Until someone offers details, I am less and less impressed by promises that something will pass, and be called a public option. If it's not available to all, reasonably priced and provides wide coverage regardless of preexisting conditions, it's not good enough.

Just wait, Danp, next time around Republicans and half the Democrats are going to be saying, "We tried the public option, and it was a failure."

To add to what Danp said, the "level playing field" bullshit is a clear signal that in fact he's NOT talking about a real, non-crippled public plan.

As usual, we'll get a worthless "compromise" that will accomplish nothing except to once again poison the well for real reform. In which case, the House Progressives need to stick to their guns and perform euthanasia on the whole thing.

"We tried the public option, and it was a failure."

And the more input they have, the more likely they will be right. Kinda like the stimulus package.

I am not prepared to judge until I see the details. I do note that the AP's coverage had a decidedly Republican slant as usual.

In which case, the House Progressives need to stick to their guns - Steve LaBonne

But not to kill it. This is where a progressive House comes in very handy. They can pass something good, while the Senate passes something worthless. In conference, the House and a few liberal senators fix the bill so that it's much more like the House version. At this point, while the Senate can still filibuster the compromise (up until Oct 15, when reconciliation kicks in), but at that point they have to justify it be discussing the specific changes. That can be quite tricky in terms of PR, and it gives enough cover to fence sitters, that some may vote for cloture, allowing a 50 vote majority to pass it.

But not to kill it.

I hope not, but that may become necessary and if so they shouldn't flinch. If the House bill is gutted in conference (and I'm much more pessimistic about that than you are) the House should vote down the conference report.

it's mildly good news that schumer would use one of his two tongues to so blatantly affirm the public option...
but we still need to keep his head in the vise.

It might inspire more if the President didn't just sweep into a state, such as Oregon, praise the plan of the elder Senator, but, say it is too "radical", such as Wyden's, then, offer no plan of his own.

Shorter Boehner: the GOP will support health insurance reform as long as it includes no actual reform.

-Z

I don't understand why the TVA isn't used as a perfect analogue to the current discussion of public option. There were all the same arguments against it, but in reality when the government knew the true costs of producing electricity and allowed private purchase of the "public option", prices came down and service went up.

Isn't that what we're discussing here?

Noteable Quotes:

John Boner: We republicans are not opposed to health care reform, as long as nothing changes.

Evan Bayh: I support health care reform that mandates everyone buy insurance from Wellpoint (Anthem/Blue Cross/Blue Shield). It has nothing to do with my wife being paid a 1/3 of a million dollars a year to be on their board of directors.

Blanche Lincoln: I support whatever Walmart wants!

Ben Nelson: Single payer or a public option would be unfair to the insurance companies who have made health care so wonderful in our country.

Diane Feinstein: What's in it for my family?

Mike Pence: Duh?

Note: This 'quotes' are from my fertile imagination, fueled by the public statements and histories of the above politicians.

AngryOldVet, add the Greek Chorus to Mike Pence and your list is a great example of the fallicies of bipartitanship. Bipartitanship is akin to charging the center of a line and hoping the enemies' flank revolts and joins with you.

Strong agreement with all those expressing serious doubts about the viability of the public option after it emerges from the sausage factory. TVA bad analogy: TVA provides physical facilities, not just promises like an insurance policy. Dangers for public option: it becomes dump for uninsurable, thereby achieving universal insurance but not health care expense reform; it passes with so many restrictions that it offers no cost savings and attracts few takers, thereby "proving" failure.

AMERICA’S NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY!

It’s official. America and the World are now in a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. A World EPIDEMIC with potential catastrophic consequences for ALL of the American people. The first PANDEMIC in 41 years. And WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES will have to face this PANDEMIC with the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed World.

STAND READY AMERICA TO SEIZE CONTROL OF YOUR NATIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

We spend over twice as much of our GDP on healthcare as any other country in the World. And Individual American spend about ten times as much out of pocket on healthcare as any other people in the World. All because of GREED! And the PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare system in America.

And while all this is going on, some members of congress seem mostly concern about how to protect the corporate PROFITS! of our GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT NATIONAL DISGRACE. A PRIVATE FOR PROFIT DISGRACE that is in fact, totally valueless to the public health. And a detriment to national security, public safety, and the public health.

Progressive democrats the Tri-Caucus and others should stand firm in their demand for a robust public option for all Americans, with all of the minimum requirements progressive democrats demanded. If congress can not pass a robust public option with at least 51 votes and all robust minimum requirements, congress should immediately move to scrap healthcare reform and request that President Obama declare a state of NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY! Seizing and replacing all PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance plans with the immediate implementation of National Healthcare for all Americans under the provisions of HR676 (A Single-payer National Healthcare Plan For All).

Coverage can begin immediately through our current medicare system. With immediate expansion through recruitment of displaced workers from the canceled private sector insurance industry. Funding can also begin immediately by substitution of payroll deductions for private insurance plans with payroll deductions for the national healthcare plan. This is what the vast majority of the American people want. And this is what all objective experts unanimously agree would be the best, and most cost effective for the American people and our economy.

In Mexico on average people who received medical care for A-H1N1 (Swine Flu) with in 3 days survived. People who did not receive medical care until 7 days or more died. This has been the same results in the US. But 50 million Americans don’t even have any healthcare coverage. And at least 200 million of you with insurance could not get in to see your private insurance plans doctors in 2 or 3 days, even if your life depended on it. WHICH IT DOES!

If President Obama has to declare a NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY to rescue the American people from our healthcare crisis, he will need all the sustained support you can give him. STICK WITH HIM! He’s doing a brilliant job.

THIS IS THE BIG ONE!

THE BATTLE OF GOOD Vs EVIL!

Join the fight.

Contact congress and your representatives NOW! AND SPREAD THE WORD!

God Bless You

Jacksmith – WORKING CLASS

Yeah we believe in compromise, as long as from the outset you agree to do it our way as we will not tolerate opposition. Can Boehner even hear himself talk? Must be too much 'gold shine' on the skin.