Sword and Sextant

President Obama may be pulling the public option from the table.

First off, here’s a frightening quote:

“I think there will be a competitor to private insurers,” Sebelius said. “That’s really the essential part, is you don’t turn over the whole new marketplace to private insurance companies and trust them to do the right thing.”

Oh, liberals. Momma government will save you from the mean capitalists.

Anywho, this is a monster victory because it allows all the other changes Obama wants to make to happen without transforming our entire nation. The government will still be unable to make any health care decisions for its citizens, and it will prevent several taxes from hitting the books, although some yet loom.

It also reveals that Obama isn’t quite the partisan firebrand I may have thought him to be. Nay, when it became obvious that a public option would be hemlock to his lips, it was dropped. Under the bus, if you will. He wants a “win” on this, of course, and he’ll pass any piece of paper that says health care on it, regardless of whether he’s able to pull off ANY of his original intent. It is another glaring sign that he’s simply another politician. On the heels of the Gatesgate deal, Obama looks very common suddenly.

But there’s more. The hits just keep on coming! Lookie:

Congress’ proposals, however, seemed likely to strike end-of-life counseling sessions. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has called the session “death panels,” a label that has drawn rebuke from her fellow Republicans as well as Democrats. [...]

“In all honesty, I don’t want a bunch of nameless, faceless bureaucrats setting health care for my aged citizens in Utah,” Hatch said.

Sebelius said the end-of-life proposal was likely to be dropped from the final bill.

Its a pretty surefire sign you’ve won an argument when, despite continual denials of the opposition, they remove the thing you attack within their bill. Palin again shows her powers of populism with the ‘death panels’ comment, and Democrats flinch again. She’s a very blunt instrument, lacking the polish of a refined advocate, but still quite influential, as we’re capable of seeing.

In summary, the good work of a true grassroots uprising has finally poked the beltway hard enough to make them reconsider their ruinous path. This nation is far more resilient than anyone knows, and no amount of poopooing from the MSM, the White House, Congress, or anyone else can make us go against our wishes. Just as Obama swept into office by public opinion, he was beaten down by it when he left the national consensus.

This fight isn’t over, but rest on your laurels for a moment, happy warriors. This is a monumental victory.