I'm getting the feeling that if our democrats in Congress were somehow

[WCGreen]

transported back to the time of Independence, they would be "afraid" of upsetting the Tories...

If they had been there during the Civil Rights debates, they would have searched long and hard to find a compromise, you know, give some rights but taking the teeth out of the legislative...

If they had been there when Medicare/Medicaid was being debated, they would have sided with the AMA...

I think these politicians forget that they were elected to lead, to represent the people.

Now they view the privilege of serving the people as a career and will do nothing to upset that professional path.

How else can they possibly explain that when there are polls clearly showing that the public overwhelmingly favors a Public Funded option, they have all but taken that option off the table.

[AndyTiedye]

1. 1994

No way are they going to try to take on the health care industry again. Ever.

[WCGreen]

2. I think that capturing the reapportionment process in a majority of

states prior to the 1992 started the process and was completed by attacking Clinton in 1994.

[depakid]

4. Failing to do so was a major reason why they lost in 1994

and they may even manage to lose big again- as there's a growing perception that, due to some of their leaders (and sell outs) that Democrats stand for nothing.

And really, when it comes down to it- what are they willing to fight for- and accomplish? If they has a fraction of the Chuztpa and political fortitude that Republicans had, we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

[sandnsea]

3. They don't think they're hearing from mainstream Dems

Every time somebody says "single payer" in a phone call or letter, they dismiss it as the fringe.

[quantass]

5. It's time for DU to put a BIG FAT BANNER telling All DUers to make calls!

Because this Public Option thing is starting to die and sadly despite overwhelming desire by the people for it those who were elected dont care.

[pscot]

6. Word

I've been watching the Congress for 50 years, and this is the most feckless, useless, self dealing bunch of time-servers I can recall. I'm beyond disgusted.

[MissDeeds]

8. Agree on all counts

We work our butts off to get them elected and then this.

[Thrill]

7. This is the same Congress that left Obama hanging by the balls on closing Gitmo

so this isn't a surprise

[pscot]

11. I'm not ready to give Obama a pass on this

The administration has been far too passive on this as on so many other issues. The insistence on bi-partisanship provides cover for not only Republicans, but unwilling Democrats as well. It's like giving Clyde Barrow and Bonny Parker a license to rob banks. Politicians are predisposed to do the bare minimum as it is. They have to be led or driven. Obama does neither. There is no penalty for crossing him, and the things he says he wants, don't really seem to be burning issues with him. He shows willing to accept whatever Congress feels like delivering. Likeability is not a governing strategy.

[WCGreen]

12. Which is why Bill Maher said Obama should be more like Bush...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. I don't remember who said it:

"The best Congress money can buy."

K&R

[Undercurrent]

10. Most in Congress don't give a flip about

the global political realities. They are small minded, reactionary, bought-and-paid-for, selfish, greed-headed idiots, with zero party loyalty, and even less understanding of the big picture.