One health care scenario that could be realistic

[bluestateguy]

Before exploding into rage, hear me out. This is not what I want to happen, nor is it what I think should happen, but I think it is what could happen:

The White House will throw their full weight behind a public option health care bill that fails to clear a majority in the House, or fails even in reconciliation in the Senate, or both. At that point a new health care bill is unveiled, without a public option, that is passed by way of a coalition of Blue Dogs, moderate Republicans and enough pro-public option liberals who will be bludgeoned into voting for an all private health care bill.

I see this scenario as possible for the following reasons:

1. The White House wants a legislative victory very badly, even with a flawed bill if need be.

2. The liberals who favor a public option--enough of them anyway--will reluctantly vote for an all private health care bill so long as they are convinced that the Obama White House did everything they could to get a public option, but simply failed after a valiant effort, and so long as the public option bill was given a floor vote first.

This is just a think piece, so please take a deep breath before responding.

[havocmom]

1. It could happen, but we won't call it 'reform' and we won't let our reps off the hook

No how no way, nope. They 'produce' that and they are history.

When they, and their spouses, other family members, make SO much $$ (lookin at YOU Lieberman) from status quo health industry, they don't get off that easy.

[nightrain]

2. sure, it could happen, but I would hope that the progressives would adhere to their

words, not to pass a bill without at least a "public option".

I agree that Obama is probably going to call anything he gets to sign as a success, not matter how crappy it is for regular people.

[rurallib]

3. and then next year repugs will campaign on fixing health care

I was explaining this very possibility to my daughter last night.