Well, I have defended this writer against charges that he hyperventilates and interprets every statement in an histrionically negative manner. But I saw the Weiner interview and Mr. Beutler is indeed sensationalizing the Congressman's comments. If anything has changed in the past couple of days, it is that progressive members of Congress are stepping up and trying to take charge of the debate. They have already succeeded in that the debate have shifted from "the public option is dead and not worth discussing" to "why is the public option so important." That is vital because, on the merits, the public option wins hands-down. Just listen to any of the opponents when forced to discuss HCR rationally; they flail. Which is precisely why we've been subjected to Tea Parties, Town Hall Thugs, and now Obama the Socialist Indoctrinator of Children. The opponents of HCR cannot win on the merits, so they must turn the "debate" into a World Wide Wrestling Match, replete with gouged eyes (and non-surgically removed pinkies), people tossed out of the ring, chairs smashed on heads, and a wild crowd screaming and frothing at the mouth (that, of course, would be the American people and the MSM).