THE DEMOCRATIC CIRCUS – AT 9:52 A.M. ET:  The Democrats, a leaderless, bitter party, are now riding right off the cliff, following Bernie Sanders and his "Medicare for all" campaign.   From the Washington Free Beacon: 

How rudderless is the Democratic Party? Its membership is so bereft of leadership and policy direction that 16 of its senators have signed on to a health care bill sponsored by a self-avowed independent democratic socialist from Vermont.

The "Medicare for All Act of 2017" would repeal Obamacare, along with most other private and public insurance, and replace it with a government-run, one-size-fits-all, centrally directed system of reimbursement for medical expenses. Sanders, who honeymooned in the Soviet Union, holds the same opinion of health insurance as he does antiperspirants: "You don't necessarily need a choice of 23 underarm spray deodorants or of 18 different sneakers when children are hungry in this country."

Senators Harris, Booker, Gillibrand, and Warren, who in addition to cosponsoring the bill may soon be fighting each other, as well as Sanders, for the Democratic nomination, are generals re-enacting the last war. They saw how well Sanders did against Clinton, they have marched in the anti-Trump "resistance" movement, and they want to inoculate themselves from accusations of ideological heresy.

Which is why they embrace the thin-skinned and irritable senator whose wife is under federal investigation. What the copycats forget is the future in politics is never a straight-line projection of the present, much less of the bizarre circumstances surrounding the 2016 Democratic primary. "Medicare for All" might strike Warren &co. today as legislation worthy of support for reasons both moral and self-interested. In time, however, palling around with Bernie Bros may become a liability.

For one thing, the policy is remarkably vague. "Mr. Sanders did not say how he would pay for his bill," writes Robert Pear of the New York Times. "Aides said he would issue a list of financing options." The "options" are not included in the bill—but they are enough to raise the hair on the back of one's neck.

COMMENT:  Read the whole thing.  Very well reported.  Single payer would be a catastrophe in this huge country.  Americans are very independent people, and they're not going to permit their health decisions, and the decisions for their children, to be made in Washington. 

As for the Democrats who are rushing to follow Bernie off the cliff, there isn't one of them worthy of the White House. Kamala Harris just got to the Senate and is already running for president.   She's a three-fer, black, Asian and female, which is what makes her acceptable to the Democrats.  Cory Booker has been a huge disappointment, a man who sells out his friends in a flash if there's something in it for him.  Kirsten Gillibrand, our senator here in New York, could walk into any venue in this state, and no one would know who she is.  A nonentity with no demonstrated abilities.  Elizabeth Warren is well known to you, as well known as any other crazy aunt.

What a prospect.

September 15, 2017