Game Over: Harry Reid Opposes Healthcare Reform Bill

It's the end. At least its the end of the "compromise" healthcare reform bill that was supposed to bring together Democrats and Republicans in a dizzying spectacle of bipartisanship not seen since Pearl Harbor. (I did not say "since 9/11" because I'm convinced a great multitude of Democrats were faking it). But, instead of that, not a single Republican is endorsing the bill and and now Harry Reid, the leader of the Senate Democra majority, says he will join his Democrat colleague, Senator Rockefeller, and oppose the legislation:

WASHINGTON - No sooner than the Senate Finance Committee's chairman released his long-awaited health care bill today than Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said it's not good enough for Nevada.

Reid is concerned about the cash-poor state's inability to boost Medicaid spending as would be required under the bill.

I seriously doubt Mr. Reid is concerned about the welfare of his state. More likely, he is growing increasingly concerned about polls showing that either of his potential Republican opponents would topple him in the general election next year. If that happens it would be the second time in as little as six years the Democratic leader of the Senate has been purged from office. It happened to Senate Majority Leader Tom "Puff" Daschle in 2004. It would be another stunning rebuke of Democrat leadership on this issue and shows us what a lightening rod it truly is.

Since the beginning of this debate, President Obama has chosen to let the liberal Democrat leaders of the Congress manage this charade and the American people are not impressed. When he finally tried to take control of the issue with a speech to the Joint Session he failed spectatularly, with members of his own party saying it has made it even more difficult to reach an agreement. The reason is not that the American people do not understand the complexities of the issue. That's a demeaning and elitist argument the leftists use to make themselves look important and smarter than "Joe Six-Pack". The fact is that a majority of Americans oppose these proposals because they understand them perfectly well. The debate has breached the discussion of just healthcare, and now envelopes a national discussion about the proper role of government in our lives and the social contract between the governing and the governed.

Finally, a debate that actually means something!