Will Democrats Fix What’s Wrong?
11 November 2009 1:51 pm by Taylor Marsh
Gallop’s new poll shows warning signs for 2010. Republicans are ahead in what’s called the generic ballot. As if we didn’t see that in last week’s election, especially under independent defections. However, all of this is just at the warning stage. The question is not whether Dems can fix the problem. It’s will they? We’ll begin to see signs next week, as Sen. Reid has put health care on the calendar for next week.
What Speaker Pelosi delivered in the House this past weekend, however, was a bad omen. It also had the predictable affect of emboldening conservative Democrats in the Senate, with Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman drawing lines in the sand, on demanding Stupak-esque language, but also being against the public option itself.
“Well, first of all, it has more than a robust public option, it’s got a totally government-run plan, the costs are extraordinary associated with it, it increases taxes in a way that will not pass in the Senate and I could go on and on and on,” Nelson said in an interview that is part of ABC News’ Subway Series with Jonathan Karl.
“Faced with a decision about whether or not to move a bill that is bad, I won’t vote to move it,” he added. “For sure.”
… There is one thing about the House bill, however, that Nelson does like: the strict ban on any abortion coverage by insurance plans bought with government subsidies. Unless the Senate bill includes a similar provision, Nelson said, he’ll vote against it.
Jane Hamsher explains why Nelson’s threats could actually be another bluff. Hey, it worked for Rep. Stupak.
It seems obvious that people are ticked off because Democrats aren’t leading like they promised. This is all very fixable, but first Democrats have to start acting like Democrats.
