The good news: Pressure on Reid from progressives when his poll numbers are flagging made him defy the White House. More importantly, he ratted them out to the press. Rahm thought he could continue to push for triggers in the background and satisfy the base by mouthing gibberish about “the President supports a public option” until it was too late. It didn’t work out so well.
The bad news: Having a state opt-out that will make corporatist Democrats happy is quite likely not to be “available nationwide from day one,” and thus does not meet the the definition of a “robust public option” by anyone’s terms.
Regardless of what kind of opt out Reid selects, many people will be refused a chance at the option. Opt out by a governor? State legislature? Both? (Jane has all the numbers.) Many states have both a Republican governor and legislature. They're out. Some states have a mix. If a state like Missouri, which has a Democratic governor (Jay Nixon) and a Republican legislature, is forced let the legislature only decide, then no way. They won't think twice about opting out, unless people really make their voice heard. Some stalwart Republicans will be tested. I'll predict a state or two may buck the trend at the beginning. It's hard to predict after that.
I hope these conservative Democrats, like Mary Landrieu (La.) and Ben Nelson (Neb.), that oppose a public option, claiming it's on principle to our "free market values," realize what they're a part of in resisting further reform and relief for their constituents.
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