A Perfect Semblance

With all the contentious disputation over the health care debate, I felt it necessary to educate myself about many of the main proposals and key players in the Senate. During that process of getting familiar with these advocates and their policy ideas, one invariably comes across that infamous and ignoble group of senators we've all now become so familiar with: the Gang of Six and the so-called Blue Dogs, who have been working indefatigably to stymie actual, progressive reform. Of that latter group, there is one senator, who like Lieberman, often goes about the airwaves demanding that Dems craft the health care bill in a fashion more to his liking.

And that man is Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska----to whom, despite my initial unfamiliarity and lack of sympathy for his views, I still felt some kind of nebulous connection, as if he came from some distant, dark childhood memory. That was until yesterday, when it became clear to me as I listened to David Bowie on my ipod. After several frustrating months wondering how I knew Ben Nelson, the mystery ended with a euphoric, "That's fuckin' it!"

Ben Nelson used to be an actor, and starred in one of the most profound movies ever made---one I still cherish today as an adult.

Bill Nelson played Hoggle in Jim Henson's Labyrinth.

If one has any doubts, just look at the semblance below: although---granted----the Ben Nelson of today looks a lot older and more troll-like. But in his heart, just as his character, Hoggle, Nelson has proved willing to sell out. And he'll do it again in the future. But will he ever try and redeem himself from this betrayal, as his troll character, Hoggle, did in the end? Not likely. He'll stay unrepentant.

Hoggle explains his recent vote:

“Without in any way intending to be threatening, to be more in the mode of promising,” Mr. Nelson said, “let me be clear, this cloture vote is based on the full understanding that there will be a limited conference between the Senate and House. If there are material changes in that conference report different from this bill that adversely affect the agreement, I reserve the right to vote against the next cloture vote. Let me repeat it. I reserve the right to vote against the next cloture vote if there are material changes to this agreement in the conference report. And I will vote against it, if that is the case.”

And what did Hoggle get in exchange for being the holdout? Not only will there be strong restrictions on the use of insurance to pay for abortions, but Nebraska has been excepted from helping to fund the new expansion of Medicaid:

The bill calls for broadly expanding Medicaid, the federal-state insurance program for low-income Americans, and eventually most states would have to bear some of the cost – but not Nebraska.

Next, we'll look at the arguments for whether or not one should hold a candidate accountable for his or her campaign promises. And we'll peep at the "progress" Dems are making on drug re-importation, which was a major sticking point against Bush, but apparently no big deal now that Rahm Emanuel et al. are at the helm.