John Kerry says he's willing to cave on public option too

Here's an idea. Let's not tell the Republicans in advance what we're willing to cave on during the negotiations.

Kerry said Kennedy would fight for the public option and "do everything in his power to get it," but "if he didn't see the ability ... to get it done, he would not throw the baby out with the bathwater."

Shorter Kerry: Just hold firm and the Dems will concede.

Another thing - it's not like the Democrats are fighting for anything at the moment. The White House seems afraid to push for anything, lest they have to fight for that bill (they don't like fighting) and spend political capital (which they don't do), and lest the bill not pass and then they have to admit they "lost" on something. So they fight for nothing, then when something (anything) passes - regardless of whether it's good, bad, or even vaguely related to the promises the President made during the campaign - they'll claim victory and look towards the next election.

It's difficult to believe that Ted Kennedy would have had anything to do with such a weak-kneed approach to governance.