You're all too right about the dangers. On top of it, you can't even predict what might be done in the back room, because there's no principled policy agreement around which the GOP is likely to coalesce. They've got lots more divergent underlying agendas on this one that the Dems do. This is one case where the sausage machine should be shown in action live on C-SPAN. But if they won't even let Dem Members of Congress into the committee room... There may be a good policy in there somewhere. But if someone is going to play the "let's get a good deal" game they'd better define their package soonest.First, so they're the party of the future and are defining a la Bayh what that should entail. And this should be an opportunity to deal with some of the procedural problems. Say any final will simply not get their vote unless there principles are met, sign up AARP et al on the key principles list, and insist they won't be steamrolled with 11th hour changes. At least a week for the pubilc to be able to review the proposed legislation. Or something. Use this to force some "party of the peoples' goverment" platform as well.