It may be a quantum leap forward in specificity from his earlier statements and liberals did thrill to his defiant tone, but as the New York Times lead editorial said today, “Mr. Obama will need to do more than orate.” He needs to twist arms among timid Democrats in Congress to get a strong bill passed, most likely with little support from Republicans.

President Obama has reengaged the Left, but skepticism still holds sway there. Among moderate Democrats, only specific answers about costs and requirements will do.

He may have bought himself time, but the final showdown is still out there on the horizon.

“The House is dominated by liberal Democrats. In the Senate, though Democrats control 59 seats, including two independents who caucus with the party, a bloc of conservative Democrats holds the key to passing any healthcare bill.

Without these conservatives, few believe that Democrats would be able to cobble together the 60 votes necessary to overcome a Republican filibuster…

That has left the president and his aides in the position of helping to guide a more liberal bill through the House of Representatives and a more conservative one through the Senate.

‘Everything will be resolved in conference,’ [Rep. Henry] Waxman said.

Only then might Obama say precisely what kind of healthcare plan he really wants. “

Washington Post — The Republican Response, Arriving a Little Early
 

In his Washington sketch column, Dana Milbank gives the overview of the boorish behavior by some Republican members, including Rep. Joe Wilson’s already infamous shout of “You lie!”

Milbank catalogues the stunts (holding up signs and bill proposals) and the poor manners, reading email during someone else’s speech. All very poor form.

The minority leader needs to have a talk with his members about decorum.

Milbank, though, did note that Democrats, including the president, didn’t live up to what is supposed to be a non-partisan occasion.
“And, in truth, there were provocations from the Democratic side. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), sitting on the Republican side, insisted on making a victory sign with his hand and waving it at Obama. Rep. Al Green (D-Tex.), also on the GOP side of the aisle, felt the need to pound his fist in the air and make what looked, awkwardly, like a fascist salute.

Scolding Republicans for scoring ‘short-term political points,’ Obama wasn’t subtle in his effort to make his foes look cruel. The White House stocked the first lady’s box at the speech with a virtual medical ward: a woman with sarcoidosis, a colon cancer patient, a recurrent cancer survivor, a double amputee, two women with breast tumors, a woman with eye problems, a man with high cholesterol, two brain tumor” survivors, the son of a brain cancer victim and the fathers of children who have seizures and hemophilia.”

Bloomberg — Obama Targets Snowe for Bipartisan Backing on Health-Care Plan
 

The target demographic for the president’s speech Wednesday was white, Republican women, ages 61 to 63, who represent mostly rural New England states in the U.S. Senate.

Sen. Olympia Snowe, the potential winning, 60th vote for the president’s universal coverage plan, seemed happy that she got a shout out for her idea of having a public option only if insurance providers don’t cut costs.

Writer Heidi Przybyla checked in with the senator last night and found her still being coy about her support.

“After the speech, she said she would have ‘preferred’ that the president reject a government-run plan to compete with private insurers…

‘I was particularly pleased to hear the president’s proposal will require additional spending cuts if projected savings aren’t realized,’ she said in an e-mailed statement.”

Reuters — U.S. Senate Democrats skeptical about climate bill
 

With lots of action on health care and issues like Afghanistan and financial regulation hanging out there, Senators are sending clearer and clearer signals that this will not be the year for global warming legislation.

Health care is enough for the liberal Democratic base and with a bill that subsidizes alternate energy and allows more oil exploration, moderates facing reelection can point to some action without making a controversial decision.

Writer Richard Cowan looks at new barriers to global warming fees:

“Meanwhile, Senator Blanche Lincoln, who is taking over the chairmanship of the influential Senate Agriculture Committee, on Wednesday fretted climate change legislation would hurt farm profitability through higher energy costs.

It would be “a heavy lift” to pass a climate change bill this year, she predicted. “In this economy, it is important to take it one step at a time,” she said as she praised the pending energy bill.

Wall Street Journal — Dodd Decision Raises Odds for Overhaul of Financial Rules
 

Sen. Chris Dodd’s decision to stay and fight for his shattered reputation on regulating the financial industry rather than taking on health care by assuming Sen. Ted Kennedy’s slot on the Health Education and Welfare committee eliminates the possibility that a financial overhaul will be let to slip through the cracks.

Dodd, facing likely defeat in his 2010 re-election bid in Connecticut because of a sweetheart loan and an amendment that allowed huge bonuses from bailed out AIG, is going to try to push through tough rules on how banks, insurers, and investment firms operate.
Writer Michael Crittenden has the details.

“Mr. Dodd (D., Conn.) on Wednesday confirmed that he wouldn’t leave the panel to head the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, after the death of its chairman, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D., Mass.). Sen. Tom Harkin (D., Iowa), who is seen as a staunch advocate for organized labor, will take over as chairman of the Senate health committee, overseeing a range of programs, including labor and wage standards, and pension rules.”

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