It’s not all we wanted, but it will have to do — for now.

In football — for our international readers, that’s American football — yes, you want a touchdown, but you don’t turn up your nose at a first down. We’ve kept possession, and we have the right to try for ten more yards.

We still need that public option, Medicare buy-in, or however it ends up. Otherwise, all we’ve done is handed the insurance industry a whole raft of new customers. But if this reform had lost, it would have been a long time before we got another chance. (It’s been sixteen years since the last try.)

If this bill had lost, the Democrats would have had zero chance of holding their majority. (They didn’t after the last round.) They would have proven they couldn’t govern, even with the White House and lop-sided majorities in Congress. They wouldn’t deserve to stay in office. Even so, it was a near-run thing, and it will be a hard fight this fall. But for the first time in months, I’m feeling hopeful.

So how soon is the next bill being introduced?