After summarizing the events of the so-called "bipartisan" meeting held by President Obama this past week, and allowing time for its effects to sink in, the question needs to be asked:
Is President Obama trying to deliberately submarine the Democrats' agenda?
Seriously.
His Chief of Staff is on record as having called a group of representatives from his own base "retards"; he shut down Henry Waxman when Waxman, rightfully, tried to point out that Republicans have no interest in compromise or forming a solution together; and worst of all, he seems to be completely oblivious of efforts by both Congressional Republicans and the conservative media to perpetuate the same horrid myths about the public option, when NOBODY has come up with an alternative to controlling costs that has any chance of being successful; he himself has thrown the public option to the wayside; and any proposal the President has made has STARTED from a conciliatory position, oblivious to the Republicans' avowed mission to get their air time, decimate the Democratic agenda, and avoid any change in the status quo, where billions of tax and bailout dollars are being funneled to wealthy conservatives and the burden is being forced on the middle and lower classes (and yes, this is a textbook definition of class warfare, but nobody wants to say it).
So yes, the question does need to be asked. Not through any "conspiracy theory" murmuring under breath; no Oliver Stone-ing going on here. This is a legitimate question, because thus far, President Obama has not stuck to his guns even one on principle.
And if anything, that is why one-off elections are being lost, because the President hasn't shown a willingness to stand his ground against Republicans. Although he's sure willing to show his own base the back of his hand.