If you wanted a sign that health-care reform is all but dead, the moment came when Obama asked members to come forward with their proposals if they have a better approach.

Echoes of Bush 2008 SOTU, when Social Security reform was dead. Bush declared:

Every member in this chamber knows that spending on entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is growing faster than we can afford. And we all know the painful choices ahead if America stays on this path: massive tax increases, sudden and drastic cuts in benefits, or crippling deficits. I have laid out proposals to reform these programs. Now I ask members of Congress to offer your proposals and come up with a bipartisan solution to save these vital programs for our children and grandchildren.