Public Option Turkey
By John Batchelor on October 24, 2009 at 10:30 AM in Current Affairs
In the past, Mrs. Pelosi has been capable of loose lips, zealous accusations, undisciplined divergences and vague misstatements, all typical of a mechanical imitation of the genuine looniness of Speaker Gingrich once upon a time. The game is to campaign for what you want by overpromising with what you have. Mrs. Pelosi mentions the strong support for the public option in her caucus. She is then asked about 218 votes, and she demurs. A possible translation of this hocus-pocus is that the House is maneuvering for a narrow public option victory in order to force the Senate, which votes first, to confront the war between the Democrats. There is so much noise going on here, like a B-52 releasing chaff to distract enemy SAMs, that it seems futile to speculate what Mrs. Pelosi believes is credible.
My best estimate now is that if the Democrats had the 218 they need for the health package with the public option, then they would be boasting in order to sway the reluctant Democrats in the Senate (Conrad, Lincoln, Carper). And to intimidate the United States of Snowe and her pal Susan Collins.
And if Waving a Turkey Leg at Snowe and Collins does not do it, then this campaign will easily go to a Crisis Vote before Christmas. Much more of this nervous prognosis. Lots of weeping and threats. Earmarks like wildfires. Thuggery cannot be ruled out. Home for the Holidays with a new government mandate for the beaten up members of Congress to use at the Federal ER.
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