The Republicans Suck Healthcare Bill

Carpetbagger's got a post about how a Dem Congressman is daring Republicans to repeal popular provisions of the healthcare law with a bill called HIPA-CRIT (Health Insurance Protects America -- Can't Repeal IT).  And yes, ha ha.  It's a nice little insult and I won't begrudge him that.  But beyond that, what's the point, exactly? 

I mean, Republicans WILL try to repeal either part or the whole thing, or their Tea Partying masters will destroy them.  And they'll fail as they can't possibly get the Senate or Obama to play along.  So they're going to go through with this charade already, meaning that all we're left with is the "hypocrite" insult, which doesn't really apply as they're not being hypocrites in this case because they really DO want to repeal these provisions.  Maybe I'm stupid, but I fail to see why we'd bother with such a silly stunt.

Political Progressives

And the saddest part is reading all the progressives on that board who expose their true agenda: Attacking Republicans.  Sure, Obama got us a decent healthcare law, as well as a whole host of liberal laws passed in a very hostile situation, but he gets no credit for that.  Instead, they celebrate a pointless insult bill that serves no purpose other than insulting Republicans. 

Because passing good laws comes secondary to them.  First up is attacking Republicans with empty political gestures.  They don't give a damn about all the people Obama got insured or the end of rescission.  They just want to see a good mudfight, just like I've been saying all along.

Here are some of the comments I read:

"Better late, than never. Finally we have a democrat able to tie his shoes without help. Now, will Pelosi bring it to the floor?"

"Yes, it's a bit late...BUT, at least someone on the Democratic side knows how to play the game!!! HIPA-CRIT! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!MORE, MORE, MORE!!!"

"Maybe Obama should reflect this holiday season on how he might gain the respect of the clowns on capital hill. Most presidents do it by being presidential and tough as nails. The last one to try the nice guy approach, Jimmy Carter, has been a great ex president, but a one term wonder."

"I'm actually on board with this circus sideshow for the sole belief that circus sideshows are the ONLY things we're going to be seeing from the House for the next two years. May as well kickstart the proceedings with votes on HIPA-CRIT healthcare bills, MIL-IONARE tax bills, , and DE-FALT budget bills. GO FOR IT."

Sure, Pelosi and Obama got us actual laws that did stuff.  But since none of their bills had insults in their names, that means they're wimps who always lose.  Much better to stage political theater than get anything done. 

Oddly, we now have progressives who look to uber-centrist Bill Clinton as the model for how Obama should be.  Sure, Clinton was the poster child of the DLC and championed such "liberal" measures as tax cuts, welfare reform, banking deregulation, and bombing Iraq; but damn did the dude know how to fight.  Not that progressives didn't hate him at the time.  But these days, he's the patron saint of the progressive movement, while Obama's awe-inspiring legislative record is cast aside as an after-thought. 

Perhaps if Obama had just been bold enough to insult Republicans with the names of his bills, we could have retained control of Congress.  For as much as I hate to say it, I really wish we could have a few more grown-ups on our side.  There's nothing wrong with winning politely, just as long as you win.  Apparently, many progressives would prefer we lose, as long as we were jerks about it.  And we're to imagine that THEY'RE the ideological hardcore.