Just Do It

There's a song lyric from Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe" (an operetta that satirizes the ineffectuality of Parliament) that goes "Faint Heart Ne'er Won Fair Lady." I think that clearly applies to the feckless Democratic Party, which struggled so hard to gain a majority and now is pissing away its advantages by weak-willed vacillation.

The Republican Super Minority of 41 senators is now controlling the legislative process by monopolizing all discussion with filibustering tactics. They have used the filibuster more in the past six months than it was used entirely in the decades of the 50s and 60s. And because procedural details are too arcane to engage the public at large, all the people know is that the Democrats are not getting anything done. The result? Scott Brown and the upcoming deluge of Republican adventurers trying to take advantage of voter confusion and resentment.

They no longer have their patron saint Ronald Reagan to speak for them, but there are still echoes of Nancy's "Just Say No," which has been their obstructionist creed. Thanks to the pandering by their Propaganda agent, Fox News, this strategy of keeping the Democrats from legislating has totally resuscitated the Republican Party, even as it shows signs of fractious in-fighting by the weird and horrible Tea Party wing nuts.

Finally the one Democrat who still merits national respect--President Obama--has utilized his bully pulpit to try to energize the party again. It worked somewhat in his face-off during "Question Time" with the Republicans, who were forced to display their simplemindedness in such an embarrassing debate that Fox News decided to cut away from it. Now Obama has challeneged the Republicans to another televised meeting regarding Health Care. They will find a way to refuse, because they can only succeed through obfuscation of the facts that Obama can easily refute. So this is a game of "chicken," which may or not be coming home to roost with the addition of Scott Brown to the Senate.

Here's what I don't get. The Republicans brazenly abuse the one procedural rule that can keep their case afloat, the filibuster, without any mind toward what they are doing to the uninsured families and the soaring cost of health care. Country first, sure. But the Democrats have just as many procedural tools to work with, including majority vote. If hey wanted they could just pass the Health Care bill as it sits currently in the House, then send it back to the Senate for reconciliation tweaks that only have to pass with 50 votes (and Biden's if necessary). This is the same tool that Republicans used in the early 2000s to pass their budgets. There's precedent all around. So, as they used to say in the Nike ads, JUST DO IT. What can the Republicans say? That the Democrats did exactly what they did eight years ago? Sure, Fox News and Sarah the Asshole can declaim all they want, but that can't undo legislation that the President can still sign.

So Dems, just show some balls. Independents may be looking for that.

Coming soon: MY NOVEL