The irrelevant president

Joe Conason writes that, regarding Bush, we’ve heard it all before, and that his speech was irrelevant.

"At no time in recent years, for instance, has there been such broad consensus, in the business community as well as the labor movement, and among citizens of all political persuasions, that we must reform the American health-care system to contain costs and provide universal coverage...

"Yet the health-care schemes floated by the president and his aides would achieve little except to damage the present system of employer coverage without building a viable replacement. That is why the advocates of universal care will scarcely bother to deconstruct the Bush plan, which was dead on arrival."

I'd just add that quality is the third suffering element of U.S. healthcare, in addition to out-of-control costs and unjust access.