Mass. senator Scott Brown wins in huge upset, ruins Democratic senate majority

Some Democrats on the left of the party think it makes too many concessions to the private insurance industry. Some in the party's moderate wing worry that it's too far to the left. Many people on both sides are responding less to the substance of the proposal and more to signaling and positioning.

There are plenty of other Democrats who think it would be an imperfect but nonetheless valuable achievement. (I'm in this camp.)

In the abstract, "free" health care sounds awesome. Who doesn't want free stuff?

In the concrete, someone actually needs to pay for it. Then congress piles on with all sorts of pork, crooked parliamentary maneuvers, etc. Basically, the media pays attention, and people see how the sausage is made.

After this, people become unhappy with health care reform.

Nate Silver, as usual, sums it up. http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/12/why-progressives-are-...