THE IMPACT OF EFFECTIVE OPPOSITION - AT 7:47 A.M. ET:  The GOP and moderate Democrats have made some effective points in opposing the current health "reform" legislation before Congress.  The opposition is leading to what appears to be corrective action.  We'll see when the print comes out.  From The Washington Post: 

An emerging consensus among a bipartisan group of senators is poised to shift the dynamic in the congressional debate over health-care reform and could lead to a final product that sheds many of the priorities that President Obama has emphasized and that have drawn GOP attacks.

And...

Assuming the fragile committee coalition holds, the legislation it produces would scramble the reform landscape by introducing policy ideas that have their origins in the political center. The bill is bound to disappoint liberals. But with prominent GOP backing, it also could prove more difficult for Republicans to reject out of hand -- the approach they have taken to the House bill and a second Senate version, written by the health committee.

And...

GOP negotiators rejected from the outset the kind of government-run insurance plan that Obama and most Democrats are pushing for in an attempt to inject the health-insurance market with pricing competition. Instead, the committee would create coverage cooperatives modeled after rural electricity providers.

Naturally, President Obama injected himself and demonstrated why his leadership abilities are under growing attack:

Obama has encouraged the finance panel's effort, praising it as the potential foundation for the bipartisan outcome he is seeking. But he flashed his discontent with the process during a question-and-answer session sponsored by AARP. "Sometimes I get a little frustrated, because this is one of those situations where it's so obvious that the system we have isn't working well for too many people, and that we could be doing better," Obama said Tuesday.

You do better, Mr. President, by coming up with good, workable ideas, not simply by complaining.  This is what happens when a man has spent most of his political career running for office, not performing the work of an office.

Maybe something good will come of this, but we're relieved that Congress wasn't stampeded by its liberal wing and by the very liberal White House.  The thoughtful opponents of the proposed legislation have had public opinion behind them, which shows what an aroused public can do.

July 29, 2009