That's the problem. When he should be setting benchmarks, or "lines in the sand" if you will,...
No Josh, that isn't the problem.
The American people who want health care, universal or whatever shades of grey, have to be setting benchmarks, and drawing lines in the sand.
And, if they don't get their act together and start making life absolutely miserable for the Senators and Representatives who are not fully on board, and making life miserable for those in the media and lobbyists arrayed against any kind of plan, then even Obama's plan that you don't like is going to go down in flames.
And then health care-- like public auto insurance in Ontario-- is off the playing field forever. If you think the current private system in the States sucks now, wait until the insurance companies know they have pat hand.
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Does anyone think that the bankers, or pharmacuetical lobby, or other interests who support Republicans in the States, or the Liberal/Conservative Tory Family Compact in Canada just get thier boys or girls elected, then sit back and expect them to just do thier bidding? No, they are at them day and night, making sure.
That's the problem with us on the left. We elect our guy or gal, then do a quick fade expecting that the work has been done, when it has in fact just been started. Then, when things inevitably don't go our way, we cry into our beer about how we were betrayed. What betrays us is our total refusal to understand the nature of political power.