Once Clinton caved on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" he never got his Presidency back -- current lesson? [View All]

At the outset of Clinton's presidency, one of his big, new changes was going to be to allow gays to serve openly in the military.

Instead of doing this right up front with an Executive Order, then letting the whiners, righties, GOP nutters, etc., just deal with it and move on (with the knowledge that the new President was a man of his word, and someone who didn't back down at the first hint of a breeze), he famously waffled, tried to please everyone and not anger anyone -- too much -- and you know the result.

The results will be the same if Obama caves in on the public option for health care reform. Or "reform," as it seems the quotes are currently needed.

The righties will realize the entire agenda can be blocked and shouted down. The Blue Dogs will go against us on anything like meaningful climate control legislation, regulatory oversight, etc., etc.

It will be another exercise in the sole, remaining comfort being "ah, well, at least he's not insane!"

No. But at this juncture in history, we need a little more than that. And this debate -- which the other side seems to realize more than the White House does -- is about a hell of a lot more than just health care. Reform. Or "reform."