Topic: Decline of the West
There's a feeling among certain member of the punditocracy that ObamaCare will pass because it must. The argument is, roughly, that Democrats need to show that they're able to "govern." It could perhaps be argued that merely passing legislation doesn't exactly demonstrate one's ability to run things, but let's leave that point aside. Does the Democratic Party have a vital political interest in passing health care legislation?
I would say yes—no doubt about it. the Democratic Party, as a corporate entity, needs to pass some kind of health care "reform" bill. Failure to do so would damage if not cripple the Obama Administration, besides making the Democratic congressional leadership look weak and ineffective.
But the Democratic Party is not a monolithic corporate entity. The real question is whether or not this argument resonates with doubtful or embattled Democrats in the Senate and particularly the House. With their own political survival on the line, why should they stick out their necks for Obama, Pelosi and Reid?
I believe that the fate of ObamaCare hinges on the credibility of Obama, Pelosi and Reid in the eyes of their own party in Congress. After a year of frustrating, bruising and politically damaging debate, it come down to this in the minds of many congressional Democrats: "What's in this for me?"
Tough question to answer.
