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<b>First Posted:</b> 2/25/2010<br><br>RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON &amp;mdash; President  and his Republican arch foes will argue their case on health care overhaul at a bipartisan summit expected to stretch out for a solid six hours on live, daytime television today for millions of Americans.
Expect them to collide, not come together. Without a no-nonsense referee to slam the gavel on mind-fogging jargon, not to mention apocalyptic rhetoric, some viewers might wish Judge Judy was presiding.
Obama is hoping to resurrect his signature issue and restore his reputation as a different kind of politician who can deliver real results. Congressional leaders of both parties are worried about self-preservation and political control in the November elections.
The goal for Obama is to draw a glaring contrast between the big bill he&amp;rsquo;s backing and the limited steps the Republicans are willing to take, hoping he can fire up anxious Democrats for what might be their last chance in a generation to provide health insurance coverage to nearly all Americans. They have the votes, but do they have the will?
The Republicans, riding a populist backlash against the widening reach of government, continues to insist that Obama start from scratch, a notion he rejects. They&amp;rsquo;re unified in opposing the Democratic bills passed last year and have pulled back from more ambitious GOP-backed plans that might have provided a foundation for compromise.
With premiums going up by double digits for some consumers, polls show the public wants Congress and the president to deal with spiraling medical costs, shrinking coverage and questionable quality. But Americans are split over the Democratic bills. If Obama and the Dems can&amp;rsquo;t get their legislation passed, there may still be a chance for a modest measure this year that smooths the rough edges of the current system but stops well short of coverage for all.
Obama will be the moderator in chief for talks on four topics: revamping insurance, cost containment, expanding coverage and the impact of health care legislation on deficit reduction.

Health summit pits GOP, Obama