"figuring out how to maximize our chances for the best possible public option coming out of conference."

I guess it depends on what Reid thinks the "best possible public option" is.

Otherwise, wouldn't you simply add the strongest and best public option?

Now, if you are hoping for a more watered down version of a public option, but don't want to come out looking too much like corporate tool, and since the whitehouse is using you for cover, I guess this might be tight. Hmm.

Can't wait to see. Hope I'm wrong.

Markos thinks he's the friggin bee's knees don't he! A bit tiresome from time to time

I'd do him tho

Neunundneunzing luftballons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsU8fRvTeCI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsU8fRvTeCI

More likely he's working inside for big insurance. And how can he get kind words from progressives? Are there any progressives in the Senate?

The reason people don't have a lot of faith in Harry is he's regularly been rolled like a drunk whore by the GOP and the Conservative wing of his own party. To the degree that you start to realize that he's neither drunk, nor a whore: he just enjoys hopping the sack with conservatives.

And there's nothing wrong with that if you're Ben Nelson.

But Harry is the Majority Leader. Our platform isn't exactly what Ben Nelson ran on in NE. One would prefer to see Harry find ways to get Ben's vote via good old fashioned pork rather than watering down good policy.

Or just cut off the pork. If Ben wants to jump to the GOP, go right ahead. No more nice handouts for Nebraska until Ben starts playing nice.

I'm all for the Big Tent. But part of the tent is to support Cloture. After that, vote away.

John

If Harry does it, I'll email mail him and tell him he doesn't really suck.

I think what might happen is Dems in the House pass their robust PO HC bill based on Medicare rates and the Senate passes a PO with a trigger or opt in or opt out. Then in coference......this is a big if though, the compromise will be the PO based on negotiated rates. That's a PO I can live with and one we can build on for sure.

Once again I recommend Reid's autobiography "The Good Fight." He grew up poorer than you can imagine. There was NEVER money for a doctor or dentist. When his young brother got a broken arm he just had to go to bed and moan, for weeks. When the teenage Reid approached a dentist to give his mother false teeth, as all hers were gone, the dentist said you know I don't do charity. Reid was furious because he was going to work to provide his mother with teeth, and he did.

So--you think he might want a strong health bill, with a public option, for people?

I hope if he's successful he gets credit.

Let's settle for the "opt out" public option, since its about the most we can hope for, and let the voters of states whose governors and legislatures choose ideology over promoting "the general welfare" deal with those elected officials through the ballot.

And if voters of a particular state choose to elect ideologues who choose to continue to protect private health insurers profits over a system in which we the citizens of the union, utilizing our government for one of its intended purposes, the promotion of the general welfare by providing their citizens with the least expensive, most transparent approach to ensuring health insurance for all, within a system subject to our political control, which private health insurers are most decidedly not, then they deserve to pay higher premiums and have coverage denied when they are seriously ill.

We fight for the best, not for a weakened bill.

Not to pee on anyone's parade, but I'd believe this more if anyone had been willing to be named.

Given the players and the stakes, it makes sense that you wouldn't reveal your hand til the last possible moment. Not only that, if the opposition thinks that they have already won, then they'll be less inclined to devise creative roadblocks to stop the impending legislation. Nothing better to do that than see the more excitable liberals howling in angst about how they've been "betrayed".

Doesn't help the confidence of those who are looking for good news, but it does reduce the targets that the opposition can use to take shots at.

When the final bill is passed, we'll know what was happening behind the scenes. Til then everything is speculation. Including this.

This will certainly be a defining moment for Harry Reid. The "ball is in his court" or whatever cliche you want to use.

If he can negotiate a strong public option, it'll be a huge boost for the Democrats and especially for him.

Everytime I sign an online petition urging Harry Reid to action, I write the same three-word message: "Grow a spine."

As disgusted as I am with our waffling majority leader, I would be impressed if he (finally) marshals his power for a strong public option.

Give us something good, Harry. As a reward, I personally vow to go to Nevada and work on your reelection bid. This is that important.

I'll believe in Reid's leadership just as soon as I see some. Leadership, that is.

So far, I'm not a believer.

I think there will be a public option. I think it will be "watered down" in some way as there clearly aren't enough votes for the more robust option.

I believe the opt-out is the smartest compromise that I've heard and has renewed my faith in the Left to actually strategize and win a political battle. Will this mean that the "all-or-nothing" folks on the Left will throw a tantrum and stomp off to their respective corners and hold the breath until they realize the rest of us have moved on? Yes.

If Progressives are going to be major players in governing, they are going to have to learn to deal with all the members of the governing coalition and that means compromising and even sometimes having to get a Republican vote or two.

If health care reform helps millions of people, that's a win. If we are serious about becoming part of a permanent governing majority (remember that one?)then we'll stay in power and continue to get more and better reform. That's how it was done with the Social Security program as well as other programs we like and believe in.

I believe Leader Reid knows that he must deliver on some the of PO and will do so. In the end, I also believe that the other reforms that many don't seem to even care about will end up exciting the electorate more than the PO. As time goes on, the scope, or maybe the number of states with the PO, will continue to increase. Those who cannot do long-term will just have to huff and puff and try to bring the whole house down around everyone.