Sam Stein:

There is a growing sense on Capitol Hill that the White House's refusal to weigh in more forcefully in the health care debate could come at the cost of a public option for insurance coverage. Democratic aides said that a "handful" of senators who are skeptical of a public plan likely could be persuaded if not to support it then at least to oppose a Republican filibuster, if the administration were to apply a bit more pressure -- or even guidance.

"There is a clear sense that it would be helpful," said one senior Democratic aide. "Throughout this entire debate the White House line has been 'We will weigh in when it is necessary'.... Well now we need 60 votes. So if it's not necessary now, then when will it be?

The President as Bystander approach the Obama Administration has employed has fallen apart. Democratic Senators will not be left holding the bag on this one. They will point fingers . . . at Obama.

Speaking for me only

This is getting interesting. The Obama Administration is trying to be a bystander on health care reform. Some Dem senators are pushing back:

Sen. Jay Rockefeller told CNN on Tuesday that he's "disappointed" that President Obama wasn't more forceful in pushing the Senate to include a public option in its health care bill. "A little bit, a little bit I'm disappointed," the West Virginia Democrat told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "I know he's strongly for it, and I know his tactic has been to let the Congress do his work and then he'll come in when the crunch really counts. What I'm saying is that the crunch is really beginning to count now, and I think he's - I know he's for it, and said so publicly, and campaigned on it, so I think it's important that he come in at this point strongly."

Whether Obama likes it or not, he has skin in the public option game. Some Dem Senators will not take the hit for Obama the way Dodd did on the compensation restrictions for AIG. I expect Harry Reid will be doing this too.

Speaking for me only

Brian Beutler:

Last week, at a meeting between Senate health care principals and Obama administration officials, the White House basically told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid it would be leaving most of the big legislative decisions on reform to him. [. . . ] In a sign that Reid may be willing to acquiesce, if only the White House helps him whip the caucus into shape, a top Capitol Hill aide tells me "Right now, we don't have 60 Democratic Senators in lockstep with one another on the public option...we need the president to send a strong signal to those in the room negotiating the merger, that the public option is, really, what he wants in the final bill."

(Emphasis supplied.) It's amazing that this would need to be said. But what people do not want to accept is this - President Obama is indifferent to whether the public option is in or out of the health care reform bill. He is fine if it is in. And he is fine if it is out. In the debate on the public option, President Obama is content to be the Bystander President. Time to accept this and act accordingly. In that sense, focusing on Reid makes sense. He is up for reelection next year. And there is one thing pols are not indifferent about - getting reelected.

Speaking for me only

I'm watching Dancing With the Stars. I like Kelly Osborne and Louie the snowboarder, and who knows why, Donnie Osmond. Len took his happy pills tonight, he's liked every dance.

A commercial came on a few minutes ago warning seniors that the health care bill would cut $100 billion in benefits from Medicare Advantage and, according to the Congressional Budget Office, many seniors would see 50% cuts in "extra benefits." Then it said "Colorado is hit hard." All the while, the faces of seniors flashed across the screen. At the end: "Paid for by America's Health Insurance Plans." Who are they?

What's on your agenda tonight? This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Hospitals around the country are beginning to restrict visitors due to concerns they may bring swine flu with them.

Many people, even those who get flu shots for other forms of flu, seem resistant to the idea of taking the swine flu vaccine.

Yesterday, stuck on a plane that sat on the runway for over an hour, I couldn't help but wonder if I was being subjected to someone else's flu germs. I wondered what measures airlines would take during the next few months to protect passengers from each other. Will we all be flying with facemasks? Or will airlines require certification that passengers are free of flu symptoms before allowing them to board?

I pretty much stopped flying in early 2008, due to the time and hassle involved with security. I'm just not willing to arrive at an airport two hours before departure, stand in line and then sit cramped among strangers for hours, unless there's a really good reason.

I have more concerns about catching something on an airplane than I do visitng a jail. I've already gotten a flu shot and will also get the swine flu shot. But what about those who resist? Is it fair to put restrictions on their public movements? Or is it necessary for the greater good?

While I was gone last week, the judge announced the verdict in the "face slashing" trial of NY Senator Hiram Monserrate. (Background here.) Congrats to his lawyer, Joe Tacopina: it was not guilty on all felony counts, guilty only of the misdemeanor assault charge relating to the manner in which Monserrate forced his girlfriend out of the building to get her into the car to go to the hospital.

So, the state failed to prove Monserrate purposefully struck his girlfriend with a glass, broken or otherwise, or intended to hurt her. That hasn't stopped the domestic violence crowd from insisting Monserrate is an abuser and calling for his resignation from the Senate. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who's running for a third term for which he's invested $64 million so far, now adds his voice, calling Monserrate's actions "disgraceful, despicable, deplorable." I guess he thinks Monserrate should have left her on the floor bleeding instead of insisting she get medical care. What a cheap vote-getting ploy.

Tacopina responds politely, "...suggest[ing] Bloomberg is "another example of a politician speaking out without having a base of knowledge about the facts of the case or the law." I'll be less polite: The mayor should shut up. [More...]

Good for Target, Walgreen's and other stores which have pulled Halloween costumes mocking undocumented residents from their shelves and websites:

Several well-known chain stores have halted sales of an "illegal alien" Halloween costume after complaints from immigrant-rights activists.

The costume includes an orange jumpsuit similar to prison garb, with ILLEGAL ALIEN stamped across the chest, a "green card" and a space alien mask. Activists began complaining Friday when they learned the costume was being sold in stores or on Web sites of retailers including Target, Walgreen's and Amazon. The costume was priced between $27.49 and $39.99.

The costume was made by Forum Novelties Inc., based in Melville, New York. Now that's a company boycott I'd support.

Is the medical marijuana dispensary business really booming? John Suthers, the Attorney General in Colorado says it is. He's looking for ways to regulate it. Some municipalities are putting "freezes" on new applications while they try to develop standards and rules. [More...]

Bump and Update: Here is the text of the DOJ memo.

The Department of Justice is sending out a three page memo to prosecutors in the 14 states that have legalized medical marijuana with new guidelines for prosecutions. According to unnamed officials,

... [the memo] emphasizes that prosecutors have wide discretion in choosing which cases to pursue, and says it is not a good use of federal manpower to prosecute those who are without a doubt in compliance with state law.

Without a doubt? Sounds like there's some wiggle room. [More...]

In reference to everyone upset at criticism from progressives of President Obama, I ask again my new perpetual question, why does no one ever write a "Leave Harry Reid Alone" post?

Do people REALLY believe Reid has more power on this issue than President Obama? And if so, do they believe that Olympia Snowe has more power than both of them? For the record, I think this a great ad.

Speaking for me only

Not sure if John Cole is predicting he will, but it seems that way:

So let’s see how this plays out. By the end of the day, everyone throw eggs at the Administration [for allegedly walking away from the public option], and particularly blame it on Rahm (he is evil, dontcha know!). Maybe we can join with the Republicans and chant “just words” and write long posts claiming Obama is selling us out. Then, tomorrow, when the administration says that they still strongly support a public option [. . .]

(Emphasis supplied.) It's a weird thought from Cole - that Republicans will protest Obama giving up on the public option. More . . .

I missed the balloon boy saga that apparently took over the cable tv airwaves last week. Not having seen the coverage, I can't quite grasp why there are still 9,497 articles on Google News about it.

Authorities now think it was a hoax and are going to charge the parents with a potpourri of crimes. Coming in after the fact, here's what seem to me to be the salient points: [More..]