I have been watching the health care summit this morning, and it is, in a morbid way, fascinating. Obama has trapped the Republicans into trying to look reasonable, and they are laboring mightily to appear willing to compromise. There is, as Obama keeps pointing out, a considerable overlap of issues on which they are in substantial agreement. And yet, we all know that when it comes time again to vote, they will vote unanimously against anything placed before the Congress. The simple truth is that the Republican Party has no interest at all in health care reform of any sort. If they were, there are numerous compromises that could have been worked out. As we fuss over Obama's handling of this or that aspect of the process, we need to keep reminding ourselves that the Republicans, as a Party, have set themselves the goal of making Obama's presidency a failure, regardless of what that does to the needs of the American people.
For a truly heartfelt and wrenching testimony, I strongly recommend Keith Olbermann's lengthy comment last evening about his father's situation. To watch it, go to MSNBC.com.
