...fair for the Gander

At last report His Obamaness has instructed his infantry to stomp dissenters in the Senate, scrap Senate rules, and pass his health-destruction strategy under a process called "reconciliation."

That process has three distinct characteristics. (1) It was originally enacted to ensure that necessary appropriations bills get passed even when Senators are stymied by deep ideological differences, such as whose state gets the biggest unnecessary bridge. (2) It has been abused by both parties. (3) Permitting legislation with a simple majority, it defies the reason we have a Senate in the first place -- to act as a check on popular passions and demagogues who would inflame and capitalize on them.

The Obama may or may not get away with it, so maybe we should be prepared to cut Him a deal, to wit: Here's your hall pass to screw up the health-care system worse than it is, Mr. President. In return, you must instruct your Senate minions to give us reconciliation status for the Thune Amendment which, after all, was favored by 58 Senators last year.

What could be fairer?