Feinstein Disappoints, Again

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_01/022026.php

FEINSTEIN POINTS IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.... Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) of California has long been one of the most cautious members of the caucus. Don't move too fast, don't try too hard, don't aim too high.

It's not surprising, then, that in the wake of Massachusetts's special election, Feinstein is helping lead the antsy brigade in the wrong direction.

"I think we do go slower on health care. People do not understand it. It is so big it is beyond their comprehension. And if you don't understand it when somebody tells you it does this or it does that and it's not true, you tend to believe it, even though it isn't true. It's hard to debunk all of the myths that are out there."

"I think we do go slower on health care." Right. As if the real problem with the process is how quick and efficient it's been. What Americans really want is for policymakers to go even slower?

Feinstein's right when she says there are a lot of "myths that are out there." Much of the public opposition to the plan is based on the misguided belief that it's a "government takeover" of the system that may lead to killing grandma. And sure, it is tough to debunk every lie when the insurance industry and right-wing groups are engaged in the most aggressive, sophisticated scare-tactic campaign anyone has seen in a long while. It's precisely why Americans have been debating this issue for a century without resolution -- whenever anyone tries to fix it, powerful interests rise up to undermine the public's interests.

But Feinstein's mistaken about the next step. Going "slower" doesn't help. Giving in doesn't help.

Telling people the truth helps. Passing the much-needed legislation and proving the critics wrong helps. Social programs that seem scary when under attack end up being quite popular -- Social Security and Medicare, for example -- after they're implemented.

—Steve Benen

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. Don't be fooled

The trajectory of HCR legislation was DELIBERATELY slowed to a crawl last year precisely in order to strip out features like the public option that are most wanted by the general electorate.

Going slow in Washington on legislation like this is simply a tactic to allow monied interests more time to twist arms and make promises in an effort to kill or change the legislation being considered.

If Obama were ever serious about meaningful reform, he and other Democratic leaders would have had a bill done and passed last fall.

[babylonsister]

3. Tin foil hat time? Deliberately slowed?

I don't think so; you give the Dems far too much credit imo. But teabaggers and rethugs slowing the process this year is well documented.

And if Obama weren't serious, he could have just dismissed the whole idea of reform considering all the other huge helpings of shit on his plate he's had to deal with. So sorry, can't agree with either premise.

[Vinnie From Indy]

6. Maybe!

I think an argument could be made that the plan all along from Obama's camp was to have their cake and eat it too. It is very much still a possibility that there was a deal cut between the Obama people and big insurance that would allow Obama to thunder on the campaign trail about a public option knowing that a bill with a public option would never see his desk for signature. HCR legislation had been studied to death by the time Obama took office. Everyone knew the score so the argument that things need to be studied doesn't hold much water in my book. Allowing the debate to drag through the Summer recess is a large bit of evidence in my mind that slow-walking this bill was part of the plan. It gave time for arm-twisting, threats, bribes, donations and promises to be made by big insurance all over Washington. It also gave time to the Teabggers to play their part in the heavily scripted Teabag phenomena. The folks opposed to HCR absolutely NEEDED to have the Teabaggers be given time to have their message amplified and repeated a million times by American media for the propaganda to take hold in the minds of easily duped Americans.

It was not just Obama that worked to morph HCR into this Frankenstein of a bill. There are many Democrats, especially in the Senate, that wanted to please their corporate donors. Joe Lieberman was also part of the plan IMHO. He is what is known by grifters as a "closer". He was the insurance, the safety and the plan b.

As cynical as I am, I would not be surprised if Coakley losing will be the excuse for passing ONLY the very worst of the Senate's version HCR.

Again, there is no proof and nothing beyond my wild imagination that indicates that any of the above is true, the possibility that some variation of the above scenario occurred is still valid.

Cheers!

[blm]

5. She's also now in cahoots with Schumer to stop Climate Change bill this year.

Schumer has been working behind the scenes to push Immigration Reform ahead of Climate Change. I think they WANT Immigration Reform issue to be a perception problem for Dems in November because Schummer wants Reid to lose so he could be Majority Leader.

Seriously, what honest Dem lawmaker really believes that this nation can WAIT LONGER on Climate Change legislation?

I loathe the Dems who say one thing to bloggers and work against us behind the scenes for their corporate cronies.

[flpoljunkie]

9. Putting Schumer out front to decry SCOTUS decision today really rich, as well.

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=n00001093

[blm]

12. He's angling to be Majority Leader after November. He has to keep up the lipservice to left bloggers

who really think he stands with them. Dumbasses.

[BeyondGeography]

2. So she's on board with Olympia Slowe

Whatta shocker.

[quantass]

4. Is everyone corrupt?!?! WTF!

Healthcare reform has been a hope for what like 50 years...whats to talk about....There are countless countries that have shown a perfect path to Universal Healthcare System that covers all and costs signicantly less for the government than what is currently in place.

This is not about healthcare reform, it is about lining the pockets of those who are willing to obstruct and slow down the process....Feinstein, you are yet another democrat on the growing list of those who have sold their soul...and the republicans are thanking you for joining their club.

[Orsino]

7. Wouldn't want her to tire herself out. n/t

[harun]

8. LOL, that busted me up.

[CreekDog]

10. She thinks she's so damned smart and perceptive

but it's not clever or insightful, it's shtick. :boring:

[Jersey Devil]

11. I definitely need new glasses

LOL, when I first saw your subject line I thought it said, "Einstein Disappoints, Again" and was wondering what the hell the post could be all about.