HEALTH BILL WILL PASS - FINANCIAL TIMES

The majority of the American people are against this. Yet, they will pass it. This will either awaken the sleeping lion of American wrath or we will pass into the nighttime of history, a failed experiment in self government and freedom. America is at the crossroads. Will we sell our soul for promises of security?

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin

"Barack Obama’s healthcare reform, the signature policy of his presidency, looks likely to clear its most formidable obstacle by Christmas.

Within the next few days, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office will give its fiscal “scoring” of the compromise reached on Tuesday between five moderate and five liberal Democratic senators.

If the CBO were to pronounce the package at least deficit-neutral – a big if, given the body’s ?Jesuitical approach to bud?get accounting – the way would probably be cleared for a rapid vote in the Senate. Since the House of Representatives has already passed its own 1,990-page bill, only a seismic intervention could stop it from reaching Mr Obama’s desk within the ensuing weeks.

On Thursday, aides to Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, said they believed the latest formulation would attract the 60 votes needed to prevent Republicans from being able to block it."

Financial Times