Sunday, February 21, 2010

New fightin’ words that might not work

Are you keeping your ears tuned, Luntz-like, for phrases that frame the political debate? The possible upcoming battle to pass parts of healthcare reform through the Senate’s budget reconciliation process is going to be characterized as “ramming it through”—as an arrogant move.

Arianna Huffington on This Week told George Will she hoped it would be rammed through, helping to blunt the negative intent.

If it’s arrogant to be the party in power and push through what you want, then hasn’t that pretty much been happening in democracy all along, certainly during the Bush years, and probably back to the Greeks?

Also, given the public’s contempt for congressional dillydallying, only the most dug-in naysayers are going to disparage a little healthy muscle. The rest of us are going to say “About time, you wienies.”  Really, Dems, it’s FINE to want what you want, don’t let them tell you it’s not. Don’t let them fake you back into the wimperers corner. [but… but… cloture… but elections… afraid…]