Weigel

Originally, the House Progressive Caucus had planned an 11 a.m. press conference to ask the president to play the Constitutional Option. Events got away from them. The event was delayed several times, until finally it fell right after the triumphant House Republicans' presser. The studo lost most of its media population. The progressives promptly declared defeat.

"We're trapped in this Tea Party agenda," said Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz. "They won. They should be able to deliver the votes they need."

"I'm very disappointed that our negotiators weren't tough enough," said Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Ca. "They didn't do the work."