We live in a world where the information we gather is so readily available that the "gotcha" of political speeches loses its effectiveness. Politicians can be shown their words instantaneously. The Daily Show is one of the best sources of these mashups.
Take the public option for example. In July 2009, President Obama promised the "public option," but now claims to never have campaigned or promoted it as the central theme to his reform mandate.
It's a huge step regardless of the political theater. We're more partisan in 2009 than we were years ago.
Kevin Drum enlightens us on the penultimate hurdle for health care. He describes our divide very well:
There's a far-left wing so obsessed with the demise of the public option that it's working overtime to team up with reactionaries to destroy the bill and — maybe — Obama's presidency along with it. The more moderate left supports the bill, but hardly enthusiastically. For us, it's a "starter house," or "the best we could get." That's not exactly a rallying cry. And independents are just confused and exhausted by months of political sniping, intra-left bickering, and the relentless flood of Beck/Palin/Drudge demagoguery.
He also trumpets the highlights and compares it to the legislative reform eras: civil rights, environmental protection. I'm glad that legislation is on its way to deliver a 95% coverage. Hopefully, we can do more but it is a big step towards the recognition of health care as a human right.
He also trumpets the highlights and compares it to the legislative reform eras: civil rights, environmental protection. I'm glad that legislation is on its way to deliver a 95% coverage. Hopefully, we can do more but it is a big step towards the recognition of health care as a human right.
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