It was his waterloo, he bought it for 99 cents on Itunes

Rep John Shadegg wrote an op-ed called "Democrats will be held accountable." In it he makes a couple of statements that I think need a little bit more back story before they are passed off as what really took place.

Never before in American history has such far-reaching legislation passed on a purely partisan basis — not Social Security, not Medicare, not Civil Rights and not SCHIP.

True statement by the way, but one should look at the bigger question here, and that is "why?"

Now it is easy to come up with lots of reasons and most of them would be legitimate areas of concern. Even the "they are forcing me to buy insurance" argument holds water. But that is not why the vote was partisan. Republican's took a stand not for principle but for politics - that is they wanted healthcare reform to fail so Obama would not have a victory.

"If we're able to stop Obama on [health care reform], it will be his Waterloo. It will break him...." Sen. Jim DeMint

This is why there was a partisan vote, this was the strategy and woe to any Republican who broke it. The Republicans have painted themselves in a corner - walk in lockstep or you will be cast as a RINO - or not conservative enough.

The majority thought pattern within the Republican party bought off on the waterloo approach and it was a bust. Did Obama win? No, there were no winners here because one side decided it was in their best interest to not shape it into something that works but to do everything they could to make it fail.

So here's a news flash for you Republicans: Not everything the Democrats put together is sound and/or good for the country. That's the nature of non-diversity of thought - it becomes one sided. You had a chance to interact, to wheel and deal, to do the politicking to get what you think is needed. That's how it works, its a stupid game of give and take and hopefully out of the mix will come something good.

You lost an opportunity to govern just like you squandered 8 years when you controlled both Congress and the White House. You may indeed win and become the majority party in 2012, but so what - what will you do for us other than provide rhetoric and promote a hands-off let-the private sector-decide model that created the economic mess we are in now and left citizens at the whims of a healthcare system dependent upon private insurance that was unfordable or unavailable unless one's employer was nice enough to offer it?

Healthcare reform was need way before Bush 43 was in office. Obama set out to get it passed which was one of the reasons people like me voted for him. What we ended up with when he signed it into law was not perfect, but it was the best we could get because Republicans choose to sit on the sidelines and pout.

Think about governing, not just for conservative "principles" but for the good of all 300 million people who have a diverse set of wants and needs. Right now you leave me very little choice put to vote for Democrats.

My my, I tried to hold you back but you were stronger

Oh yeah, and now it seems my only chance is giving up the fight

And how could I ever refuse

I feel like I win when I lose

Abba - Waterloo