Legal Commentary

The Progressive Block

By Big Tent Democrat

Two good pieces on the Progressive Block. Ryan Grim at HuffPo:

A majority of the 81 Congressional Progressive Caucus members of the House have vowed to oppose any health care bill that does not include a "robust public option." That threat has kept it alive. With 256 seats in the House and 218 needed to pass a bill, Democrats simply can't move health care reform on their own without progressive caucus support.

Indeed. But if they cave on the public option, they may as well disband. Chris Bowers writes:

Organizing isn't enough either: Further, just being right and just getting organized isn't enough, either. You have to be willing to make a power play, such as blocking Democratic legislation. This was not feasible when Bush was still President, but Progressives have been willing to seize the moment once it became available[.]

If they do not seize THIS moment, if they do not hold the line on the public option, they might as well just fold up and go home. As Chris writes:

Over the weekend, Nate Silver has used a poker analogy described the strategy: "going on tilt." I don't think that is the right poker analogy. In addition to the huge importance of a public option, this is nothing short of a campaign for permanent Progressive relevance in D.C. for as long as Democrats control the White House and both chambers of Congress. As such, this is like going all in order to earn a seat at the final table.

Just so. I think the Progressive Block has to remember that their political interests and political power are not completely consistent with President Obama's, despite what Nate Silver, Ezra Klein and Matt Yglesias might think. If they blow this one, they will not get a second chance.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 27, 2009 (boomark / email).