That's good to know

In this entire health care reform debate there have been many areas of concern and worry for Americans watching the progress and seeing what would be in the bill. I think the one thing that most of us has been worried about, the thing that keeps most of us up at nights drenched in a cold sweat, is concern over how Democrats who try to kill health reform legislation will feel after they kill it. I mean the thought of one of them actually feeling bad over the decision to deny millions of Americans reform and coverage would just be too much to bear. Thankfully the last honest man, Joe Lieberman, has assured us he won't feel any remorse. Now, Ben Nelson has stepped forward to let us sleep easier knowing that he won't feel remorse over the prospect of killing health reform.

Ben Nelson, a key conservative Senate Democrats, said on Wednesday that he was pleased with the changes party leadership had made to health care legislation, specifically on matters of deficit reduction. But the Nebraska senator, whose vote has been elusive to pin down so far, said he would be comfortable being the lone Democrat to prevent the bill from overcoming a Republican filibuster.

"I'm very comfortable having my vote, whatever it is, whichever way it goes," Nelson said, in response to a question from the Huffington Post. "I've said that from the beginning. There are other ways. I just have to make a decision based on what I think is best for the people of Nebraska and the people of our country. And then we will let the chips fall wherever they fall."

Oh thank God. I'm so glad he isn't going to be plagued by the dreaded scourge of conscience. I think we're all glad he's comfortable with the possibility of voting against health reform. Because I have become comfortable with the fact that I'll be bankrupted by the slightest illness or stubbed toe.

That's why it was so heartening to see Nelson and Lieberman come out and say that not only will they be able to fuck over everyone on health reform, but they won't have to miss a meal just because they doomed tens of millions of people to have no access to health care and ensured health costs would continue to rise unsustainably. That's why it was so disheartening to see Mary Landrieu soften her rhetoric in the face of intense criticism over her dalliances with killing reform. Mary, this is the time to follow Joe's way. Stop being so concerned with us, this is a time to think only of yourself. We'll muddle on, we just don't want you feeling bad about it.

Because isn' the personal well being and feelings of Senators what health care reform is all about? That was a serious question, because it certainly isn't about providing the best reform possible or the problems facing the American people. So I think the emotional state of our elected betters is all that's left.