I look forward to a considered reading from those who’ve followed this issue more closely than I have on whether there’s a compromise worth settling for. But as we weigh the alternatives, let’s be clear about what they are. We are talking about a compromise bill, or no bill. The idea of actually passing the House bill cannot be taken seriously. Now I grant that we are in a political jam. Any compromise may alienate a portion of the base (although I’m not yet quite convinced of that). Failing to pass a compromise may make the Republicans look bad with many others. At a minimum, however, let’s assess the actual alternatives and their costs. Passing the House bill is not an option.