Senator Barrasso on FOX

Yesterday, I aked why there had been no discussion of Senate Republican plans to bottle up a reconciliation bill by blocking substantive changes on points of order. Monday night, Wyoming Senator John Barrasso, an orthopedic surgeon, appeared on FOX’s “On The Record” with Greta Van Susteren. Barrasso said that Republicans would offer endless amendments to a Reconciliation bill and that House members should not vote on the bill and expect The Senate to change it.

He also said he thought Obama wanted to sign a passed bill and get out of town, I assume to return and blame Republicans for blocking the changes. I think Barrasso is a good guy, and I don’t put an effort past Obama. But, he better have a pretty good plan to try to pull that one off. If House Democrats feel like he messed them over, he could really have his tail in a sling, with all Republicans and a bunch of Democrats put out with him. It isn’t like he doesn’t deserve it, but he’s a political loser no matter what happens. He may figure he might as well reach for the Holy Grail.

I don’t know if he has it in him, but I think his ONLY chance for any productive future is if the bill fails and he backs off and puts together a relatively market-based and small bill together with Republicans. He might have to swallow hard to have any chance at a respected presidency and reelection. I just want to say that all of the lying and posturing with human props is getting pretty sickening.