Kennedy’s Passing: Change In Health Care Calculus, Or Same-Old, Same-Old?

Is that a bad picture of McCain? I think he looks really unattractive, but I can’t figure out why. Ordinarily a smile improves one’s looks, but there’s something creepy about McCain’s face, and indeed, about Lieberman’s face as well. Maybe it’s that I’ve grown to despise both of them.
No, I don’t think I would be smiling in John McCain’s company.

What jt said….

one of the reasons, i think, obama pushed for passage of the bill before august recess was not only because he knew opposition would have a chance to rev up against it, but because he wanted kennedy to see the realization of his life’s work while he was still alive.
let’s look at the timeline. obama gave a town hall with max baucus on august 14. eleven days later, kennedy dies. seeing obama being supportive and speaking positively of baucus while knowing baucus was the one responsible for holding the bill up in committee – must have been a kick in the gut for ted. couple that with seeing obama’s initial coyness that signalled a willingness to give up on the public option, must have been so disappointing.
somebody demoralized like that is more likely to give up on his will to live. ted put so much on the line and stuck his head out to come out in support for obama. how did obama return the favor? he stabbed him in the back by supporting the man who was trying to kill kennedy’s bill. yes, ted had cancer but i think this betrayal was also a factor in his death.
surely obama could have done more to twist baucus’ arm to get him to release the bill. now it’s too late. reforms eventually will get passed, but because of obama’s cowardly caution in failing to draw a line in the sand and being overly deliberative, ted was denied a chance to see it done.