I’m getting ready to hit the road here in Hazleton, Penn.\u00a0 This morning’s news is full of angry reactions over the health care bill at Senators’ and Representatives’ townhall meetings.<\/p>\n

Come late August, maybe a week before Congress reconvenes, expect a speech from Obama explaining how, “we heard from you.\u00a0 Boy, did we hear from you.\u00a0 And we listened.”\u00a0 Obama will then go on to explain how the bill’s revisions that he is proposing will meet these complaints.\u00a0 It’s unlikely that the bill will actually contain much retreat from the President’s goals of socializing the system.\u00a0 In fact, he may use the break as an opportunity to re-insert some of the bolder proposals in the initial bill, and sell them as meeting people’s demands.<\/p>\n

Why so late?\u00a0 Well, it will give resentment a chance to build.\u00a0 Scared Democrats may be looking for a political victory (i.e., as bill passed) and at the same time be looking to make use of Obama’s personal (although not policy) popularity.\u00a0 And of course, the less time people have to actually look at the thing, the more likely Congress will be to pass it.
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