The Democrat’s Addictive Behavior

A few short weeks ago the Administration let it slip that they intended to put health care reform "on the back burner," so as to concentrate "like a laser" on jobs. It seemed like a good plan. Health care reform was making them sick, so the sensible thing to do was to stop drinking the stuff and try to find something healthier to put down their gullets. But here we are talking about almost nothing but whether the Democrats can revive their health care agenda.

All this reminds me of one of my favorite songs, by Celtic singer Andy M. Stewart:

Geordie's a man I hav'ny seen lately,
I met with his brother in Tain.
Says I, "Do ye think that he's
still off the drink?"
"Oh, no, HE'S AT IT AGAIN!"

Aye we telt him and aye we warned him;
And aye he promised, but then...
At the turn o' yer back, he'd be right off the track;
And noo, HE'S AT IT AGAIN!

It isn't hard to understand why the Democrats cannot break out of their cycle of addiction. They've been sipping this stuff for a long time. Rehab is for quitters, and the Dems think they will be seen as unmanly if they quit.

It would be one thing if they can in fact, somehow, bring the Bacchus bill across the finish line. Pardon me, that's the Baucus bill. Bacchus is the Roman god of intoxication. But do they really have hopes for such a victory?

It would require some very dodgy legislative tricks, and right now it doesn't look like they have the votes. Mark Tapscott, cited by Michael Barone, thinks that Speaker Pelosi is about 100 votes shy of what she needs to push any kind of bill through. If that's anywhere near accurate, health care reform is as dead as it looks.

Failing to pass reform will dispirit and alienate the Democrat's activist base. Talking about it when they have no hope of passing it only rubs salt in that wound. It also irritates the majority of Americans (including a robust majority of independent voters) who are resolutely opposed to the Democrats' health care reform bills.

Passing the Baucus bill would probably a disaster for the Democratic Party. It has already cost them two state houses and a Senate seat. But pretending that they can pass it when they can't seems like the worst possible behavior. You can telt 'em and warn 'em all you want, but noo, they're at it again.

Comments

[P. Chirry]

I'm delighted that somebody else in South Dakota listens to Andy M Stewart. He is _excellent_.

[KB]

Thanks, P. I am a big fan. My personal favorite is "My Heart Belongs to She."