It took President Obama a long time in his State of the Union speech before getting around to talking about his health insurance reform initiatives. I can understand why he would not exactly want to highlight this at this point in time.

He did have some typical fighting words indicating that he wanted the reform measures to pass Congress and end up on his desk sooner rather than later.

But he didn’t much sound like someone who believes his own message anymore. A number of side remarks the President made during the speech seemed to indicate that , while he would like to see health care reform this year, he is resigned to the fact that that may not happen..especially in the form that he had hoped.

He didn’t, as some argued he should have, stand up there and basically say–this is the plan I think is good for the country and ,therefore, what I want you to pass.

Rather, he put  the emphasis , as he often does, on trying to get bi-partisan support by saying he would entertain any proposal that offers an alternative to his, whether from his own party or from the Republicans, that accomplishes his basic goals.

But considering that the Republicans haven’t yet made known an alternative plan to the President’s, I think it likely Obama knows that is not going to happen anytime soon.

My guess is,  comprehensive health insurance reform is pretty much dead for 2010. Hope I am wrong, though.

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