The Coakley Warning

As I write this, voters in a Massachusetts special election are deciding whether the state’s Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley, or Republican (You fill in your favorite adjective here.) state Senator Scott Brown. With true Democratic Party grace Coakley, had the election in the bag (a 30 point lead at the start), tripped on her over confidence and let the damned thing get away from her.  Now most polls give Brown the edge and even most favorable polls put the race at dead even. If Coakley wins it will only be because the Democratic Party in Massachusetts does a superior job in turning out the vote.

Despite Republican Party efforts to frame this as a referendum on the Obama administration, this remains a single state race in which the Democratic candidate’s campaign errors are more than sufficient to explain her loss. [Disappointment with Obama, however, may play a role in the outcome, see my next post “Magical Thinking About Barack the Magic _________________ (Fill in the blank as you see fit.)”]

For all of that, Coakley’s problems in this election should serve as a strong warning to all Democratic Politicians facing elections this year.

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Healthcare reform: A Letter to Republican Senators

To my readers: tonight I was working on one of my short witty posts, but I was uncomfortable. If the final healthcare reform bill resembles the current Baucus Bill in the finance committee, then we progressive will have to demand that it be killed in congress or vetoed by the president. Wont that be both ironic and tragic?

I was thinking about what is needed to pass a bill that will actually alleviate the suffering of Americans caused by our current system and wondering what kind of person could build their own careers by turning their backs on so much human suffering. Then I had the thought that out there somewhere, unknown to me, there has to be at least one or two Republican Senators whose hearts have not been hardened to suffering.

Hoping to reach one or more of my readers, whose Republican Senator(s) may actually care about reducing the misery of other Americans, I wrote the following letter. Use this link, http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm to find your Senator and e-mail him/her the following letter or something like it. It can't hurt. 

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Healthcare Reform: The Coming Train Wreck, An Open Letter To My Senators

Dear Senator Boxer/ Feinstein: 

I am strongly for healthcare reform and for a strong public option, but as I follow the Baucus Bill as it rumbles through the Senate, I feel like I am watching two trains running full speed, coming from different directions along a single track; and there is no way I can prevent the coming wreck.

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News Flash: President Obama Agrees with Republicans and Eliminates All Czars

In a surprise move today, President Obama announced his agreement with congressional Republicans.

"The presence of Czars in America is simply un-American," he said, "and the use of Czars has tarnished the legacy of every president since Richard Nixon appointed William Simon to be his 'Energy Czar.' And like no other problem, this practice has ruined the reputation of President George W. Bush, who appointed 47 Czars to 36 Czar positions.

"It is obviously difficult to gain a real understanding of this controversy, since no on has the word 'Czar' in their job title. One man's 'Regulatory Czar' is another man's Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. However, I, President Barack Obama, am ending the un-American practice of appointing Czars. After today

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Healthcare Reform: Open Letter to My Senators

[Below you will find the text of my e-mails to my senators. I am fortunate in that my senators are both Democrats, so there is some chance that my opinion will count for something with them. My representative is a Republican, and those of you with Republican senators may wish to read my open letter to my Republican representative before writing your senators.]

Dear Senator Boxer/Feinstein:

I urge you to support passage of healthcare reform legislation with a strong public option using whatever parliamentary tactics (the reconciliation process, or the so-called "nuclear option" if necessary.) I further urge you to use your influence to persuade all other Democratic Senators to support the reform legislation as well.

Do not be afraid of the reactionary forces we saw at the town hall meetings and the 9-12 march on Washington.

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