I understand your criticisms and concerns and even share some of them. My main contentions are that 1) Obama may have the same tools, but a completely different political climate -- plus, neither example cited was up against the sort of corporate and media monoliths that exist today; 2) fighting to improve the bill is great - calling for killing it is destructive -- I don't think there's any question that it will establish healthcare as a duty of government and save lives, and 3) the vitriol and assigning of bad motives that I've been reading is stunning.
The rhetoric in this debate has gotten really heated, which is understandable, so I want to add that I always appreciate your thoughtful replies, even when we disagree (so, yes, the offer to take you to Phillipe's French Dips on your next visit is still on). Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
But from the UK perspective, the vitriol, such as it is, is fueled by Obama's increasingly uncanny resemblance to Blair - another leader who was willing to give populist devils their due to somewhat less than the minimal extent needed to assure votes, while secretly believing fervently in neoliberal aims and means, and supporting the corporates against the people they feed off.
When people voted for Blair in 1997, they voted for someone who wasn't a grasping and condescending Tory.
They got someone who was a grasping and condescending Tory, but who was willing to splash some cash around to keep them quiet and voting on demand.
Obama looks very similar. People voted for someone they thought would represent them and fight for them. Instead they've been given someone who seems intent on fighting them, putting them in their place, and managing already low expectations of what they can expect from a Democrat.
