Bill Maher really is a voice of reason in crazy times. America is the most wasteful, dogmatic, destructive, and irresponsible country on earth. We are quite likely the worst - in these categories - that has ever existed in human history.

Instead of catering to the opposition and treating their ridiculous proposals with kid gloves, Obama needs to become the fearless candidate he was in 2006 and 2007. He needs to become the witty, arrogant, self-righteous elite that the Right has tried to frame him as.

Comprehensive health care reform, after nearly being left for dead earlier this year amid a tumultuous period for Democrats, passed the House last night in a historic vote, accomplishing a feat that has eluded each and every Democratic president since Harry Truman.

After starting from a compromise position – the Public Option – and then compromising on the compromise, Democrats have still been unable to gather the political muster to pass their reforms.