Democratic wishful thinking on public option

The American Thinker ^ | October 28, 2009 | Rick Moran

[Scanian]

Since the beginning of the weekend, blogs and the MSM have been full of the news that the public option has not only made a "comeback," but that it is a virtual certainty to pass.

This has proven to be a bunch of hogswallow as the whip tally sheet in the House shows, via Greg Sargent's The Plum Line:

"The document - compiled by the office of House leader James Clyburn - was distributed privately at a meeting between Clyburn and House progressives today where the fate of the public option was the subject of some contentious debate, with liberals demanding that House leaders push harder to win over votes. Clyburn spokesperson Kristie Greco would only say: "We currently do not have the votes for a robust public option."

Health care reformers are eagerly awaiting the House vote count numbers on the robust public option - which would reimburse providers at Medicare rates plus five percent - because a House bill with a strong public option would increase the of leverage House leaders in upcoming conference negotiations with Senate leaders over the final bill. The exact count has been hotly debated in political circles since last week.

Clyburn told the assembled members at the meeting that the leadership does not have the votes to pass the robust public option, according to a House progressive familiar with the meeting. That sparked aggressive pushback from liberals, who argued that leadership - and the White House - should be working harder to win over the remaining votes the bill needs....

[saganite]

Democrats will revert to their usual 2 steps forward (from their perspective) 1 step back method of achieving their goals. Expect a compromise that will see some form of watered down barely recognizable public option that will at least placate the socialist wing and give cover to the blue dogs. It’s just the way they roll.

[libertylover]

a meeting between Clyburn and House progressives ...Clyburn spokesperson Kristie Greco would only say: "We currently do not have the votes for a robust public option government takeover"

They may want to call themselves "progressives" but our side should stick with the tried and true pejorative, "liberals". And really, all this is about Democrats trying to take over health care.

[Scanian]

I knew O’Reilly was a wolf in sheep’s clothing when he start referring to libs as “secular progressives.” To me, it sounded like sucking up.

The libtards don’t like being called what they are and do all they can to fool the public into thinking they’re something else but they remain left-liberal and, in fact, lean more to the left all the time.

[The_Victor]

Democrats will revert to their usual 2 steps forward (from their perspective) 1 step back method of achieving their goals. Expect a compromise that will see some form of watered down barely recognizable public option that will at least placate the socialist wing and give cover to the blue dogs. It’s just the way they roll.

I expect they'll sneak what they want in in the dead of night, under cover of reconciliation, or some other stealth means of concealing what they are up to. Lying like a used car salesman is the way democRATs roll.

[saganite]

I think the only thing that might put fear in them is the 3 Nov elections in NY, NJ and Virginia. Here’s hoping.

[tillacum]

How about calling them what they reall are...SOCIALISTS.