From the "they really don't get it" department, a subset of the "they really don't care what you think" department, President Obama and the Democratic members of Congress are preparing to pass the hugely unpopular ObamaCare health reform package through the reconciliation process. From Fox News:
President Obama is working on health care legislation intended to reconcile differences between House and Senate Democrats that could be attached to a budget bill and avoid a Republican filibuster, according to a published report.
The president's proposal, which is still being written, will be posted on the Internet by Monday morning, senior administration officials and Congressional aides told the New York Times.
By piggybacking the legislation onto a budget bill, Democrats would be able to advance the bill with a simple majority of just 51 votes, averting a Republican filibuster in the Senate.
First up though would be for the House to ratify the Senate's already passed bill, which is no easy task since the House and the Senate plans are far apart. Additionally, there is no guarantee that the House could even ratify the bill because the Scott Brown election has made some Democrats uneasy supporting unpopular legislation in general, which was not the case when they initially passed their version a couple of months back. Same holds true with the Senate getting the 51 votes.
But even if the Left unites and gets the votes, Republicans would be able to drag the carnage out for months with procedural debate which would ultimately put many Democrats in a "walk the plank" position very close to the mid-term elections. Republicans would eventually rip the bill to shreds under the rules of reconciliation and create a watered-down, Swiss cheese-like version to be sent to Obama to sign.
With a very angry electorate, one that is overwhelmingly opposed to Obama's health reform initiative (by a 39/58 approve/disapprove margin), many will question the sanity of vulnerable Democrats voting to support this monstrosity against the wishes of the people who got them elected. Especially if they attempt to pass it in such a back-door, the people-are-too-dumb-to-know-what's-good-for-them manner.
One has to wonder though: has Obama used his ability to create a cult of personality to entrance seasoned veterans of Congress to commit the ultimate sacrifice in the name of thy Dear Leader and his health agenda? Maybe so, but Obama might be wise to heed his own advice on what to do when the American people have your policies in the 30's for approval:
