If Reid doesn't include a public option in the final bill, then he should be removed as Leader. Maybe I'm naive, but I would think that if Obama told Reid that the final bill must have a public option (not merely one with a trigger), then Reid would accede to his wishes.

"Schumer said this solution might take some of the heat off conservative Democratic senators like Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Ben Nelson (D-NE), since they wouldn't have to explicitly vote to put the public option in the bill, but would merely have to support a bill that already included a public option."

This is could be very telling. Schumer seems to have his finger on the pulse of these things, and wouldn't say things like this unless he's gotten some positive indications from the conserva-Dems or if he feels that making such sentiments public would influence the moderates.

Back to Reid. Why do I not feel confident that he's going to do the right thing?

If the Democrats don't include it, they are making a big mistake that will hurt them next year. Democrats and Americans in general really want this. Why not give them what they want? If they don't include it, you will have disappointed Democrats who won't get out the vote next year -- why bother if they seem to work mostly for industry -- meanwhile the kooks/crazies/haters who currently make up the GOP will be raving mad about any HCR bill no matter what it includes. Do they not see that is a formula for defeat?

If Reid blows this, he needs to go. Someone else pointed out that the Replubicans don't pick leadership from blue states. Democrats should NEVER have leadership from red states. Reid has been a big mistake.

So wait a minute here. The only way for a public option to make it into the final bill is for Harry Reid to grow a set of balls? Nice. Republicans win.

I disagree. It's not "up to Reid" as this article suggests. Its up to the Democratic Caucus. Reid will put a PO into the final Senate version (probably something similar to the HELP committee version; which is already watered down), IF he can get 60 or more votes for cloture to end the threat of a filibuster and for the bill to receive at least an up or down vote.

I agree with one of the other posters out here. Reid is not in charge of shit when it comes to the Democrats in the Senate. The Democratic Caucus itself decides all important matters when the Democrats control the Senate. The majority leader has SOME power (like cancelling the Columbus Day break). But its limited. Not trying to apologize for Reid. But it simply is what it is.

So, if a PO type option does not make it into the final Senate version, it will be because some Democratic Senators told Reid, regardless of consequences, they would not vote for cloture with a PO type option in the bill.

The challenge at that point will be to do everything possible to find out exactly who those Senators were, and make them pay.

what happened to shumer plan? -that red states could opt out of public option. that way the saner people in usa can get "socialized medicine" while the rednecks can freely opt out and continue to enrich private insurance CEOs.
this plan also helps Dems win elections in those states, since even the dumbest of the dummies may soon realize that their blue neighbors get a better deal.
is that compromise shumer plan dead?