Pelosi concedes, at least for today

The AP reports that Speaker Pelosi is retreating:

"In its present form without any changes I don't think it's possible to pass the Senate bill in the House," Pelosi said, adding, "I don't see the votes for it at this time." ....

"We're not in a big rush" on health care, Pelosi said. "Pause, reflect."

As recently, as yesterday, she was still advocating a hard line. Rep. Arcuri explains what changed their minds:

"The mega bills are dead," said Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-N.Y. "If we didn't see what happened Tuesday night, we have blinders on."

It seems that the town halls last August, the polls showing health care's unpopularity, the polls showing Obama's rapidly declining popularity, and the letter writing campaigns meant nothing to the Democrats. They understand, however, the meaning of Sen. Brown (R-MA).

Via Uncoverage, here is a lighter take on the subject:

PREVIOUSLY, my reports on the San Francisco area town halls and tea parties that Democrats like Rep. Pelosi and Rep. Arcuri had been ignoring:
•Farmers protest in San Jose (Nov. 21).
•Tea Party breaks out in Palo Alto (Nov. 21)

•To protest Obamacare, San Francisco holds a sick-in (Nov. 15)
•A Tea Party greets Obama in San Francisco (Oct. 15)
• Videos of the October 15 San Francisco Tea Party
•San Franciscans speak to Nancy Pelosi (Aug. 14)
•The San Francisco Tax Day Tea Party Protest in Pictures (Apr. 15)
•Rep. Eshoo's health care town hall (Sep. 2)
•Rep. Speier's town hall meeting (Aug. 23)
•Million man Tea party

PREVIOUSLY on the Massachusetts Senate race:
•Making excuses: it was all about the racism and sexism
•Some Democrats waking up and smelling the coffee
•Obamacare: some still want to do a kamikaze run
•Mass. focus group says it was all about healthcare
•Massachusetts Senate race results live blog
•Where has the laughter gone?