For those in favor of the Democrats' bill to reform health care, last weekend felt triumphant. After what seemed like endless circular debates about death panels and the public option, a historic bill passed through the House of Representatives and for a brief moment, it felt as if something had been accomplished. But the feeling didn't last. As the "victory" aged -- on what seemed like an hourly basis -- it started to feel more conceptual than practical, and talk of the Stupak amendment and a watered down public option diluted the satisfaction of having passed anything at all.

Saturday Night Live noticed. And this week, they lampooned the conciliatory Obama administration, characterizing their bipartisanship and negotiation tactics as cowardly appeasement. In an opening piece mocking Vice President Joe Biden, castmember Jason Sudeikis played Obama's number two as the now-standard bumbling gaffe-machine, eager to please.

(more...)