HEALTH CARE - THE EXCITING, HEART-POUNDING SEQUEL - AT 7:28 A.M.  Starring Barack Obama as the young president, Rahm Emanuel as his best friend, with a cast of thousands at town meetings across America. 

It appears that the president has decided to do some governing, or something like it.  You know, general governing.  The New York Times reports that he'll get more active on health care:

WASHINGTON — President Obama is planning for “a new season” of more hands-on advocacy for his troubled domestic priority, an overhaul of the health care system, according to his advisers. Among the likely steps would be a nationally televised speech that close allies have urged, and a 10-year price tag for the overhaul below the $1 trillion mark.

Another speech?  Another illusion that if The One merely blesses the thing, it will be done.  No, sir.

A 10-year price tag below $1-trillion?  What do you think the real price tag will be?  How about $2-trillion, and counting?

Mr. Obama met on Tuesday with advisers including Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, and David Axelrod, a senior strategist, to prepare for Congress’s return to work next week after a month in which many lawmakers have been spooked by contentious townhall meetings and polls registering slipping support for the president and his health care plans.

“We’re obviously entering a new season here and this issue has been debated and discussed and chewed over at great length now,” Mr. Axelrod said in an interview. “There are a lot of ideas on the table and now it’s time to pull those strands together and finish the work.”

Now it's time?  We're talking about life-and-death issues.  Now it's time?  What about before, when the "plan" was being written?  Welcome to government.  Campaign is over.

And get this breakthrough:

That suggests the president could for the first time put in writing the elements of a health care plan, drawing from the common pieces of measures approved in three House committees and the Senate committee formerly headed by the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, in an attempt to spur Congressional action.

While they're at it, how about putting into writing 1) how we're going to end the Iranian nuclear threat; 2) how we're going to win in Afghanistan; 3) how we're going to counter North Korea; 4) how we're going to stand with our East European allies on missile defense.

You know, while you've got the fountain pen out, Mr. President, give us more than a few pages.  Pads are available at Staples.  Get a four-pack.

September 2, 2009