Max Baucus Returns

Politico is saying Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, the Senate Finance Committee chair and Obama's unofficial pointman on "bipartisan-ness" as far as health care reform is concerned, is close to some sort of bipartisan deal that could be announced as early as tonight.

Brother, that makes my skin crawl. "Baucus" and "bipartisan deal" should bring to mind the combination of nitro and glycerin. My only question is "Who's getting the shaft?" on Max's little arrangement here?

Nothing good can come of this. Definitely keep an eye out here for the devilish details in this deal.

[UPDATE 10:05 PM] No deal yet, but now we know why:

President Obama's opposition to taxing employer-provided health benefits has slowed progress on passing a health care reform bill, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee complained Thursday.

"Basically, the president is not helping us," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Montana, after emerging from closed talks on the bill.

There's a reason he's not helping you there, Max. It's because you're trying to screw this bill, and the President is not about to help you and the other "Sensible Centrists" backstab him.