"AN ACHIEVEMENT THAT SEEMED OUT OF REACH"

[Cha]

".... For about a year now, a friend of mine has asked me, just about every day, what I think the likelihood is of health care reform actually passing Congress and becoming law. The number, as you might imagine, has had a few peaks and valleys.

On Christmas Eve, when a Senate supermajority approved reform, I gave it a 90% shot of finally coming together. On Jan. 20, the day after the Senate special election in Massachusetts, I gave it a 5% chance, and feared that all hope was lost.

"It was hard to imagine, two months ago, that we'd reach this point tonight. It's an achievement for the ages, a milestone a century in the making. Democrats were elected to make the nation stronger, healthier, and more secure, and health care reform will do exactly that. It gives me enormous pride to be witness to it."

It's been a long day and I'm calling it a night -- I'll have plenty of commentary and analysis tomorrow -- but in about 10 minutes or so, President Obama will speak from the White House about tonight's developments. You can watch the remarks right here:.."

—Steve Benen 11:40 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (12)
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com

Steve Benen follows politics amazingly well and he didn't know last night if it would pass or not.

Can't wait to see what he has to say about it tomorrow.

[quiet.american]

1. Love Steve, but you know, I KNEW Obama would not let a freshman senator derail this. nt

[Cha]

2. I know..I had two minds last night..

and one was positive and the other was thinking just a little bit about "will this really be a go?"

So, no doubt..the suspense was there! My friends at work were asking me if I thought it would pass and I said.."I don't know ..but it will be really close."

We did it without "37 dems".

[quiet.american]

3. Tell me about it! Did I mention I didn't sleep last night? "216...216...216..."

"Do we have the 216....? Accchhhhhhhh!"

[grantcart]

4. He is very good thanks

[goclark]

5. K