The "bipartisan" strategy for health insurance reform is becoming clearer. In a word, it's "desperation":
Finance Committee leaders Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) know that if they can strike a deal, it will likely be rejected by legislators on the left and the right. But the many centrists in the Senate may embrace it, which could lead to backing from a White House that is desperate for Congress to pass health reform in 2009.Max Baucus, who is selling out core Democratic principles to secure the support of Chuck Grassley, expects Obama and his administration to be so desperate for a deal, that they'll settle for the GOP bill proffered by Baucus.
“This could take off, or the extremes [on both sides] could kill it,” said a source who is working to forge a compromise.
How's that for cynical and craven? But, someone at a very high level in Obama administration must be letting Baucus believe this idea has potential.
