Reply #161: No, you are missing my point

[customerserviceguy]

I just mentioned that the nomination of McCain was dispiriting to those on the hard right who preferred a Tancredo, Thompson, or Huckabee. The feeble attempt to re-energize them with Palin was more of a twisted insult as it became apparent how brainless she was.

I'm not asking you not to be angry. I'm not telling you not to be disappointed right now. And I'm certainly not asking you to abandon any principles you might have over what you really want to see happen.

What I'm trying to get you to see is that the Stupak amendment has two purposes, one is to divide us now that we have the White House and the first time in the history of this nation to move down the path towards a civilized healthcare system, and the other is to provide something for us to shoot down, and shoot down that reform in the process.

I've long maintained that trying to get healthcare reform this early on might well be taking on more than we can accomplish. IF we can get the economy running again, to provide jobs and customers for small businesses that make communities thrive, then we will be able to build the majorities of solid progressives ready to take on more controversial challenges.

However, if healthcare really is the Waterloo that the Rethugs would like to make it, we risk losing everything. We help them defeat us by letting us discourage each other.