The Summit that Wasn’t

Did anybody really expect an “Ah-ha! Moment” from Obama’s health care theatrical stunt?  Not me.  The President called the meeting after the stunning Massachusetts election of Scott Brown, saying he got the “message” and understood it was time to listen to the Republicans.  Unfortunately, as we’ve already learned, what Obama likes best is to listen to himself talk.  Here’s the score: Obama, 119 minutes – Democrats, 114 minutes – Republicans, 110 minutes. 

“The thing to know about President Obama's health talkfest,” according to Kim Strassel of the Wall Street Journal, “is that it had zero to do with Republicans or their ideas. The GOP came, it spiritedly debated, it left. The president never budged. He never intended to.”

Christopher Jaarda, A Line of Sight contributor, posted an excellent piece on the blog today about the summit, including a summary of many of the GOP ideas presented.  Check it out. 

Here’s the bottom-line: the Senate can’t pass the House version, and the House can’t pass the Senate bill.  The problem the Democrats face to pass ObamaCare is not with the GOP, it’s with members of their own party who aren’t willing to walk the plank for the increasingly unpopular legislation.  Yesterday, Obama vowed to ram the increasingly unpopular legislation through within “six weeks” a by whatever means necessary, including using reconciliation in the Senate, the so-called nuclear option.  In coming weeks, look for Reid, Pelosi, and Obama to ramp up the demonization of Republicans, even while their real problem is the eroding consensus within the significant Democrat majorities.  The beat goes on.