"In terms of assholes, anyone who can reach this level of self-aggrandizement and self-delusion,

'I am not the first president to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last.' has got to be the asshole."

I don't understand at all. Why is this self-aggrandizement? He IS one of several presidents taking up this cause. And why delusion if we're getting closer to a bill, on his watch? Sounds closer to fact and determination, healthy qualities for a president trying to pass a bill that's been defeated for 60 years.

Renegade Iconoclast says you were a Hillary supporter. I love Hillary, and would have been very happy seeing her in the White House, but I don't have any illusions that she would have been subject to exactly the same across-the-board criticism as Obama. She would have hedged on promises and prioritized what she wanted to handle. Remember the cries of "triangulation"? She may or may not have gotten as far as Obama on healthcare - impossible to know.

Do you want healthcare reform? And it's bad that we're getting closer to it?

Look, you're clearly not a bad fellow, but you're being very dishonest here. You're expressing marginal concern while trying to minimize a huge problem out of existence.

30 uninsured people is the population of New York State and Illinois combined. 50 million, which will be true some day very soon (especially as jobs continue to be lost) is the entire West Coast.

That doesn't even address the additional millions who are going bankrupt because of out-of-control costs. When private insurance companies increase their profit by 427% from 2000-2007 (on Bush's watch, mind you) that's not something you can wave a SS check at. That's major overhaul.

You're not even coming close to acknowledging the extent of the problem. That's not uncommon in this country - we're completely insulated by the MSM to virtually anyone else's economic problems (I believe, by design). But you're intelligent enough to look for the facts on your own.

And yes, a majority is happy with their coverage, if they have it (I don't). But then a majority is in favor of healthcare reform too. They have eyes and ears.

They know that there, but for the grace of God, go they.

Why so glum? That was a very good speech, impassioned without being over-rhetorical. A perfect balance of determination and means. As Mike Madden says, the (questionable) polls show a big jump in support. Let's see how that pans out. But you might be over-analyzing. It had a lot of punch.

The whole point is to communicate the soundness and humaneness of the Bill's basic intentions. (You can't read the whole thing on TV.) I think he did that, hands down.

Obama has taken a lot of shit recently, from both sides, and he was honest without being dismissive. My 80-year-old-father loved it. Obama registers a lot more than we here on Salon give him credit for.

for great coverage tonight, and a sweet wrap-up. Obama made a solid case for fixing a wayward healthcare system, and gave us plenty of ammunition to fight for the Public Option.

Not perfect, but it doesn't get much better.

(camera left) looked like sullen teenagers, slouching in their seats, palming their Reds and spitballs when the camera panned toward them.

Like a Clearasil-convention. Yeah, those squirmy guys really want to be taken seriously.

Oh dear, I hesitate to tell you what the Beatles might have thought about Palin. You must have some sense of that, don't you? I heard the re-engineered tracks today in the only record store left on the planet, big stereo. They sounded great.

Try and suggest something positive on healthcare, just once in a while. Good for the heart, and the worldview.

And what's your suggestion for how to fix a healthcare system that's leaving millions in the lurch? Leave Palin out of it.

I've enjoyed talking to you in the past, but you're delusional tonight. This was a good speech, perfectly given.

Nobody watching it thought of Palin, except you my man. You didn't watch it, you said. It was not a mess. And Wilson was an ass, nobody else.

The Republicans treated this like a JD study hall. You guys looked bad tonight. You didn't look principled, you just looked like sullen teenagers. What's with the slouching?

But here's the main deal - Obama laid out what everyone with an ear and eye knows - our healthcare system is for shit. It needs serious work. You can pump up Palin all you want, but you're showing zero moral fiber. Neither you nor Palin nor Wilson is doing JACK to alleviate that situation - you're just dumping.

Anyone with a seventeen-year old knows what to call it.

Contribute dammit. And sit up straight.

Wilson's eructation was in reference to illegal aliens and their imaginary coverage. Several posters have already attached the section that refutes Wilson's claim.

Wilson is wrong. And Palin said there were death panels. That also is not true. You can call it a tactic, but it's still a lie.

Sorry, I don't agree. Time to step up calls, emails, letters. When the numbers are so clearly in favor, all the more reason to keep pushing. Congresspeople respond to their constituents, when they have to. The House will pass it with the Public Option. Senate is harder.

Not dead at all -he's leaving it up to us to make it happen. Noted.

you think Obama abandoned the Public Option (I don't) then all the more reason to push for it. He definitely left the door open.

I missed part of the speech, just looking through it. Was there something about a temporary program that would cover those who need it till a Public Option kicked in? (I can't wait that long either.)

will he have to apologize to Rush for apologizing to everyone else?