Batten Down the Hatches--The Final Offensive

The House bill cleared the Finance Committee today by party-line vote. At this point, any discussion on votes is psyops.

The Chamber of Commerce has $25 million to spend this week on some 40 Democratic representatives in a last attempt to stop it. Millions more are coming through front organizations. Fox News has a little graph up of the so-called kickbacks--most of which get pulled from the bill. One was particularly interesting--they still insist on $10 billion to Vermont. This is Senator Sanders' little earmark for a nation-wide network of health care clinics. The best earmark I have ever seen.

My colleague here in the office says that, despite the noise level and the talking heads, he notices the Republicans have stopped lying about the Bill. When press secretary Gibbs appeared on Fox News and declared that by next weekend health care reform would be the law of the land, the comment section exploded not with attacks on President Obama but on Republicans for failing to kill it. Republicans in their Sunday appearances spoke as if the bill would pass.

Progressive networks and the labor unions are pulling a full-court press. Labor is explicitly telling Democrats that vote against it they can expect absolutely no support in the mid-terms. The White House itself has put members on notice about this--financial assistance in 2010 depends on cooperation is passing health reform.

The President went out to Cleveland today and gave his final healthcare rally with about five congresspeople there. It was his usual barnburner of a speech.

The Sunday New York Times printed an article about what it means for Obama if healthcare fails. Let's ask another question--What does it mean for lobbyists if the bill passes? Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent for over a year to kill this bill. What do you say to your clients when you fail? If you are a corporation looking at a tax bill, would you not think twice about hiring thse guys?

Relatively sane Republican former Tom Davis says that Republicans have an open field in 2010. But he warns Republicans not to be provocative or else they will draw out Obama's surge voters. Also, he cautioned candidates not to get into a debate on governance so the voter can compare. That is precisely what Democrats need to do--get down and force the comparisons.

Virginia's Attorney-General is not just a homophobe but he is also a brither and discussed how to challenge Obama's eligibility legally. We have our own Orly Taitz, one of the Republican candidates for Secretary of State in California. Also speaking of wingnuts, Michelle Bachman obviously thinks the health care bill will pass because now she is saying that voters just won't obey it and refuse to pay taxes. This is a women who took an oath of office to uphold the Constitution.

Tomorrow the FCC unveils its plans to increase American internet speeds by 25 times and to increase broadband in rural areas. A real Zedfest. I happen to think this is as big as FDR rural electrification plans in the New Deal. And it plays into Obama's overall plan to transform the United States so it can be competitive again in the foreign arena. We are now limping along about 15th in the world in terms of speed and interconnectivity. In healthcare we are 37th and dropping down to our nearest competitor Cuba. Thank God, we're still number 1 in persons incarcerated and spending on national security.

Tan Man Boehner talked on the Sunday shows about not closing Gitmo. How yesterday! Let's close it and give the facility to the Richard Cheney Vice Presidential Library. Marc Thiessen can be the administrative director, welcoming tourists to this great monument to American strength.

The US-Israel flap is serious. AIPAC, Eric Cantor and Joe Lieberman attacked the Administraion for their criticism of Israel in its plans to erect more condos on Palestinian land. Hillary Clinton gave Bibi a 43 minute earful about the decision and the treatment of Joe Biden. Now friends of Israel say Bibi apologized and is reconsidering the decision so enough is enough. Sounds good but what was at stake was serious. The Obama Admiistration gave Israel its largest increase in aid in years. At the same time, State Department envoys were rounding up Arab states to recognize Israel the minute it agreed to open talks again with the Palestinians. Just open up talks. 22 countries signed on. So the State Department was reacting to the fact that Bibi caved to an extreme-right member of his coalition at precisely the time the Vice President was there to start the talks again and trigger the multiple recognition. Bibi lit an exploding cigar, which he will regret, not the Obama Administration.

Also, rumors are rushing around the Middle East that Honi Mubarack is dead after surgery in Germany. I don't how true but it will happen sooner rather than later. He's 81 and in poor health. That triggers a fight between his family and the Muslim Brotherhood, which is picking up more support because of the issues in Gaza.

More later when I get up to date.