Remember the premise - Dems would have just lost in MASSACHUSETTS!! The Dems are staring a GOP Wave election in the face. What that means is that no one should feel safe in their seats, including in heretofore considered "safe" seats. In this scenario, the Obama Administration's accomplishments will mean next to nothing. His lack of coattails for 2010 will be manifest.

For House progressives, whether they come to the policy conclusion that the Senate bill is better than nothing or not, the POLITICAL calculation would appear to be to rush into the arms of the base. That would require, at the minimum, an agreement for concrete changes to the health bill via reconciliation. For Marshall it is easy to minimize the modifications that would occur in the bill. But for the progressive base, especially the unions and their leadership, those changes are essential. Can you imagine spitting in the eyes of the unions in THIS political environment? Only a Village blogger could imagine that as "simple." I call it simple minded.

For Blue Dogs, I doubt anything is going to help them, but I feel pretty confident that a vote for the unpopular health bill is not one of these things. ESPECIALLY if it involves spitting in the eyes of unions.

I do not know what is going to happen, but if I was advising a House progressive, as a purely political matter, I would advise that they do their damnedest to at least be perceived as fighting for something better than the Senate bill.

That is going to require, in my view, actually missing the President SOTU deadline, for appearances sake if nothing else, and some type of concrete deal to fix the Senate bill in a reconciliation bill.

I can not imagine that anyone is in the mood right now to walk the plank for Obama, who is not on the ballot this year. Marshall's analysis is ridiculous.

Speaking for me only