I'd note that Bill Kristol wrote an internal memorandum for the Republican party essentially saying that passing health care under Clinton would mean the end of the Republican party. The memorandum is here
"The President's health care proposal is the most important domestic political event of his presidency. Its defeat is the most important immediate goal of the Republican party. It will revive the reputation of the party that spends and regulates, the Democrats, as the generous protector of middle-class interests. And it will at the same time strike a punishing blow against Republican claims to defend the middle class by restraining government.
So it was shitty that Obama undercut Clinton, but Republican opposition was pretty much a constant, so one could argue that it wasn't a policy choice, it was what Obama had to do to undercut Republican opposition. This isn't to give Obama a pass, it is just to acknowledge that these policy arguments were not playing out on a blank slate.
2025-09-29 13:26:03
Glad you found us Marty!
2025-09-28 21:56:08
First, thanks GftNC for the additional link, it's really appreciated.
I'm going to start categorizing posts and this one is Politics, though I think it is more (though isn't everything nowadays) I wish Klein had taken a bit more onboard from Coates and not kept trying to nail Coates down on where he would draw the line. I appreciate that they must have had discussions before and Klein really must have taken offense at Coates saying that he whitewashed Kirk, but Coates could have asked what Charlie Kirk would have to had said before Klein would have to conclude that he shouldn't write about Kirk. I also thought it was telling that Coates pointed out that MLK was actually speaking about love and he got assassinated. Klein should get credit for not hiding, but I still think he should take a dose of self-reflection.
I'd note that Bill Kristol wrote an internal memorandum for the Republican party essentially saying that passing health care under Clinton would mean the end of the Republican party. The memorandum is here
"The President's health care proposal is the most important domestic political event of his presidency. Its defeat is the most important immediate goal of the Republican party. It will revive the reputation of the party that spends and regulates, the Democrats, as the generous protector of middle-class interests. And it will at the same time strike a punishing blow against Republican claims to defend the middle class by restraining government.
So it was shitty that Obama undercut Clinton, but Republican opposition was pretty much a constant, so one could argue that it wasn't a policy choice, it was what Obama had to do to undercut Republican opposition. This isn't to give Obama a pass, it is just to acknowledge that these policy arguments were not playing out on a blank slate.
Glad you found us Marty!
First, thanks GftNC for the additional link, it's really appreciated.
I'm going to start categorizing posts and this one is Politics, though I think it is more (though isn't everything nowadays) I wish Klein had taken a bit more onboard from Coates and not kept trying to nail Coates down on where he would draw the line. I appreciate that they must have had discussions before and Klein really must have taken offense at Coates saying that he whitewashed Kirk, but Coates could have asked what Charlie Kirk would have to had said before Klein would have to conclude that he shouldn't write about Kirk. I also thought it was telling that Coates pointed out that MLK was actually speaking about love and he got assassinated. Klein should get credit for not hiding, but I still think he should take a dose of self-reflection.