Thought the lefties in Congress were giving up on the “public option”? Dream on. They’re just getting warmed up. While Senate Republicans are backing away from the table like scalded cats, the Dems seem to be announcing that they’ll plow ahead on their own. From the New York Times (via the Mercury News):
Given hardening Republican opposition to congressional health care proposals, Democrats now say they see little chance for the minority’s cooperation in approving any overhaul, and are increasingly focused on drawing support for a final plan from within their own ranks.
Top Democrats said Tuesday that their go-it-alone view was being shaped by what they saw as Republicans’ purposely strident tone against health care legislation during this month’s congressional recess, as well as remarks by leading Republicans that current proposals were flawed beyond repair.
The White House spokesman, Robert Gibbs, said of Republican lawmakers, “Only a handful seem interested in the type of comprehensive reform that so many people believe is necessary to ensure the principles and the goals that the president has laid out.”
This was confirmed by The Politico:
President Barack Obama now realizes he probably will have to pass health reform with Democratic votes alone, White House officials say.
The admission is a monumental shift in Washington’s top fight of the year, with the energy now shifting to differences among Democrats, rather than efforts to lure a critical mass of Republicans.
The aides call it more a prediction than a strategy shift, and blame the GOP.
“We were forced into this by Republicans,” one official said.
Forced into it by the Republicans? Are you shitting me, Virginia? The Dems have all the votes they need in both houses – and these chumps can’t get it done. Particularly in the face of grassroots opposition. The own it now and well they should. It’s only weak sisters like Grassley and Snowe who were willing to play Charlie Brown and the football yet again with their Democrat “colleagues”.
But the Stalinist agenda is right out in the open now. Take Representative Weiner of New York:
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The punch line is around 5.45 – Weiner says that health care is somehow different than any other service – it’s not a “commodity”. And therefore it’s fit for a takeover – no profit allowed here.
More from Allah here and Ed Morrissey here.
