Kennedy’s Death Unlikely to Redirect Health Care Debate

By GottaLaff

Via Roll Call, sigh:

Capitol Hill observers on both sides of the aisle suggested Wednesday that Kennedy’s death won’t have much of an effect on the health care debate as it stands today. But some indicated that had Kennedy been healthy and fully involved in the overhaul effort earlier this year, things may have been different. [...]

With Kennedy having died Tuesday night, Senate Democrats will be stuck with 59 votes for about five months, as, according to Massachusetts law, a special election to replace him is not likely to be held until late January. [...]

Meanwhile, the line of succession on the HELP Committee remains vague.

Dodd, the next in line, is unlikely to want to give up the gavel of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Similarly, Harkin, the No. 3 Democrat on HELP, is likely to want to hold onto the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry chairmanship, given the panel’s importance to his home state.

That could leave Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), a fiery liberal in her fourth term.

Like Harkin, Mikulski was given a key role in shaping the HELP Committee’s reform legislation. She helped Dodd as he managed the panel in place of Kennedy while simultaneously running the Banking Committee.

Double sigh.

Okay, that did it. The moment has come for a transition into some kick-ass arm-twisting by our president. All these Five Minutes of Infamy at town halls, all the misdirected attention on the Rushpublic Party of Miscreants has to stop. Now.

It's time to redirect the focus of the corporate media on to the Democratic message, the truth, and finally, pushing through legislation that includes a public option. No more compromise. No more catering to the other side. People are dying, Americans are going broke, so yes, it's vital to push this through now.

There is no bipartisanship. There is no "deal". Here's the deal: President Obama, we've had it. Step up. And do it in the name of Ted Kennedy.