For anyone who wants to know the current state of play on the healthcare debate, this interview with Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) is pretty informative. He lays out where things are now, what's gone wrong with the negotiations so far, and what he sees as high priorities from his perspective as the only quasi-progressive voice of any stature on the Senate Finance Committee.

I have to say that I'm impressed with Rockefeller so far, and very surprised given his history of caving to Republicans on important issues like FISA. The fact that someone is in there threatening to vote no on the bill if it doesn't get better is a small glimmer of hope in an otherwise dark and depressing scene on Capitol Hill. I hope he sticks to his words, and I hope he gets some support from the rest of his party, including the President.