The public option: how many of us remember when and why it died?

[Zambero]

22. One wishes that were true

The GOP, morphing into the Tea Party immediately after Obama was sworn into office, vowed from day one to use every possible means to obstruct Obama's agenda, and has done so ever since, essentially putting the Senate on filibuster auto-pilot. These people hate being out of complete control. No amount of "political capital" or reasonable compromise would have forced their hand. And the House GOP has been even more partisan and extreme. They have had countless opportunities to collaborate on legislation that has public support, such as immigration reform, but Speaker Boehner fears this caucus and refuses to allow votes. It's a miracle that anything has gotten accomplished at all -- ACA and stimulus were passed with no votes to spare, after which barrages of dark money and absurd talking points ensued ("failed" stimulus despite all evidence to the contrary, and "government takeover of health care" despite ACA being an expansion of private sector health insurance), paving the way for the 2010 mid-term debacle. Conservatives had their playbook ready in January of 2009, ready and willing to drag the economy down further so that blame could be placed on Obama. Yes, opportunities were squandered, but certainly not by this president.