Okay, so the Obama administration only wasted seven months—more than an eight of his first term (and perhaps his presidency)—trying to make nice with the GOP and the shrieking lunatics in its base and the talking heads on Fox News who are trying to get him killed. No could've predicted that that wouldn't get 'em anywhere. So now the Democrats are talking about going it alone...

Given hardening Republican opposition to Congressional health care proposals, Democrats now say they see little chance of the minority’s cooperation in approving any overhaul, and are increasingly focused on drawing support for a final plan from within their own ranks.

Top Democrats said Tuesday that their go-it-alone view was being shaped by what they saw as Republicans’ purposely strident tone against health care legislation during this month’s Congressional recess, as well as remarks by leading Republicans that current proposals were flawed beyond repair.... [Such] a change could alter the dynamic of talks surrounding health care legislation, and even change the substance of a final bill. With no need to negotiate with Republicans, Democrats might be better able to move more quickly, relying on their large majorities in both houses.

Shove it through, Democrats, and then when the dust settles and Americans have access to health insurance—including a public option—and the sky doesn't fall and no one is forced to stand before death panels and health-care-expense-related bankruptcies come down and the whole thing is, in retrospect, insanely popular and people can't remember what all the fuss was about, then you can claim 100% of the credit for health-care reform. Stop trying to bring the Rs along. Fuck 'em.