Reid will announce opt-out option  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will announce this afternoon that he plans to push ahead with a public option vote - most likely one that includes an opt-out provision for states - even though he's currently short several votes for passage, according to people close to the situation.

The Public Option: Rumor Check  —  A rumor is making the rounds that the White House and Senator Reid are pursuing different strategies on the public option.  Those rumors are absolutely false.  —  In his September 9th address to Congress, President Obama made clear that he supports …

Senate Dems to Obama: Um, a Little Help Here?  —  After a weekend of furious activity, Democratic leaders in the Senate think they are close to getting the votes they need in order to pass an “opt-out” version of the public option.  —  But they feel like President Obama could be doing more to help them …

Over White House Skepticism, Reid Likely To Go The Opt Out Route  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will send a health care legislation to CBO today, and details of his proposal will be unveiled shortly thereafter, TPMDC has learned.  A highly placed source suggests that Reid's preference remains …

REDSTATE EXCLUSIVE: Tim Pawlenty Endorses Doug Hoffman  —  With polling now showing NY-23 has come down to a two man race between Hoffman and Owens, the Democrat, momentum is clearly in Hoffman's favor.  —  Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota is now adding to the momentum becoming the first sitting Republican Governor to endorse Hoffman.

The Great American Ideological Crackup  —  From the magazine issue dated Nov 2, 2009  —  Shortly after the 2004 presidential election, I was chatting with a senior figure in the Democratic Party when, inevitably, the talk turned to why John Kerry had lost.