Let's Hear It for the Girl

The other day I said that if health care/insurance reform does happen, it may well be because Congressional Dems made it happen despite the president. I should have added: And because of Nancy Pelosi.

[At a press conference], a striking quote from Pelosi underscoring her determination to get health care done:

You go through the gate. If the gate's closed, you go over the fence. If the fence is too high, we'll pole-vault in. If that doesn't work, we'll parachute in. But we're going to get health care reform passed for the American people.

It's often been observed that this health care fight is the defining moment of Pelosi's career, and that victory would seal her place as one of the most powerful House Speakers in modern history. She seems to realize this, too.

And unlike some other Democrats we could mention, she's still trying to get the Senate to include a public option. Otherwise known as the thing that would make this thing national healthcare reform.