Lieberman, who middle-fingered his own state's Democratic party, who supported John McCain, who said that Obama was the same as a terrorist, who kept his chairmanships in spite of this, who caucuses with the Democrats even though he fucks them every chance he gets, gets to call the shots on health care reform. Or, gets to kill health care reform with no political consequences. The current bill is a 100% gift to the health care industrial complex, and the most corrupt government action since, well, the bank bailouts (oh Jesus, Obama...). And all because Joe says he will filibuster the Democratic bill (you know, the guys he caucuses with, who have the power to take away his chairmanships and give him a basement office with one, bare 20 watt bulb if they had a single set of balls between the 58 0f them).
The media calls Joe courageous, tough and independent minded. But most people know better by now. The President, the defacto leader of his party, who could have stepped in and kicked a little ass, has instead given Lieberman his blessing. Now, I think this is because Obama agrees with what Lieberman is doing. But you can't deny that it is Insurance Lobby Joe who is perceived as the strong player in this drama. Joe refuses to budge. He draws a line in the sand, and gets at least 80% of what he wants.
And of all the Democrats, Ben Nelson from Nebraska has been paying attention.
After Lieberman guts reform like a fish, to where a majority of Americans will be unhappy with if not against its passage, Nelson steps up and demands abortion restrictions. The same type of restrictions from the house bill that the Senate said "no way" to just a few weeks ago. Apparently, killing reform in a 400+ billion dollar give-away to insurance companies was not enough. Nelson figured we should throw every woman in America under the bus too. And he did. With pressure from Dem leadership, Nelson is being taken seriously. He will probably get most of what he wants. He says he "can't vote for the bill" without his restrictions on women's rights in it. Which means in truth, he is threatening a filibuster. He is threatening his own party's legislation if he doesn't get what he and only a few others want. I am guessing this is being portrayed on cable news as a principled stand.
But what it is, is hardball. Nelson is paying attention. He sees Lieberman slapping Harry Reid and the Democratic leadership around left and right. He sees Obama rushing to make deals with anyone who thumbs their nose at Progressives. It's not hard to miss, and he gets it. Now Senator Nelson is being a total conservative asshole who is threatening to fuck up the whole works. And he will probably get most, if not everything he wants.
Why, oh why can't the Progressive Democrats learn this lesson. Why didn't Chuck Shumer threaten to filibuster unless his drug re importation amendment was left in? Why didn't Nancy Pelosi stare down that fuckhead Stupak who put the abortion restriction into the House bill? What, she can't make a "principled stand" for women's rights? This is not your dad's House and Senate - the game is different now. It is played before the klieg lights of cable opinion shows, and the occasional news reporting. It is only relevant to what have become largely entertainment networks as a political brand of reality TV. You have to be an asshole or a freak show to get some attention.
Joe Lieberman is the sleaziest dog in the off-leash park of American politics right now. And he schools the Democrats regularly. That is pathetic. And a Stupak or Nelson aren't even in his league yet, and can still bend the Democratic leadership over the meat counter for a reaming.
Can you imagine, though, if Harry Reid showed up last month with a bunch of movers to Lieberman's office. He tells Lieberman that he is no longer chairman of the homeland security committee, Al Frankin is instead. That basement room with the 20 watt bulb is actually being used to store some of Frankin's shit, so there is a shed out back of the Senate building that he can use until something frees up. And then take his stapler. Oh my God, Fox news would explode, and CNN would decry the pettiness, etc. And then some reality TV hopeful would float in a balloon through a White House function, or something like that. Media would forget, and it would just be the leader of the Senate kicking balls for the good of the nation. And, he would be a MSNBC and HuffPost hero.
Instead, Reid is tanking in the polls in his own state. Not because he is seen as too liberal, but because he is seen as weak. When you get your ass handed to you by the most unpopular politician in America, this does not buoy your image, it makes you look like Lieberman's bitch. Nobody wants to vote for a bitch.
And, do you think this is the end? Hell no, it's just the beginning! Others will catch on. Go against the liberals and the Democratic leadership and get whatever you want! Shit, until it doesn't work, why not? Cenk Unger of the Young Turks decried this Democratic weakness in the face of Lieberman as precedent setting. And Ben Nelson's move has proved him right. If Nelson gets his way on abortion, it is only a matter of time, maybe minutes, before Nelson of Florida, or the conservative democratic bitch from Louisiana, or the one from Arkansas break out their lists.
And they would be stupid not to. Until Democrats fight from the left, instead of caving from the left, these bills will continue to be a disaster. Why not get what you want, please your donors, and bring home the bacon for your state. Especially since there are no consequences. The rest of the Dems won't fight you, or even call your bluff.
And anyway, what is the harm of calling Lieberman's, let alone Nelson's bluff. Worst case is they do join Republicans, and the bill goes through reconciliation. And that is unlikely with Nelson.
I mean really, Ben Nelson is going to join a Republican filibuster in order to restrict women's rights, and win as a Democrat? If the national party made it clear that health care reform was a priority, and that he will be cut off? That an attractive, quietly pro-choice and moderate district attorney or prosecutor from Lincoln was being extravagantly funded and groomed to run against him in his next primary, that his chairmanships were gone, that his office was now in the basement, and "get your ass back in ranks soldier!,"? Well, he'd heel like the dog he is.
But only if we have Democratic leaders who can deliver a wide-arching pimp slap from time to time. Or at least some liberals who can throw the same kind of deal-killing tantrums as Lieberman and Nelson, but for truly progressive causes. Until then, we will wring our hands, and cry that 60 senators is not enough, because we can't learn what Joe and Ben have:
Throw a fit, threaten legislative destruction, be called brave and principled, and get what you want.
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