As a watch Lieberman's strategic shifts I can only wonder if he and the Senate leadership are playing a cat and mouse game of party shifting and perks. Are the R's offering him something to kill health care and give him a big carrot for switching parties? Are the Dem's attempting to wait out his positioning until January when they might be in a stronger position, vis a vis chairmanship assignments? My own belief is that Lieberman does what's best for Lieberman and even his recent terror statements regarding the disaster at Ft. Hood in the Wall Street Journal are a play on his part to further his cause. Nothing like a little fear and loathing buttress your stature.

Good news. Those cats need to gather together, do a little bonding, and let the Big Dog feel their pain.

Hope he can stiffen some spines. Many question Clinton's impulse control, but not his political instincts and strategizing.

Any Democrat responsible for the failure of this bill will go down in flames at his next primary. Doesn't matter if it's two years from now or six, people will be dying because of their lack of health care--a fact that will continually remind us that we got screwed over by a handful of corrupt politicians.

If this bill fails, the American people won't forget who killed health care, and we will hold the Blue Dog Democrats accountable. My pen is poised even now over my checkbook to contribute to a more progressive candidate in their district.

It's obvious Clinton's only purpose in this debate is to make sure the final bill is stripped of any progressive ideas. Obama started downplaying the public option after meeting with Clinton, and it's likely the luncheon in Room 101 will be used to develop strategies to kill the public option while maintaining the support of House Democrats.

When all else fails... It can't hurt, can it?

That seems to be the situation in the Senate. The health care bill at this point appears to be so fubar'd that it would practically take Jesus Christ to get a piece of legislation out of the Senate that isn't a totally watered down travesty of what a real health care bill should look like.

The anti-abortion provisions in the bill are yet one more abomination in this extended sausage making that is the Congressional process. And we can only be certain of one thing. And that is, that all House and Senate officials running for office next year will face the consequences of rising expectations, both from the right and the left.

and we're gonna use it, on the most important legislation to be passed.....well, in a long, long time.

Sock it to 'em, Bill.

What kind of Government do we have?? A Dictatorship or a Democracy? If a dictatorship, then the Politicians do what suits their own needs and ignore public opinion. (Sound familiar). If a democracy, then THE MAJORITY rules and it is time for ALL Americans to take THEIR own responsibilities seriously. It is time to teach people about the meaning of democracy where THE MAJORITY RULES!! Our constitution says it best. "A Government OF THE PEOPLE! FOR THE PEOPLE AND BY THE PEOPLE!! The MAJORITY of THE PEOPLE WANT Health Care Reform with a strong public option. What is wrong with these Senators that stand in the way, be they Democrat or be they Republican. This Government does not operate as BIG DADDY according to Republicans, no more government interferance they say, stay out of government run health care is their cry. Too much debt cry others. Well you know what?? They were elected to serve US. WE put them in office and WE can take them out. In THIS democracy, majority rules and it is time for every single american who believes that, not just when it suits them, but now, when this entire nation needs them to be vocal. WE need to hold these politicians accountable for what they were elected on, what the majority wants, after all, WE put them in office, WE pay their salaries, we pay for their health care. It is time to remind them that WE THE PEOPLE want and NEED Health Care Reform, the MAJORITY of us WANT it to include a strong Public Option. If the Senators in my district were representing their constituents and not themselves or BIG HEALTH CARE, to a man and/or woman, they would vote in favor. After all, the MAJORITY got them elected so it is up to THE MAJORITY to make themselves heard and once heard, to hold their politicians accountable to serve THEM. Now THAT, is Constitutional.