I still think Obama could pull it out if he doubled down and went public NOW

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

He needs to put it on the line. If he thinks this bill is worth passing he needs to get out there and explain exactly WHY it is worth passing and tell people specifically to contact their Senators and Congresspeople if they want this to happen this year. I'm talking a prime time address PRONTO.

Time for him to stop playing Wizard of Oz Man Behind the Curtain

I think as far as I can tell what's left that appears to be worth passage is the clause that says that 90% of all premiums have to be paid out as actual healthcare and anything over that is returned to the consumer. That is something good, if it still exists.

I have no idea of if the National High Risk Poll in the House plan would still exist, but that WAS something good.

The major problem with the bill is delayed implementations of so many things in Short Attention Span America. Obama needs to give an address of all the good things remaining (however many there may be)and do whatever he can to speed up the timeline. He needs to explain subsidies and give examples using the median American income and average premium costs. He needs to explain how the bill will cover the uninsured affordably.

IF the speech doesn't provide enough good stuff quickly enough to make a real difference, I think we will all know it. It's make or break time and his Presidency is on the line.

[chimpymustgo]

1. Another SPEECH? NO THANK YOU. DO something, dammit. SUPPORT THE PUBLIC OPTION.

Like he said he was going to. Remember?

[secondwind]

2. I had been hopeful up until just now. Now, I'm just very scared. And incredibly disappointed.

[daa]

3. Just say goodbye to the one term milquetoast nt

[calico1]

4. That's just it. I think he did pull it out...

Of his arse.

Seriously, I think that if he really had wanted the Public Option he would have fought for it.

[emulatorloo]

5. He did some of that in his statement yesterday. It would be good if he did more

Connecticut needs to pressure Lieberman more, but I think he turned off his phones.

[asdjrocky]

6. He hasn't shown any sign that he's willing to do that. nt

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

7. Then he will be seen as some kind of passive concensus taker/observer

who threw the pieces of reform up in the air like some kind of executive game of Pick-up Sticks and just watched as various sticks got picked up and whittled down or discarded. End result - a teeny pile of toothpicks.

[asdjrocky]

9. Yes.

And it breaks my political heart.

[jberryhill]

8. He'll have to trim out a lot of stuff from his last speech on the subject...

...and the differences will make the retreat too glaring.

[uponit7771]

10. Yeap, Obama can dawn some blue Speedos and cowboy boots and run outside the White House yelling

...and this thing will be over by Christmas...

Come on people, ....

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

11. He needs to make a Hail Mary pass.

He will absorb a great deal of the blame and recriminations personally for screwing up this historic moment.

He needs to renumerate what is left that IS good and openly ask the American people to support its passage. Someone needs to summarize this stuff for us, it might as well be him. I'd be curious to hear it from his own mouth, frankly.

This speech would not be a "what could be" kind of speech, it would out of necessity be a "this is the way it is" kind of speech.

Come on Pres. WE NEED YOU NOW!!!!!

[freddie mertz]

12. We don't need another speech.

I think it's too late, frankly, and besides, he's getting the bill he wants.

[BlueIdaho]

13. Our President may have a decent jump shot

but he doesn't know beans about politics. He's beginning to look as incompetent as Bush.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

14. Bush was not incompetent in getting the laws he wanted enacted.

There he did fantastically. He was incompetent in carrying out his war of choice and with Katrina. But in many other areas he was devastatingly competent.

President Obama and the Congress however ARE looking incompetent since they can't pass reform, even with their majorities, that an overwhelming number of people wanted and voted for.

[BlueIdaho]

16. Too true my friend. nt.

[QC]

15. Maybe this is the bill he wants.

You seem to be assuming that Obama's goal was to get real health insurance reform, and by that standard he surely hasn't done such a great job.

But if his goal was to serve the interests of the economic sectors that gave him about $60,000,000 in the last election cycle, then he has performed brilliantly. One could even say that he is an excellent investment for the FIRE and health sectors.

[BlueIdaho]

17. Then god help us all. nt.