Don't let's forget that the upcoming cloture vote is to limit debate on whether to allow debate on the bill; not whether to limit debate on the bill itself, which comes later.

"Literally, the very first thought that came to my mind was, "Well, that ought to shut the 'centrists' up.""

You've not been paying attention, have you?

"to address practically [all] of their concerns"

I think all the posturing by the "centrists" is just to be able to claim victory later. When they get attacked as socialist Nazi communists, they can point to all their courageous public bucking of the leadership and of Obama, and they can claim credit for all the compromises (which arguably they deserve, good or bad).

Of course, that's not to say they won't vote the thing down if the tide goes the other way, but if it passes -- as seems likely, IF the pressure from progressives continues -- they'll have given themselves a lot of insulation. And there's nothing a pol likes more than lots of squishy stuff between him/herself and any consequences for any actions.

Insane? You are assuming that they are not whores, bought and paid for by the insurance industry.

For some reason, this:

At this point, they've run out of excuses. The center-right Democrats said they wanted a reform bill that didn't cost too much, lowered the deficit, restricted funding of abortion, restricted aid to immigrants who entered the United States illegally, and didn't raise taxes on the middle class.

Reminds me of this:

King Arthur: O Knights of Ni, you are just and fair, and we will return with a shrubbery.
Leader of The Knights who say NI!: One that looks nice.
King Arthur: Of course.
Leader of The Knights who say NI!: And not too expensive.
King Arthur: Yes.

With Harry Reid as King Arthur, and the Business Dog Centrists as the Knights of Ni, of course.

my apologies to sex workers everywhere.

From the desk of Evan Bayh:

It is unfortunate that Senator Reid has unveiled a monstrosity of a plan that is completely unacceptable.

However, it is possible to salvage some hope for this plan. If Senator Reid would follow the great example set by the republicans when they passed Medicare Part D, some hope is possible. Just as the republicans wrote billions of dollars of payments into Medicare Part D for the Pharmaceutical and HMO industries, it is possible to add billions of dollars of subsidies into this package for Wellpoint.

If this small action could be taken, which would assure that my wife's role as a director of Wellpoint is protected and which would assure my family's future financial well being, I could support this plan.

Otherwise, I will continue to plan to vote with my forward thinking republican colleagues to prevent this bill from coming to the floor for debate.

One thing I'm not clear on. Can employers/employees choose a public option plan? If not, I don't see where there is competition when only the unemployed have access to the PO.

Well, Lieberman was on NPR just last night and still saying he'd filibuster a bill with a public option.

Of course he tried to turn things upside down and blamed the majority for insisting on it. Go figure, a majority of elected representatives want something, and they're the ones being unreasonable.

"Are Nelson, Landrieu, Lincoln, and Lieberman really going to refuse to take "yes" for an answer?"

Yes.

This has been another edition of Simple Answers To Simple Questions.

Literally, the very first thought that came to my mind was, "Well, that ought to shut the 'centrists' up."

Literally, the very first thought that came to my mind was, "Well, that ought to make the 'centrists' ask for an arbitrary $100 billion in cuts again."

My first thought was- it gives the public very little of what it needs. All i ask is please, please, please find a way to lower my premiums. Sure if I become unemployed and my Cobra runs out,then it helps. Unfortunately, that is no way to win an election or hearts and minds. I can hear the bitchin' now, damn gov made taxes and premiums go up! Awful bill.

Literally, the very first thought that came to my mind was, "Well, that ought to make the 'centrists' ask for an arbitrary $100 billion in cuts again."

Oh, god, me, too. Or inspire them to follow Lieberman and Grassley in picking a totally different Item of the Week to suddenly hold fast against.

Get this bill passed. This bill isn't perfect, no bill is. The problems with it can be fixed a little bit at a time by adding (sneaking) the changes to other appropriations bills.

Although I understand that it would take time to get organized, papers printed, people hired and trained, I don't see why some aspects of the bill couldn't be phased in as they are ready.

The notion that conservative Dems would filibuster their reform package is ridiculous. The notion that conservative Dems wouldn't even allow a debate on this bill is insane.

Given that the Democratic Party is the incarnation of Murphy's Law ("if something can go wrong, it will, at the worst possible moment"), I for one would not go around saying things like that, Steve. Landrieu, Lincoln, Nelson and Kapo Joe are in fact what you describe: ridiculous and insane.

Everyone who's disappointed in this bill should revisit the legislative history of Social Security and Medicare. Both programs were very limited at the start (SS in particular) and both have evolved into the near-universal programs we have now. That's why the Right and the insurance industry are apoplectic- they know what's going to happen down the road.

Really, let's get real. This is wonderful, if more for my descendants than for me.

(Based on what I'm reading in the comments) Good job Harry.