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That is precisely why I think this is a massive bait and switch. They are spending so much time speaking about Reconciliation and some new and improved White House plan (which, incidentially, in only meaningful once the Senate bill is approved in the House as is) - no one is thinking about the risk of the President simply signing the existing legislation. Think about it - the Dems in the Senate will be happy (its their bill). Liberal Dems in the House will be happy. Only a few moderates and Stupak types will be unhappy, but get over it (after all, they are all out of jobs by January anyways).

The whole focus of Polosi and the White House (IMHO) is to convince the few holdouts to vote for the Senate version in the House and that it will be fixed to their liking in the Senate via Reconciliation. Oh, they will make a good show to try to cobble something together acceptable for Reconciliation, but when time runs out, the White House will say its back is against the wall and it either signs the Senate bill or nothing. He will sign it.

I further think this talk about tort reform and buying insurance across state lines is also a fake - again, only relevant in Reconciliation - which isn’t going to happen. Introducing these very amendments might be just the thing to make sure Reconciliation becomes impossible.

They’ll promise to fix the abortion issue and a few other Blue Dog issues, but never get around to it.

Reconciliation is a red herring. Focus on the fact two bills have been passed and only need a Presidential signature to become law.

God help us all.

no one is thinking about the risk of the President simply signing the existing legislation.

They have to pass it first. If they knew how to do that, they'd have done it.

Frankly, I don't know where this constant drumbeat of "any minute now!" in the media is supposed to lead. The public wants them to drop it and focus on the economy. The Blue Dogs want to drop it and hope the stench goes away before November. The liberals don't want the Senate bill because there's no government-owned insurance company in it.

In spite of which, Obama and "the leadership" keep planting stories in the media about the imminent Great Victory. Any minute. Real Soon Now. One of these days. They're fixin' to.

If this goes on for another couple of weeks and they come up empty, they are gonna look like fools. And yet they're driving right into it, as fast as they can.