Just saying

Remember in my column where I said ...

You see, bipartisanship works when both sides are willing to work together to pursue a common end. In this case, however, the Republican leadership isn't acting like an honest broker. Rather than come to the table with ideas, suggestions and honest criticisms, they're busy concocting fictional horror stories of what is and what isn't in the proposed reform package. In a move that suggests nothing but callous indifference to the more than 44 million uninsured in the country, their stated goal is to conveniently ignore the problem and, instead, stall health care reform purely for political reasons.

Now, make no mistake, if you're ideologically opposed to some components of the proposed reform, such as a public option, then those are perfectly legitimate positions to hold. However, with needed reform within reach, it's not enough simply to say you don't like the proposed plan. You have to be able to explain why the proposal won't work, and then offer an alternative plan that expands coverage, lowers costs and increases efficiency.

Um, yeah, Republicans didn't get the memo ...

Republicans who had promised last month to offer a healthcare reform alternative are now suggesting no such bill will be introduced.

Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said, “Our bill is never going to get to the floor, so why confuse the focus? We clearly have principles; we could have language, but why start diverting attention from this really bad piece of work they’ve got to whatever we’re offering right now?”