Joan Walsh and Jonathan Alter on Ed are talking about GIVING UP the public option.

"We love it, but..."

I'm so sick of listening to this!!!

..... and see what the alternative is.

How 'bout Obama following through on this issue? How's that for an alternative?

How does Obama's impotent messaging of HCR relate to an imaginary futuristic GOP term of 8 years? Are you drinking?

... like Alter and Walsh just don't get it.

Rich Masters subbing for Bill Press this morning doesn't get it either.

What they don't get is that: We are not stupid!

We know that the only real choices are single-payer or public option.

Anything less is going to mean another government regulated give-away to the insurance companies and our premiums are going to continue to skyrocket.

What they also don't get is that millions of Democrats, progressives, independents voted to make Obama president and voted to give the Dems big majorities because we really and truly wanted "change we could believe in."

To settle for a health care reform "win" if it amounts to a paper bandage is perceived as a betrayal. Yes, indeed, we are so sick of watching Democrats in Washington acting as if the Republicans are the vast majority in the country and that they were elected by accident.

I think this time the 'base' is serious -- letting us down this time, cowering before the right-wing nuts again, settling for half-a-loaf -- could very well mean millions of Democrats, progressives, and independents deciding to stay home in November 2010, because, after all, what is the point of voting?

it's so easy to say "no" when you are a have.

No way in hell we are.

And that heavy-handed regulation is the only way I can see a completely private system working.

If that's not on the table, then no way will I give up the public option.

And with the way people have been treated by the insurance companies, can you imagine passing a law requiring people to be their customers? :wtf:

How does it exactly work over there?

It CAN be done.

The only reason I'm aware of their yammerings is because of all the threads started here.

I'd have to see a transcript or video. I expect it from Alter.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30031533/
See video
Can the ‘party of change’ start with health care?

"If down the line we have to compromise..."

She was ok with compromise.

Americans will continue to die unnecessary deaths and others will benefit financially from it.

You summed up the health care "debate" in America in one sentence. If only there weren't some Democrats in office benefiting from it as well.

but would it kill them to include them in their panels? Through this whole thing I hardly recall seeing Woolsey or Grijalva on any TV show.

And Alter distorts things when he says their demand shouldn't be their "opening bid". Their opening bid was single-payer and their acceptance of the public option was a huge movement on their part.