Ablogination

The Public Option is, as Dr. Dean said, the most important aspect of this legislation. Though many attempt to minimize it’s impact, White House included, the fact remains that without it the legislation will be worthless.

The power of the Public Option is not only found in what can be gained from it medically.
It’s also very much an indispensable political victory.
The reason we on the Left dragged it out into the open the way we did was to back the administration and congress into a corner. If the Dems fail to pass a form of the Public Option, they will have given victory to liars and fools.
That would leave the vast majority of the Democratic base at home during any upcoming elections.
This is a test of strength. And though any and all standards of decency clearly indicate that legislation should never be passed, or killed, as the result of a congressional pissing match, that, my friends, is the way it is. It just is, and everybody knows it.
Democrats will never recover if they fail here.

They can only afford so much compromise and they’ve pretty much used up their credit as it is. They would be better off failing to pass any bill than to pass one a conservative minority dictated. If the bill fails, Dems can truthfully lay blame on Republicans and their Blue Dog pets. If the Public Option fails, Obama and Democrats fail. No one else.

Now, there’s still this.
They could still pass a bill without either… Federal funding for Abortion, or a Public Option, and attempt to add them later. But that obviously will not do as the party has made it’s self fairly clear on this.
Though personally, I would omit the abortion coverage in favor of the Public Option if given the opportunity to exchange one for the other.
Abortions cost a lot less than major medical treatments and aren’t needed nearly as often. The abortion aspect could be handled in separate legislation.

So, Harry Reid…Barack…whoever…
May I strongly suggest that you do whatever it takes, whatever-it-takes to pass this legislation with no further damage. Threaten, coerce, blackmail, campaign against, demote…whatever it takes, to seal this victory for the people. Because if you don’t, you may well be sealing the fate of the Democratic party. We would look both stupid AND weak-willed.
I truly hope you folks haven’t forgotten how to play dirty. After all, you are politicians, aren’t you?

I think that somewhere in all this debate a very important factor has become MIA. Hidden from view by the lies from the Right. This debate, this legislation is not about cost. It’s about giving all Americans access to health care. That is the bottom line.
There should, for any real American, be no doubt that this is our duty to one another.
To care for, nurture, and help each other through all manner of travail. Either we are our brother’s keeper or we’re not. The powers that be had better decide.

The margin of error is zero.