Stan Geiger

Democrats are Playing with Fire

A House vote on health care will take place sometime next week---maybe. Most reports say the votes aren't there to pass the measure and some Democrats seem reluctant to call for a vote they can't win.

Obama wants the vote, regardless. I think he feels like a man trying to tread water with a rock tied to his neck. At this point, I don't think he cares one way or the other. He wants the issue off the table; he's tired of watching his polling numbers drop week after week.

Some Democrats seem to still believe they can twist enough arms, pass out enough goodies and pull enough procedural shenanigans to pass a behemoth health care bill that most in America reject.

If Democrats are successful in pulling a rabbit out of the hat, they will regret it. It is already a given that Democrats will get hammered in this year's elections. If they manage to pass an unpopular health care bill, come 2012, Republicans will have the White House and control of both houses of Congress.

---