One Lame-Ass Effort

by Steve

So after a day of wheeling and dealing among the Senate Democratic caucus, and with the White House apparently on the sidelines, the best the Democrats could come up with is:

-Dumping the public option for a trigger;

-An expansion of Medicare in 2011 for those between 55-64, but only to those who can pay for it with no subsidies;

-Tossing aside a possible expansion of Medicaid up to 150% of the federal poverty level; and

-Strengthened national regulation of the insurance industry.

And voters see no benefit from any of it until after the 2010 midterms, which is a recipe for a Democratic drubbing next year.

But hey, if they can get Olympia Snowe aboard . . .