NLinStPaul has a good diary at Daily Kos that examines Obama’s approach to politics and how it can be ruthlessly effective. I think she makes many fine points, some of which I’ve been making for two years now. However, just because he wins the argument both substantively and politically, doesn’t mean he will get what he wants. It can’t hurt, mind you, but the failure of the 60-vote strategy is probably final. At best, the health care bill will get the momentum it needs to pass through reconciliation. At worst, the Republicans will pay a significant political price for killing health care reform. It’s still a positive sign for the next three years, but it just might have taken too long for the administration to figure out how to plow forward against united opposition.
