Or else what? They'll vote Republican? They'll run a candidate against her in the primary? The Democratic Party has essentially no mechanism for reigning in corporate liberals. Cantwell is betting on the fact that health care reformers have NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

Isn't that how Cantwell beat Deborah Senn in the first place-- by allying herself with corporations and saying Senn was too critical of corporate power (particularly, oh, I don't know, the health insurance industry)? In fact, isn't that why the Stranger/ Dan Savage endorsed Cantwell in the first place-- because Senn's consumer advocacy on health care would make it hard for her to get the support from the business community in a tight election against a Republican? It turns out that electability usually means supporting the status quo, and most Democrats are more interested in getting elected than they are in real "change." Sucking up to insiders and lecturing progressives about how they should be more pragmatic doesn't seem to get you very far.

I'm glad you're covering her screwed up priorities. She needs to hear from her constituents, and we need info like this to keep the pressure on her. But the problem of Democrats siding with corporate power instead of the public interest is bigger than Cantwell.

@1: the "public option" is distinguished not by it being subsidized, but by it being run to provide care instead of provide corporate profits. It follows market principles, but without the greed that has so distorted our current system.

We really did miss a huge opportunity when Cantwell beat Senn in the primary. Slade Gorton would have lost to either of them that year, and Senn was a real progressive. Oh well.

"Single Payer, Period" quashed the Clinton health care reform opportunity. Sad but true, it may be that the Public Option has no chance in the Senate.

What then? Stand pat and catch the next wave 16 or 20 or more years from now?

Sen. Cantwell may be right, she may be wrong, but she is leading.

If you want to keep the pressure on anybody, keep it on Obama, and hope he can pull enough votes in the Senate. At this point, it doesn't look like he can.

@5: Not according to Obama. Try to keep up with what's actually being proposed, versus all the bullshit that public option opponents are spreading. Providing start-up funding before revenue comes in is not the same as providing an ongoing subsidy to keep the whole thing afloat.

@6: no, the health care industry quashed the Clinton health care proposals. They oppose anything that might reduce their profits. Period.

Trevor @ 9, that's a simplist's perspective. Clinton's plan had the momentum - and the votes - until 80-odd single payer players decided to hold out for the whole loaf. Blocked it in the House, which bought time for the industry boys to spin up public support for the kill. Harry & Louise, Betsey McCaughey Ross, and Arlen Specter;s scare charts came later.