Politics – with a Capital “P” – Comes to the Fore, Again…

The good? After weeks of wrangling, Senator Snowe’s vote provided bipartisan support for healthcare reform and showed that the Senate is still a place where politicians can work across the aisle to achieve substantial results. 

The bad?  continues to be the menacing policy problem for the Obama Administration. With the war entering its eighth year, many still wonder where policy is focused.  This week, prominent blogger Arianna Huffington – a former conservative, gone liberal – called on Vice President Biden to resign if Obama decides to increase the troop levels.  A long-term supporter of American withdrawal from , Huffington argued that Biden would be rendered useless in the West Wing if Obama escalates the war.  While the article made a huge splash in the blogosphere and continued the ongoing criticism of the Administration’s war policy, I suspect it is a temporary diversion for the Administration. The White House had “no comment” on the report. 

The ugly? The scathing report by the insurance industry pushed everyone into their respective corners.  It is abundantly clear that the Senate leadership is deeply disturbed by the broadsided from insurance.  The ugliness is only beginning…

Kevin Fickenscher, MD

The views and opinions expressed herein are my own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Dell Perot Systems or its affiliates.