This is such bullshit

The American Prospect

Contrary to some overwrought reactions on the left, if a public insurance option fails to make it into this year's health-care legislation, it does not spell the end of worthwhile reform.

[...]

Because the public option has stood no realistic chance of being enacted in the form it was conceived, its main value all along this year has been as a bargaining chip.

I though the single payer option was the bargaining chip. Why didn't we start there? This is like losing but celebrating when you cover the spread.

[...]

The Republicans have focused their opposition on the bugaboo of "government-run health care." By jettisoning the public plan, swing Democratic senators can tell their constituents that they prevented a government takeover. This argument will not sway die-hard right-wing voters, but it may suffice for many others and thereby help give those senators confidence they can vote for the bill.

Why couldn't we have decided on a coherent message that told people that the public option wasn't a fucking government take-over in the first place?

In addition, unlike traditional Medicare, which benefits from being the default option for the elderly, the new public plan would have to advertise to compete effectively. So the differential in administrative costs between the public option and private insurers would be much less in the exchanges than the comparisons of Medicare and private insurers in the current market suggest.

Really? A public insurance option and private insurance would have similar operating costs due to advertising considerations?

Really??

What about bunch of signs that read:

Enroll in the new Public Option: It's Cheap, Comprehensive and You Can't Be Denied Coverage

Color suggestions: Black, White.

Throw in a talking chihuahua if it blows your skirt up.