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Today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, clearly flustered that his government-run health care bill has met stiff opposition from Republicans and even some Democrats, made the following remarks on the Senate floor in a seemingly desperate attempt to rally support for the Democrat’s flailing health care bill:

“Instead of joining us on the right side of history, all Republicans have come up with is this slow down, stop everything, let's start over. You think you've heard these same excuses before, you're right. When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said, 'Slow down, it's too early. Let's wait. Things aren't bad enough.'

“When women spoke up for the right to speak up, they wanted to vote, some insisted, 'Slow down, there will be a better day to do that. The day isn't quite right.'

"When this body was on the verge of guaranteeing equal civil rights to everyone, regardless of the color of their skin, some senators resorted to the same filibuster threats that we hear today. History is repeating itself before our eyes. There are now those who don't think it is the right time to reform health care. If not now, when, madam president? But the reality for many that feel that way, it will never, never be a good time to reform health care."

Maybe, Senator, Americans aren’t buying the health care reform you’re trying to sell because it’s really bad legislation. Just because someone doesn’t agree with you doesn’t make them racist and it doesn’t mean they want to oppress women. People are concerned about the potential takeover of health care because they don’t want to see the best health care system in the world fall into the hands of the government – the same government that can’t responsibly manage our postal service, and the same government that can’t administer a used-car program effectively. The American people deserve a better bill that doesn’t break the bank and leaves health care decisions in the hands of patients and doctors, not a government bureaucrat.

"an 'endangerment' finding by the Environmental Protection Agency could pave the way for the government to require businesses that emit carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases to make costly changes in machinery to reduce emissions -- even if Congress doesn't pass pending climate-change legislation. EPA action to regulate emissions could affect the U.S. economy more directly, and more quickly, than any global deal inked in the Danish capital (Copenhagen Climate Change Conference), where no binding agreement is expected."

The lunch conversation inevitably turned to whether the White House would display its cr?che, customarily placed in a prominent spot in the East Room. Ms. Rogers, this participant said, replied that the Obamas did not intend to put the manger scene on display — a remark that drew an audible gasp from the tight-knit social secretary sisterhood. (A White House official confirmed that there had been internal discussions about making Christmas more inclusive and whether to display the cr?che.)

Obviously, someone managed to figure out how insulting to Americans -- and how ridiculous -- it would be to decorate The White House for Christmas while forbidding any image of the event Christmas is supposed to be celebrating.

But it's noteworthy -- and a little disturbing -- just how close Jesus came from being turned away from The White House inn.

Barack Obama’s contradictory, confusing Afghanistan policy reflects a problem afflicting nearly all recent presidents: an appalling lack of foreign policy experience. Carter, Reagan, Clinton and George W. Bush were all governors with no prior responsibility for international relations. Barack Obama was a freshman Senator who had never taken an active role on military or diplomatic issues. Among the last six presidents, only George H.W. Bush had been deeply involved in foreign policy (as CIA director, UN Ambassador, and Ambassador to China) and this experience showed in his deft handling of the first Gulf War and the fall of the Soviet empire. Republicans should seek a 2012 nominee with meaningful credentials in the international arena, since this background would benefit both the country and the GOP in its challenge to the hapless Obama record in foreign affairs.

The closed-door meeting is designed to help brief Obama before he meets business and environmental leaders at the White House on Wednesday, the White House said.

Obama on Friday announced a change to his schedule and decided to visit the UN-sponsored climate talks in Copenhagen at their critical final stage on December 18, rather than this week, just after the event opens.

When Democrats control Congress and the Presidency in 2009, suddenly the Founders see the role of Senate as rubber stamping legislation without debate or input from the minority party.