I’m cranky. Very cranky. I’m cranky about some school/kid stuff that I’m not going to blog about. I’m cranky, because I didn’t get enough sleep last night. I’m cranky, because this shutdown is still going on.

People voted for Obama. Twice. Healthcare was front in center in his campaign. More voters want this legislation than don’t want it.

I think there is something to be said about bubbles, but I don’t think that critique of American politics applies here. This isn’t a Democrat v. Republican/North v. South/Elite v. Non-elite thing. This is a Democratic and Republican  v. a small segment of Republican thing. I think everybody understands the fears about the implementation of this law. I think even supporters of this law have major concerns. BUT we want it anyway. It’s a law. Let’s enact it.

As a former pol sci professor, I have a certain fondness of Washington eccentricities. The filibuster is a JOY to teach in class. But this shutdown is a filibuster gone bad. It’s obstructionist and evil. The son of a good friend is on a respirator in a coma at a Washington hospital. He needs the NIH to do something I don’t understand with his blood. He needs this help RIGHT NOW. There are women on WIC who need formula for their children.

In the Federalist Papers, Madison talks a lot about the potential for a minority faction to destroy the government. He built in all sorts of safety measures to make sure that wouldn’t happen. But here we are….