OK, everyone.  I'm going to collect my thoughts and come up with something more, ah, cogent to say, less piecemeal.  I have enjoyed greatly the company, the comments, most of the controversy, and I'll be checking in as the night goes on, too.

Hooray!  You know, I'm feeling happier after this than I thought I would.

6:15: I'm trying to catch up with comments; going to check the headlines on the big news sites and see what's being said.  What are you guys watching? Anyone have a thrilling take away so far?

Both WaPo and NYT going with "Obama promises to deliver on health care."  Wall Street Journal offers this subhead: "Health Overhaul Cost Cut to $900 Billion; Obama Warns GOP, Offers Malpractice Deal"

6:10: I have to say, apparently the Republicans are at a significant audio/visual disadvantage tonight, as Boustany's voice was tinny and difficult to understand at some times, and he sounded, well, pretty nervous.  Did he lose a bet?

This is, uh, a terrible speech. Really.  Shorter Boustany: We can fix health care without doing evil.

Great!  We're all agreed.

6:08: 1).  All individuals should have access to coverage.

2). Individuals should be able to join together to get coverage.

3). We can provide assistance to those who can't afford a doctor.

4). More wellness care/prevention.

Hey, I have some good news for you, Boustany -- you're on board with the president here.  Time to leave your echo chamber and go home.

6:07: "Replacing your family's health care with government-run health care" would be bad. Uh -- did you listen to the speech before this?

No rest for the weary: Response from Boustany.

"I'm a heart surgeon with more than 20 years of experience... we agree much needs to be done to lower the cost of health care for all Americans."

"Afford is an important word."  Now we know his frame, too. 

So there we have it.  Half lecture, half town hall, with a nice splash of good, old-fashioned preaching at the end, replete with an amen from the crowd.

6:02 "I still believe we can replace acrimony with civility...  Here and now we will meet history's test."

The danger of too much government is matched by the perils of too little.  Yup. "When facts and reason are thrown overboard and timidity" takes over, when we can no longer have a reasonable discussion -- a nice description of the last few months.

5:59: If Joe Biden cries, everyone in the nation must take a drink.

5:57: I do not like that he said Chuck Grassley's name out loud.

Hello, Kennedy boys.

"The character of our country." I adore the reference to historical battles, anger past and present.

Also, please, is Orrin Hatch next to Olympia Snowe as the "sit down" enforcer?  If so, will he write a song about it?

5:52: "If you misrepresent what's in this plan, we will call you out."

PLEASE, GOD.  Mean that.  I'd like to see the White House get a spine, and maybe a blimp with a big neon sign.

"I will continue to seek common ground in the coming weeks... my door is always open.  But know this: I will not waste time with those who have decided it's better to play politics with this plan than to improve it."  Was that a Republican raising his hand to admit that's what he's up to?

I think that the arguments about cutting waste and practicing better medicine are valid but also very, very difficult to make -- it's very much a, "so if it's that easy, why haven't we done it before?" kind of argument. No one talks exactly about what's stopping companies from doing this right now, which is the hardest part.

I don't think this argument is well made yet, I really don't.  And until it is, the "this pays for itself" argument doesn't seem sound.

5:48: Ah ha, there it is.  Nice reminder that those who scare about Medicare have often voted to kill it.

Speaking to Seniors.  In this section, more than any other, there needs to be a deeply reassuring tone, and I'm not sure he's hit it completely.  "Not a dollar of the Medicare trustfund will be used to pay for this plan." The only thing this plan would eliminate is waste, fraud, and insurance company subsidies. 

HA!!  Nice reminder -- walked in the door to find this ugly, Republican debt.  

HEY ERIC CANTOR!  Knock off your TEXT MESSAGING during the PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 

5:45: I like the framing of this debate as "providing a choice."

"No bureaucrat gets between you and the health care you need."

The public option is a means to the end of achieving better health care, regulation of insurance.

Uh, what are those guys holding up in the back?

5:40: Public option -- no one would be forced to choose it; only an option for those who don't have it; only 5 percent would sign up.

Like any insurance company, public company would be premium dependent -- oh, nice, that's a great comparison between private and public universities, and one of the best explanations that I've heard.

Why is Feingold looking very unhappy?

"My guiding principle is, and always has been, that consumers do better when there's choice and competition." OK, everyone's standing.  "Unfortunately, in 34 states, 75% of the insurance market is controlled by 5 or fewer companies." And just 1 in Alabama. Nice facts.  I do so love facts. 

"I have no interest in putting insurance companies out of business -- I just want to hold them accountable." Yes!

5:35: Also, is that the first time a president has ever used "jacking up" in a speech?  I understand it's the automotive metaphor, but -- still.

I'm sorry, did a member of Congress just heckle the President of the United States? *

DUDE.  Death Panels HEAD ON.  "It is a lie, plain and simple."

Oh, go ahead and sit on your hands, Republicans.  

Thanks, Jodi, for posting the link to the White House text of the proposal: Jodi Kasten: The plan has been released by the White House.
See it HERE.

Now we get into the compulsory part -- irresponsible for people not to participate, therefore everyone has to carry basic insurance.  I think the auto insurance comparison is apt.  Businesses and individuals can get hardship waivers -- uh, and 95 percent will be eligible.  So: poor people working for small companies... ?

Part 2: Quality, affordable choices for those without insurance.  Companies get to compete for currently uninsured people.  Ah, nice, bringing in the fact that everyone in that room, deciding on the plan, is insured in just this way.

The exchange goes live in four years -- that should be a fun campaign.

Immediate coverage to be offered for the next 4 years, until the exchange comes online.  

5:30: "No one should go broke because they get sick."

Details.  Point 1: "Nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the plan or the doctor you have."  GOOD.  Repeat it, and then let's all get T-shirts, because SERIOUSLY.  No one seems to get this.

Against the law to deny coverage for a pre-existing condition.  Hoorah!  Against the law to drop coverage or water it down when it's most needed.  Double hoorah!  Arbitrary caps -- eliminated.  

5:27: "Some have dug into unyielding idelogical camps... The time for bickering is over. The time for games is past. Now is the time for action." 

I like that, but -- let's see it.

Here's the plan:

1. Security and Stability to those who have insurance

2. Insurance for those who don't.

3. Slow costs for businesses and government.

"The Senate Finance Committee announced today that it will move forward." No specific mention of Baucus... I'm intrigued.

"Build on what works and fix what doesn't."  Janet Napolitano, I share your lack of enthusiasm for that vague statement.

Cheers from the left for mentions of the Canadian system.  And not just at home.

5:25: Small businesses are forcing their employees to pay more for insurance... because of higher cost of health care. Still talking to the currently insured which, really, is the audience here.

5:20: Americans "willing and able to pay" are denied coverage -- again, a key point in the argument against "hey hippie, get a job," which is often the summary of right wing arguments.

"Those who do have insurance have never had less security than they do today" -- YES.  Good point.  The 180,000,000 insured Americans very much need this sales job.  This is a good time for an anecdote -- ah, yes.  

5:19: "not the first president, but determined to be the last" taking up health care, starting with Theodore Roosevelt.  Never hurts to mention a GOP favorite.

Hey, John Dingell. That's actually an interesting historical tidbit.

5:17: Kickoff.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Bringing up the economic crisis as a credibility builder?  This seems a bit risky -- but I suppose now is the moment to celebrate the Fed saying the recession is over... Oh, focus on John Kerry.  What, is he looking for a job?

This sets up a very interesting context for the speech, but not unexpected -- he's been selling health care as part of a national economic solution since the campaign. I do think it's shrewd. I'm just not sure a lot of people buy it.

5:14: Did any parents of congresspeople keep their children home today?

Would love to know what Biden said. "I gotcher back, man," is my vote, though I give a second to, "Easy on the standing ovation lines, huh?"

5:10: "Madam Speaker, the President of the United States."  You know, that just doesn't get old.  The Madam part in particular.

Aw, John Boehner just looks delighted to be here.  Is someone sad to be (potentially) missing the rebroadcast of "Glee"?

Thank you, LPS, for clearing it up: in case of massive, uh, horror, Steven Chu is the next president of the United States.  UNLESS Robert Byrd isn't in attendance, which also seems likely.  Oh, there's Geithner.

Pretty sure Sebelius is having a heart-to-heart with Olympia Snowe.  Is that possible?

 I've seen LaHood, Napolitano, and Solis.  Is Geithner the missing cabinet member? There's Larry Summers and Christina Romer. Also haven't seen Steven Chu.

Agreed: lpsrocks: ok, because it must be said: Michelle looks Pretty in Pink.  | Also, Kathleen Sebelius.

5:03: What a night to be Hillary Clinton. Do you think she feels de ja vu? Also, who's the missing cabinet member, had anyone spotted the missing member yet?  I see Clinton, Holder, Gates, Sebelius, Locke...

Those folks next to Michelle Obama?  Here's a little list.  They include Senator Kennedy's wife and a personal physician friend of the Obamas', along with many people who've had their own terrible health care struggles.

4:59: Final thought: Who to watch.  This lady right here, Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine.  When she claps, feel a thrill:

She's the one next to Judd Gregg.

4:55: While we're still in run-up time, I'd like to join the chorus in saying that Lawrence O'Donnell deserves his own MSNBC show.  I find him much more reasonable -- and easy to listen to -- than nearly any of his counterparts.  The O'Donnell/Maddow pairing tonight might be the bifecta of broadcaster perfection.  Yes, I'm going to keep using the term bifecta over and over and over.

4:51: OK.  I'm ensconced at the house of friends who have both cable and wifi (the... bifecta?), and I've settled in to watch the speech and its coverage on MSNBC.  Here's how this works: I will be listening and typic frantic comments and observations as the speech goes on.  I'll also try and keep an eye on the comments as they come up and through and will refer to them as we go whenever possible.  Respond to me, respond to each other, respond just to the speech -- the idea is, at the end of the night, to have a collection of first-round thoughts that we can all review tomorrow, when we're wondering "how did I feel before the punditry took over?"

I should add -- refresh early, refresh often.  F5 will do it on almost any browser.

The New York Times (among others) has posted excerpts of the president's speech. Trying to find advance text on Boustany -- anybody seen it?

UPDATE (3:30 PST): Sarah Palin has posted a pre-buttal to President Obama's speech.  On Facebook.  Yup.  It calls for Medicare vouchers.  No more total coverage for you, American seniors!  The DNC went ballistic, and rightly so.  Woo.  Here's the best part from Palin:

One last thing: after President Obama's speech tonight, listen for which pundits use the words "false", "scary", and "risky" in describing the proposals I put forward. That's how you'll be able to tell who the White House counted as "allies" worthy of receiving its talking points.

I'd just like to say that I find Mrs. Palin's comments false, scary, and risky.  May I please now have my copy of the White House talking points and my Ally of Obama cape?

* Live blogging starts at, ah, let's call it ten 'til 5.*

* Apparently, the answer to that was yes, and Congressman Wilson of South Carolina was the one who shouted "It's a lie!"