My letter to President Obama

Mr. President:

First, congratulations on getting the health insurance reform bill passed!

Second: note how many GOP votes the bill garnered:

House: 0
Senate: 0

This despite your best efforts.
You made concessions to the so-called loyal opposition.
They dissed you.

We saw exactly the same thing with last year’s Stimulus bill: you made concessions to the GOP, and got exactly 0 votes in return.

Face the facts: the so-called loyal opposition do NOT share your values.
They cherish the support of folks who shout ‘nigger’ and ‘faggot’ at members of Congress.
Their only interest is to water down legislation as much as possible – and still not vote for it.
You’d be better off doing what you finally did on health insurance reform: bargain with conservative members of your own party.

I know this advice is hard for you to take.
You are a rational, well-intentioned, magnanimous man.
You want to believe the best of others.
BUT: the so-called loyal opposition are not.
They only want to see you go down in flames.

By all means, continue the dialog with House & Senate Republicans.
Invite them to the White House for discussion.
Listen to them. Acknowledge their whining.
BUT: do NOT concede ANYTHING to them.
No matter how much you give them, they will never give you their votes.

Next up: Financial reform.
Do NOT concede anything to the GOP.
Work with the conservative members of your own party.

In ten years, no one will remember – let alone care – whether or not you achieved bipartisan solutions.
All that we’ll remember are your accomplishments: that you improved America for us all.


Sincerely,