Fiasco? Yes. Intense tone deafness? Yes. Complete lack of leadership? Yes.

Even yesterday, much like snake-oil salesman, the President went on tv to sell this crap heap as a way of saving money. Give me a break!! You wanna save tax payer money Mr. President, stop giving billions in tax breaks to undeserving banks (see Charles' diary and the excellent analysis he has linked to). Today the progressives have started laying the blame of the fiasco where it partially belongs, at 1600 Pennsylvania where they had abdicated all leadership.

From Huffington Post:

John Conyer:

"The president keeps listening to Rahm Emanuel. He doesn't listen to the Congressional Black Caucus."
"No public option, no extending Medicare to 55, no nothing, an excise tax, God! The insurance lobby is taking over."

David Obey:

"It's ridiculous, and the Obama administration is sitting on the sidelines. That's nonsense."

Anthony Weiner:

"Snowe? Stupak? Lieberman? Who left these people in charge? It's time for the president to get his hands dirty. Some of us have compromised our compromised compromise. We need the president to stand up for the values our party shares. We must stop letting the tail wag the dog of this debate."

Russ Feingold:

"This bill appears to be legislation that the president wanted in the first place, so I don't think focusing it on Lieberman really hits the truth. I think they could have been higher. I certainly think a stronger bill would have been better in every respect."

Sam Stein also reports that labor movements have called for an emergency meeting, where they will either decide to vocally oppose the current bill, or say nothing but sit out 2010.

"What is really frustrating folks here is that it's impossible to make and implement plans to pressure senators when the White House and Reid keep undermining the efforts no one from the outside can put any credible pressure on Senators because they know the White House will back that Senator up whatever they do. If the White House is going to cave to a Senator who spent the entire election campaigning with McCain and calling Obama a traitor how are we supposed to have any leverage over anyone?

"If Lieberman -- who has done so many horrible things directly to Obama -- can get away with this on Obama's signature issue it makes it infinitely harder for us to pressure senators, on issues in the future, because there is no fear of retribution or coercion from the White House. They only pressure progressives, not anyone in the middle."

It is time the WH took some ownership for their lack of leadership that led to the fiasco.

Update [2009-12-16 16:7:46 by tarheel74]:

Now the WH is attacking Howard Dean. But that's not unusual, they would rather vilify progressives than take on moderates and conservatives....spineless people. Here's what the nitwit Robert Gibbs said:

"I don't know what piece of legislation he is reading," said Gibbs.

"How better do you address those who don't have insurance... passing a bill that will cover 30 million uninsured or killing a bill?" he added. "I don't think any rational person would say killing a bill makes any sense at this point."

Asked if Dean was acting irrationally, Gibbs replied: "I can't tell what his motives are, to be honest with you."

Update [2009-12-16 22:17:18 by tarheel74]:

Wendell Potter, the insurance industry whistle-blower and insurance reform advocate weighs in.