... but Hamsher confirms that it's alive and well! [lambert breathes sigh of relief]

A sudden default to a "let's not let the perfect be the enemy of the good" position that cedes the battle for a public plan right when it's politically convenient for the White House undermines that credibility.

Hmm... Now where have I heard "let's not let the perfect be the enemy of the good" before?

Just give me a moment to think...

NOTE Amazingly, or not, dday pulls the very same maneuver, except using the "half a loaf" cliche instead of the "perfect is enemy" cliche:

Here comes the part of the health care debate where people start to talk themselves into half a loaf instead of fighting for a full one.

Irony is not dead twice!

It's like all the A list public advocates were on the same phone call together, or something. Though, to be fair, cliches are cliches because they touch on certain truths.