After careful consideration, I think you both over and underestimate American politicians. I think Obama has been surprised by the actions of some of his fellow Democrats and the Republicans. I think Obama thought by taking the single-payer option off the agenda at the start he'd defang the Republicans and leave them unable to stir up controversy. Obviously he was seriously wrong.
Frankly, the Republicans are scared. Really scared. They're terrified that Obama will get the Democrats to pass a substantial health reform bill. Why? They don't want to see the "New Deal 2" coming to happen. Mostly they're afraid that if Obama comes through on his potential that they're going to spend long years, possible decades powerless and defeated.
The potential for the complete collapse of conservatism exists because much of their support is propped up on the idea that the U.S. government is inherently evil and incompetent. Health care reform, if done properly, would completely undermine one of the central memes of the Republican party. That's why they're fighting like rats trapped in a corners: because they are rats trapped in a corner.
On the Democratic side, the "Blue Dog" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Dog_Coalition) Democrats are in a sticky situation. They rely on the balance of power to keep their seats. A balance which, I might add, is going to slip away one way or the other. They don't want an amazingly successful health care reform bill because it means more Liberal Democrats would have a shot at replacing them in the primaries. On the other hand they also don't want the bill to fail because it means they might lose to a Republican challenger. They want a do nothing bill and right now they hold the balance of power.
Frankly, I think Obama probably needs to get the Democratic leadership to put the boot down on the Blue Dogs and give them the ultimatum, stop trying to derail the business or they'll be running independently. Of course, the problem is that without those 50 congressmen and senators, the Democrats have no majority in either house.
As far as the failure being "forever", I seriously doubt it. If 50 million Americans remain without health insurance the issue will come again and again until it's reaches some level of acceptability. You can't deny proper health care to a third of your population and expect things to stay that way. If it doesn't get fixed through proper channels, people with guns will be making sure other people die for the mistake.
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Frankly, the Republicans are scared. Really scared. They're terrified that Obama will get the Democrats to pass a substantial health reform bill. Why? They don't want to see the "New Deal 2" coming to happen. Mostly they're afraid that if Obama comes through on his potential that they're going to spend long years, possible decades powerless and defeated.
The potential for the complete collapse of conservatism exists because much of their support is propped up on the idea that the U.S. government is inherently evil and incompetent. Health care reform, if done properly, would completely undermine one of the central memes of the Republican party. That's why they're fighting like rats trapped in a corners: because they are rats trapped in a corner.
On the Democratic side, the "Blue Dog" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Dog_Coalition) Democrats are in a sticky situation. They rely on the balance of power to keep their seats. A balance which, I might add, is going to slip away one way or the other. They don't want an amazingly successful health care reform bill because it means more Liberal Democrats would have a shot at replacing them in the primaries. On the other hand they also don't want the bill to fail because it means they might lose to a Republican challenger. They want a do nothing bill and right now they hold the balance of power.
Frankly, I think Obama probably needs to get the Democratic leadership to put the boot down on the Blue Dogs and give them the ultimatum, stop trying to derail the business or they'll be running independently. Of course, the problem is that without those 50 congressmen and senators, the Democrats have no majority in either house.
As far as the failure being "forever", I seriously doubt it. If 50 million Americans remain without health insurance the issue will come again and again until it's reaches some level of acceptability. You can't deny proper health care to a third of your population and expect things to stay that way. If it doesn't get fixed through proper channels, people with guns will be making sure other people die for the mistake.