I am stunned by the lack of political savvy in this community. The democrats are about to pass an amazing piece of legislation which will tax wealthy people to provide universal health care to the working class. It is the most significant victory for progressives since civil rights legislation and we are working very hard to create the meme that this is a defeat and our president and congressional leadership are weak sell outs. Fuck us.
How do you think the media will play this if, infact, the only way to pass it is with coops? That progressives are powerful and Obama has a huge victory? Nope, it will be that the right is triumphant because they watered down slightly this huge huge huge progressive victory.
It is a delicate dance, I understand, we want to push for a public option (or at least a national coop with Medicare based rates) as hard as possible which requires apparent fervent oposition to any other idea- but we need a way to turn and paint it as the victory it is if end up with no public option.
Why does that matter? Because percieved strength is real strength. If it is seen as the real victory it is, people will want to be on the victors band wagon and we will have a head of steam for immigration - which is the next real item on the agenda.