U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) has made a career out of pretending to be a "maverick." You know the story; only senator to vote against the Patriot Act, teamed with a Republican. Now, ultra-lefties are upset that Feingold doesn't try to kill Health Care Reform because it doesn't include a public option. The PO is EVERYTHING to the far left, because they know it's the road to a single-payer system. Feingold has said as much himself, and said that the PO is a step to getting to single-payer.

So if Mr. Maverick firmly believes in single-payer, why doesn't he obstruct on this? This would be a true opportunity to show he is indeed a maverick and not just in words. He says he hasn't decided yet whether to vote for the bill. If the White House thought it had a Feingold problem, Wisconsin would be showered with gifts right now. We're not, which tells me Team Obama considers Feingold money in the bank. While the last thing in the WORLD I would want is a government-run, single-payer system, the far lefties are right; why doesn't Feingold fight for that in which he so strongly believes? Is he a maverick, or is he going to go along with a bill that falls far short of his previously stated position. Here's going out on a limb; after some Senate floor bloviating to placate the far lefties, he'll be a good foot soldier and go along to get along.