It was a great day on Capitol Hill. Hilda and Gregor Sarkisyan were incredibly brave in their willingness to relive the pain of their daughter’s death so that others might not suffer the same thing.
Hilda started the day by shooting a CNN segment with Jim Acosta that will be broadcast Thursday morning at 6:15 and then again at 7:15. We then met with John Conyers’ staff, got turned away from Brad Sherman’s office, went to meet with Rob H. and the homeless folks hanging out in line for the Ed & Labor committee hearing, spent a good 45 minutes talking with Jerrold Nadler, went in to the Ed & Labor committee hearing, ran over to the Russell office building where Hilda taped MSNBC with David Shuster and Tamron Hall, ran over to Longworth and met with Eric Massa and Ron Heikel, then finally had some dinner and went home.
Lots more later — we learned a lot and I think Hilda’s and Gregor’s presence there was really sobering for members in the committee who saw them sitting there in the front row with pictures of Nataline.
While Hilda was taping CNN, Eve and I got into an argument with some health insurance industry lobbyists, and when Hilda was taping MSNBC we argued with Kent Conrad.
Lesson learned: when the camera’s on Hilda, head for the hills.
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What a despicable act by CIGNA. Whether they have an out or not legally, morally they are guilty of homicide. Good thing the pro-lifers stand with CIGNA.
Tangential question: How can the names on the FDL whip-count chart be reconciled with this letter posted on DKos where over 50 progressives pledged to not vote for any reform unless public option was included?
Link: http://www.dailykos.com/story/…..lic-Option
Jane and Eve,
would like to know what happened w/ Brad Sherman’s office as I was under the impression he was their congressional rep.
thank you, thank you both
He was. No idea.
I’ll be posting on it in a bit. Basically I don’t think that list means what they think it means.
Rather apropos that the Insurance twit “engaging” with NYCEve is a cigarette smoker.
But really? “Market reform” is the answer to everything? The “invisible hand” my royal red a**.
Thanks, Jane. Best wishes to Hilda and Gregor. Amazing that the lobbyists just spout talking points like they’ve practiced since birth. Wonder if the male lobbyist’s insurance company will rescind him when he develops lung cancer from smoking.
Off to swim in the great capitalist cesspool.
Be good to yourselves, and all other living things.
Namaste
with a few more folks like Hila, we can keep them in the hills.
Brava. This is exactly what the public needs to see, every time they turn on the news. Great work, Jane.
OT but FYI:
FBI agent Colleen Rowley demands further investigation – Robert Schopmeyer and Crowley trading message on RAW Story blog – revealing the truth:
http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/6381
Some amazing stuff here.
Nice job, Jane. The part that makes me want to upchuck the most is the talk about people who work and people who don’t want to work. It’s been the central refrain in opposing every effort to promote the general welfare during my lifetime.
We have won the logical debate, other countries live longer than we do and spend less money to cover everyone plus the French Smoke and drink like we do yet they still live longer!
The money debate our way costs less than the current system per person, plus the House plan is revenue neutral.
We just can’t win the corporate Welfare debate lobbyists buy politicians the press plus they say that their business will lay people off if the government competes with them.
Free Enterprise hah its more like protected monopoly.
Exactly. When people say that I just say “Why are you so resentful? You should be thankful you have a good job. You must really hate your job, you must really hate working, otherwise you wouldn’t be so resentful about people who don’t work.”
Morning Jane and Pups!
We’re sitting in our new abode, surrounded by boxes. Exhausted by our move and the effort to sell our old home, but thrilled by reading you’re taking D.C. by storm, Jane. Whoot!
Proud doesn’t begin to cover the feeling. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up. You’re a treasure. We look fwd to catching up on details as fast as we can.
Daily drives tw’ old house & new cottage lately (4 hrs on the road yestidie; umpteen boxes handled & sorted – lots still for local charities as we locate them & proceed with a good measure of stubborn re: NOT tossing anything that can be usable for someone else) People at our new abode are incredibly helpful in this regard, for they are steeped in the desire to serve and share. Wonderful community of caring folk!
Much more listening to NPR than usual, as I drive. STUNNED by the arrogant twits on the R side of the aisle in the face of so many deeply troubling problems to be handled in the country and the world. WHO and WHAT are those people? WHY, ignoring search for personal gain and “fame” of a sort, are so many twits crowding the R and bluedawgdem ranks? I am embarrassed for them, as well as infuriated by the mis- and malfeasance among them.
You Go JANE grrrrrrrrrrrrrrl!!!! and THANK YOU! You give me hope.
Amen Scarecrow,
have watched both of Hilda’s appearances several times now – and from a purely messaging point of view, she is fabulous – she hits major points again and again in each piece
and again I express my heartfelt admiration for this couple, they are living every parent’s worst nightmare and yet willing to work on our behalf
Some American life span numbers
http://www.webmd.com/news/2008…..new-record
And some numbers from Venezuela
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D…..y_at_birth
It sure would be embarrassing if a third world country passed us up. Opps Venezuelan Females already live longer than white men.
I am trying to read the Tri-committee House bill:
Since the devil is in the details, please feel free to read it: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/p…..HEALTH.pdf
and to share your understanding of what is offered.
my email to Congressman Massa:
Hello, Congressman Massa,
Even though I live in Massachusetts, (grew up in Ilion, NY) I donated to your campaign through Firedoglake.com, Jane Hamsher’s blog. I supported Gen. Clark’s campaign and his and Jane’s endorsement were enough to prompt donations.
I watched a video clip of your meeting with Jane NYCeve, Mr. and Mrs. Sarkisyan, and appreciate your goal of single payer.
My son is an outdoorsman – avalanche management, outdoor search and rescue, etc and doesn’t have health insurance. While helping his father with the table saw, a sliver of wood was propelled into his gut muscles. He couldn’t afford any surgery, and so waited for the sliver to work its way to the surface, whereupon he cut it out with his jackknife.
I understand your need to represent your constituency, however, sometimes a leader leads his people to a place he believes they need to be.
If you believe in single payer, you need to lead everyone there.
Best wishes from a daughter of a USMA grad,
Kathryn Rifkin
I was somewhat amazed that any intelligent person would throw out the statistics that slimeball was throwing out (50% of uninsured are uninsured by choice). To think that anyone would believe that crap is stupid.
Kind of funny to see a shill for the insurance industry sucking down a cigarette! Wonder if he mentioned that on his health insurance application?