Because gawd knows that the Democrats can't be doing anything that would be popular, or that would work the way it is intended to.
[Democrat Rick Boucher (VA)] said he is a skeptic of the public option because he’s concerned it will be too popular:
"I have a problem with this government option plan," Boucher said. "I’m troubled that the government option plan could become very popular and if it became sufficiently popular it could begin to crowd out the other" private insurance companies.
But, Boucher "voiced support" for Sen. Kent Conrad’s (D-ND) proposal to create health care co-ops. He said "having co-ops competing in the market would offer a check on the insurance companies, similar to the purpose behind the government option." So, Boucher is supportive of a check on insurance companies, as long as it’s not a powerful one.
You gotta wonder whether these guys have heard any of the debate thus far. That's one of the dangers of the co-ops. They hear that co-ops are the middle-of-the-road compromise position, and think that they're safe supporting that "compromise." Well, we've already had a compromise on this bill, and it's the public option. No matter how you slice it, co-ops won't do the job.