Feel free to start the video below playing, there's nothing to be seen other than the cover to Velvet Undergrounds essential masterpiece "Loaded", but I think the song is a great title for a thread and a great soundtrack to what's to follow
With your musical needs met, lets get over the fold and to the diary!
"Oh! Sweet Nuthin" indeed. Say a word for the uninsured, for they ain't got nothing at all. And if Joe Lieberman gets his way, they aren't going to be getting anything more anytime soon.
To be honest, I find myself at a crossroads. Part of me just wants to pass what we can to get essential things such as an end to pre-existing condition discrimination on the book. And the other part of me just wants to kill the damn thing and tell the Conservadems to go expletive themselves. That's one hell of a decision and I'm not self confident enough to think I know the answer. I'll let that argument be presented by those much smarter than myself.
So, instead, I just want to again think of the uninsured. The people whose very life and death are hanging in the balance of health care reform. I wish that for a second I felt that Joe Lieberman and his cohorts such as Ben Nelson give a damn about them. I just don't feel they do.
So whichever way we wind up going as far as the bill goes, I would like to recommend to the Democratic caucus a little sweet nuthin regardless. And by "Sweet Nuthin" I of course mean removing Joe Lieberman from every position of power we've given him.
Why on earth should a Benedict who has pledged to make history by filibustering with the opposition be allowed to continue to helm the Homeland Security committee? Hell, why should he even be allowed in the caucus?
If Joe gets his way now, I shudder to think where this ends. What corporate friendly idiocy will the upcoming jobs bill get? And so on.
So while I'm not willing to think I'm smart enough to decide if neutered HCR is better than no HCR at all, I think I'm smart enough to decide this. No matter which way we go, it should be immediately followed by a very public political drawing and quartering of Joe Lieberman. Something to give to the true base of the Democratic Party to try to salvage a little enthusiasm in the wake.
To be blunt, "Joe Lieberman, the Republican Senator from Connecticut" has a certain ring and truth to it. Lets make it happen, or I fear that in the years to come a change starved Democratic electorate may be hard pressed to even come up with the enthusiasm to retire Joe in 2012. Let alone what we're going to face in 2010.
Oh! Sweet Nuthin. We ain't got nothing at all. We're sans clear and present leadership. No true health care reform to speak of. And if we're not careful, we won't need to worry about Senate and House majorities.
Dare I say it, say a word for change. ...Ain't got nothing at all.