If 'Public Option' is in the speech tonight, it is in for good.

[tekisui]

If President Obama says he wants a Public Option, if he says Public Option is preferred by the people, if he says Public Option is the best way, if he even mentions the words Public Option without it followed by will not happen----Public Option will be in the bank.

This late in the game, he will not be supporting any position that will not make it to his desk. He knows the score, and has done the heavy lifting, this speech is to give the weak-kneed Blue Dogs the political cover to do the right thing.

[MNDemNY]

1. I hope so.

[HamdenRice]

2. Makes sense. Why would he stake his rep on a bargaining chip ...

this late in the game?

[dgibby]

3. I applaud your optimism,

but I fear you are going to be very disappointed. I hope I'm wrong.

[tekisui]

4. If he doesn't mention PO, then it is as good as dead.

[Laelth]

5. Just any old public option is not good enough.

It needs to be "robust," and by that I mean big enough to actually compete with private insurance, drive down costs, and "keep the insurance companies honest."

The President's mentioning the public option will mean nothing to me. It needs to be "robust" in order to do any good. Otherwise, all we will have is a massive Federal bail-out of the insurance industry, paid for principally by the struggling middle-class through a law that forces us to buy pathetic insurance company products or become criminals.

:dem:

-Laelth

[NYC_SKP]

6. I agree, and I can't imagine him not getting to the point that millions are waiting to hear.

I've been saying that he's been clever in letting congress show him and us what they can and can't do.

It is their job, after all, to write legislation and his job to enforce it.

But it is also his job to lead and to lay out his vision (when the time is right, strategically).

This is the moment we've been waiting for, he knows it, and every word in his address will carry great weight.

:patriot:

[Kali]

7. I hope you are right -

sure would make my rotten day turn around.

[Mystayya]

8. Its only in for good when it is passed and signed.

And I desperately hope it will be.