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Mr. President, It's Time to Fight
No one's ever conquered Washington politics by constantly saying "pretty please" to the guys trying to cut your throat.
The editors of the Economist magazine say America's healthcare debate has become a touch delirious, with people accusing each other of being evil-mongers, dealers in death, and un-American.
Well, that's charitable.
I would say it's more deranged than delirious, and definitely not un-American.
Those crackpots on the right praying for Obama to die and be sent to hell -- they're the warp and woof of home-grown nuttiness. So is the creature from the Second Amendment who showed up at the President's rally armed to the teeth. He's certainly one of us. Red, white and blue kooks are as American as apple pie and conspiracy theories.
Bill Maher asked me on his show last week if America is still a great nation. I should have said it's the greatest show on earth. Forget what you learned in civics about the Founding Fathers — we're the children of Barnum and Bailey, our founding con men. Their freak show was the forerunner of today's talk radio.
Speaking of which: We've posted on our Web site an essay by the media scholar Henry Giroux. He describes the growing domination of hate radio as one of the crucial elements in a "culture of cruelty" increasingly marked by overt racism, hostility and disdain for others, coupled with a simmering threat of mob violence toward any political figure who believes healthcare reform is the most vital of safety nets, especially now that the central issue of life and politics is no longer about working to get ahead, but struggling simply to survive.
So here we are, wallowing in our dysfunction. Governed -- if you listen to the rabble rousers -- by a black nationalist from Kenya smuggled into the United States to kill Sarah Palin's baby. And yes, I could almost buy their belief that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, only I think he shipped them to Washington, where they've been recycled as lobbyists and trained in the alchemy of money laundering, which turns an old-fashioned bribe into a First Amendment right.
Only in a fantasy capital like Washington could Sunday morning talk shows become the high church of conventional wisdom, with partisan shills treated as holy men whose gospel of prosperity always seems to boil down to lower taxes for the rich.
Poor Obama. He came to town preaching the religion of nice. But every time he bows politely, the harder the Republicans kick him.
No one's ever conquered Washington politics by constantly saying "pretty please" to the guys trying to cut your throat.
Let's get on with it, Mr. President. We're up the proverbial creek with spaghetti as our paddle. This healthcare thing could have been the crossing of the Delaware, the turning point in the next American Revolution -- the moment we put the mercenaries to rout, as Gen. Washington did the Hessians at Trenton. We could have stamped our victory "Made in the USA." We could have said to the world, "Look what we did!" And we could have turned to each other and said, "Thank you."
As it is, we're about to get healthcare reform that measures human beings only in corporate terms of a cost-benefit analysis. I mean, this is topsy-turvy -- we should be treating health as a condition, not a commodity.
As we speak, Pfizer, the world's largest drug maker, has been fined a record $2.3 billion as a civil and criminal -- yes, that's criminal, as in fraud -- penalty for promoting prescription drugs with the subtlety of the Russian mafia. It's the fourth time in a decade Pfizer's been called on the carpet. And these are the people into whose tender mercies Congress and the White House would deliver us?
Come on, Mr. President. Show us America is more than a circus or a market. Remind us of our greatness as a democracy. When you speak to Congress next week, just come out and say it. We thought we heard you say during the campaign last year that you want a government-run insurance plan alongside private insurance -- mostly premium-based, with subsidies for low-and-moderate income people. Open to all individuals and employees who want to join and with everyone free to choose the doctors we want. We thought you said Uncle Sam would sign on as our tough, cost-minded negotiator standing up to the cartel of drug and insurance companies and Wall Street investors whose only interest is a company's share price and profits.
Here's a suggestion, Mr. President: Ask Josh Marshall to draft your speech. Josh is the founder of the Web site TalkingPointsMemo.com. He's a journalist and historian, not a politician. He doesn't split things down the middle and call it a victory for the masses. He's offered the simplest and most accurate description yet of a public insurance plan -- one that essentially asks people: Would you like the option -- the voluntary option -- of buying into Medicare before you're 65? Check it out, Mr. President.
This healthcare thing is make or break for your leadership, but for us, it's life and death. No more Mr. Nice Guy, Mr. President. We need a fighter.
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125 Comments so far
Show All"He's fighting as hard as he can to accomplish the goals of the interests he actually represents and seems to be succeeding quite well," all the while exerting great effort to keep those efforts hidden.
This is the whole problem with Moyers's otherwise fine piece: He assumes Obama is something other than the Obama he's currently seeing, that he was reall serious about "Change," etc.
Considering Mr Moyers's contributions generally, I don't think he's as naive as this article taken alone might suggest. I tend to think that he probably knows better, but is as desparate as any of us trying to exert whatever psychological influence might possibly have even a miniscule impact. Either that or he's somewhat constrained by his platform. Possibly both.
Yeah, Moyers is probably the #1 journalist in the Empire when it comes to Truth. And it may be that he decided to use this language for reasons of his own rather than telling his audience that Obama date-raped them pure and simple.
The lesser evil is still evil, and Obama is just proving that truism once again.
President Obama,
There are throngs of people just waiting for you to lead them, all you have to do is once again display the "audacity of hope" you so eloquently crystalized into those three words that became the mantra of those with a new hopeful inclusive vision for the world - "yes we can."
Indeed, the world is waiting for you to stand up and be the person you told us you were and lead us toward that vision we all yearn for. We are indeed those we have been waiting for and we are all at the ready, waiting for your leadership to all join in this struggle. All you have to do is stand tall, be brave, and lead - we are here and we will help.
We've never asked you to do this for us, we've only asked you to lead us and together we will join and fight for better days for all.
If you would do that, I promise you will be humbled and overwhelmed by the response of those who see this as the great battle for humankind and our place her on our planet.
You are the right person, in the right place, at the right time. Please don't fail us - you have more people than you realize pleading, waiting, and hoping that you will rise, and together we will all rise, to the task at hand.
Absolutely! The right person, in the right place, at the right time to continue the American delusion that changing the color of party bannners constitutes democracy while protecting and preserving exactly the same corporatist policies and practices as before the "change you can believe in" took place.
Hallelujah! The savior is arisen -- not.
Unfortunately, "audacity of hope" was just a marketing tool.
As greed is a common feature of the ultra-rich, political cowardice is a common feature of Presidents that aren't ultra-rich to begin with. Either way, representative government has us by the balls.
kivals--exactly, and well said. Insults rarely lead the insulted to introspection.
NMBill--a very minor point here--"If Obama stood for real progress, he would of stood behind Van Jones." I agree with your point, but "would of" is a grammar school mistake too many grown-ups commit. The contraction for "would have" is "would've." By writing "would of", your otherwise intelligent point attains the opposite appearance, especially when you repeat the error in your very next sentence.
NMFreelancer September 8th, 2009 2:32 pm..........Glad YOU said it...very minor point.
The Democratic party (which should change its name to The Lite Reactionary Party) does not fight. Under Bill and Hillary Clinton, it traded in whatever principles it had for MONEY. Its current CEO, Obama The Supercillious, reclines and eats grapes while his assassins sharpen their knives.
He ain't particularly nice to the crowds who rode him into town on the crest of change so no one has got his back.
Your mistake is your assumption that Obama really wants change. Quit compartmentalizing the evidence to give Obama a pass. He is compromised, complicit and cowardly.
Don't you get it? All he wanted was to achieve the presidency not actually be president.
Sioux Rose
VERN: For all we know, he may be capitulating to dark powers to save his own (or his family's) life. His whole schtick reminds me of a made man in a high organized crime family network. The don sits him down, reads him the score, gets his smile and nod of approval, makes sure he understands the "established program," and with his consent validated, the young ambitious fellow is given the blessing to enjoy much "success." He knows who butters his bread, and is not there to rock the boat. In fact, he was "product-tested" in his articulations (earlier speeches), and based on the public's response, his teflon-like charisma lifted him to most favored candidate status. From there came the profoundly expensive marketing campaign that made him president' and from there, a recapitulation of every policy (from Bush and even some from Clinton) sane voters thought they were voting against. It's like "Ground Hog's Day," political style, served as reflection to the entire nation.
The comedy act, like that circus deftly described by another poster, is owned by the right wing extremists. They mostly exist to entertain through their wild distortions and gyrations. I wonder if they actually believe their own rhetoric, or if the pay is too good to bother to know better? There is karma attached to misusing one's influence, particularly if said influence taps into the psyches of millions of persons. And even more so, when its infusion brings about a false consensus that's ready, armed, and equipped to do GREAT harm.
Of course, Obama was thoroughly vetted, "hired" you might say. You don't imagine all the campaign money went his way without expectations.
"But for the grace of God, go there I." I'm sometimes happy to have been born a low achiever (in US society's terms).
"For all we know, he may be capitulating to dark powers to save his own (or his family's) life."
Yes, the cowardly part....because apparently it is a good and noble thing, a heroic thing for a poor young kid to sacrifice life for country (or so the mythology goes)but a president must act in self preservation at the expense of the country?
You would think he knew what he was getting into--but his real ambition was to win the campaign for his own posterity. He can play the role like a pop star icon--only in a shallow and inauthentic suave photo op--a passing fad. There is no core principle there for the greater good.
His 15 minutes are up.
I was never a big Bill Moyers fan, but I shall be revising that.
"...the alchemy of money laundering which turns an old-fashioned bribe into a First Amendment right."
Perfecto!
Bill Moyers is too kind -almost naive? he believes that Obama is honestly fighting for health care, but O is not going to fight for any public option or any of his false promises He has been co-opted by those he is pathetically trying to placate.
He has shamefully abandoned the only good member of his administration, Van Jones.
He once said Bush made no mistakes! He wont prosecute his crimes or even investigate them because he agrees with his actions.
He said you cannot start Medicare For All from scratch.as though we needed to.
He wont respond to the insane opposition who want to destroy him. he is allowing them to undermine his already weakened goals.
He has joined with Wall St moguls whom he bailed out with $450 billion, with nothing for the public and those who are losing their homes except for clunker money for car dealers selling newer polluting cars that dont improve the environment.
He is now engaged in 2 reved up wars after promising to end one He supports the torturers and the ugly mercenaries there who rip off taxpayers.
He has taken large campaign donations from the the health care profiteers and dances to their tune.
He cant do any of the things we expected because he is not the person he pretended to be He has the same old agenda -An Obushma -a one term president with a fast falling support. With his lukewarm action on health care reform which is likely to fail, as so many wish, he will be a lame duck. with the Rs and their crazies back in power after 2012
We have been HAD again. When do we all start to give Greens or Someone Else a chance to attempt to loosen the grip of corporate control?
"He has joined with Wall St moguls whom he bailed out with $450 billion... "
I have NEWS for you ...
Obama has let Bernanke run wild ... the public now has given $14 TRILLION in gifts and guarantees to the Wall Street Banksters ...
To top that Obama wants the privately owned and operated Federal Reserve to handle all regulations of the financial sector and has nominated Bernanke to be Fed Chairman once again ...
Time to vote Green ... Obama is a neoliberal through and through ... Neoliberals are the antithesis of progressive ... they are the left wing of the plutocracy ...
and this follows the 14 trillion dollar thefts
by the repugs enabled by the raygun clintonites..
In retrospect the gramm leach bliley act was
Treason by the leader of the faux opposition party
Poet
What I wish President O would say:
"There has been much arguing back and forth on the matter of healthcare reform. Right now the forces of privilige are doing everything they can devise to destroy any chance for a government run healthcare option for the US.
Any healthcare bill that reaches my desk without a public healthcare option with the necessary funding will be vetoed. If the veto is overidden the US electorate needs to note those responsible for such an action and take matters into their own hands at next year's congressional and senatorial elections."
What we will probably hear:
"Ummm, well, can't we all just get along, pulleeeze?!"
Poet
Just out of curiosity, why isn't every dissident here over at www.votingbloc.org, working on building solidarity? What is it that votingbloc.org fails to offer? Why aren't they an attractive tool for change? Why aren't people beating the drum for it here?
I'm genuinely interested, because it too often looks like the online left does nothing but endlessly complain in a futile sort of way. Is it just that the people here aren't representative of the activist, sewer-socialist left, or what?
Are we even *capable* of doing real work for real change?
I'm not shy about working for any change. I just didn't yet have the website address. I'll go look at it right now and see for myself. Thanks, Mairead.
Hi Mairead--I'd never heard of votingbloc.org until your post. I went there and emailed them a few questions, which I'll share when I get a reply.
I'm curious too--curious just how many people still out there that are gullible enough to send this "website" money (whoever they are) or to even consider "voting" an option at this point.
Voting? Like you mean...V-O-T-I-N-G?
LOL
I can think of only 2 ways to create change: ballots or bullets. Do you know of a third way?
Dont pay your taxes...
Yes, there's another way. In fact, it's the only way that actually works at present, but purchased representation doesn't come cheap in the "greatest democracy on earth." The prices are kept high to avoid the riff-raff.
Good point. I didn't remember "lease a majority of politicians", doubtless for the reason you give: we common people can't afford them, especially since we'd be bribing them to go against their own class interests.
By being change, by being conscious.
I think your third way could be construed as "bullets in boxes"--i.e., not necessarily any violence, but a clear message that violence is standing just outside the door, waiting. The reason I say that is that if millions flooded into DC and started saying "out, out, damned politicians", some MacArthur wannabe would bring in a couple of regiments with machine guns to reprise the treatment of the Bonus Marchers, start shooting, and THEN where do we go.
It's only class war (or civil war, or illegal) if we fight back.
You are CHOOSING to see my third was as bullets in boxes--even though I pointed out that there would be no need for violence on the side of the two million folks, given the enormous advantage of numbers in a very small city.
I mentioned that some folks will get killed.
It's inevitable. But all two million cannot be killed.
Obviously, you do not--in the final analysis--give a rat's butt about what you say you do--MEANINGFUL CHANGE.
This is only one of many times I have called the bluff of plastic progressives by telling them how to make the change.
Fine with me--with any luck my people will ride free once again across Turtle Island sooner, rather than later.
"I'm curious too--curious just how many people still out there that are gullible enough to send this "website" money (whoever they are) or to even consider "voting" an option at this point."
I certainly won't give them any money until they stop "disappearing" comments and blocking people from the site (or at least comment on why they do this).
As for voting, people should vote. They should vote their conscience (if they lack one they can vote Democrat/Republican) and be prepared to lose. When they lose they should realize that an election every 4 years is not the road to meaningful change.
Voting is so easy, we might as well vote for progressive policies, even though it's kind of useless. I just don't see the point in not voting.
"He describes the growing domination of hate radio as one of the crucial elements in a "culture of cruelty" increasingly marked by overt racism, hostility and disdain for others, coupled with a simmering threat of mob violence"
It's called fascism. If Obama isn't part of it, he and we had better have the guts to crush it before it crushes all of us.
This health care fight is going to be with us through next year. Little to nothing will be clear after Obama speaks tomorrow night. Baucus, Rahm and Grassley, these whores want time to rake in more money. Plus, this keeps our attention off the War, another moneymaker. What else do we have? I'm sure in most of Congress and Senator's minds things are moving along just fine. I imagine that back fortress (DC) they were all out today having liquid lunch after that treacherous so-called break.
My greatest consolation at this time is knowing that those who are insured are going to see and experience a 36% increase in their rates between now and when whatever crap deal we get kicks in, maybe even higher. And those who actually become seriously ill that LOVE their insurance are about to find out their insurance doesn't cover them the way they need it to. Oh well, welcome to the club.
All the while, Canada is experiencing a 2% increase in jobs, while the USA continues to slide deeper and deeper.
I don't think Obama has the stomach for a fight-- he's a negotiator by constitution, not a guy wanting to carry a sledge hammer. So there are really only 2 options for him:
join the opposition or maintain a modicum of integrity by
resigning from office.
President Obama, You MUST NOT let go of the public option. When the blue dogs realize what is at stake, they WILL vote with you on this. They are just calling your bluff, but Mr. Obama, but YOUR ARE NOT BLUFFING, because that is what you told us all when we worked hours upon hours calling voters in red states and turning them blue for you.
Anyway, as it would appear that you are in a loose-loose situation, than GO WITH WHAT IS RIGHT.
Stand firm on the PUBLIC OPTION, Mr. Obama, and when news comes flying in that the public option is saving lives, YOU, Mr. Obama, WILL BE EVEYRONE'S HERO.
Obama is a purveyor of death, after all, he took single payer off the table. Obama is a turkey and turkey's don't shyt gold.
His health care reform will be nothing more than "Obama Death Care."
Now that the illusion's been shattered that President Barack Obama is going to lead us out of the wilderness, why are we even talking about him; he should listen to so & so, say this, do that. And no use shopping around for another maximum leader or figuring that we'll get'em next time, since that's what we've been doing for umpty-ump generations and where's that's gotten us. But if not same old same old business as usual status quo incrementalism, what then? We rise up en masse, that's what. Impossible? Yeh, just like it was impossible 20 years ago in what was known as the Soviet Union. Yet it did happen and overnight, as the Russian people rose up as if on cue and overthrew their Communist government. Shortly before that, of course, the same type of spontaneous combustion took place in the Soviet satellite entities of Eastern Europe (Germany, Romania, Hungary, Chechoslavakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia). Couldn't happen here, though, due to unfavorable conditions, too much apathy & malaise, etc. etc., as if prior to its demise these things weren't said about the Soviet Union. And never mind that mass mobilizations helped end the Vietnam War and delivered us Civil Rights legislation, not to mention the Revolutionary War that, surprise, gave birth to our nation. So what's holding us back? No leaders? Nonsense! Everyone's a leader in a revolution. Timing? More nonsense because the timing couldn't be better, what with perpetual war + global warming + economic collapse = doomsday. What then, what then, what then? More apropo to the situation today, what's our initial mass uprising going to be about.
it has to be about
disestablishmentarianism, that is,
reclaiming the media from the 1000's
of propagandists who control
THE SCREENS of amerika. We need to
disestablish the Rockefeller Rangelers,
those Fakers who play good cop to the
Rovian bad cops and exclude the peoples
voice.
Bill...dont beg prez to do the right thing. I know hope springs eternal in your heart, but doing the right thing is not on the bo agenda. Our con man in chief has never done the right thing when given the opportunity.
He said alot of things in his quest for power, none of which ment a thing . He's allowed the health care issue to tie itself up in knots as he gave us an occational fluff cheer from vacationland, and what we are about to get rammed down our throats is going to be worse than no plan at all. And this is only year one.....
I can't even listen to Moyers anymore. I've never been impressed with him, particularly for his unapologetic role as the Johnson administration's version of Ari Fleischer (although I don't think Ari ever tried to "out" uncooperative reporters as homosexuals). But I became too disgusted with him when he recently declared to Bill Maher that:
"I was there when Kennedy chose to send advisers to Vietnam – and was there when LBJ escalated – they both acted from noble intentions – actually they did – they wanted to stop Communism in Asia and spread democracy – but the advisers soon became bombers and the bombers became grounds troops and pretty soon, it became a regional crusade – and 12 years later, billions of dollars, and millions of lives later, including 60,000 American troops – we lost – because the U.S. is not good at that sort of thing."
http://willyloman.wordpress.com/2009/08/30/bill-maher-interviews-bill-moyers-the-conscience-of-a-nation/
Perhaps we also lost because the cause never was "noble" and because enforcing democracy (which is a euphemism for market access) through the murder of millions of people makes it seem less savory. Perhaps we lost, because like the French, we had no right to be there in the first place (since Truman).
Saying that the colonial foundations of one of the twentieth century's worst genocides was "noble", is like saying that Hitler invaded the USSR with "noble intentions".
Launching wars of aggression under the banner of "fighting communism" (like the US and Hitler did) is far from "noble".
That's a fine recent Moyers quote to highlight, Pudepoh. It really captures the savagery of the mainstream Dem mindset.
The domino theory was pure ideology, justifying whole-scale murder. The U.S.-instigated Vietnam war was a war crime, pure and simple. At this point, for Moyers to suggest that noble intentions were involved - well, that just says something about Moyers.
Any Moyers groupies out there hanging on his every word should reconsider. Start thinking for yourselves. Watch out for Dem party boosters, of whatever sort.
If Moyers were honest, he'd talk about Obama's stepping away from the public option, and his secret negotiations with industry execs. Instead, we get more false hope that Obama can be different than he is.
-TIA
I appreciate Bill Moyer's post. It is a fiery follow-up to his appearance on Bill Maher's show, which I did happen to catch. I have long admired Moyer's broad and humane perspective of the American cultural landscape.
I believe Moyers is dismayed at the perilous course this nation has taken, as well he should be, having stood at the forefront of American politics and culture for over 40 years. Like most of us, he believed anyone would make a better President than Bush; any administration would be better than the last one...we all should have been more specific.
Better than Bush doesn't have to mean good: better than the last does not have to mean first. I believe the point Moyers is trying to make is, compared to the galactically stupid Republican/right-wing opposition, there really is nothing to keep this Democratic President and Congress from making real and lasting changes that are a long time coming..nothing but themselves. We are so proud to have an educated, intelligent President in the White House: a Democratic majority in the House and the Senate. Alas, what education and intelligence cannot promise to develop is courage.
Courage is a matter for honor. Obama and Congress are not fighting for what is right, or fair, or just: they are fighting for what they think they can win...this does not take courage. It takes compromise: firm excuses and steady backpedalling...
Am I disappointed in Obama? No. He has been in office for less than a year, in one of the worst possible conditions on a national and global front. How is he doing? As good, as bad, as I suppose any of us would do, less than a year on the job in one of the most important positions in the world. Obama is trying to make sense of it all, without looking confused...
Moyers kept that in mind when he wrote this piece, I think. Obama may surprise us...he may not. But he could is what Moyers is saying...he could surprise us and himself.
Wow! Actually your comment is surprising!
Your points don't wash though--because in the short time he has had thus far, things have gone from bad to worse and THAT is the problem. Bush was treading water, Obama ACCELERATES the decline.
Heaven forbid that we point that out.
I did point that out, but considering the American political, economic, and cultural climate, how much can we presume the President is able to do on his own?
I just believe it is too soon to tell what Barack Obama is truly made of. He was voted in by a landslide because the American people believed in what he said. Perhaps they believed because he did, too. As any activist can attest to, it is a big reality check to have your passion, dedication, and determination to "bring change" hacked to pieces by the magnitude of the crisis, how many hands are bound, how many loyalties are divided, how many open graves are dug, and the pushing and shoving that goes on to result in a few "fall guys..." It is enough to intimidate even the surest of us, enough to cower even the strongest of us. Moyers believes that if Obama remains strong and sure, the people will support him. I understand if that is difficult for Obama to believe when the frustration and doubt like that expressed here by his "former" supporters is his meter for when and how to act.
Again, if I am not disappointed in Obama (yet), I simply believe it is too soon to come to the conclusion that Obama can and will do nothing to change our present national predicament. And what a challenge! None of the problems America is facing presently can be "microwaved:" they have to be prepared, put in the pot, and brought to a slow boil. What needs to be added? We don't know, until we've tasted here and there, how things are turning out. Poor analogy, I know. The stage America is in right now must leave room for mistakes, for caution, and for uncertainty. NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT TO DO. I believe that, from the Federal Reserve, to the Pentagon, to the White House to Congress. As far as healthcare goes, we are waging a 50-year old battle on brown fields...I understand the fear of making changes within our control in a place where changes are being made beyond our control.
Will I take these words back four years from now? Possibly. I am certainly prepared for that. (sigh) However, I am also prepared to give Obama the four years I voted him in for. I am prepared to give the public time to come to their senses. I am prepared to give the radicals time to retreat. I am prepared to give time for courage to show itself in unlikely places and people, and in desperate hours...
In a way, I am hoping for the desperate hours...does that make sense?
"I did point that out, but considering the American political, economic, and cultural climate, how much can we presume the President is able to do on his own?"
Little wonder the streets are empty, when so many are more than willing to coddle poor widdle Obamy. Obama won the election for crying out loud. He had a mandate--the ISSUES he could easily represent are supported by the majority, but since this small minority of cranks gets front and center notice, the real issues are pushed out of sight and the "climate" is presented inaccurately --- and if you notice you contradicted yourself between your first and second line.
Corinthian, you ask if your post makes sense. You say, "how much can we presume the President is ablle to do on his own?".
Have you thought about how much Bush and his master Cheney did on their own? Or Hitler?
Surely there's nothing wrong with Mr. Moyer making a public request. Doing so will very shortly allow us to point out 0bama's failure to comply.
0 proposed a bill without single payer - without the one obvious, practical, and popular solution.
0 accepted revisions that did not even include the scrap of a "public option," a second-rate possibility that might enable consumers to abandon the insurance industry and eventually receive health care.
Translate: 0 accepted revisions that made the bill obviously worse than nothing.
What can he possibly say now?
What kind of statement could have any smell of credibility, and to whom?
Come out and Fight my Ass. This is the 6th round of a 10 round fight and instead of striking his opponents he has been making Love to them.
Traitors Don't Fight. Every chance he's had to fight for decency, his promises or right, he's come out on the side of Obscenity, Lies and Wrong; Any and all of his actions Stone Cold Promote the interests of the filthy rich. And no one else.
He fights.
For the Rich.