Reuters: Time for a political reality check. Government-run public health insurance that competes with private plans - a Democratic dream since President Truman suggested it in 1945 - may not be dead for now on Capitol Hill, but its vital signs are awfully faint.

Of course, many proponents are hoping to use the congressional August recess to rally the grassroots and the netroots for one final push come September. And maybe that will work.

But it’s more likely that Democratic leaders in Washington will use the break to tell the outside-the-Beltway crowd the cold truth: If they want something that can be legitimately called “healthcare reform” to pass in 2009, they need to quit wasting time, energy and money on the fading dream of a public plan and instead work to get other key elements passed.

Related Posts:

• Brian Faughan at Redstate: Democratic Senator Kent Conrad giving up on Nationalized Healthcare?
• AP: GOP senator signals fading hopes on health care
• Morning Call - Arlen Specter to labor: You’ll like how I’ll vote on Employee Free Choice Act
• With California Budget Fix Deal Reached, Lobbying Begins
• Politico: Two ‘moderate Democratic’ groups — New Dem Coalition and Blue Dogs — concerned that Obama wants too much socialism with government-run health care

Tags: President Truman

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