Here are the FDL Action health care reform highlights for Tuesday, November 3.

1. Ben Tribbett explains “What Happened in Virginia?” In part, Tribbett blames it on Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds “bashing federal Democratic priorities like “Cap and Trade” and health care reform to appeal to the conservatives that were headed to the polls.”  Brilliant.

2. Jane Hamsher blogs about Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), who “seems to think that if Democrats get their asses kicked [in elections] today, it just proves he’s right about everything.” Specifically, Altmire seems to think that “if the results show Republicans have a pretty good night, that probably is going to lead some Democrats to think that, going into next year, we need to take a second look at the way that we’ve done a lot of bills we’ve addressed up to this point.” Hamsher responds, “Give me a minute while I clean my keyboard of all the coffee that just came out my nose.”  Heh.

3. Jon Walker comments on the “Failure Of Blue Dogging” in New York’s 23rd District, writings that Bill Owens “was selected because he fit the Rahm Emanuel philosophy that the only way for Democrats to win right-leaning districts is with conservative Democratic candidates.”  Walker concludes, “If [Democrats] want to remain in power, they need to show the regular people that they are working to make their lives better.” Like on health care reform, including a robust public option, perhaps? 🙂

4. Jon Walker wonders if “Majority Leader Harry Reid has reached some sort of secret deal with Joe Lieberman (I-CT),” adding that “[i]f Reid sells out the base again to appease Lieberman, he has much more to worry about than trying to get 60 votes for cloture.”  You can say that again.

5. Jon Walker reports that “[t]wo new polls released yesterday show plurality support for the public option in both Nebraska and North Carolina.” What’s particularly striking is that ” Nebraska is one of the most conservative states in the country and is represented by the most conservative Democratic senator, Ben Nelson” – who does not support the public option. Apparently, Ben Nelson isn’t listening very well to the voters of his state (or he simply doesn’t care?).

6. Jon Walker comments on the Republican “alternative” health care bill, which he calls “a meaningless, very long press release, filled with some really bad ideas.”  I don’t know about you, but I’m personally shocked – SHOCKED, I tell you! – that John Boehner and Eric Cantor would have come up with anything “meaningless” or with “really bad ideas” in it. (extreme snark and eye rolls)