ONE POINT REPUBLICANS/CONSERVATIVES SHOULD STRESS AGAIN AND AGAIN ON HEALTH CARE REFORM:
"Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell argued that a rapid-fire approach carries pitfalls similar to ones that have affected the $787 billion economic stimulus package. "Health care reform is too important to rush through and get wrong," the Kentucky lawmaker said in a Senate speech."
Bingo. These are changes which could affect every American profoundly, for decades to come. The idea that it has to be rushed through Congress is ridiculous; the danger of getting it wrong is too great. That's a common-sense argument, and the American people will get that. Make the argument, Republicans.
UPDATE: indeed, make it the way Rich Lowry made it today--why is President Obama in such a rush? Well:
"As with the stimulus package, Obama’s health-care plan depends on speed. More important than any given provision, more important than any principle, more important than sound legislating is the urgent imperative to Do It Now.Do it now, before anyone can grasp what exactly it is that Congress is passing. Do it now, before the overpromising and the dishonest justifications can be exposed. Do it now, before Obama’s poll numbers return to Earth and make it impossible to slam through ramshackle government programs concocted on the run. Do it now, because simply growing government is more important than the practicalities of any new program."
BY THE WAY, HERE'S SOME POLITICIANS WHO GET IT DEPT:
"Macomb County's [Board of Commissioners this morning approved a pay cut for themselves and voted to eliminate the county's public affairs office. The 26-member board, acting as a budget committee, passed a measure to cut their salaries and the pay of a proposed county executive by 5 percent by 2011."
Macomb County is located in southeastern Michigan.
BASEBALL DIARY: the Tigers were off last night; they play Seattle at home tonight.
The Texas Rangers won a big one last night, beating the Red Sox 6-3. As always, Kevin Millwood gave them a good start; and Jarod Saltalamacchia and David Murphy had big hits. Again, though, you worry about the fact that most of the Rangers' runs scored as the result of home runs. This team leans too heavily on the big fly--they need to be able to string together singles and doubles, and manufacture runs, too.
But sure enough, last night for the Cubs playing the streaking Philadelphia Phillies was a tall order; the Phillies have won 9 straight and bombed the Cubs and Ted Lilly, 10-1. The Cubs will need a much better effort from their starters in the coming nights to slow the Phillies down.
