David Gergen actually said...

"What the Democrats, liberals got out of this was the deal on Medicare or general agreement to explore that. And that is the buy-in for anybody who reaches the age of 55. That's a major dramatic change..."

"That was a victory for the left."

"I do think it's important to understand it in context. And Senator Reid's people told me tonight you know, 'Listen, he's extremely frustrated by what he regards to the blocking actions.'"

"The danger is -- the political danger is -- it may so alienate the Republican caucus that it makes it harder to get Senator Olympia Snowe to vote for the final bill."