So the Blue Dogs say they have the votes to kill the health care bill, and Lynn Woolsey responds:
The California Democrat said that she has whipped the progressive caucus in the House and concluded that more than 60 of its members would vote against a health care reform plan that had a public option tied to economic triggers. It is a line in the sand that she and others expressed to Emanuel when he met with his former House Democrats.
If Lynn Woolsey’s got 60 votes, I’ve got leprechauns in my laundry room.
Nobody takes the progressives seriously because they swagger around with these kind of cheap bluffs and everybody knows it’s horseshit. We just called over to her office and asked for names. We were told that "the CPC does not want us to release that information."
They don’t even want their names publicly attached to it, but they’re going to take a stand when it’s time to vote?
Look, I like Lynn Woolsey. She’s one of the few who will take a stand for what she believes in. But people are tired of these agreements made behind closed doors that nobody feels like they have to live up to. We’ve been getting screamed at all day by Congressional offices pissed off because people are calling and asking them to take The Pledge, and they don’t want to — despite the fact that Progressive Caucus already said its members would vote against any health care bill that doesn’t have a strong public option.
It’s about to get brutal. Going to the Hill yesterday with NYCEve really changed something for me. All these people running around, who have full health care for themselvles, who are wallowing in abstractions about insurance industry profits. It’s time to get real, and demand to know where people stand.
If the Blue Dogs want people from their districts camping out in front of their offices who have been victims of the health insurance industry, we can make that happen. If progressives won’t declare where they stand, they can look forward to the same — and they have a whole lot more to lose.
Tell us your health care horror story. Join us in Washington DC.
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The only reason not to take the pledge is so that they can trade their pledge away later, in secret, when they think we aren’t watching. If they take the pledge, which is a pledge to do what they say they’ll do, they’ll be held to it. They don’t like that.
Take the pledge, show your work, make it count.
Let’s see those sixty names, please.
Don’t let me get started.
I don’t think they really ‘get’ the depth of the contempt that someone like myself feels. I currently have good medical; one of my kids was working F/T and only got medical because he self-paid.
And recently, my spouse got swine flu?
How? He was around some kids whose parents are out of work. They can’t afford to go to a doctor.
So all of us risk serious illness because your waiter, or your dry cleaner can’t afford medical coverage — while we pay for Iraq and hand money over to TARP that isn’t even accounted for?
I don’t think these supercilious Congressional employees have a clue how hard it is for someone like myself to remain civil in a phone conversation these days.
I already camp out in order to be seen at the once a week “first come, first served” dental clinic here in town. It’s not easy in winter in Ohio but it’s easy in summer. Bring quilt, pillow, book, coffee, and sleep in front of the door. I WILL be seen, by God.
I can surely camp out in front of Zack Space’s office.
Well stated.
This is a very astute group, but for those that might not know, Lynn represents Marin County and parts of Sonoma County in Northern California. Marin is the county just north of SF, right over the Golden Gate bridge.
I live in Lynn’s district. I spoke with her before her run in ‘92. She ran when there was a redistricting, and Boxer who was in Congress ran for the Senate.
Lynn votes fairly well. She did vote for the Iraq War the first time. But, she comes from a very liberal district and therefor – to me – is a superb disappointment. This district should have someone who pushes the agenda nationwide, because it is so realtively safe.
Instead, we have Lynn, who is one of the worst speakers on a national stage, still, yet, ever more… and while well-intended, has little gravitas.
You are right to call her out, but it will not affect a change with her.
Rumor is she is close to retirement – a strong candidate, with interests beyond local comfort, is in the best interests of the country.
Just saying,
Lab
will they ever lose they default support of a co-dependent Netroots, which votes Democratic, no matter what?
because if you leave that leverage off the table, and they know it, why should they ever change?