Shutdown Aftermath

Everybody I know is mad at Ezra for his ridiculous piece on Charlie Kirk, famous antisemite and racist who got what he wished on other people. Klein’s shutdown column puts the best face possible on a Democratic political debacle. Jared Bernstein does not do quite as well, but it is not for lack of trying. On the other side, Marc Cooper is righteously en fuego.

My initial reaction was rage and disgust, though I’m reminded of that crucial, thin layer of Senate Democrats who made ObamaCare less than it might have been. There are always going to be vulnerable members on the fence, though this time there were quite a few, including some surprises.

Fetterman, a.k.a. Lurch, was obviously not a surprise. But others in solid blue states should be. Those include Tim Kaine (VA), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Dick Durbin (IL), Maggie Hassan (NH), Jacky Rosen (NV), Angus King (ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (NV). VA is getting bluer all the time, witness the election a week ago. NV might be explained by the tourist industry being wrecked by airline scheduling disruptions. I see no way to justify Durbin, most of all, nor the New Hampshire and Maine members.

The big gambit here is supposed to be a vote on ObamaCare subsidies that will be difficult for Republicans to oppose. I am skeptical. Health insurance is too complicated for many people. In particular, many fail to comprehend the difference between a subsidy for a group plan and a tax credit that throws uninsurable patients into the so-called free market.

The other factor is that the Rs are not so dumb that they will allow themselves to be set up for a difficult vote. And another is that most people already had insurance that they tolerated, if not loved, and don’t care about others losing coverage or going hungry from SNAP benefit cuts.

The electorate gets the representatives it votes for, notwithstanding the extent to which through gerrymandering representatives are able to choose their voters. That’s the sad reality that confounds all the confused sputtering about why Members of Congress do this or don’t do that.

Don’t miss this bon-bon in the shutdown compromise that anticipates a gift of half a million bucks to seditious senators.

I know I’m the sourpuss, what else is new, though I’ve talked about how better things could come about. Municipal socialism is on the march! Not just New York. Omar Fateh’s campaign is still viable in Minneapolis. Boston’s liberal mayor ran unopposed. Then there are promising developments in Seattle.