Dr. Dean in the House
I don't buy conspiracy theories that somehow Democrats and Obama have everyone right where they want them on health reform. (Not a member of an organized political party....)

Maybe strong reform is still salvageable, but seems like what's going on is just what it looks like: some bungling, some lowering the bar, and negotiating from weakness (for some reason). Hopefully a bill will still be standing at the end with some measure of reform still in it.

I tend to agree with Howard Fineman, who I just heard say that approaching universality of coverage was always the part Obama cared about, not publicly run competition, which has somehow become the litmus test. But for those of you that want to believe, Howard Dean says don't worry. It's all going to work out just fine, public option intact.