i give the president an absolute ten when it comes to sincerity about wanting 0 it get this thing and health care done. tonight the president failed to guarantee to the american people what i think they really wanted to hear, and that's all about a public option. at times he seemed a bit dit heartened about the political wrangling going on overall in washington. he seemed borderline low key at times. it's like the president was back in college, in front of a classroom, explaining right where he is when it comes to health care. i was disappointed sometimes because this was billed as a major primetime press conference on health care. it was primetime press conference number four. good communicator with the american people. but i thought tonight the president would come out and call out the conservative democrats that have been giving him a bunch of smoke. he turned that up as being this is your average conversation with democrats when they disagree with stuff.

but i really thought the president would be more aggressive tonight. he was very clear on where he stands and very cerebral on the issue. but when it comes to going out and kbrgrabbing somebody and saying, look, we've got to get this done, i didn't sense that. watch the entire show. we will have full analysis. but i have to tell you, if you're looking for major breaking news out of the press conference tonight, folks, it wasn't just this. i just came away from a town hall meeting of screaming people in madison, wisconsin. the place was packed. they want to go after dick cheney and the house intelligence committee. they want a full vetting but they really want this health care thing passed. is the president going to hold a press conference next week? is he going to hold one when he comes back after labor day? he never addressed the fact keeping song in such to get this thing done.

i feel like we are at deaf con four when it comes to health care in this country. actually, he complimented the republicans quite a bit. for the style, maybe that's it. maybe i'm expecting too much. maybe i'm too emotionally wrapped up because i have done the town hall meetings. those are some of the my thoughts. we will get analysis from a lot of other people tonight. i want to know what you think, did the president convince you he would get health care reform passed this year? text a for yes, b for now to 622639. we will bring you the results later on this the show. our first guest tonight worked in the clinton administration robert reich. he was the secretary of labor. he is author of the book "super capitalism" and professor at uc berkeley. >> good evening, ed. i share some of your disappointment. i thought that news conference, the president did not come out

swinging and he also didn't seem to have all of that much conviction. i expected much more, but i will tell you something, the issues are certainly important. the clock is running. he's got to give it a little bit more juice. >> when it comes to being forceful, you would score the president on a scale of one to ten was where? >> probably about four on forcefulness. look, in fairness, the president, one of the great attributes he has is he is so articulated, so dignified as a president. i think people trust him enormously because he doesn't let passion completely take over. but i think with regard to health care, people are so concerned and it is so critical he starts banging heads and twisting arms that i expected just a little bit more not only -- not only conviction and passion, but just a little more illustration that that people could understand. very simply put about why the public option is important. why if we don't do anything, the

health care is going to be absolutely unaffordable to everybody. why the insurance companies and drug companies and hospitals and doctors are, you know, just not doing the job they should be doing and why we are paying as a result. what we need to do as a result. >> you know, mr. reich, not to be too critical of my colleagues, but we have been talking about a public option and a government option to slow down the rate of increases and the way the insurance companies have been working us over and nobody asked him a question about the public option tonight and the president never -- the president disappointed me tonight because i wanted to hear him say, i'm not fog to sign anything unless it has a public option. i think personally that's what the american people want to hear right now. i deposidn't hear that tonight. >> i think you're right, ed. a lot of americans are politically spooked by the right wing, a lot of conservative talk shows, a public option means a government takeover.

they are not listening carefully and i think the president could have used this opportunity to say the possible option is an option. that's the point of it. it doesn't take away anything. but if you don't have it there, the insurance companies don't have a measuring rod to make sure they are providing good value and cost. that's the whole point of the public option. the president could have emphasized cost containment is linked to the public option in a way that i just don't think he did. >> how do you think he fared -- i thought it was more than complimentary of his counterparts on the republican side. he named quite a few republicans and some have flat out said, for instance, chuck grassley, it's not fog to be a bipartisan bill if it has a public option in it. and i was kind of surprised that the president was really -- i mean, he had an olive branch out big time tonight. it was the size of a redwood tree. >> i continue to wait for the president to basically give up on bipartisan. especially when the republicans have made it so clear, not just

with the stimulus package and budget but now with health care that they're not going to cooperate. but the president really does believe, in his heart of hearts, he believes in bipartisanship. he wants to get the republicans on board. even though he can get it with 51 votes. he doesn't need the republicans in the senate. he doesn't want to do it without at least a few republican votes. that could be a weakness. that could spell real compromise down the road. >> there was a story that broke today, united health care out of minnesota, they are one of the biggest health care providers in this country. they had a second quarter profit of 155% greater than a year ago and indirectly the president addressed that tonight during his press conference. here it is. >> now, you know, there have been reports over just the last couple of days about insurance companies making record profits right now, at a time when everybody's getting hammered

they are making record profits and premiums are going up. what's the constraint on that? how can you ensure that those costs aren't being passed onto employers or passed onto employees, the american people, ordinary, middle class families, in a way that overtime is going to make them broke? part of the way is to make sure there's some competition out there. >> well, i guess you can say indirectly that's the public option answer but the president in his answer, mr. reich, asked the which how do you reel in the insurance companies when they are making this kind of money? what's your response to that? >> well, obviously, ed, he could have said they're making outlandish profits, they're making profits off you and off me and off every taxpayer and we have to rein in these profits. and the way we do it is with a public option. i got the impression, i don't know if you shared this, that the president is very cognizant

of the fact the insurance companies are supporting self-of the bills coming out of congress. he doesn't want to antagonize them. he needs their support. so he's playing both sides of the street. he wants to appeal to the public and appeal to the anger and kind of sense that the public has that they're getting a badly treated by the insurance companies and the drug companies but at the same time he wants to keep the insurance companies and drug companies behind the bill. >> i think you're onto something there, mr. reich. i don't think he alienated anybody tonight. if that was his mission, i think he certainly accomplished it. thanks so much, mr. reich. i appreciate your time on this late edition of "the ed show." coming up tsh he has his own bill out there and has been in the health care mix for a long time. what did you think of the president tonight? >> ed, first of all people need to understand the reason we're in the position to get this

done, he's putting in killer hours and trying to fight for real reform. that's why we have a good shot of getting it done. >> like robert reich said, i expected the question to come out tonight. i thought it was an arm-twisting moment, at least that's kind of how it was billed. it had some moments of real pavs attitude. >> i think the president connected with people with respect to this being a perm issue. people are sitting around the kitchen table and their computers in their office, they want to say how does this work for me? in particular, how this is pentagon to lower their premiums, how they're going to get more choices? frankly, with alf these bills on capitol hill, a lot of people will not get a lot of choices or options. >> let's talk about timing. the president did talk basketballing rushed quite a bit. he said he has his schedule and he wants the congress to meet it. here it is. >> i'm rushed because i get

letters every day from families that are being clobbered by health care costs. the second thing is the fact that if you don't set deadlines in this town, things don't happen. the default -- >> what do you make of that? >> got to have a deadline. in fact, i told nancy and we're planning to take the twins, they're almost 2 now, i told them as far as i'm concerned, we have to give up august. you cannot fix the economy unless you fix health care. >> why didn't the president ask congress to say until we get it done? >> i think it's clear for example on the issue you're talking about. it is hard for harsh enough on insurance company abuses. these insurance companies are cherry picking. picking healthy people. one of the reasons i want everyone to have choices in our country, that's how you play hardball with the insurance industry. if you don't like the policy you have got now, give people a

chance for alternatives. that's tuition. >> senator widen, that's exactly what the republicans won't do. they will not play hardball with the profit centers when it comes to health care reform in this country. he want to two through this and not touch the insurance industry at all. they are quiet tonight for the profits posted, 155% over a year ago this time for the second quarter that ended in june. you're from oregon. you know how passionate your constituents are. you take that number out in the heartland across the country, anywhere in the country, that defies crime scene. if you have republicans that don't want to reform the insurance industry and don't want to give the insurance industry any kind of competition at all, how do we get the victory as democrats? >> you cannot get this done without fundamental insurance reform but there is a message which resonates with people all across the political spectrum. we have it in our bill.

every american, not some people, not just some select people, everybody ought to have choices like members of congress. members of congress, my family, ed, we go into a big group. we have bargaining power and lo administrative costs. you can't discriminate against someone with a pre-existing illness. once you go into the american people with that message, you bring the country together and win on health care reform. >> did the president score getting his point across that health care reform is connected to the economy? >> he did. but we can clearly do more on this issue. the reason people's take home pay doesn't go up is because it all goes to medical care. >> senator wyden, i was surprised tonight the president just can't pull the trigger how to pay for this. he said there's two-thirds of the money being used on health care in this country that we could rearrange and redirect that would pay for it. the other third's going to come from where? why can't the administration or the democrats for that matter flat out saying, look, there's

going to be a tax increase to get this thing done. when does that moment come? >> ed, i don't share that view. we're going to spend there are 305 million of us. you can hire a doctor literally for every seven families. i'm using this as a metaphor, but when i bring it up to the doctors, where do i go to get my seven families. we talked about the insurance abuses. one of the other areas we have support for in the senate is let's go out and strangle these administrative costs. you ought to sign up once, for example, and go into a big group. you shouldn't be in a position where you have dris discrimination and you ought to have portability so if you lose your job, you don't have to go out and do physicals again. >> i will make a prediction, don't think the republicans will go along with the pre-existing clause. i think they will fight that at the 11th hour.

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260 democratic seats, healthy majority in the house. if you don't get this, isn't

this a fight inside of the democratic party? >> the fact of the matter is that because this is a big issue, i think that a lot of democrats have a lot of different ideas. some of them had to do with regional disparities. this is just part of the normal give and take of the legislative process. i'm confident at the end we will have a bill that democrats and some republicans support. >> the president calls political conflict between the democrats that it's normal give and take. i'm not convinced that plays too well across the country. that was a moment i wasn't really sure about, folks. the american people are demanding more than that. they want a public option. they want everybody covered and they want this president to seriously take the lead on it but not to guarantee a public option tonight i think falls short. joining me now is katrina, who is the editor of "the nation" and republican strategist john ferry, who is the founder and chief executive officer of the

ferry group. katrina, am i being too critical? i know what the american people want to hear. i know what they want in the end result but i didn't sense the president was going to put the throttle down on that tonight. >> first of all, i never know what all of the american people want or think. also, this show is called post game. i thought barack obama tonight was very eloquent in saying for millions of americans, this is not a game, this health care deba debate. you mknow that. >> sure. >> i that i what we saw tonight, we're not looking at a defining moment for barack obama, which is so much of the media coverage has been about. this is a defining moment for our country's history. will he pass a health care plan that gives affordable health care to millions of americans, something other industrialized countries have, or will we fail? if we fail, what does that say about the system? is it connickly dysfunctional.

we have alluded three democratic presidents and i think what we are seeing is a prison who's trying to frame it. he was more an educator in chief tonight, ed. you nodded to that. he said the stars are aligned, said, and seize it. >> i agree with that. it was almost college professor schooling folks up tonight to make sure -- >> very smart. >> very cerebral. look, he has tremendous command of this issue. there's no doubt about that. but i'm waiting for that moment, katrina, where he is going to turn to these, you know, blue cross democrats, if i may, and ask them haven't you gotten the message from the american people, the same message my administration has gotten? what are we waiting for? >> i agree. there comes a moment when the president has to show he is a leader and step up and say, you're with me on this or the democratic party will lose its possibility to improve the

conditions of people's lives and show that government can make a difference. he spoke tonight about how millions are so cynical about government. if you want to change that in people's lifetimes, this is the opportunity. and you know one other thing, ed, people call these blue dog democrats, centrists or moderates. they are not. they are conservative or corporate democrats and we have to call them that. barack obama has the wind at his back, the support of the majority of americans as you have spoken about on your show for this public plan. tonight he might have done better to speak to the american people directly as opposed to what bob reich suggested which was kind of here and there and speaking to washington. the town, he said, which requires a deadline to get anything done. speak to the people. that is your mandate. you're in the white house because you spoke to them and you imagined to build a campaign of change from below. >> john, how did the president do tonight? i guess i felt this was billed

as a big press conference on health care. i was expecting big news or collartive statements. i didn't hear them. >> it is pretty boring. katrina speaks to the big change and these corporate dog democrats, i think they used to be called republicans. i think this is risky for the president. >> risky, why? >> you necessity are quite sure what the reaction from you or others on the left would be. i say not overwhelmed by it. what he needs, he's he over exposed to television. and that's the big problem. he's not in the room with the democrats right now. >> the president did a great job tonight of reminding the american people what he inherited but i don't think he did a good job of reminding the democrats, who got him in the white house and got him a bunch

of seats in the house. i think he was short on that. >> i think that was definitely your perspective. i also think he didn't achieve whatever he wants out of this press conference. i don't think he made you happy, which what he wanted to do. >> making me happy, umm a radio and television talk show host. but these are my feelings, and i have a sense of the passion for this. i thought this was going to be that moment. katrina, let me ask you one final, what's his next play? what's the next press conference on health care going to be, a settlement? what do you think? >> let me just add one thing, the other thing we forget, ed, you saw tonight the media, most of the conditions follow a gop narrative. where was the question about a public plan? it's all costs. these are deficit hawks. these are people who are not asking central questions on millions of americans' lives and i think that narrows the framework for the president.

obama is very deft. he could have moved it. but i think his next play is to go out to the people. >> he's going to cleveland tomorrow. >> keep the congress in washington until you get the signature piece of legislation. >> hold on a second, i want to ask you about katrina. your newspaper, the nation, had an interview with nancy pelosi and she said we have to say through this. tell us about that. >> chris hayes met with majority leader pelosi and she's saying this is the biggest thing in our lifetime. and we will get a bubble plan through the house. she's talking about the crisis moment that we can't lead. you know what will happen, ed? even though citizens, the people, got a dog for legislators if there is one. the forces rate against this, the blue dog democrats, the republicans who want to kill this. i know the potency of it will use this delay and kill strategy. >> you respond to that.

>> i think the republicans want a plan that works. i think they do want to go after the insurance industry. they don't want government-run health care. >> it's not government-run health care. keep what you have. you can do that. >> moat analysts think we will have a government-run option and we will be forced out of our plan. katrina, cost is a thing people care about here. they care about costs and how you care for it. the president's answer -- >> i thought he was pretty clear about how a public plan will discipline insurance companies and keep the costs down. >> i think the american people are willing to roll that dice. katrina and job, thank you very much for being on here. coming up -- the president's most forceful answer tonight came in response to a question that wasn't about health care. it was about race. we'll get it next on "the ed show." stay with us. this is nine geners of the world's most revered luxury sedan. this is a history of over 50,000 crash-tested cars...

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welcome back to "the ed show." president obama may have stepped on his own headline tonight. right at the end of the news conference, the president was asked about the arrest of a prominent black scholar, henry lewis gates. the harvard professor was arrested last week. police thought he was break into a home. turns out it was him home. obama got big laughs put ig himself in gates' shoes but went on to say the incident was happened incorrectly. >> i think if i was trying to

jigger in my house -- well, this is my house now. so it probably wouldn't happen. let's say my old house in chicago. here i would get shot. the cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting someone when there was already proof that they were in their own home. what i think we know separate and apart from this incident is that -- there is a long history in this country for african-americans and latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately. >> that's the president tonight at his press conference. let's go back to katrina van heuvel and john feary. that was the strongest response tonight. how do you think he handled it? >> very well. he showed how far we have come and how far we have to go. he spoke from the heart.

i think he knows professor gates. i think think called professor gates. there was much structure in the country that needs to be remembered and president obama spoke eloquently at ncaa annual conviction last week in this town in new york. that has to be remember, even though we have an african-american president in the white house, there is royce issues in this country, structural disparities in health, unemployment, in many parts of our society. i have to say he used humor effectively while showing some anger. but that mix was very powerful. >> he also talked about, you know, how he was referring he owned a home in chicago and he could imagine putting himself in this position, in this person's position. >> in their steps. >> he was masterful in the way he humanized this tonight. john, i got a sense sitting in the room and to the, really wanted to talk about this. >> i think he answered the question very well.

i would say tactically, this is the flaw in him doing a press conference the this is the only news he immediate all night. he's not going to get much coverage or bang out of the buck when it comes to talk about health care, which is the purpose of the press conference. i guarantee you that is what everyone talk about tomorrow. >> why is this news? it's human that an african-american president speaking about one of the most prominent african-american scholars -- >> you're missing my point. my point is this. he should have given a press statement on not a press conference. >> on this? >> no, not on this. on the whole evening. i think the evening itself was misplayed by the president. he shouldn't have -- he should have only been talking about health care and this is the danger of him doing a press conference. >> to be honest, he also talked about -- i mean, he did try to talk about six-month marker, which we reached. i think he did this little set piece on the debt and deficit.

it is crucial. that is framing this entire health care discussion. >> he reminded the american people tonight exactly what he inherited. no doubt about that. great to have you on tonight. coming up -- the president had one moment where he really took on the critics. i will play that next and our text poll coming up. d only from.

call or click today. i've heard the one republican strategist told his party even though they may want to compromise, it's better politics to go for the kill. another republican senator that defeating health care reform is about breaking me. so let me be clear, this isn't about me. i have great health insurance, and so does every member of congress. >> that was about the toughest president obama ever got on his republican critics tonight, who have really been out there hammering away at him and he

barely touched the conservative democrats who are working against his own party platform to provide universal health care coverage for every american. let me bring in bill press, national syndicated talk show radio host, who is getting up early tomorrow morning. mike allen, chief political columnist for politico, and from wtkk in boston. bill, let's start with you. i'm like a wall street banker. i want the whole enchilada. i want the whole thing. but the president tonight, he talks about his critics and then he stops short of going back at them. what's the strategy? >> first, look, i want to try to be positive. after eight years of saying nothing about health care, we have got a president who made it his top priority. that's great. you said this, he is passionate about health care. but here's the but, i wanted him the fire. i wanted him to be as bad as you and i are.

conservative talk radio shows, this is war. i said this to you on the way out of the white house, i'm afraid these guys are playing hall ball and he's playing t ball and he has to get angry and go after these guys, at the democrats and republicans. >> if it's a political war, you can say the president shot a dud tonight. mike, it was part of the stated party platform of the democrats to deliver universal health care for every american. he didn't even call for a public option tonight. i was looking for the veto moment. when you bring that to my desk, it better have public option on it. why didn't he do that? >> ed, great coverage tonight and fa wegio, last night on your show, you had that big graphic, give them hell. the president came out and gave them heck. gave them heck. i think people were surprised he wasn't a little more pro depressive, intervention

cracking heads. >> mike and -- >> i have to point out something very important to point out, the audience was not bill press or ed schultz or michael graham. people at home flipping the channel. >> and they want to know what the president's going to deliver. >> mike, you call it. what do you think? >> the audience was asleep halfway through the second question. i talk about this stuff all day long, i couldn't follow it. >> his first answer was ten minutes. >> it may be long for the clear rhetoric and inspiration we used to get from george w. bush when he was drinking. this was terrible. it was awful. he accomplished nothing tonight except for to confuse people. and he really left a typical person who is doing the dishes and fold egg the laundry with a clue that he doesn't seem to know specifically a, how his plan will actually make things better. and, b, what he wants. he kept say ug that sounds like a good idea. that sounds like a bad idea. mr. president, leave. what is your idea?

>> he did say that the public option would give competition to the insurance industry. he also stated we would not have an economic recovery and that was the sounding bill right there. >> he also said this is not going to cost more money and help the average american. i thought explained that very well. here's something that didn't come up today, i wanted him to say no one's leaving washington. i know you get this. >> nancy pelosi did. nancy pelosi said it. that made a little news by signing on to the pelosi plan, saying that this surcharge, they don't want to call it a surtax, the surcharge on the high-income earners like ed right here -- >> who? >> $280,000 for kids, $350,000 for families. the president wants to move up up to a million for families. >> that's an interesting point. the president has yet to come out and directly say -- he's thrown out a few ideas but didn't he couldn't come out and

look and say we're going to tax some americans to get this done. >> and also when asked are you prepared to tell the people they have to sacrifice something? he said yeah, you get to sacrifice the the health care that doesn't work. the government will take it over and make it work better and cost less? you don't have to be a right winger i'd ideallog. >> michael, do not go to the dmv, i heard that one. by the way, social security worked just fine. >> i think this is a losing argument, michael. stop calling it socialized medicine and stop saying it's a government-run program because it's not. >> i think obama has won that point. >> have you seen the polls? he's not winning the point. the majority of americans have turned against him because nobody understands the math. you're going to take more of my

money for what? >> just the top 2%. >> the president's job was to convince everyday working people this will not hurt them. the republican argument getting traction if you're a normal american, you only have down size risk, you can pay more or get less coverage. i think he did a good job on that tonight. >> stay with us, fellas. a lot more with our panel, coming up in our next block. first, i want to know what you think, did the president convince you he'd get health care reform passed? text a for yes and b for no to 622639. coming up, you're watching the post game edition of "the ed show." e that big. gecko vo: 'course, geckos don't literally sweat... it's just not our thing... gecko vo: ...but i do work hard, mind you. gecko vo: first rule of "hard work equals success."

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tonight because it's well documented the lobbying effort is at def con four on capitol hill. and the president never touched it tonight. if he's out there appealing to the american people to give him a landscape of what's going on and how heavy a lift this is, bill, i'm surprised he deposit bring it up. >> i would have gone back to declaring war. i think he should have declared war for the republicans. they don't have any plan at all. he should have declared war on the blue dog democrats and declared war on the insurance companies and get the american people behind him. ed, he did not do so. we have seen the professor. now i want to see the italian commando. take this hill. >> and speaker pelosi gave him an opening. she said on the show friday and in an interview with "usa

today," she believes more money should be drained out of the drug makers. she told me they can do much more. i asked her if she was going to push for it and she said yeah. and the president didn't seem to pick up on that. >> michael, i want to ask you, what is to be gained by republicans in this country, on capitol hill, elected officials who are saying this is the president's waterloo? we want to do everything we can to kill this legislation. after all we have been through in this country when it comes to health care and what the american people want, why in the world would the republicans have that kind of an attitude when you actually have a president that's willing to work across party lines to get something done? >> i have seen all of those partisan outreaches he does. just ask the inspector general's office or the head of a cbo who is a democrat and got rubbed up. the thing about republicans, they can read polls. i went back to the to the gallup poll 2000 to today, and every one said the same thing. 75% to 85% say i like my health

care. if americans don't want to be on medicare. >> actually, michael, 85% of the american people want health care reform. >> 85% -- >> that is correct. >> besides that, we just had an election less than a year ago and it was on a mandate to change health care in this country. do something about it. >> this is true. republican lawmakers will tell you they're dying to vote for something called health reform. >> michael, what's more important, a poll or an election? now come on! you got to be honest about this. we've had an election. the man won nonblue states and got new people in the process. what advantage do the republicans have using the word kill when it comes to reform? >> he won the white house, lost the stimulus package, screwed it up. lost the -- >> screwed it up? >> and now they have the health care going out. you saw it on tv tonight. the people just don't know. they can't even explain how it's supposed to work much less make people trust it's going to work. >> this is why the republican party is falling apart, ed.

we have never seen a president do more outreach to the other party than obama has with republicans. he brought them down to the white house and he went to capitol hill to their coffee to talk about health care. and they stabbed him in the back and doing it again. >> mike, final point. how does the president play the blue dogs? he's going to keep caving to them and giving them everything they want or what? >> no, they are very squeamish about taking another tough vote. and they're very concerned that they're going to take these votes and the senate is not going to follow-through. if they're going to jump off this cliff, they want to be holding hands. they need reassurance. they don't want to vote for big taxes. >> they're short on loyalty is what they're short on. >> right. >> you know what i'll tell them, ed? you want to go that way in in 2010, ask newt gingrich to help you in your district. >> that's what i would tell them. >> all right. this conversation -- >> he and the president are the ones that can do this. people were surprised at what they've done in public. it will be done in private in coming weeks. >> mike allen, bill press.

senator ted kennedy put out a statement responding to the president's conference. a phone call from senator kennedy could be the thing that gets some of the shaky dems off the fence. i will talk with steve mcman about that. that's next in our special edition of "the ed show" right here on msnbc. get in now and get the chrysler town & country with a generous cash allowance, or 0% financing for 60 months. the trail rated jeep grand cherokee also comes with a cash allowance or 0% financing for 60 months. or choose a hard working all new dodge ram truck with a cash allowance that's tough to beat. all with our best in the business lifetime powertrain warranty. so hurry come see the deals we've built for you at the dodge chrysler and jeep summer clearance. [ engine powers down ] gentlemen, you booked your hotels on orbitz. well, the price went down, so you're all getting a check

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welcome back to the special

edition of "the ed show." tonight's speech, press conference, maybe not a rousing success. so say you're rom emanuel or david axelrod, what you are going to do tomorrow to make this a win? let's ask a top democratic strategist, steve mcman. he's been around this racket for a long time. first of all, your analysis of the performance tonight with the president? >> i'm going to cool things down a little bit. i actually think if you think about what he had to do tonight which is to explain to 85% of americans who have health insurance why this is a good idea for them, he did a pretty good job of that by being laid back. his job wasn't to declare war on the republicans. his job is to make sure that the democrats who are a little concerned about this get some political cover. that their constituents here, why this is a good idea for them. and that they have the political cover they need to vote for. this remember, the blue dogs that everybody is being critical of tonight are the very people

who we owe the majority of the house of representatives to. and they're people who occupy this to an accident and used to be held by republicans. they're in districts that can get wiped out in 2010. their concerns are legitimate. i think president obama is trying to at least acknowledge them even if he has to make a different speech. >> i don't think he alienated anybody tonight. i think he -- >> except for you. >> well, you know me. i'm ready to go. i don't like it when they use the word kill and waterloo and all this stuff. i know, at least in my heart i don't believe the american people have an appetite for that anymore. this is too big of a generational issue. but if you're in the white house tomorrow, steve, what is the next play? how do you make this a win? >> the first thing they did is let congress be congress. they decided they're going to let congress write the bills. and you have two or three bills that have emerged in the house side. you have one in the senate. you have one you're waiting for, the senate finance committee bill which is a senator baukus

bill. they want to see what's in that bill before they get too far out there. they're going to start to shape this health care reform and they're going to start to say here's what's important to the white house. and they're going to start taking some stands on these things to help move this thing along. but they want congress to get its job done first. and right now it's not done on the senate side. tonight was an effort to keep the momentum going, to generate new momentum. i think he did that. >> but not one demand tonight by the president. not one demand. >> not one demand. but there were a lot of principles that he laid out about health care reform and what it has to contain. they're is going to be time for demand. but, you know, the senate isn't done with its work yet. the house doesn't want to go first because they want to see what's in the bill, too. this is a very complicated chess game. and it's easy for armchair quarterbacks to be critical. but it's very difficult to get a piece of legislation like this passed. >> you're not going to take a shot at my college career, are you? >> number. >> you mentioned senator kennedy. >> senator kennedy, i want to bring this up. he spoke -- he made a statement

tonight. president obama spoke for millions of americans who worry they won't be able to obtain health care when they need it or fear they're one illness away from financial ruin. tonight president obama emphasized decades of inaction have to end. we will not rest until the full promise of quality, affordable health insurance for every american is achieved. now, steve, we all know that ted kennedy swings a big stick. his voice not being up there daily, how much does that handicap the reform effort? >> it makes a huge difference. ted kennedy is one of the most respected senators on both sides of the aisle. i'll tell you a great senator kennedy story. i used to work for him a long time ago. he has been passing health insurance his whole life n 1979, jimmy carter offered him a deal, catastrophic health insurance coverage for every american. he turned it down because it didn't go far enough. and he's regretted it since because there are a lot of people who would have benefited from taking that step and then trying to go further later.

>> good to have you with us tonight. earlier to night on the show i asked what you you thought, did president obama convince you that he would get health care passed? 69% said yes. 31% of you said no. that does it for our special postgame edition of "the ed show." i'm ed shultz. we'll see you back here tomorrow night 6:00 eastern time. we'll see you. good evening. this is msnbc's coverage of president obama's prime time news conference set to begin in the east room of the white house in one minute from now. east room of the white house in about one minute from now. i'm chris matthews in washington. i'm joined by rachel maddow and dr. nancy schneiderman both of msnbc. first you, rachel, the stakes tonight? >> the stakes tonight are whether or not the president can turn his personal popularity into the thing that bolsters

this thorny, political issue that has stymied so many presidents for so many generations now, whether he can make this something that seems like the kind of thing that the president obama who americans still like and can therefore get done, rather than this issue to which has been attached so much fear in politics over the years. >> doctor, the health impact of the speech tonight on our public health? >> the health impact is huge because we can't sustain what we have. we know that. i've never met a doctor who thinks we're in good shape now. i think the challenge is to tell the american public this isn't big government coming in to strongarm you. this is basically looking at health care and access and affordability in a very american way, that is that we all have a shared concern here. >> let me ask you, rachel, tonight as this debate goes on do you have a sense it's becoming more partisan as the dates dwindle down toward the final decision on whether we get this this year? >> i think so. i think the president at this point needs to say, the devil is not in the details here.