congress negotiated as if nobody (either special interests or voters) were watching.

--
Hope 2012

@DougLindner

[ Parent ]
Well, Then, Democrats: Get It Done | 5 comments

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