Wednesday health care roundup (with video)

"Why We Lost Healthcare" (John Neffinger):

So the next time the President asks progressives to follow his lead, the answer should be clear: no thanks. For Obama to do his job, he needs progressives to do theirs: let progressives fight on the left flank to make room for the President to steer a middle course. Yes, that will mean some strife within the Democratic family, and the President seems to prefer when we all just get along in public. But we have just witnessed what that gets us: taking forever to pass weak legislation that betrays the hopes that got Obama elected, sapping public enthusiasm for his Presidency.

"White House as helpless victim on healthcare" (Glenn Greenwald):

Of all the posts I wrote this year, the one that produced the most vociferious email backlash -- easily -- was this one from August, which examined substantial evidence showing that, contrary to Obama's occasional public statements in support of a public option, the White House clearly intended from the start that the final health care reform bill would contain no such provision and was actively and privately participating in efforts to shape a final bill without it.

"135,000 uninsured Americans will die before health reform takes effect, analysis finds" (Raw Story):

If Democrats manage to pull off efforts to reform the US healthcare system and ensure coverage for millions who are currently without insurance, the new system -- by design -- will likely still leave tens of thousands to die without insurance before reforms kick in.

A Raw Story analysis, based on a recent Harvard Medical School study, estimates that 135,000 American citizens and over 6,600 US veterans will die due to a lack of health insurance before current proposed healthcare reform measures would take effect.

"20 Questions for Bill Killers" (Nate Silver):

1. Over the medium term, how many other opportunities will exist to provide in excess of $100 billion per year in public subsidies to poor and sick people?
(snip)
20. How many of the arguments that you might be making against the bill are being made out of anger, frustration, or a desire to ring Joe Lieberman by his scruffy, no-good, backstabbing neck?

Jed Lewison: "Dean on ABC’s GMA: No mandate for private insurance, take the time to get reform right," video (04:48).