I was out most of the day yesterday, so never got a chance to blog about Harry Reid's decision to add the public option (with the so-called opt-out feature) to the Senate's version of the health care reform bill (and everyone's reaction to it). First, I must admit I was rather surprised at this outcome.  Harry Reid has never been one of my favorite Democrats. I find him to be weak, rather boorish, especially when he's at a microphone explaining why this or that is being done, and not the most enthusiastic champion of Democrats core agenda. That said, he really came through.  I just hope he's able to maintain this momentum going forward without letting the resident  naysayers and GOP sympathizers (Ben Nelson, Evan Bayh, Blanche Lincoln, Mary Landrieu & Joe Lieberman) hold Democrats hostage. Here's Harry announcing that the merged health care bill will include a public option that allows states to opt-out (full, 10-minute press conference via MSNBC). Reid backs ‘opt out’ public option  Oct. 26: Sen. Harry Reid says that the public option with an 'opt out' is the best way forward. Watch his news conference. In short: The merged bill will  include a opt-out public option, and that states will have a certain amount of time to opt out of the government plan if their state legislators so choose.There will be NO bullshit "triggers" for a public option (he won't even be sending it to the Congressional Budget Office for scoring),  so screw Olympia Snowe, she's not the most important person on the planet.  He was "disappointed" the public option had "frightened" her, but that he hoped she would "come back."He was no longer holding his breath for this so-called bipartisanship, and that he can count the moderates in the GOP on "two fingers."He declared he was a "strong supporter" of the public option.which would be the best way to force competition among insurers and "to level the playing field."And, the strange part, the one that most confused people, is that he also aid "there will be a co-op i