Wow. I thought Healthcare reform had a good chance (eventually) of passing. But I never thought I’d become a fan of Nancy Pelosi’s in the process.
I always felt Pelosi was putting her ideological and self promoting agendas ahead of what was best for her country and party (and called her a “speed bump” for Obama in this post last spring). But it seems more and more apparent that the Healthcare reform will pass where other attempt over decades and decades have failed. And it looks like she is the key reason for that.
And while I’m sure I support this healthcare reform bill, I really am not sure it will be a complete success or an abject failure. I mean one side says it will save us lots of money and jobs while the other side says it will cost us lots of money and jobs. Each side says their statements with utmost confidence. I’m not sure who is right or if we’ll even ever be able to measure who is right.
But it seeems clear at least to me that there are two truths:
1) More people will have access to healthcare than in the past
2) The current situation is not a workable solution for the long term
These two facts on their own are more than enough to make me a strong supporter for the current healthcare reform bill. Will the economic impact be hugely positive or devastating? I really don’t know. And I don’t think anyone does. But I have been convinced that the current situation must change due to the two reasons above.
And news is emerging that Nancy Pelosi is the fundamental reason this will get done. Apparently, post Scott Brown’s election, President Obama was leaning toward an extremely watered down version of healthcare reform. But Nancy Healthcare convinced the president that the current bill was needed and would pass. She gave Obama the spine he needed to deliver on the promise of CHANGE instead of “change” that had provided such optimism during his campaign.
And if providing that encouragement and support comes along with some ideology and occasional self promotion, that seems fine with me.
When I was in SF last winter, I went to my old haircutter from Newbury Street at Elevation Salon. I sat in the very chair where Nancy Pelosi gets her hair done.
Also, when did it become OK for our leaders to be rude and shout things out in meetings of congress when others are speaking. This is actually Congress, not a baseball game and everyone is not drunk. (Well maybe this is not a baseball game). It’s a Baby Killer, You Lie, Ceci n’est pas une pipe.