Ezra Klein: The Patient Is in Stable Condition and Improving Rapidly

[babylonsister]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/09/the_patient_is_in_stable_condi.html


The Patient Is in Stable Condition and Improving Rapidly




The Atlantic Politics team asks the question on somebody's mind: "Can President Obama's media blitz – appearances on five Sunday talk shows this weekend – save health reform?"

Save health reform from what? Consider the recent developments: Two weeks ago, four of five committees had passed their bills, and one committee was tangled in an interminable and opaque process. Last week, that committee produced a bill that, though not perfect, is pretty close to the other bills on the table. On Friday, the committee chairman and the crucial Republican have both announced that the subsidies need to be raised, which addresses the main problem liberals have with the legislation. Later this week, the Massachusetts Senate is expected to allow an interim replacement for Sen. Ted Kennedy, giving Democrats their 60th vote.

Obama's weekend blitz wasn't meant to save health-care reform. It was meant to push it those final 10 yards. He could fail in that effort, but that's where we sit: incredibly, incredibly close to the finish line. Closer, by far, than we have ever been before.

Photo credit: By Charles Dharapak – Associated Press

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. Quarterback Obama needs his own Cedric Benson pushing thru

the opposing lines. unfortunately, his offensive line (the Senate) is not on the same count or playbook. Worse, his defense, (the congress) well, having a spine is the first step in being able to stand up and walk, much less provide a defense.

[glowing]

2. He'll get it if he distracts the nation with other legislative agenda.

If health care takes a back seat to say regulating Wall street, then it will probably get a strong public option. Only those of us who pay atten. to the sausage will be reminding the congress what we'd like, but as a teabagging issue, it would become back seat to the financial regulations or immigration reform.. Obama moves really fast. Washington likes to sit around and obsess for months on one issue.. Obama moves the cart too fast.. its the reason you hear "He's doing too much." They can't keep up with the crazies. The only reason health care became so debated and focused upon is because congress got a month off. Not much Obama could do to move onto other legislative initiatives when they weren't in session... One of the reasons that some wanted this delay. Baucus could have gotten his bill out of committee if he had wanted to. The final details he popped out were essentially the same as before the recess. I'm sure he was told by his coporate masters to delay the process since they knew they would be astro turfing during the summer to stop its passage.

[Barack_America]

3. Sotomayor and student loan reform slipped in under the Health Care umbrella.

I too have wondered what could take the spotlight off of health care, allowing it to pass.

I think Afghanistan is a more likely contender than is Wall Street reform.

[Teaser]

4. just don't let anyone on the Eagle's special teams near the ball

.