White House Weak-Sauce

Ezra parses Axelrod empty threats:

"The Republicans have it both ways," David Axelrod said in a conversation with a handful of journalists this afternoon. "They have the ability to block, but they assign us the responsibility to govern." But pressed for the White House's answer to that dilemma, Axelrod fell back on platitudes. "They either work with us or they have to pay the price for working against us," he replied. But what price?

For the last year, Republicans have worked, assiduously and effectively, to derail the Democrats' legislative agenda. This, in fact, was a constant in Axelrod's remarks. "They made a decision they were going to sit it out and hope that we failed, that the country failed." It's been an inarguable success for the Republican Party. Health-care reform is on life support. Republicans just won a Senate seat in Massachusetts. Election experts are beginning to talk about a potential Republican takeover in November. There is no case to be made that the GOP is in a worse position than a year ago.

Which made Axelrod's threats of consequences a bit tinny. "If they want to block everything," he said at another point, "they will be held to account." Later: "We are going to very visibly seek their support moving forward, and we will shine a bright light on them when they don't." Asked whether the administration had a new strategy for doing any of that, Axelrod had no real answer.

This is depressing. In point of fact, the Republicans can have it both ways. That's what a filibuster does--it allows you to block legislation with arcane rules, while taking cover behind a facade of majority rule. I find Axelrod's tough talk about shining a "bright light" on Republican obstructions to be just that--talk. In this administration, on this initiative, calling out Republicans means complimenting Chuck Grassley for being serious about health care, while Grassley does all he can to grind this bill to a halt.

Harry Reid is claiming "we're going to do health care reform this year," but I don't believe him. Obama is saying he doesn't quit. I like how that sounds. I have no idea what--specifically--it means. The White House needs to look at the score. Republicans aren't afraid of your "bright light." Nor should they be.