Categorical Aperitif

Y'know, there was a time when I was sympathetic to the idea that we should do just that re. health care reform, but that's because I was thinking that a really good bill would do a lot more to universalize care and cut costs by moving us toward a single-payer system—or by including a serious public option at the very least—rather than mandating that people keep shoveling money into the gaping maws of the same old for-profit entities that helped to create the current mess.

But somehow, I don't think that's what John Boehner and Eric Cantor mean by "a bill that is truly worthy of the support and confidence of the American people." So if they decide to skip Obama's latest in his series of baffling attempts to reach out to his increasingly feral, slavering opposition, fine. Tomasky:

I think that if Obama invites them and they don't show up, and this thing is televised with empty chairs where they were supposed to be...well, Democrats can screw up a lot of things, but I have trouble seeing how they can screw that up. And yes, as soon as I type those words I see that I shouldn't tempt fate in such a way...

Agreed, the Democratic screwup potential seems quite profound, but still: Obama's performance at the Rethug conference two weeks ago gives me some confidence that he could capitalize on a roomful of empty chairs if his opposition decides to give him one. Taking the ball and going home may look like principled leadership on Fox, but it looks like childish petulance almost everywhere else.