Hillarysworld

Sadly, it is too late for anyone -- even the people in the room, much less those of us not watching -- to pretend that there is any real dialogue going on. We're not listening to each other. We're not acting in good faith. Democrats only want Republicans if they're willing to sign on to the bill (that they aren't willing to sign on to). Republicans only want Democrats if they're willing to give up on the bill (that they aren't willing to give up on). The public, wisely assessing the situation, isn't bothering to listen to either side. Why should they?

The Republicans don't want to hand Obama a victory -- especially a more modest one that they would have no choice but to support. How do you run against an administration and Congress that are, by your lights, actually doing the right thing? Talk about giving up your best issue.

The Democrats don't want to hand the Republicans in Congress a victory, either -- not as a party, anyway. Do they want to pass a Republican health care bill after all they've been through to try to get a Democratic one? I don't think so.

So if Democrats don't really want to pass a health care bill that more than one or two (if that) Republicans could support, and if Republicans don't really want to pass a health care bill that looks anything like the "Democratic version," why have a summit?

Why, indeed. The answer is simply that both parties want to look reasonable and forthcoming, when in truth, neither is. So they stretch out the olive branch -- and then cut it off in the same speech.

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