Speaker Pelosi’s reported pride in being able to reduce the estimated cost of the proposed democratic health care reform bill reminds me of a hapless math pupil having a conversation with his father:

“Hey Dad, I took the makeup exam and raised my score by a third, from 30% to 40%. See, I did better”
“Yes, son, it is an improvement. But you still FAILED!”

Too bad the Cash for Clinkers program required destruction of the returned vehicles, because many Congressional Democrats sound like used car salespeople on late night public access TV: “We’ve worked and slashed the price to a bone! Come on down to Crazy Nancy’s and save like never before! No credit? Slow credit? No problem, we’ve made sure that everyone is nearly bankrupt, including the government!”

Despite town hall meetings, massive public demonstrations, and numerous opinion polls, Pelosi, Reid, and Obama still don’t get it: If you want the American public to buy this, you’ll have to answer a few questions. Can you explain the proposed legislation? Why can’t change be legislated gradually? And just how is it that a health care program that creates an enormous new federal bureaucracy and extends benefits to currently uninsured individuals reduces the federal deficit?

During the 2010 election year Congressional Democrats (and a few Republicans) will boast of “having the courage” to do the right thing for America, and that Americans must “stay the course”. The only course most of our elected officials should see in 2011 will have holes graded as par 3, 4, or 5. Then again, even on a miniature golf course, their favorite phrase is probably “taking a mulligan.”

Update: Allahpundit at HotAir floats a likely theme for 2010 Republican attack ads: ‘“We’re in an excellent place with the cost” will make for a sweet punchline in next year’s GOP attack ads, every last one of which will be casting Madam Speaker in the role of boogeyman.’

Update 24 October 2009: Now it’s back up to over $1 Trillion. They forget it’s our children’s money, not theirs!