MAYBE SOME GROUP THERAPY IS IN ORDER - AT 7:40 P.M. ET:  The Dems are clearly coming apart on health care.  Here is the latest in the family food fight, from The Politico:

A day after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that health reform won’t get through the House without a public option, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Friday that the public option may have to go in order to get a bill passed.

Pelosi and Hoyer are, as they say, not close.  Pelosi opposed Hoyer for majority leader, favoring anti-war favorite John Murtha, king of the earmarks.  Hoyer always struck me as a good guy, and sane. 

In San Francisco on Thursday, Pelosi said: "There's no way I can pass a bill in the House of Representatives without a public option.”

The seemingly contradictory comments highlight the pressure on some Democratic members, particularly those from conservative districts. Members have faced rowdy crowds in town hall meetings across the country during the August recess.

COMMENT:  Looks like we'll have an interesting autumn.  Today's news that the aggregate federal deficit over the next ten years is projected to be nine trillion, not the former seven trillion, will make it even harder for the public-option crowd.  But they are fanatics and will seek to pass it anyway. 

The only way you get out of a deficit like that is through inflation, which destroys the value of money and also destroys the next generation.  But, hey, what's a little destruction when you can have all those pork projects? 

The president goes on vacation to Martha's Vineyard today.  Maybe he should stay awhile.

August 21, 2009