Those who fail to learn from history ...
August 23, 2009 1:50 pm ET by Jamison Foser
My latest column is about the bizarre tendency of much of the news media to be shocked by extraordinarily predictable political developments. Here's an example I left out: Melinda Henneberger on MSNBC's Hardball last week:
"It's pretty amazing how quickly things have changed when only recently we thought this was going to be another really great year for the Democrats. But I am just so astonished most of all that this health care debate has gotten away from Obama the way it has. I mean, this should be his greatest moment. This should be a no-brainer."
Really? Henneberger is seriously surprised that fundamentally reforming the health care system turned out to be a struggle -- just as it has proven to be every previous time it was attempted, which is why it still needs reform?
Which part of the process caught her off guard? That Republicans are kicking and screaming and lying and doing everything they can to stop reform -- just like they did last time? Or that, just like they often are, many Democrats have been slow to realize that Republicans are not negotiating in good faith? Or that insurance companies with deep pockets are fairly influential on Capitol Hill -- just like they always are?
Henneberger is "astonished" that the "no-brainer" that is health insurance reform didn't just magically happen while Washington held hands and bought Cokes for one another.
The thing that's actually astonishing is that any reporter could be astonished by any of this.
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The media sucks at the easiest job in the world. It's like being allowed to crib wikipedia in a writing assignment and getting an F anyway.
NO BRAINER, the official thought process of the Republican Party.
Let the punitocracy do what they do best: nothing of note. This battle begins when the House Bill hits the floor. Rahmbo will go to work when it is really time to go to work. The recess is for the powerless. and when HR 3200 passes to applause, the Senate will start to fall in line. (The Finance Committee "Gang of Six have already admitted they are irrelevant - and Republicans like Kyl have drawn their line in the sand.)
If President Obama had flexed his muscles a month ago, the spineless would have had too much time to slither off to the easy exit. LBJ and FDR already showed the blueprint for victory, and BHO has studied the history.
September will be a month for the history books.
some people dont understand passing healthcare is not a quick fix and easy job. just because there is majority in congress for the democrats doesnt mean it will all go through. obama still has to pass it with the american people, and when he tries to do some good and tell the truth, either his words or twisted or taken out of context, or the media just absolutely fabricate the facts and make up stuff on their own. its disgraceful how much misinformation is out there for something that is supposed to help the american people. but no, the idiots in this country watching fox news and listening to limbaugh are afraid of their freedoms being taken away and their lives being decided by death panels. give me a break.
now people are complaining about cash for clunkers, too, when they dont even understand it. they claim the government cant manage it because they ran out of money. um, yeah, maybe because more people than expected wanted to turn in their clunkers and get better cars. maybe this is just the first time the government is doing the program and will put more money into it next time.
will these people ever quit their complaining?