Courtesy Blue Dog Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin:

We have to be pragmatic and forge some deal that moves us in a positive direction … We have expended unnecessary energy on elements of the plan that I don’t think are essential. I remain optimistic that when we come back in September, we will recognize how important it is to get half a loaf.

Perhaps even more noteworthy is the following line from the NYT article in which that comment appeared; the emphasis is mine:

With Republicans essentially out of the health care picture for now, Blue Dog members from suburban and rural America said they could provide the ideological balance to the more urban members of the Democratic caucus …

Did you hear that, oh vaulted leaders of the GOP? You’ve so opposed any form of negotiated compromise that you’ve apparently been relegated even more to the sidelines than you were before. What little strength you might have had has been squandered. Good luck with that. And don’t say we didn’t warn you … more than once.