by Helen
Sun Aug 9th, 2009 at 04:17:52 PM EST
So, we always knew Rahm Emmanuel wasn't exactly the most progressive person on the plant. After all, the trashing of the blogosphere's favourite, Howard Dean, had RE's grubby fingers all over it. Kos has time and again detailed the perfidy of this man, especially during his time at the DCCC. He supports the wrong people; the republican-lite people, the Liebermans and the Blue Dogs.
And god forbid he ever be seen to be defending something that's popular with the voters but regarded by the media as suspiciously liberal. In Washington he is an Operator, one of a small and very elite group of people who make things happen, that's why Obama chose him for his Chief of Staff. However there is a price to be paid for having a creature of the Beltway as you Cof C, he measures his effectiveness not in what is good for america, but in impressing his peers by getting something onto first base. But is a man who'd prefer a bunt over a home run ultimately good for Democratic voters.
There has always been an element of doubt that the blogos might be wrong, that there might be a plan and higher purpose in what he does. That, cunningly disguised and extraordinarily well hidden, there might be an ideology, a caring a wanting to do the right thing in thereMaybe all of these seemingly tactical mistakes were merely staging posts on a wiser agenda.
But no. All he cares about is being 14-0 on the Hill. He doesn't seem to give a rat's arse what health bill goes through. Just so long as he can count it as a notch on his bedpost.
Aside from just getting Bush out, Obama was elected to do two things. Get the hell out of useless wars and sort out healthcare. Outside of DC, nobody cares what else he does, he can save the economy, deliver gas at $1 gallon, but if he doesn't deliver either of these two, his administration will have failed.
We know that Obama has no intention of leaving Afghanistan to the extent that even though there's progress on winding down hostilities in Iraq, there will be no peace dividend.And on healthcare Rahm doesn't get that it's not just the activists who want a public option and they don't want it just to screw over the insurance companies. The US public want a public option and they want it because unless they're wealthy on John McCain terms, their health plan ain't worth the paper it's written on.
And if Rahm ain't onside with what Americans need, they're unlikely to get it. Really. If Rahm isn't working for you, he's working against you. And on this, he's working for the Blue Dogs and Blue Cross. And dKos and FDL can say what they like. The healthcare america voted for ain't happening.
I think it's time to deliver the threats on primaries. Every Dem who votes against the public option has to be primaried. Any dem who is up against a Republican has to be for the public option. Hell, if somebody says they won't take health insurance campaign funds that shoudl be their banner headline.
If Rahm wants an fight, and it really sounds like he has utter contempt for anyone who actually wants this "Change" thing, then I guess it's time for the progs to bring a gun to the fight. Right now, if it's them or Rahm; then Rahm's winning : Hands down.
