Sanders Signs Letter Calling For Public Option Through Reconciliation Process

And I don't see any evidence that CREDO, MoveOn or PCCC/BoldProgressives.org have the ability to make a damn thing happen in the Senate that wouldn't have happened without them. So, I'm still going with my theory.

I don't question the sincerity of a single person who's signed on to the letter. I don't doubt that if they see a chance to get a public option pushed through a Senate fixit reconciliation bill, they'll fight for it with every thing they've got. But I also note the highly conspicuious absence of signals or statements from leadership or the White House--either pro or con on the effort.

That simply would not be happening if it were not by design. It would not be happening if there was not already some understanding or agreement or coordination or something in back of this because, well, they're Democrats. If this effort was connected to an actual policy fight between them, we'd be getting snarky comments from "sources close to" whoeever and leaks from anonymous staffers at a minimum and probably even on the record statements from both sides.

And, beyond that, I'm pretty damn sure the White House or leadership could and would have squelched this effort like a bug if they had not been at least willing to see it happen. (Anybody heard anything from Raul Grijalva lately?)

Willing to see it happen? Glad to see it happen? Actually actively involved in planning and orchestrating it? Don't know, but it's one of the three. What the White House and leadership's reasons for endorsing it/encouraging it/tolorating with uncharacteristically suppressed annoyance may be I leave as an exercise for the class. Fill in the blank with your ideological predelictions or personal biases may see fit. But no way these guys are just doing this in a vacuum with no coordination.

And no way in hell these senators are signing of on it like this, in little dribs and drabs rather than all at once unless they're working to a plan they previously agreed upon plan--agreed upon among themselves at a bare minimum if not leadership. One little clot gets together and does something then another clot says, "hey, good idea, first I'm hearing about it. Think I'll sign on too?" Nope, that's just not now things are done in the Senate.

First off the public option is not the left-most opinion. Medicare for all is.

As the original public option was written it was already handicapped and extremely limited in scope. It represented the absolute minimum they could do to make a program that cuts costs and introduces competition. That is why most progressives and independents turned on the Dem leadership when it was cut, because it sealed in stone that the Senate bill was going to nothing but a corporate bailout for the insurance industry that would be paid directly out of the public's pocket.