Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

What's wrong with 2,000 pages to overhaul one-sixth of the economy?

Of all the ridiculous attack lines against the Democratic healthcare bill up for a vote this weekend, it's hard to imagine anything sillier than fear mongering because of its number of pages.

How long is too long? Would the overhaul be less of a "government takeover," as critics call it, if the legislative text did not exceed 1,000 pages? 500? Just exactly what is the acceptable length for extending health insurance to nearly 40 million Americans?
 
The Bible is over 1,500 pages, but still worth reading.

Have we become a nation so afraid of the printed word that we reject anything that takes longer to read than waiting for the microwave to make popcorn?

Perhaps Congress should figure out a way to put legislation in video form so that we can see it on our playstations.

Craig and Helen Thomas on Book TV
Book Launch Party, Lebanese Embassy
"Listen Up, Mr. President"
C-SPAN2: Today at 4:00 PM ET
Repeats: Sunday (Nov. 8) at 10:30 AM ET
Monday (Nov. 9) at 7:30 AM ET

  Scenes from our book launch party on C-SPAN2 today at 4 PM ET. (Re-airs Sunday 10:30 AM and Monday 7:30 AM on Book TV). 

The party, hosted last month by Lebanese Ambassador Antoine Chedid at his residence, celebrated the publication of "Listen Up, Mr. President," by Craig and Helen Thomas. Book TV's cameras roamed the event as Helen and Craig signed books, and for a tribute by NBC's Andrea Mitchell.

It is hardly surprising that Rep. Eric Cantor says "not one Republican" will vote for a healthcare overhaul, but in repeating that vow for television cameras at a Capitol Hill protest rally on Thursday, the No. 2 GOP House leader gave President Obama an excuse to forget bipartisanship.

Even if Obama finds a Republican or two in the Senate to back his health care agenda, we got a hint in the New York House race this week showing how GOP conservatives will respond. They will gnaw their party's limbs off to stand firm against just about anything Democrats want to do.

The rise of conservative activists and television personalities against GOP moderates makes it even less likely that Obama will be able to claim enough Republican converts to put a bipartisan stamp on his healthcare changes. As Lyndon Johnson discovered in creating Medicare, it's time for Obama to focus on a Democrats-only strategy.

Seven Things You Need to Know About the Health Overhaul (Congress.org)

Craig and Helen Thomas on Book TV
Book Launch Party, Lebanese Embassy
"Listen Up, Mr. President"
C-SPAN2: Saturday (Nov. 7) at 4:00 PM ET
Repeats: Sunday (Nov. 8) at 10:30 AM ET
Monday (Nov. 9) at 7:30 AM ET

Craig and Don Imus talk about Tuesday's elections (11/5).

Craig looks at how attack ads seem to have backfired in Tuesday's elections.

Craig on "Imus in the Morning"
Thursday (11/5) 6:30 AM EST
Listen Live: WABC-AM (NYC)
(TV simulcast on FOXBusiness)

Tuesday's voting results could jeopardize the public insurance option. Politicians, by nature, are fearful creatures and, regardless of its merit or lack thereof, the argument that voters rejected big government will gain ground among wavering Democrats at a time when health reform faces key tests on Capitol Hill. Victorious Republicans in Tuesday's balloting pinned their hopes on raising concerns about expanding government. Even if those races really turned on local issues and personalities, there's enough of a chance that national trends were afoot to convince nervous Democrats to back away from the President's agenda.

• Virginia -- GOP Wins Governor Race
• New Jersey -- GOP Wins Governor Race
• New York -- Dem Wins House Seat

Online Chat with Craig
Today (11/4) 1 PM ET

 

Virginia -- GOP Wins Governor Race

New Jersey -- GOP Wins Governor Race

• In The Right: It Really Is All About Turnout
• Poll Tracker: Daggett's Supporters Will Be Pivotal
• Political Wire: Polling Roundup | One More New Jersey Poll
• Bill Pascoe: Could Ticked Off Football Fans Make a Difference?
• Newark Star-Ledger: Robo Call Sourcing Dispute

New York -- Dem Wins House Seat

The White House is braced for bad news today. Elections in New Jersey, New York and Virginia are likely to show troubling signs for the President -- even if Democrats win.

Independent voters are trending against Barack Obama, fearful that he is leading the nation into a spending binge that we cannot afford.

The truth is that he has been far more careful about expanding government -- in economic recovery and health reform -- than many in his party would prefer, but Obama's conservative foes have successfully portrayed him as an advocate of outsized government.

The President has two choices: Keep trying to dodge that label in vain, or openly embrace the expansions of federal power that his political base demands. If he's going to get nailed for being a big-government president anyway, no matter how he tries to finesse it, why not just go ahead and be one for real?

• Reading Election Day Tea Leaves
• Hopefuls Duel in NY after Surprise Turn
• Races an Early Test of Obama Influence

New Jersey

• Polltracker: New Jersey Governor: Going Down to the Wire
• Christian Science Monitor: New Jersey Governor's Race: Obama's 11th-Hour Pitch for Corzine
• In the Right: Corzine's Self-Funded Campaign: Will Taxpayers Get Stuck With Tab?

Virginia

• Wall Street Journal: Virginia Race Tests Obama's Staying Power