As for Olympia Snowe, my gut says so what? Getting one Republican on board is not a symbol of bipartisan success, no matter who spins what. As Obama correctly called it last night, too many in Snowe’s party  have “made the calculation that it’s better politics to kill this plan than improve it.” A single GOP vote won’t change the party’s basic, sophomore effort to stymie this plan at all costs. But contrary to public perception right now, Republicans aren’t in a position to make or break the president’s goals; Democrats are. That’s why, loathsome as it is, the White House has to give sheepish Dems some political cover to get them to play ball on health care reform even while they consider the consequences their votes may have on upcoming reelection campaigns. If a trigger for the public option can do that, then I guess it’s better than watching all the momentum from last year’s Dem pickups split to the wind.

Also, the White House recognizes that it’s time to pass this thing and get a step closer to universal coverage. Remember when that was the buzzword? Well, we’re closer than ever. Mandates and subsidies will help. Prosecuting insurance companies that discriminate against the sick will help. Obama was probably ill-advised to suggest that he would be the “last president” to pick up the cause of health care. It’d be better to acknowledge the current political limitations (Blue Dogs = chicken) and get to a stronger base level for future revisions. Getting–and keeping–Ben Nelson and the rest of the conservaDems is likely the only way to go.