This may be Democrats last chance to improve health care reform and try to make it even more popular before the November election. Sadly, it appears an opportunity wasted.

In what is likely to be one of the last acts of health care reform kabuki theater, the role of the football will be played by President Obama’s proposed National Insurance Rate Authority. As always, the role of the Lucy shall be played by the Senate.

Democrats seem to have an unsolvable legislative problem on their hands. It would appear like the Gordian Knot this is a mess the Democratic leadership simply can’t untie. But if they follow the historic example of Alexander the Great they can pull out their sword and cut straight through the knot instead.

Stupak has shown how you can fight for something using your maximum leverage at the right moments. Contrast this with the behavior of Lynn Woolsey, co-chair of the progressive caucus, who, despite claiming to fight for a public option, has only asked politely.

If (and that is a big if) Democrats move forward with health care reform using reconciliation, it is likely that there will eventual be an up-or-down vote on the public option. All it takes is one senator to offer a properly designed amendment – perhaps one of the 30 Senate Democrats who are on record saying they support an up-or-down vote on the public option. Maybe the American people will finally get to see who stands with the American people and which senators are working to protect the profits of the private insurance companies.

The greatest myth being told in Washington right now is that reconciliation could not produce a good health care bill. That is pure nonsense.