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The massive healthcare overhaul has made managing the Democratic Party a much tougher assignment.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is facing a revolt on both ends of her caucus this week. First, the conservative Blue Dogs blocked healthcare legislation in a key committee. Then, when the Blue Dogs got what they wanted, the caucus鈥檚 far-left Progressive wing said the compromise had ruined the bill.

Speaker Pelosi was left in between, trying to stress the common ground that still exists among Democrats on 鈥渒itchen table鈥� healthcare issues, such as consumer protections.

At the same time, in a nod to Progressives, she toned down talk Thursday of a 鈥渄eal鈥� with conservative Blue Dog Democrats. Instead, she called the compromises that brought Blue Dogs in the House Energy and Commerce鈥檚 on board 鈥渁n agreement as to how the committee would proceed.鈥�

Pelosi is dealing with the consequences of success. Democrats have expanded their majority by winning districts that traditionally tilt conservative. Now, Pelosi is charged with holding the caucus together.

鈥淲e have great diversity in our caucus, geographic and otherwise, and that will be reflected in the legislation,鈥� she added Thursday.

For more than a week, seven members of the Blue Dog Coalition had stalled work on the last element of the House healthcare proposal. They had broken ranks with Energy Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D) of California and fellow Democrats over the cost and scope of the proposed reforms.

The agreement worked out between Democratic leaders and four Blue Dogs allowed the Energy and Commerce Committee to restart a markup of healthcare legislation Thursday, with a vote out of committee expected on Friday.

But reports of a 鈥渄eal鈥� with four of the panel鈥檚 Blue Dogs, announced yesterday, outraged members Progressive Caucus. If the Blue Dog compromises make it through to the final bill, as Blue Dog leaders are insisting, it will undermine attempts to provide a robust government-run option for healthcare, Progressives say.

鈥淲e told you months and months ago, [Democratic] leadership and [Obama] administration, we are on this ride with you because of a commitment to a strong and meaningful public option. If it鈥檚 not there, we鈥檙e not there,鈥� said Rep. Raul Grijalva (D) of Arizona, co-chairman of the Progressive Caucus, at a briefing Thursday.

In talks with progressives, Pelosi and other Democratic leaders emphasize that work on the energy panel is only one element of a final proposal. Two other House committees and two Senate committees are also working on healthcare bills.

鈥淲hat I tell my members is that, at the end of the day, we have to have universal, quality, affordable health care for all Americans, and we will do that. And we will do so working together,鈥� Pelosi said.

Each member of the caucus will head home for the August recess with a card affirming how healthcare reform will help American families she said. These include: no discrimination for pre-existing conditions, no dropping of coverage for health reasons, no more job loss based on whether you have insurance, and no excessive out of pocket expenses, deductibles or co-pay.

But Progressives remain wary. 鈥淚 want something good to happen and it makes me angry the direction we鈥檙e going,鈥� says Rep. Jim McDermott (D) of Washington, a member of the Progressive Caucus. 鈥淚f Barack Obama gives into this group, we鈥檙e going to have nothing.

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