At the end of the day, I think whatever healthcare reform bill is passed will be almost completely what the Democrats want. There will be a lot of GOP wailing about the absence of bi-partisanship. But when you think about it, why should there be any? The Democrats won a 78 seat majority in the House and a 60-40 majority in the Senate. If one wants to talk about a "public mandate", the Democrats got one in 2008...big time. Talking about seeking the input of the opponent is a real nicety, but nothing more. Whatever party wins that kind of a majority really doesn't have to listen to what their opponents say or want at all. That's simply the way the game is played. If the public wants something different, they have a chance to change it in 2010 and again in 2012. In the meantime, why waste time wailing about not being consulted? Politics isn't practiced by Mr. Niceguys, either before or now.