This is where the battle win be won or lost, not in the NEJM, not on Meet the Press.

Presidents are almost omnipotent.  They can; invade Grenada, go the the moon, and let GM fail.  Some things require the support of the UN, some things happen in the dead of night.

The one thing presidents and Congress are learning is that you don’t mess with a mom being able to take her child in for treatment for an ear infection, even if that’s not what you’re doing.  Right wingers, left wingers, middle wingers.  The last time the country was so united on a single issue may have been when we jointly decided disco was dead–I still have my platform shoes.

A large majority are united; the informed, the uninformed, and the illinformed; united for many different, valid, and imagined reasons.  That’s why this won’t pass.  The message fgot away from them, and they won’t be able to get it back.  They wanted a discussion, and they got it.  It’s way past having to do anything with the facts of reform.  It has to do with each person believing that no matter what their circumstances, their personal health is in jeopardy.

Have you noticed that there is not a single instance on TV of Joe or Janet the Plumber rallying behind reform and extolling the virtues of reform?  Why?  Because is’t not seen as being virtuous.

We’ve gotten it out of the think-tank stage and into the realm of Oprah and People Magazine.  Thinking and good judgement have left the building.

My best- Paul