Afterthoughts

The Senate Finance Committee passed an anemic health-care plan. Time to pop the champagne? Might as well before the bubbly goes flat along with reform.

The only Republican on the committee to vote for the plan was Olympia Snowe, a member of the Democratic wing of the GOP. She's currently residing in Dick Cheney's old undisclosed location.

Why do Democrats use that murky phrase, public option, when it is really Medicare for everybody? Heaven forbid that they come up with anything 10 out of 10 people would understand.

Projections are that the bill will land on the president's desk by Christmas. Probably without the public option, so please, no champagne. Not even Gatorade.

Meanwhile, Gen. Stanley McChrystal is still waiting for more troops. Gays are still waiting for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Obama can end the waiting by sending McChrystal 40,000 gay troops.

On both issues Obama doesn't want to jump the gun, rush to judgment, fly off the handle, go off half-cocked, act prematurely or show his hand.

He will take no action until all metaphors are exhausted.