It is the primaries that do it. Even the moronic "base" can tell the difference between candidates pretending to play to "the base" and genuine fringe lunatics speaking from the heart. They elect the genuine loonies every time, then what choice do we have in the general election when someone other than "the base" shows up?

The Feckless One ran as a centrist and immediately tacked left to satisfy his base. His choice of healthcare and global warming as key goals for Year 1 was completely out of touch with the wants and needs of the electorate. And you complain that the overwhelmingly minority party didn't come along? When tort reform and inter state competition for insurers would completely ruled out because of specials interests?

Please, the Feckless One cannot herd his own party of cats. Don't blame the GOP.

"Early on in the health care reform process, for example, the Republicans realized there were short-term political gains to be made by not engaging in the give-and-take."

You forgot to mention that Obama wanted a, "bill on his desk before the August 2009 recess." It was members of congress who had to come home and get lambasted by their constituents who didn't want a radical takeover of healthcare. Most Republicans just stood back and watched. As for the old timers who will one day shuffle off, I'd be happy to show the the door. The McCain's, Specters, Reid's and Pelosi's of the world might see their political demise earlier than they expected. And that would be a good thing...

This article is way off base. How could the Republicans attempt a compromise on this horrific health care bill?
First it would be detrimental to every American to push it through, secondly how can you compromise with a narcissist president who thinks he is right in every stupid thing he proposes. Maybe if he wasn't so sure he is God the opposition could suggest amendments to this diasasterous bill.

How do you participate in secret negotiations held by the Democrats behind locked doors? Not in the Senate Chambers - behind locked doors.

I guess the President was unaware of this, too.

You must have forgotten that it was the President himselof that brought back his campagn manager to the white house last week. Then he has the audacity to tell others not to pay attention to elections. And for the record Republicans tried to put forth there own ideas for healthcare and had the door slammed shut on them. So please spare me the line that republicans were just trying to stop everything. And with all the ammo that the president gave you to zing him with with political saitre why am I not surprised that you once again focus only on republicans.

The word "Republicans" should not be used in any sentence relating to the failure of the Health Care Reform Bill. The failure rests entirely with the Democrats who, with majorities in both the House and Senate, did not see the need to even bring Republicans into the discussions. Because they could have passed the Health Care Bill entirely on their own without one (1) Republican vote, the only group to bear any blame in this entire fiasco is the Democrats... and we thank them for it.

Maybe I missed something.

I don't recall the Republicans EVER putting forth a FORMAL plan of their own. To this day, the vast majority of Americans support having a Public Option. And where do the Republicans stand on that?

No. The Republicans have done absolutely nothing, but say "no", to virtually every aspect of getting Health reform accomplished.

Lowe is right.

Chan,
Contrary to all the comments, I found your thoughts on health care,etc,etc, unbiased and insightful of the current political situation.
Thank you- you've made my struggle,(to learn the computer) worthwhile.Speaking as a old-timer, it's been a scary,roller-coaster ride but has opened up a whole new world for me.
Reading all the negative comments seem to validate the points you were making...Bravo !!

Gregory - I beg to differ. If a VAST MAJORITY of Americans HAD supported a Public Option, the Health Care bill would be a done-deal. The opposite is true. It's because a VAST MAJORITY of Americans opposed the bill (in it's current form) that it failed. Why else would there have been so much Democrat infighting? They know that a majority of their constituents don't want the bill as it's being proposed now, and that if it is passed against the wishes of those Americans, that they will surely lose their seats. No...I'm sorry, the reason Health Care did not pass is because (enough but not all) Democrats are scared of what it will eventually cost them. Please get your head out of the sand. The fact is, most Americans support Health Care Reform but do NOT support this particular bill. This appears to be a fact that all but you and a remaining handful of Democrats refuse to realize.

"I beg to differ. If a VAST MAJORITY of Americans HAD supported a Public Option, the Health Care bill would be a done-deal."

Nope, just google public option poll numbers. Polls conducted by a wide variety of sources consistently showed numbers of landslide proportion in favor of a public option. One of the main reasons the public is opposed to the current bill is probably because they yanked the public option.

That alone makes it clear that Congress is controlled by special interests, not by the people they are supposed to represent.

Kevin--
As "Anonymous" and I said:
The VAST majority of Americans
Do support the Public Option.
This is FACT!

Anonymous--
The Public Option was yanked due to pressure from the Republican Party, drug companies, et. al.

Ha! The public option has overwhelming support from poll numbers? Take the number of illegal's and lazy welfare slobs out of those polls and you have a different story. What you are left with are legal citizens who work for everything they have. If I was used to living off the fat of the land I would support having a nanny state also. Smarten up...