If you're struggling to figure out which way the political winds are blowing, set aside the partisan rhetoric and simply look at what is undeniable.  There is no clearer sign that Obama's public support is flagging and his stewardship of the economy weak than the rapidity with which various congressional Democrats are retreating from his healthcare plan.  Ignore the Republicans.  All you need to know can be gleaned from watching those on the Left.  Had the President's policies thus far proven to be even remotely successful, the Dems would be tripping over themselves to pass the Granddaddy of all Big Government programs—healthcare reform.  Instead, they are in full survival mode—trampling one another while running for cover.  Capitol Hill is beginning to look like a South American soccer stadium.

The mid-term elections are quickly approaching, and incumbent Democrats are terrified that Obama's less than stellar record is going to be an anvil tied around their collective waist.

What's particularly interesting, though, is how much prestige the legendarily circumspect and disciplined Obama has put on the line with recent healthcare-related statements.  In fact, his declarations have gotten more muscular as the prospects for their success have become more fragile (e.g. "Don't bet against me."  "We are going to get this done."  "It will happen this year.  I'm absolutely convinced of that.").  The later statement renegs on an earlier promise of an August deadline.

Today's weekly radio address was classic Obama—littered with more straw men than a Wizard of Oz convention  (e.g. "Now we know there are those who will oppose reform no matter what.")  We do?  It seems there are multitudinous proposals from both sides of the aisle. Obama's, of course, is right out of his Big Government playbook.  Unfortunately, his play calling has come under serious fire as play after play has been thrown for a monumental loss (e.g. stimulus, cap and trade, card check, etc.).

Obama is right to attack the healthcare predicament.  We are on an unsustainable trajectory.  Unfortunately, he prescribes more government for a system already on life support because of government. 

The root problem, to no ones surprise, is skyrocketing costs—escalating at over three times the rate of inflation, but linkable to a tort environment which causes a cascade of responses that lead doctors and others in the profession to practice wildly expensive defensive medicine.  Why order a test or two  when ten or twelve will do a more effective job of fending off catastrophic lawsuits?  Responsible tort reform plus reasonable regulatory oversight of pricing, when coupled with Obama's desire to overhaul healthcare IT, would dramatically rein in costs and put us back on a path to viability.

Also, pay no attention to the noise about the often cited 46 million uninsured.  The number of involuntarily uninsured is a fraction of that figure.  The two least covered groups are those between 18 and 24 (70.4%) and 25 and 34 (75.1%), the vast majority of whom deliberately reject coverage because of a perhaps unwise but understandable personal cost/benefit calculus.  If we can get costs under control, the value proposition will be such that this predominantly healthy group will find it smart to opt for insurance.  99.2% of those who most need coverage (age 65 and older) have it.

Putting government in charge of anything significant has never, ever reduced costs.  Just the opposite.  Why risk doing it to a segment of the economy that represents 17% of GDP, particularly given government's track record?  Imagine healthcare's crippling share in 5, 10, 20 years if Obama prevails. 

The public has begun to have that nightmare, but it's congressional Democrats who are shrieking in horror.