THE FAST HUSTLE SLOWS DOWN - AT 10:29 A.M. ET:  A few days ago, Senate Dems were ready to hold tofu parties, believing they had health care nailed down because of a compromise over the "public option." 

Well, not so fast, fellas.  Apparently, there are people in the Senate who actually read things, and think about them.  I know that's dangerous, but they do it.  From The Politico:

Senate moderates who are the linchpin to passing a health care reform bill raised fresh worries Thursday about a proposed Medicare expansion, complicating Majority Leader Harry Reid’s hopes of putting together a filibuster-proof majority for the legislation in the coming days.

Two days ago, the Medicare proposal appeared to be the elusive bridge between liberals, who were being forced to give up a public health insurance option, and moderates, who said they couldn’t vote for a bill that included one.

But by Thursday, the shine had dimmed, as senators grew restless over a lack of information and declined to commit their vote until they could review the legislative language and the Congressional Budget Office cost estimate. Republicans also stepped up their criticism of the plan.

The three moderates — Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), whose votes could make or break health reform this year — expressed varying degrees of resistance to the Medicare idea.

Snowe said the Medicare expansion exacerbates an “already-serious problem,” with the low government reimbursement rates for doctors and hospitals that serve Medicare patients. It could force her to vote no, she said.

COMMENT:  Every poll shows increasing public opposition to the Dem health plan.  You'd think they'd put it away for a while and go talk to their constituents.  But the "we know best" crowd is in charge, and they're headed over the cliff. 

December 11, 2009