And you're telling me the votes aren't there?
Seriously?
I mean, come on... Spain???
Who is running the legislation shop in the White House? That person needs to be fired.
Failing that, I want to know who in the White House thinks making a deal with the insurance companies is more important than passing legislation that has broad popular support and will work.
Let's go back to the basics -- the public option IS the compromise. Single-payer was and remains the desired outcome. Public-option is the deal necessary to put sufficient market based pressure on insurance companies to compel them to behave. Hey! Republicans! Conservadems! That's a - from your persepective - more desirable control mechanism than detailed government regulation which is where you're headed now.
And there's not enough votes? Somebody's pulling a fast one. Rahm? Smells like Rahm.