Considering it this morning, I think we are buying into a losing narrative on healthcare reform.
Please allow me to propose an alternative narrative (below).
1. Lieberman and the Republicans have over-played their hand.
The Senate legislation has now been dramatically tilted toward an agenda meant to further reward insurers while under-delivering to patients and voters (failing in terms of coverage, timing to expanded coverage, and cost of coverage, while dismantling the market forces that would have provided some hope of long-term affordability - i.e., a Medicare buy-in and/or Public Option).
Republicans and their Lieberman ally (still aching for payback after the 2006 primary) are now deliberately trying to get Democrats to pass legislation they know will fail against the criteria laid out by the Obama Administration - so they can run against it for the next two cycles - and maybe longer.
Democrats would now be backed into a corner. Public expectations are high.
2. So passing the current Senate bill or scuttling it would both be political suicide for Democrats.
While Republicans are giddy about either prospect, Democrats need a third way out - one that will actually deliver tax-payer oriented reform, not healthcare-industry-lobbyist oriented non-reform.
3. Luckily, its been obvious for months that this was coming and Democratic Senators do have contingency strategies.
These range from variants of the reconciliation path to elimination of the filibuster.
4. Now that reform opponents have been definitively exposed as shameless corporate shills working against the public interest, reaching new heights of hypocrisy in their maneuvering...
...Democratic leaders are ready to pursue these options.
Right Senator Reid?