Paths of Glory, Act II: The Health Care Bill (And The Mood In D.C.)... Jane Hamsher/FDL

[WillyT]

Paths of Glory, Act II: The Health Care Bill
By: Jane Hamsher Saturday March 13, 2010 6:17 pm

<snip>

I went to dinner Saturday night at a popular DC political watering hole. I’d never been there before. The atmosphere was so heavy and the mood of the room so strange it was hard to concentrate.

“It’s Paths of Glory, and these are the trenches,” said my dinner companion.

I had no idea what that meant.

“You know, Stanley Kubrick, World War I — the generals know it’s a suicide mission but they don’t care. They think they might get a promotion so they send the troops in anyway. But the troops won’t go, so the generals start firing on their own men in the trenches.”

Yep, that was it was it: fear. Icy cold fingers up your back, smell-of-death fear.

“You mean over the health care bill? I said. “Because they’re forcing everyone to sacrifice themselves and take the vote.”

“Yep.”

I’d had dinner with another Democratic operative the night before who referred to it as “sati” (where the widow of a deceased Hindu would throw herself on her husband’s funeral pyre, either voluntarily or by force).

“That’s funny,” I said, “I’ve been calling it ‘Jonestown.’ But “Paths of Glory” — the generals — much more apt.”

As I recall, in the movie they wind up shooting one soldier for his “cowardice” as a lesson to them all.

There were a few oily chislers in the restaurant who added a cheap, edgy euphoria to the atmosphere, destined as they were to make a buck off the proceedings. But the sad, desperate thing about the entire affair is just how low rent it all is. No robber barons or captains of industry here: just the errand boys to power who are easily bought for pennies on the dollar.

If this is the best we can do after the nation pours its collective hope into something, it really is the end of empire. And everyone in town, at one level or another, seems to know it.

<snip>

Link: http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/03/13/paths-of-glory-act-ii-the-health-care-bill/

I know this is just Jane's take/anecdote, but I love these "fly-on-the-wall" stories.

:shrug:

[seafan]

1. Posted this last night as well. This is a super piece.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7912900

[WillyT]

5. Oops... Sorry I Missed That...

:blush:

:silly:

:hi:

[seafan]

9. Glad to see it again. Hope she'll write more pieces like this. Powerful stuff. n/t

[cliffordu]

2. Hunter Thompson wrote essentially the same thing a couple times when he was

in Washington. I wouldn't be surprised if she lifted a couple of her phrases directly from him.

[mmonk]

3. Me too. Fly on the wall accounts are enlightening.

[RandomThoughts]

4. That concept has an ideology.

What is more important, what is best for the individual or people in society.


If people do get better care, thats a good thing.

And sometimes 'over the top' charges work.



Seriously, if it is the end of an empire, at least go out doing something worth while.


I figured I was done in and finished decades ago, no way I was going to survive or make it through, but had to make a decision on what I thought was correct, and I am still living today, so I think things are not always as simple as they seem.


If you look back on your life, what are the moments you most cherish in a political context. Was it getting a win? Or getting something you know was right done? I think that says alot about people.

Carl Rove for example, is in a world of it being a game where winning the point is what matters, not any ethical argument about what is done. And without the ethical component, he fights for what would be winning for him or his friends. His mind set would be different then someone that fights for something because they believe it is correct.

[flamingdem]

6. I'm gettting the feeling..

that Jane is a self promoting phoney.

[WillyT]

7. LOL !!! - That's Rich...

Self-Promoting phonies ??? In Washington D.C.???

Shocked... SHOCKED I tell you!!!

Yeah... there are somewhere around 435 of them in one building, around 100 of them in another building, and who knows how many in that 3rd building...

Thanks for the breaking news.

:rofl:

:evilgrin:

:hi:

[SoCalDem]

10. Jane sees herself as a female-Kos

She's liking the public attention she's been getting.

I KNOW she's a multiple-recurrence survivor of cancer, and cares deeply about health care and what it should be in the US, but her recent flailing-about is not all that helpful..

[flamingdem]

11. I used to like her but she's definately not helpful, now I distrust her opinions nt

[WillyT]

12. Not All That Helpful To WHOM ???

To the spineless cretins that don't want to go on the record for, or against, the Public Option because they are afraid they might get primaried???

Tough Fucking Shit!!!

Man Up, Assholes!!!

:wtf:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. K&R