Political Considerations: Are Obama's misplaced?

There are reports that Obama is willing to shift the 9/11 conspirators from civilian courts back to military tribunals. It is also becoming clear that Gitmo will not be closed anytime soon. In this particular area, Obama is showing some regard for political realities and practicality. Trying these terrorists in civilian courts was a horrible idea and the closing of Gitmo on a specified date was just a stunt. Its not as easy as closing down a prison, the prisoners need to go somewhere and no solution had been found.

And yet, Obama has shown no willingness to compromise on Healthcare other than to sprinkle a couple Republican ideas on the giant behemoth he is proposing, and drop the public option. Why? Why is it that a legislative issue that is not a priority of the country and not a priority of the national government in general warrants such stubborness and uncompromising tactics? Why? Why is it so important to liberal democrats to pass Healthcare Reform as is without any compromise and yet an important issue of the rule of law and individual rights is open to it? I thought Obama was a former law professor.

Democrats started with a public option, which most of the country did not want. They then moved to a $1 trillion plan that would make Medicare cuts, add all sorts of new mandates, create price controls, and require the insuring of millions of people. From this point they have only reduced the size of the plan by bits and pieces to get a couple more votes.

Its clear that this Healthcare plan, which gives the federal government all sorts of new authority and necessity for new bureaucracy, is important to liberal democrats because of control and because they believe it will be good for the country. The evidence of its projected damage to the economy, the budget, and that it won't reduce costs clearly shows that the effectiveness of the plan is not important to them. Control is important. It gives them more levers to pull, more strings, and more "favors" they can do. They simply do not trust anyone to do this right other than themselves, the elite liberal aristocracy.

It should give us real pause that the President is willing to shift his principles on legal rights and Gitmo, but not on Healthcare, an issue that is far less based on ideological principle.

Opponents of the bill must stand firm and those on the fence be fully aware that a vote in favor of this plan will end their political career in November. I hope Republicans keep the heat up on this issue as well as the economy and jobs. There is a good chance if this passes that the Democrats will lose control of the House and the Senate.