Christmas Comes Early, Part II (we hope)

By Sniffles

Is there anything prettier than the White House in the snow? If so, we cats are hard-pressed to think of it — unless it's a successful vote on healthcare reform. We hear reports that the Democrats have reached the magic number of 60. It's the least they can do after 92-year-old Robert Byrd managed to arrive on Capitol Hill at one o'clock this morning.

On that note, we cats would like to echo another keeper of the late Ted Kennedy's flame and join Victoria Reggie Kennedy in urging passage of this bill. "[Ted] predicted that as the Senate got closer to a vote, compromises would be necessary, coalitions would falter and many ardent supporters of reform would want to walk away," she writes in The Washington Post today. "He hoped that they wouldn't do so. He knew from experience, he told me, that this kind of opportunity to enact health-care reform wouldn't arise again for a generation."

We agree. As for those ardent supporters who want to walk away, many of whom we like and admire, we can't believe that they don't realize that when they say "Kill the bill," they sound just like the wacko teabaggers. You know what, guys? Denying insurers the ability to withhold coverage over preexisting conditions is huge. Just think about it.

And if that doesn't convince you, remember that the Republicans will hold failure over our heads for decades — maybe even longer than they've tried to make us weak on defense. And they'll never, ever be made to pay for their despicable, lockstep opposition to any reform whatsoever. We cats deeply, deeply want them to pay.

So let's slog through the snow and pass this thing. "As Ted always said," Mrs. Kennedy concludes, "when it's finally done, the people will wonder what took so long."

(PHOTO: AP)