John, what we also know is that this bill is so flawed and so potentially toxic with all but committed liberals that now at least 34 moderate and conservative Democrats have jumped ship. Republican leaders can claim with some credibility that there is an impressive bipartisan opposition to the bill — every Republican and a chunk of the Democratic caucus that isn’t moved by the offer to go “where giants have walked,” as Nancy Pelosi is spinning it.

On that list are two of the Virginia Four — the most endangered Democrats in a state that just elected a Republican governor by an 18-point margin. And others in at-risk seats, from Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) to John Adler ( D-N.J.) to John Barrow ( D-Ga.), are also “no” votes, scrambling to get as far from the political backlash as they can.

One would think such a historic and noble action, as the Democrats have styled it, would enjoy robust support from the full spectrum of the House Democratic caucus. But in this case, only those who occupy safe seats (or think they do) can be corralled. If Pelosi gets her 218 votes, it will be unprecedented. It is fair to say that never will a piece of legislation this sweeping (and damaging) have been passed over the opposition of so much of the electorate and on the votes of such a narrow ideological slice of the governing class.

del.icio.us

Google

Facebook

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 8:53 PM and is filed under Contentions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.