Just not the miserable stinking piece of shit Wyden just described on Rachael's show.
All half-loaves are not created equal; the one we can have through reconciliation is the one to take now.
Holy Joe has given Harry Reid spectacular cover to pass the Byrd rule-passable parts of the current Senate bill now, rearrange the 2010 landscape in Democrats favor and guarantee his own re-election.
Senator Reid, do it this way...
Pass as much of the recently deceased Senate bill that you and the Vice-President can talk Senator Byrd into supporting. You will look statesmanlike for not ramming through a robust public option and strong for denying Joe's obvious attempt to knife reform in the back.
Declare victory, have a signing ceremony, point out that we really only took half a loaf...
Introduce the insurance industry reform package in late winter. Try to pass it.
If the Republicans stop it, in the fall the candidates of the party that expanded Medicare will be running against the candidates of the party that is filibustering on behalf of preexisting conditions clauses.
I like our chances.
Does anyone else see this? I understand we can't have it all, and right now. Isn't this the half we want?
And about your re-election. What I can promise is that you will have more money than... well, more than you need. Because I will come here early and often to remind everyone here what you have done, and where to send the money.
I like your chances...