We don't think the answers lie in Washington

I've been out and about, listening on radio, this stands out: Ryan sums up the GOP approach. Video and media reaction. HotAir. You will note straight up the president wouldn't rule out jamming this through with Reconciliation, in response to a direct question. Initially from Sen. Lamar Alexander, just now from Sen. John McCain.

More. Now that rotter Sen. Durbin is bloviating on behalf of trial lawyers. Illinois courts just gutted our malpractice reform law which limited excessive rewards for pain and suffering. Doctors are going to start fleeing the state again.

He's suggesting people die because of medical malpractice. Well, gee, how many people are going to suffer because there's no neurosurgeon within hours, or they have to drive to the next state to have a baby.

Democrats always tell these sob stories but skimming big bucks off to trial lawyers doesn't help poor people. And raising the cost of liability insurance massively raises the costs of healthcare for everyone else by doctors having to practice defensive medicine.

Finally, think about this--who are you going to sue when the government is in charge of all healthcare--where's your recourse? Where's your choice?

Look at Britain. A nightmare in the making.

More. RCP Video. Obama doesn't count his time because he's the president (and we're not--gee when does this guy ever listen?) Obama to McCain: The election's over. Video. You know, I think the president should refer to Sens. and Rep. by their titles. They are respectfully calling him Mr. President. I think he should show them the same respect.

More highlights. Or lowlights. Obama scolds Rep. Cantor for bringing in a copy of the Senate bill. The Dems hog the time 2-1. NRO Recap so far, Yuval Levin starts out this way:

Things could surely change this afternoon, but so far it is hard to see how the Democrats are doing themselves anything but harm with the health-care summit.

Scrap the bill. Start over.

More. If you can stand it you can watch it live here. Lots of networks cutting away. A column from this morning. Rep. Peter Roskam of Illinois, The Politico. Roskam worked on successful legislation when they both served in the state Senate together, and made a plea before the summit:

We achieved reform without either of us sacrificing our core principles. Today's health care debate has taken a wholly different tack. Democratic leadership has had zero willingness to negotiate. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's definition of bipartisanship seems to mean that Republicans abandon their principles and vote for a damaging bill. That's not how Obama operated before he came to Washington.

The President knows that Democrats and Republicans could work together to pass substantive incremental reforms today. He said, in his address on Sept. 9, that we agree on about 80 percent of what needs to be done. He was right.

Based on the president's performance today, it looks like the president is sticking with the Pelosi definition.

More. Potluck following, with comments.