And other observations.
- Allegedly intelligent economist, former Bush adviser, and Columbia faculty member Glenn Hubbard argues in a New York Times Op-ed piece that Obama should forget about universal access to coverage and instead focus on "real" health care reform -- which evidently is related to the high cost of care relative to the value of the services received. How splendid it must be to be a Republican economist. You can reduce 45 million uninsured people to being a mere side show and not the crux of what reform is all about. It is moment's like these that really confirm the pointlessness of talking to these people -- even the ones with brains have no hearts and no souls .
- Pot/kettle hall of fame time for Charles Grassley.
- Matt Bai can try and make this seem all complicated and shit, but in fact it pretty much comes down to racism. Oh that and a bunch of selfish old folks who like socialism for themselves but not for anyone with darker skins. Or else they're too fucking stupid to realize that Medicare and Social Security are socialism in spades. Either way, fuck 'em. With a little luck a death panel will be pulling the plug on their sorry collective asses over the next election cycle.
- Worries about Obama's popularity really need to be put into some perspective. As this link shows, Reagan's approval ratings fell into the mid to high 30s in early 1983, but by November 1984, he was able to win one of the greatest landslides in American history. It is very hard for a president to maintain high popularity in an economy that is shedding jobs at a frightening clip. 1982 had seen unemployment in the U.S.approach 11% with predictable impact on Reagan's numbers. There are two important things for Obama to focus on -- the first is very simple: How popular is he compared to what the other guy has to offer? In this respect, I remain pretty sanguine. The second issue, however, is one of enthusiasm and energy for the mid-term elections. Like Ezra Klein, I find this concerning. Low turnout by Democratic constituencies frustrated by the tepid stances of this administration and Congress could result in a similar phenomenon to that experienced in 1994, when energized right wingers turned out in droves for an otherwise low turnout election. I don't think it will be anywhere near that bad, but it could be bad enough to blunt any chance at a progressive agenda for the remainder of Obama's time in office.
- Speaking of the perils of low turnout by Democrats, it is quite possible that we will lose the two gubernatorial elections this November taking place in Virginia and New Jersey. If this happens, it will be hyped into an enormous story, although I am pretty sure it is of limited significance. One thing that desperately needs to be done in Virginia is make clear that Bob McDonnell, the Republican candidate and current Attorney General, is a wingnut of the highest order. Every woman in Virginia, particularly Northern Virginia, where McDonnell is inexplicably polling decently, needs to see this article.
Time to go to work.
