Wednesday Morning Open Thread

Good morning.

The open thread is a little later today, wanted to get the news about Chris Dodd's retirement posted. That's actually a positive electoral development as compared to the news about Byron Dorgan retiring.

House and Senate leaders are still negotiating over health care. It's a one-sided negotiation as the Senate holds most of the cards (and the Senate has the White House on its side.) Does anyone remember the Seinfeld episode when George Costanza was negotiating with NBC? I've looked for the clip on YouTube and Hulu. Basically, George bragged about his negotiating skills, then ended up getting way less than the original offer. That's how progressive Democrats on Capitol Hill negotiate. They talk tough but always end up with a lot less.

As for the White House, the President doesn't have much on his public schedule according to the "Daily Guidance and Press Schedule," which arrives by email.

UPDATE @ 8:63 A.M.: Just got an "UPDATED Daily Guidance" from the White House. The President now has a meeting at 2:30 P.M. with Speaker Pelosi and the chairs of key House Committees: Rep. Henry Waxman from Energy and Commerce, Rep. Charlie Rangel from Ways and Means, Rep. George Miller from Education and Labor Chairman and Rep. Louise Slaughter from the Rules Committee. Coincidentally, or not, those are the Chairs of the Committees that put together the House health care reform bill.

Okay...now thread...