Jon Cohn wrote a quick response to Robert Kuttner's post here and, generally, the ongoing liberal dissatisfaction with the Obama administration. Among other points, Cohn points out the congressional reality:
Corporate money and lobbying magnifies the power of conservatives, who already have disproportionate representation in the Senate--where, of course, it takes a ridiculously-super-majority of 60 to pass just about anything. Obama simply can’t pass legislation through Congress without compromising with conservative Democrats and (now) at least one Republican.
It's been several weeks and, to date, no one has outlined a path by which the president can overcome the conservadem votes and the Republican filibusters. For now, as Cohn points out, the president's only option is to compromise. It's a big pill to swallow for those of us who would love to see things like the public option or the Volcker rule or a substantial public works/transportation stimulus package, but I'm willing to accept compromised reform than no reform at all.