March 26, 2010 09:13 PM UTC

Just So We Could Use the Word "Obstreperous"

•  
• by: Colorado Pols

Interesting article in The Hill today about Republicans trying to figure out their post-health care reform strategy:

But even as some Republicans talk of using healthcare as a cudgel, others are questioning the hard-line opposition strategy that limited their input on the substance of healthcare reform and may deny them any chance of shaping financial regulatory reform later this year.

“Our constituents expect us to stand up and fight the good fight, but there’s always a reasonableness factor that needs to come into place,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), vice chairwoman of the Senate Republican Conference. “Sometimes there’s a fine line between what is being an advocate for your cause and when you become obstreperous. [Pols emphasis]

“We need to make sure that we’re always cognizant of that and we push appropriately so but recognize where that line is.”

Senators such as Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) had initially planned to offer scores of amendments to stall the healthcare reform fixes and stop Democrats from putting the finishing touches on the legislation.

By Wednesday, however, the political tone had changed.

Uh, no shit.

As we wrote earlier this week, attacking health care reform is completely different now that a bill has been passed. It was one thing to talk about “death panels” and other stuff to play into fears about potential legislation, but it’s a lot harder to attack a bill once every newspaper in country is running stories discussing what is actually in writing. Most voters are not unhappy with many of the things that are contained in the legislation, so it doesn’t do the GOP any good — outside of the angry base they already have — to still hold tight to the fire and brimstone.