Some pundits are raising the possibility that health care reform just isn't gonna happen this year. The leading assumption right now appears to be that Obama can't afford to invest either the money or the political capital on such an ambitious goal, what with the economic crisis and big, politically fraught foreign policy decisions to make.

"Yessiree. Because as we all know, Obama can't win because he's too liberal, he'll never get the votes of Hillary supporters, Hispanic voters hate him and don't even get us started on those racist white working class voters.

"And of course we can't have health care reform in an economic crisis because the last thing you can do in tough times is expand the social safety net. Too bad FDR didn't follow this thinking during the Great Depression because then we'd never have had Social Security."

If the pundit class says it can't happen, bet the house it will.

After all, if a cautious, spineless wimp like Max Baucus is ready to move, then you know there will be action.

When will the press start paying as much attention to the actual Vice President-Elect -- you know, Joe Biden -- as they are to the Whacka from Alaska?

"I'm special! So special! I've gotta have some of your attention, give it to me!"

When will the press start paying as much attention to the actual Vice President-Elect -- you know, Joe Biden -- as they are to the Whacka from Alaska?

Hopefully, not anytime soon.  Cruisin' under the radar helps ya get more stuff done sooner.

An interesting side note...

Exit polls showed that 16% of McCain voters were former Clinton supporters, and half of those would have cast votes for Clinton if she were the nominee.

To sum up McCain would have (post election guessing here) lost by an even bigger margin. I wonder if West Virginia, and Tennessee, and Arkansas of course would have also been added to the democrats column on election night? Those were Hillary strongholds during the primary.

Yeah, as usual the pundits are concern trolling away (e.g., "ooh, doesn't having so many Clinton-era hires means he's BETRAYED his promise of change" blah blah).

Obama will get health care done- for one thing, I don't see how there can be any serious organized opposition at this point - everyone from the Chamber of commerce to ... well, everyone agrees we need health care reform. Also, Obama won't make the same ham-handed mistakes that the Clintons did.

I haven't read the details of the Baucus plan but I am partial to my Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden's plan that has been out there for a while. Anyway, I trust Obama to get it done.

Now, at a point of transition, amid massive financial contraction and economic uncertainty, it appears that the non-transparent Big Boys are in the driver's seat. Basic question are being ignored.

J.K. Galbraith, Krugman, Samuelson, Bacevich, await beside their cell phones. Not a chance. Nary a word is heard regards DOJ.

Obama may find himself in a swamp come February and if so, he'd best shift course quick.

What Obama should do is CREATE JOBS and go for ENERGY independence with a green economy.

Is it me or does it seem like there is a major debate going on between those who say Obama should go small in cautious and those who say Obama should go large and aggressive. You know Obama and consensus, so I think he will be doing a bit of both.

Amazing that dems could be surrounded by a huge crowd all screaming for a change in Health care coverage and one person would stand up and say, "They can't possibly want that" and our dem leaders would say "you're right".

It's like our economic disaster was "created" by Health Ins cos and big pharm in order to claim "We can't afford to pay for social programs or national health care...we just don't have the money...what with the 'bailout' and all".
Disaster capitalism anyone.

It's bullshit and right now, as Josh alludes to, there is a strong mandate for National healthcare ins. AND as the Baucus bill demonstrates, there is a proven efficient low cost program already operating that could easily be expanded to cover everyone while keeping costs lower than what is available now privately and that is Medicare and Medcaid. We cannot allow ANY private ins cos to handle our national healthcare because they will always try to find new ways to increase profits at tax payer expense.

We can get this done if only our leaders will will ignore the corporate lobbyists and follow the will of the people.

This "bailout" has turned into a farce of deception and greed which will only result in what republicans have been hoping to greet Obama with as he assumes office...a great depression. It's like they are following the pre FDR new deal tactics of the '20s.

They are lining up to grab by any means possible as much of the free taxpayer money our Treasurer can throw them. Like sending shrink wrapped hundred dollar bills on pallets into a war zone...it will "mysteriously" disappear without any accountability. If only Obama was in office now to stop this...too many congressional leaders are members of the Money party and will do nothing but act shocked when the money just goes. Some democracy we live in when we the people can only stand back and watch our tax dollars being given to millionaires and billionaires trying to protect their holdings.