Today's opinions and editorials

The Defining Moment The New York Times
The legislation on the table isn't perfect, but it's as good as anyone could reasonably have expected. History is about to be made — and everyone has to decide which side they're on (Paul Krugman, 10/29).

Damaging Option For Liberals The Washington Post
Rather than bring a bill without the public option to the Senate floor and then hope to merge it in conference with a House bill almost certain to include such a provision, Reid bent to the political pressure and put his own needs first (David Broder, 10/30).

What's Driving Sen. Harry Reid On The Public Option Politico
The leitmotif has been that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) cares more about his reelection than Capitol Hill success on health care reform and that he caved to pressure from progressives on the public option. The former is silly because one is inextricably linked to the other, and the latter is simply wrong (Jon Ralston, 10/30).

Regarding Harry The Wall Street Journal
The public option diverts attention from the legislation's real faults (Kim Strassel, 10/29).

Massive Fraud Makes Medicare A Lousy Model The Baltimore Sun
We're told that if fraud and waste in Medicare (and Medicaid) could be eliminated, that would in itself pay for the costs of health care insurance for all Americans. At this point, though, it's hard to believe that kind of miracle will take place (Ron Smith, 10/30).

Opt-Out Debate On Health Care Has Historical Precedents USA Today
The history of these two programs, Social Security and Medicaid, could provide a roadmap for the complex debate over health care reform (Chuck Raasch, 10/29).

The Public-Option Parlay The Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune
Having a public option in the current legislation would be great, but its advocates should realize that they don't have to win everything at any cost and all at once (10/30).

Public It Is The Toldeo (Ohio) Blade
While a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, there's no point in trying to placate critics who will call it socialism no matter what the monicker (10/29).