LET US ASSUME...:

Obama Treats Dems' Internal Wounds, But Sewing Up Health Deal A Challenge (DAVID HOGBERG, 9/10/09, INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY)

ObamaCare's critics aren't sure if Democrats can deliver.

"I think they are trapped," said John Goodman, president of the conservative National Center for Policy Analysis. "If they force something through it will make people angry. But if they don't stick with the plan they have now, they'll irritate the left wing of their party."

"They're gonna have to pass something or Obama and the Democrats are in really big trouble," said a top GOP aide. "What that 'something' will look like, I don't know."

The aide further stated that Pelosi and maybe the White House are warming to the Baucus plan's mandate. It would fine families up to $3,800 for not buying insurance, though that may be trimmed.

...that the fine provision makes all the policy sense in the world. You don't have to be terribly bright to see how it's going to play out in the public debate, but you do have to be Bright to imagine it won't be political poison for Democrats. Each individual facet of their plan--abortion coverage, death panels, tax hikes, universal coverage--has been disastrous when the lens was turned on it, the fines are just the next blow-up.

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 13, 2009 11:30 AM