Legal Commentary

The Madman Theory Of Political Bargaining, Part 5

By Big Tent Democrat

The inevitable begins. Steve Benen:

Late yesterday, the Gang of Six managed to connect over the phone. They reportedly raised the idea of moving the reform legislation even further to the right [. . .]

At the risk of beating a dead horse, note that the only reason to "rein in the scope" of reform, and try to make the efforts much cheaper, would be to satisfy the demands of conservative Republicans -- the conservative Republicans who oppose health care reform, and who intend to vote against the bill anyway. This is madness.

(Emphasis supplied.) Madness for Democrats theoretically committed to serious health care reform. For Republicans and Dems like Baucus (and Obama?), not so much. For them it is shrewd political bargaining. It's a wonder that Klein, Yglesias, Drum, Starr and Benen do not get that.

On political bargaining, see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4. Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 21, 2009 (boomark / email).