In some ways, the fact that this bill is so wildly unpopular makes the majority party even more unaccountable and dangerous.
I heard one analyst this morning use the analogy of someone about to rob a bank. If the robber walks in the front door of the bank to begin the robbery, shows his face, and then gets cold feet and runs away, he is still guilty of attempted bank robbery. At that point, he might as well go through with it.
The democratic majorities in Congress have already shown their face on this bill. If a Senator has backed this thing up to this point but checks the polls and switches his position, he won’t fool anybody. He’s still going to get painted as a supporting this boondoggle in the next election. At this stage, the vulnerable Senators and Congresspersons on the the dem side of the aisle are hoping: (1) That after they pass this thing it’ll move off the front pages and the voters will have moved on by next November (slim or no chance); (2) That this this legislation will eventually prove popular with some constituents and they’ll get credit for it (slim or no chance); or (3) That even though they’re lame ducks now, they can build up a big enough favors with leftist special interests that they’ll be taken care of for life in a cushy law or consulting position after they leave Congress (excellent chance).
So knowing that their chances of holding their jobs are now slim to none, they are now officially lame ducks. They have nothing to gain by lifting a finger to satisfy the ‘moderate’ wishes of their constituents back home, and everything to gain by catering to the every demand of their radical masters.
In some ways, the fact that this bill is so wildly unpopular makes the majority party even more unaccountable and dangerous.
I heard one analyst this morning use the analogy of someone about to rob a bank. If the robber walks in the front door of the bank to begin the robbery, shows his face, and then gets cold feet and runs away, he is still guilty of attempted bank robbery. At that point, he might as well go through with it.
The democratic majorities in Congress have already shown their face on this bill. If a Senator has backed this thing up to this point but checks the polls and switches his position, he won’t fool anybody. He’s still going to get painted as a supporting this boondoggle in the next election. At this stage, the vulnerable Senators and Congresspersons on the the dem side of the aisle are hoping: (1) That after they pass this thing it’ll move off the front pages and the voters will have moved on by next November (slim or no chance); (2) That this this legislation will eventually prove popular with some constituents and they’ll get credit for it (slim or no chance); or (3) That even though they’re lame ducks now, they can build up a big enough favors with leftist special interests that they’ll be taken care of for life in a cushy law or consulting position after they leave Congress (excellent chance).
So knowing that their chances of holding their jobs are now slim to none, they are now officially lame ducks. They have nothing to gain by lifting a finger to satisfy the ‘moderate’ wishes of their constituents back home, and everything to gain by catering to the every demand of their radical masters.