Stump Lane

IT DOESN’T MATTER what kind or size of majority you have in congress, the result is the same. Consider:

• Patriot Act
• No Child Left Behind
• Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq

were passed in an evenly divided senate.

• Partial birth abortion ban
• Medicare Prescription Drug Modernization
• Unborn Victims of Violence Act

were passed in a senate with 51 republicans.

• Bankruptcy reform
• Military Commissions Act
• Secure Fence Act

were passed in a senate with 55 republicans.

I didn’t look up all of the votes, but at least one of the above passed, unfilibustered, with less than 60 votes, but many of them passed with significant to total democrat support. Yeah, yeah, it’s that the republicans will be obstructionist and won’t play fair, etc. But all of the above happened when mathematically the democrats could have done the same thing. If they won’t dig in their heels and filibuster the fucking Military Commissions and Sweeping Torture and Human Rights Violations Under the Carpet Act, then what the hell do they represent?

But they’re going to pass health insurance! They haz 2!

One cannot even imagine anything more horrible than the end of the Democratic majority. Therefore, passing a terrible bill that everyone knows is only being enacted as a political ploy to keep the Democrats in power is the best, in fact only, move, because it keeps the Democrats in power.

Witness Massachusetts.

And I just have to point out one more time, there is no health care in this bill. It mandates the purchase of insurance, but does not mandate that insurance companies pay for whatever care you need. Who’s gonna come out ahead in such a transaction? [Chuck Dupree]