The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The “wheeling and dealing” in the Congress over healthcare reform brings to mind Sergio Leone’s 1966 Italian epic spaghetti Western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. The movie’s plot dealt with a trio of opponents forced to work together to find a treasure of confederate gold. Ultimately, the men have no problem lying, cheating and killing to accomplish their goal. There was no honor among thieves. Yeah, unfortunately, that sounds like some of the members of our Congress. Take a look at some of the characters the director was working with:

• The Good-Clint Eastwood, the Man with No Name (Blondie) a subdued, cocksure bounty hunter who competes with Tuco and Angel Eyes to find the buried gold.


• The Bad-Lee Van Cleef, Angel Eyes-ruthless unfeeling sociopathic mercenary who kills anyone in his path.


• The Ugly-Eli Wallach, Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez, a comical, oafish, fast talking bandit.

Here are the Congressional players who answered the casting call who can be considered for roles in the production:

Max Baucus, D- MT and chairman of Senate Finance committee. He dreftly skirted dission of single payer proposals in his committee and voted against a public option. Baucus has been criticized for his ties to the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries, and has been one of the largest beneficiaries in the Senate of campaign contributions from these industries.

John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV, Democratic Senator from West Virginia and chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care. Rockefeller supports a public option as the only way the power of insurance companies could be reversed. He says insurance companies are "rapacious... are getting away with banditry, and they revel in it… Who comes first, the insurance companies or the American people?"

Charles "Chuck" Schumer,D- NY is an outspoken advocate of a public option.

Blanche Lincoln, D Arkansas and a member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care. In September 2009, Lincoln came out against the public option in the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. Lincoln is seeking a third term in November of 2010.

Republican Senators, Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care: Orrin Hatch, UT; Olympia Snowe, ME; John Ensign, NV; Mike Enzi, WY; John Cornyn, TX; John Kyl, AZ,; Jim Bunning KY; Mike Crapo, ID; Chuck Grassley. IA. True to the Party of “NO”, each of the aforementioned Senators voted against a public option in the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.

As the plot thickens, I’d love to tell you who I cast as “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”, but I’d rather hear your choices for each role.