This move is a high stakes gamble. As such, it shows the determination of the cryptocracy to change health care to government-directed cost-reducing care. They want this change so badly that they are willing to risk all of Obama's political capital to try to swing a vote. If Obama can't pull it off, his presidency will limp for the remainder of his term of office.
Obama's problem is a miscalculation by the cryptocracy. They precipitated the economic crisis to make a number of fundamental changes, among them a health care reform. They figured that the crisis will enable them to slip through their proposed new system of health care. But, when the time came to enact the legislation, the American people, who are concerned about the economy and jobs, revolted.
Now Obama faces the task of convincing the pubic to give their assent to something they don't see a need for, and, as they learn more about the legislation, scares the hell out of them.
Karl Rove, of Bush White House fame, made an interesting quote in regard to the above situation. "Presidents always encounter rough patches. What is unusual is how soon Mr. Obama has hit his. He has used up almost all his goodwill in less than nine months, with the hardest work still ahead. At the year's start, Democrats were cocky. At summer's end, concern is giving way to despair. A perfect political storm is amassing, and heading straight for Democrats." [Page A15, today's Wall Street Journal.]
And Rove was only discussing the health care situation. Add in the Afghanistan debacle and Obama is in a difficult political position indeed.
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