12/8: Now There's An Idea...

Liberal bloggers are responding favorably to reports that Senate Dems are considering a proposal to expand Medicare as a means of mollifying progressives who are angry about the weakening of the public option. "Medicare for Some?" Armando Llorens writes. "That's a start towards Medicare for All." digby thinks the proposal "would go a long way to alleviating [the] concerns" of baby boomers who aren't sure that they'll benefit from the health care reform bill. Meanwhile, Joan McCarter thinks "it's good to see an actual progressive policy in the mix in these negotiations," even if she isn't convinced that the proposal would be "an acceptable substitute for a real public option."

However, some lefty bloggers are skeptical that the proposal will make it into the final bill. "Until I hear at least one conservative Democratic senator says something positive about the idea, I will remain fairly pessimistic that the idea has traction," Jon Walker writes. "Right now, my recommendation to progressives is don't hold your breath."

What else is happening in the blogosphere?

• Conservative bloggers (Malkin, Lane, Murray, Morrissey, Mirengoff) are criticizing the EPA for announcing "that greenhouse gases posed a danger to human health and the environment, paving the way for regulation of carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles, power plants, factories, refineries and other major sources." Liberal bloggers are praising the EPA's decision (Chris, Benen) and hitting back at critics (Yglesias, Empsall).
• Conservative bloggers (Malkin, Hinderaker, Allahpundit, Liebau, Hawkins) are blasting Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid (D) for comparing opponents of health care reform to opponents of women's suffrage and the emancipation of slaves.
• RedState editor Erick Erickson has followed up his endorsement of CA SEN candidate Chuck DeVore (R) with an endorsement of SC GOV candidate Nikki Haley (R). Erickson writes: "[I]f the federalist experiment is to survive, it must be supported inside the states, not just at the federal level. Supporting Nikki Haley does just that."
• Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas is excited that House Financial Services Cmte Chair Barney Frank (D) has endorsed fellow House Dem Joe Sestak (D) in the PA SEN race. Moulitsas adds: "Specter isn't the only suspect Democrat inside our caucus. [...] A few more primary challenges might convince recalcitrant Democrats to support their party's top priorities, and a culture that encourages such challenges, even if it angers the DSCC and DCCC, would certainly be welcome, and clearly help Democrats advance their now-stymied policy goals."

HEALTH CARE REFORM: An Acceptable Substitute?

Liberal bloggers are responding favorably to reports that Senate Dems are considering a proposal to expand Medicare:

• digby: "From a personal perspective, this would be a godsend. The huge group of baby boomers in my age group (the second wave) are facing an unbelievable squeeze and the latest versions of the public option aren't going to help us much, especially in high cost states, unless we are really doing badly financially. [...] As a good progressive I'm not basing my support for the public option on my own personal situation. But I do worry about the political ramifications with respect to this huge demographic between 50 and 65 that's likely to have very mixed results in this health care reform just as they are dealing with aging parents, college aged kids, lower pensions, loss of housing equity, insecure employment and deteriorating health. If they are nervous about health care reform it's going to cost the Democrats. The seniors are already falling away. This would go a long way to alleviating their concerns."
• Daily Kos' mcjoan: "Would this be an acceptable substitute for a real public option? It doesn't reform the healthcare system by providing real competition to private insurers. But it would provide a model to grow on, bringing with it the possibility of eventually getting to Medicare for all, the model that many progressives have been advocating for years. Incremental? Yes, but whatever we're going to get out of this Congress will be just that. At any rate, it's good to see an actual progressive policy in the mix in these negotiations."
• TalkLeft's Big Tent Democrat: "Medicare for Some? That's a start towards Medicare for All. Take out the mandates, increase Medicare eligibility, use the House funding model and I can support this health insurance premium assistance bill."
• Mother Jones' Kevin Drum: "I think it's a great idea, though I have a hard time believing it's going to be suddenly resurrected at the 11th hour like this. Still -- and with the caveat that I'm a lukewarm supporter of the public option in the first place -- I'd probably take this over the public option as a straight-up trade any time. Not only does it do a lot of good, but it sets the stage for possible future age reductions."
• The Reality-Based Community's Mark Kleiman: "The best use of the 'public option' is as a bargaining chip. Looks as if the Senate liberals are driving a pretty hard bargain [...] If this works out as well as it seems it might, a bunch of people are going to owe Harry Reid an apology."

On the other hand, Firedoglake's Walker is skeptical that the proposal will make it into the final bill: "Until details are known, it is impossible to judge whether there is any policy merits to the proposal. Unless Reid finally decides to use reconciliation or the nuclear option, any idea will need 60 votes. [...] Until I hear at least one conservative Democratic senator says something positive about the idea, I will remain fairly pessimistic that the idea has traction. Right now, my recommendation to progressives is don't hold your breath."

Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher is even more blunt: "After 30 years in the movie business, I don't dance around like somebody's pet monkey and respond to offers nobody has made, and I don't negotiate with myself."

Meanwhile, conservative bloggers (Klein, Ace, Allahpundit) are arguing that it would be fiscally irresponsible to lower the age of Medicare eligibility to 55.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: TCU Vs. Boise State

Think Progress' Matthew Yglesias:

"Having TCU play Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl strikes me as a cop-out. The world deserves an opportunity to put to the test the issue of whether these unbeaten teams from the unprestigious conferences are or are not in fact better than squads like Florida and Cincinnati. It's fine if you want to dismiss one of these teams based on their relatively weak schedules, but then you've got to let them have the chance to play a tougher schedule. Barack Obama said a year ago that he wanted to see a college football playoff and he was right! I think the White House needs to get back involved in this issue."

LEST WE FORGET: Time Is On My Side

From Overheard in the Office:

Female program manager: You got a sec?
Male program manager: I have lots of secs.
(pause)
Engineer: He means he has a lot of time.