i sent an email to jane yesterday asking why lloyd doggett of texas is not on the list and she responded that he should be and she’d look into it. as of now, he’s still not on the list.

Too bad the WH is not open to dropping Rahm. And his brothers, too.

Damn, you beat me to it.

See, some of you probably know I’m a big Joe Biden guy. This bothers me. Joe was supoposed to be the “point man” for important legislation. This isn’t the first time Rahm has played that role. Don’t like it. Don’t know that the results would be much different. After all, Biden was a member of taht club for 30 odd years. But still………… Would rather have Joe out front on this for the WH.

You made the point a week or so ago, the war funding got passed with NO repub support. Dems need to prove who’s side their on. We don’t need bipartisanship, we only need for the dems to vote like dems.

I thought there was a specific WH person that was supposed to be spearheading the issue.

I have no evidence that would discredit Emanuel on this but that being said, I never believe anything that comes out of his mouth. He’s known for saying stupid things. Even as Obama’s chief of staff he’s already on several occasions said stupid, ill considered things that later had to be retracted. I’m not here to defend Obama’s “efforts”, weak as they appear to me however, it’s my opinion that Obama will be a one term president if he caves on reform and as that must include a public option to BE reform, it would be political suicide to take it out. Right wingers aren’t going to vote for him no matter what he does and I for one won’t be voting if he caves in again on this or on climate change. It’s too important. In my opinion, it’s time to either take action or throw up our hands and become apathetic. We’ll never have such majorities again in our lifetimes and if they fail, we may not ever have any majority again.

If you want a public option and you know it, sign up here! You can get your name on TV!

Jane, thanks for adding “no position,” to the Whip Tool. Not having that option was locking me up.

How my rep, Gwen Moore can have no !@#$%^& position in a district that is overwhelmingly poor is beyond my meager comprehension. As you know Gwen also caved on the Supplemental, so she’s veering toward Al Wynn territory.

WH COS can kiss my underinsured ass.

getting a public option is less important than winning bipartisan support.

fetishists, as Digby would say

but I ran it through my handy-dandy dfh translator just the same:

ah yes:
the desires of 40 millionaires in the Senate is far more important than the desires of 76% of the voting public

have I got that right ?

To the rethugs the definition of bipartisanship is capitulation to their views. Response should be easy – FU

A health bill without a public option will be a disaster for the American people. I’ve tried to be patient with Obama, but my patience is wearing really really thin. If he caves on this, that will be the end of my suppport for him.

If we fail to get this we don’t have a majority!

Yep. Great translation.

Thanks, we added it by popular demand.

Thanks, everyone. This is great.

That’s my point. If we fail with such huge majorities, we don’t deserve to have them nor will we. I can’t imagine people getting excited to go vote for people that put their own self interests and perceived political expediency over the desires of three quarters of the public, can you? It would be the first time since 1978 that I haven’t voted but what would motivate me to re-hire such impotent clowns if they can’t get this done?

The Republican Party and Obama’s slavish devotion to “bipartisanship” will be the death of the Republic.

this vile little motherfukkkkkkkkker,would not only fuk her,but sell er for a few shekels….HEY TINY DANCER….you got ISRAELI UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE…or taxpayer coverage,or both? lets call the little prickstick,and ask him…….yes im fuming

That should be the reponse from the Dems and Obama but if recent history is any indication the Dems and Obama will come around to the Republican point of view, all in the spirit of bipartisanship of course.

I agree! Dogggett is my Rep too. What’s up with that Jane? I just looked at the whip tool and there is no Lloydd Doggett. I KNOW his position and though I can’t speak for him, I’m certain that he’s on the public option side. Single Payer too, I’d bet anything.

I think that the left needs to say unequivocably to dems and repubs – “you are either with us or your against us” If they don’t vote for this issue we will work against them even if that means replacing dems with rethugs.
At this point we need to start with Max Baucus (corporatist MT)

but, yheah. comes as no surprise.

Usually I’m not one to issue ultimatums or see things in such stark, black and white terms but yep! It’s either a strong public plan in health care and good climate change/energy legislation or lose my support and even my vote.

No matter what, one person the left should target for removal is Blanche Lincoln (DR) Wal Mart.

along these lines

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..20160.html

bipartisanship = no public option. we know that. but the Rs make no bones about it. they don’t have to really. why are the Ds engaging in the bullshit of pretending that everything is on the table while at the same time talking of bi-partisanship?

The irony is that I don’t even want the Public Option. I want one-payer insurance. That’s not even being discussed, instead we’re fighting for the watered down compromise. We’ve already lost.

Rahm: White House Open To Dropping Public Option their mandate from the people

There, that’s more accurate.

This is a make or break issue for me. I WILL NOT support anyone who votes for a plan without a genuine public option. In fact I will actively work against them in the primary and in the general election if I can find a Green candidate or some other progressive third-party to support instead.

It is very disappointing that we don’t have a president who supports a public option. Really, the public option should be what he is pushing.

And Rahm? Nearing the level of derision I’ve reserved for Lieberman.

This is completely unacceptable, especially as the plan still contains a MANDATE to purchase health insurance. This should be framed as something like “the government plan to force citizens to provide new yachts to overpaid healthcare CEOs”. What’s next? Will the government decide my car is too old, and force me to purchase a new GM product?

CALL the White House

: 202-456-1414

ask for Rham

even if that means replacing dems with rethugs.

even if that means replacing dems with rethugs. better dems.

We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do, and I’m sick and tired of politicians on my side not knowing how to act in victory.

Fuck ‘compromise’ and the horse it rose in on.

‘Compromise’ is only relevant when you need the other side (see GOP from 2000-2008).

Either you believe in what your party is doing or you don’t. If you don’t then get the (another f-bomb) out.

Reggie Jackson once supposedly said “When you have your foot on your opponents throat, press harder!”

Where’s Reggie when we need him?

Fuck Rahm Emmanuel…

I can’t believe he is part of Obama’s administration….

What a stupid choice.

Change you can believe in my ass

Act Blue is pushing back on the Senator from Wal Mart.

She’s #2 in Insurance Money this season

More obamabullshit …

“Emanuel urged the senators to seek Republican support” is a chickenshit way of giving big business what it wants … in this case, the insurance companies.

And why the hell do they now want 80 votes in the Senate? What is the value in that when you only need 51? It is just another intelligence insulting ploy to make sure that the insurance companies get their way ‘coz anyone with a fucking brain knows that nothing will get 80 meaningful votes … on a bill not to be gutted in committee … in the Senate unless big business gets its way. It is another way for the dems to abdicate responsibility for carrying out the mandate that the American people gave them by voting them into the majority. This way the pope of hope gets to posture and preen to the American public
about finding a bipartisan solution to health care while effectively doing little to serve them while instead serving his more important big moneyed insurance company constituency. They think the American public is stupid and judging by obama’s approval ratings, they are right.

If this is true, this another one of many disgraces by the head pr man for the establishment. How long will it be before the dumbass majority in this country looks beyond his empty rhetoric and sees him for what he is?

Z

btw… Ben Lujan of NM is a co-sponsor of HR 676… pls check that box on the whip table… right now it is blank.

thanks… and thanks for the tool.

Rahms family in ISRAEL has

The Health Care System in Israel:
An Historical Perspective

Israel’s high standard of health services, top-quality medical technology and research, modern hospital facilities and an impressive ratio of physicians to population all contribute to the country’s high standard of health today.

The Ministry of Health is responsible for the development of health policy, operation of the nation’s public health services and management of the governmental health care budget. The government also owns and operates many of the nation’s larger hospitals. It licenses the medical and paramedical professions and initiates and oversees implementation of all health-related legislation passed by the Knesset. Medical services are provided through four health insurance companies, known as sick funds: Kupat Holim Clalit, Kupat Holim Maccabi, Kupat Holim Meuhedet and Kupat Holim Leumit. Kupat Holim Clalit (General Sick Fund), the largest organization and the first health insurance institution, was founded in 1911 by a small group of agricultural workers and taken over by the Histadrut (General Federation of Labor) in 1920.

Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the issue of health care has never left the public agenda. The public debate on reform of the health system has focused on enactment of a national health insurance law. Reform was spurred by recommendations of the Natanyahu Commission (1990). Its recommendations served as a catalyst for the passage of the National Health Insurance Law which came into effect on January 1, 1995.

The present review traces some of the milestones in health care services, in order to better understand the roots of both the achievements and the problems of the system, and to define future prospects.

hey now, If I were POTUS and didn’t want to accomplish anything of substance just raise tankers full of cash for my colleagues in Congress, Rahm would be the perfect pick

This country is truly owned by the elites… there is no other way to put it. Fucking politicians only looking out for their good (eg, ability to be re-elected) over their obligations to US, the people they represent.

We are all just serfs.

exactly….

Rahm is only a stupid choice if you are progressive. If you are a corporate shill who lurves “bipartisanship”, Rahm is a steller choice.

Rahm would be the perfect pick

prick
fixed it for ya

Sounds impressive. Why isn’t Rahm pushing for the same model here in the HOMELAND?

“If we want it, we can have it. But we’re going to have to work for it.”

I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Since when has the government reacted from pressure from the left? Huh?

I am not saying that it isn’t a worthwhile fight … it is … but it is far from sure that congress will put our interests above their insurance company constituency. It may take some form of massive civil disobedience or revolution to force our rulers to start representing our interests.

Z

If an acceptable “public option” doesn’t come out of Congress this year the stage for 2010 will be partially set. I’m not expecting a miracle out of Congress this year but I have the patience and energy to push this until it becomes reality. Now that this genie’s out of the bottle there’s no stuffing it back in.

And one more thing now that I am really riled up …

I will never forget Claire McCaskill on either Rachel or Keith staring into the camera and saying that they needed to get past the issue at hand (I believe the financial “crisis” – read… “we Wall Streeters and hedge funders fucked up really bad, so give us lots more money to add to all the money we made when we fucked up really bad”.. but I digress)

Anyway… Claire looked into the camera and said “We’ve got important things to deal with… we have to take on entitlements…”

F her too. I am so ticked at these liars and thieves… including Obama whom I only reluctantly supported… but even I am surprised at the extent to which he is a corporatist.

We are ruled.

By definition, we are subjects becoz the government has the power of law … which does not apply to them nor who they truly represent … and force over us, and they represent interests that directly conflict with ours.

Z

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eUUN…..Ballet.jpg

call tiny dancer

sadlyyes June 24th, 2009 at 10:22 am
30

CALL the White House

: 202-456-1414

ask for Rham

Like McCaskill and her ilk don’t consider themselves “entitled.” Fuckin’ assholes.

my 47 was for you

busy-go figure.

(Taken from Jonathan Zasloff at The Reality Based Community http://www.samefacts.com/archi…..e_dscc.php)

Email every “swing/centrist” Dem Senator, Senate leadership, and especially the DSCC/Menendez with something like this:

“I have been a contributor to the DSCC for years, but until and unless the Democratic Caucus strongly endorses an effective public option in health care reform, the DSCC will never again see a penny of my money….I hope very much that I shall be able to contribute to the DSCC in the future, and am waiting for the Caucus’ actions in this regard.”

And: “Every single fundraising e-mail and call…should be given this response. No money unless there is a strong public option. Period. This is particularly important now, since the second quarter reporting period is coming to a close on June 30th.

Every single call. Every single time.”

Why aren’t we working with people like Health Access California? I sometimes “tell my health care story” for them and have been doing it for three years. They are well organized.

I tried to warn you that this would be the response of our government. Our government is no longer a democracy but a plutocracy. We need to develop tools to take our democracy back and not to just beg our elected “representatives”. I would love to see some inventive ways to use the internet to do just that…reclaim our right to self government. Something like a WikiCongress.

But for now, this is a great site and keep up the good work.

Maybe we should have a memorial demonstration for the murdered Americans who had no health care.

mail this pic to9 Fair Claire,SHOW HER what an untreated diabetics foot looks like
SHOW HER WHAT REAL UGLY looks like

http://www.latrobe.edu.au/podi…..nefoot.jpg

I didn’t vote for him and I was skeptical too, but I am also surprised at what an shameless, audacious sell-out he is. Besides his stance on Israel, which from what I can tell so far has no enforcement mechanism, he’s sold out continually to government and corporate power … which are both the same at this point. I didn’t expect him to be this bad although the hiring of emanuel was a precursor to it.

But he has gotten away with it and he still is a very popular sell-out becoz this country is so dumb and self-absorbed that their opinion is heavily influenced by imagery, headlines and soundbites which is emanuel’s specialty.

Z

see 55

CALL the White House

: 202-456-1414

ask for Rham

Sorry, but I have nothing to offer him. All the roles are filled.

Obama has turned out to be a fancy talking head and well dressed puppet. He is a big part of the problem. Change to him equals ”small change” to us.

I think you people just need to calm down. Haven’t you gotten the message yet? We are nothing but peons. We have been put in our place. After all, unemployment benefits were extended weren’t they? Social Security pensioners got their $250 check. What more do you want? What do you think you are? Citizens or something. /bad attitude

Woman I work with has diabetes neuropathy in both legs, along with myriad other related medical issues. The pain in her legs can’t be controlled by medication because of its adverse reactions. She knows that she may very well suffer that which you show in the future.

Ron has peripheral neuropathy below the knees and into his toes. It is both numb and painful. Very hard for him to walk. I had so much hope a few months ago that he would receive proper care with the proper tests. Now he will have to wait until August of 2010 for medicare. I hope he is still alive.

DAMN IT. When do WE take to the streets?

And just as expected when I saw this false headline emblazoned across HuffPo earlier today…

Where do any of these articles say anything like this headline, “White House Open To Dropping Public Option.”

All I see is the usual “open to alternatives” and “didn’t discourage,” which is the Obama Admin’s approach to every single issue they’ve ever dealt with so far. It’s Obama’s M.O. toward negotiations and helps in the media wars. He’s signed several things so far without one Repub vote, but he still starts this way every time.

So, after Obama’s very strong support for a public option yesterday, which he’s been consistent with all along, one oddly sourced article with a made-up/misleading headline, and y’all go crazy on his ass, yet again.

Couple this with the fact that we know Repubs are purposely stoking anti-Obama rhetoric all over the place, including HuffPo, in order to divide and conquer any support Obama may have as he tackles these huge issues. Way to play right into their hands. Bonus points for any “Liberal” who wants to start saying “Democrat Party.”
http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/?p=1277

We are on the verge of a public option, which I feel will quickly lead to single-payer, and the person leading the charge constantly, CONSTANTLY, in many circles around the Liberal blogs can do no right. Nothing.

Hopefully people will finally realize who the real enemies are in this fight and turn their sights toward them instead of people on their side. At least heed Jane’s words, which apply to just about anything life:

If we want it, we can have it. But we’re going to have to work for it.

This seems to me to be a very wise strategy by the White House.

They are bending over backwards to get agreement from the republicans.

The White House knows the republicans have no intention to agree to any plan;failure is their goal.

The ultimate result will end with a furthering divide between republican congress and the republican grassroots.

God, I hope you are right.

Obama may get things done but he needs to be much more direct. What is wrong with taking a stand and whipping the House and Senate? Bipartisanship is a false notion when dealing with rascals and scoundrels.

“It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.”
Frederick Douglass

It finally hit me a few weeks ago that Obama’s first administration is being so tentative and corporatist just so they can be reelected. They don’t want to offend them.

I’m convinced this is why he’s not standing up for us on financial and health matters.

Rahm Emmanuel has fought against truly progressive options for a long, long time. Check out this truthout article from 9-07 entitled “Democratic House Officials Recruited Wealthy Conservatives” by Matt Renner where in 2006 Emmanuel recruited a Republican from another state to defeat an anti-war grassroots Dem candidate in the primary (who later lost… what a surprise).

I would like to believe we’re on the verge of a public option, but when Emmanuel is involved and allegedly telling DINOs like Kent Conrad the WH would be open to dropping it… it does not surprise me in the least.

I hope this is a false report, maybe Conrad is lying… it did occur to me when I read it. But knowing Emmanuel’s dirty tricks, I kind of doubt it.

http://www.truthout.org/articl…..servatives

Agree completely. Repubs know all too well how a “divide and conquer” kills their opposition, that’s why they’re ramping up those efforts on Liberal blogs (as I linked to earlier), and that’s been their main strategy for decades.

And, notice when their famed unity starts cracking, the Repub party does indeed entire a death spiral.

That’s why I feel it’s so important with these current battles for Liberals unite around these core issues, and stop with the whole Obama=Bush poutrage.

Onward and upward! Publically-funded healthcare for all is right around corner!

As it has become clear that Obama is willing to drop the public plan to get the “health bill” passed, regardless of what the public wants, and that all the nice and nasty words we send to our congressman stand little chance of changing the current plan, I would like to offer a different approach.

Let the public know that those who support a “public” plan need to go on strike. Given that a large number of people are already out of work, and 40million plus have no health insurance, I think we might get alot of support for a strike. Health and emergency services won’t go on strike, but everyone else can join in.

I can not think of any other approach that will get the politicians attention. And if even half the people participate, the effect will be dramatic. Additionally, we will get lots of coverage on the MSM. Plus, with Iran and it’s government’s bloody response to demonstration and our politicians’ cry for support of the marchers, to have the government try and crack down on us, would look really bad.

Health care for people of the USA needs to happen now.

If you believe this, then I assume you also believe that re-election is also pointless, and that a President should just serve the full eight years? Because you’ve implicitly constructed an argument for which there are no means to judge the performance of the President at re-election. His first-term performance can be wiped away because, “He had to do it just so he can get re-elected.” There’s literally no point to any review or vector for accountability at the interim election. No way to evaluate whether or not the President will actually do the things you’re ascribing to him in the future other than faith.

Nice work.

Instead of projecting our hopeful qualities and characterizations onto people who’ve done nothing at all to deserve such benefits, why don’t we just objectively assess what they’re doing now, and recognize them as their actual current positions, because we don’t have any other means for measure other than blind faith.

Hope so too, but Obama himself has been consistent on this issue for a long time. I felt the most important point he made yesterday was referencing the overwhelming support for a public option in recent polls. He was using the bully pulpit to reinforce that the public is demanding this, not DeeCee politicians, so this also keeps him safer for future battles. I felt he was quite demanding yesterday and other days as well. He’s been getting most of what he’s wanted so far after all.

Whatever the case, it’s clear he wants a public option and is sticking his neck out for it. It’s absolutely crucial he gets as much support from the public on this not only to get this through, but for him to feel he has support to be more bold on future battles.

Where do we sign up?

This would best be done by one of the progressive blogs, maybe FDL?

Obama doesn’t take stands (against Republicans and conservative Dems) – he lives to compromise (with Republicans and conservative Dems). What else would one expect from Lieberman’s protege?

Rahm confesses that he doesn’t have what it takes to be chief-of-staff.

James Protzman of BlueNC has proposed July 6 for a strike.

Okay, well someone’s gotta organize it.

great. Let’s see that movement build! YeeeHAW!

As someone else put it this morning in the comments to a HuffPo piece that covers this story , there’s a trail of unkown ‘who saids’ that even the most skillful tracker couldn’t sort out.

And, there’s NO telling why Rahm did this. But reading the full details of the briefing Rahm gave reveals a myriad of details that can’t be nailed down as to the actual level of ‘caving in’ on the public option.

It’s possible this is a case of WH/COS seeking to enrage the people for a backlash to ‘force’ Obama to go FURTHER in the direction of a 73% desired public health plan option.

Time will tell, as always.

Max has GOT to go. Agreed. Way past time.

Bonkers, nicely put. I concur.

This is a NON story in of itself and is likely a ’shiny bright object’ to deceive, mislead, and confuse.

Or, to rally the people into MORE action (in which case it’s good WH psyops).

Time will tell, but THIS article is a red herring in of itself in too many ways.

Still, good to see Pups getting riled, we NEED to be riled, and more riled, and even MORE so.

This public plan option should be the stuff of ALL Amaricans getting riled about, and taking to the streets en masse with signs to proclaim that 73% desire for all the world to see.

We need millions, and millions, in the street, one day.

Once done, that might lead to OTHER one day events for say, financial/banking reform? *G*

MaryMC, didn’t know that about Ron’s condition.
My best thoughts to you both.

{{{{{{Ron/Mary}}}}}

Maybe we should have a memorial demonstration for the murdered Americans who had no health care.

that’s an idea that deserves a lot of traction!

Right on, my man.

Well lookee here:

http://theplumline.whorunsgov……ic-option/

Once again, a knee-jerk hurky jerk.