Today's stupid question

Why is it alright that nearly all states require car owners to carry auto insurance, but a health insurance mandate is "a stunning assault on liberty?"

And then there's Chuck Grassley, that plain-speaking corn farmer who always stands by his tweet word.

During his opening remarks, Mr. Grassley blamed the White House and Democratic leaders. Their pressure for the Finance Committee to act by a mid-September deadline, he complained, forced a premature end to talks among three Republicans and three Democrats that began last June. Four other committees finished during the summer.

“I find it utterly and completely appalling,” he said.

Mr. Grassley also cited policy objections to the Baucus legislation. He criticized its costs, though Mr. Baucus has proposed offsetting savings, and he objected to its mandates that individuals have insurance, though Mr. Grassley previously has said health insurance should be mandatory just as auto insurance is for drivers. He said the bill would not do enough to guard against aid going to illegal immigrants and for abortions, and complained that it would not limit malpractice awards.

For Democrats, Mr. Grassley’s list only reinforced their belief that he never would have compromised no matter how much time he had.