Column -- Kneecapping Chuck

Some angry Iowa Republicans are threatening to kneecap their Chuck to spite the president.

They're demanding that U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley storm away from the health care reform bargaining table. And if he doesn't, pronto, he'll find a right-minded Republican primary opponent waiting for him back home in 2010.

Put down the olive branch. Step away from Obama. And no one gets hurt.

Grassley is a popular, proven vote-getter in Iowa. He probably still has the backing of most Iowa Republicans, along with lots of independents and some Dems. Although his tweets raise eyebrows, his lawn mower is still running strong.

But now he's in trouble with the GOP's fringy GOPO, the Grand Order of Perpetual Outrage.

GOPO has the megaphone. But so far, it hasn't asked for Grassley's birth certificate.

And as of this hour, Grassley hasn't walked away from reform.

He's still among six members of the Senate Finance Committee who may hold the last hopes for a bipartisan compromise. Sure, he's also rambling about mythical dragons on the Senate floor and arguing that “Obamacare” would euthanize Ted Kennedy.

Still, I'm glad Grassley's on the job.

Agree or disagree with him, he deserves credit for rolling up his sleeves to solve a nagging national problem. This is also known as “governing.” People used to run for office to do that, in the old days.

But these days, on the outraged right, that's the last thing they want.

Government is for condemning only. Why actually govern a nation, state or county drainage district when you can rant on talk radio, get blessings from a blogger or be the toast of a tea party?

If Grassley becomes part of the solution on health care, GOPO vows to become his big problem. Can they take him out in a primary? Not a chance. But with these folks, it's never about winning (which is lucky, because they rarely do), it's about inflicting damage. They want to take a virtually unbeatable, clearly conservative Republican, and make him limp to November. That'll teach him to compromise.

They have every right to criticize Grassley, to run against him and make life miserable for him. This is America.

And we have the right to stand back, watch and marvel at how a once proud, grand and competent political party fell into a giant vat of industrial-strength crazy.

We also have the right to applaud Grassley for his brand of tenacity, no matter how this turns out.

¦ Todd Dorman's column appears on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Contact the writer at (319) 398-8452 or todd.dorman@gazcomm.com