Goodbye to all that

From Andrew – a two parter.

Part 1 – the crazies

If we cannot counsel Medicare recipients on how to make end-of-life decisions for themselves, then, given the huge expense of treating people in the last days of their lives, we are not being serious about healthcare costs. Equally, the hysteria over the presidential address was, well, hysteria. Even Newt Gingrich broke with the crazies on that one.

Part 2 – Could Obama be doing the right thing?

But Obama's mojo has always been to hang back, let his opponents reveal their irrationality and win in the end. There were many moments in the campaign when I feared this would simply mean being Dukakised. But I was wrong. And I suspect the only way to unwind the ferocious cultural blowback from the election of a non-Southern non-white president is to let it blow itself out.

The fear, of course, is that it will blow itself out by assassinating him. I just hope the secret service knows what is being whipped up out there. And I hope that when the GOP leaders acquiesce to this insanity, they understand what Obama following Lincoln would do to this country - and the world.

Daily Dish

It’s been the fear of almost every black person and a significant number of whites including many conservatives and even probably some who could be described as racists. We must hope that Obama is not only acting appropriately, but is right in his thoughts, brave in his actions and protected by those who value their duty and honor above all else.