There is a Texan we can be proud of – thank goodness. I just hope the ‘bloc(k)’ holds … he really took an ass whooping by the White House during the Energy Vote.

Let’s all hope tonight during the press conference that President Obama states the same 7 principles he discussed with the bloggers and one of them being a ‘Public Option’. Hell – I would fall out of my chair if he stated that he will not sign a bill without these principles.

Yeeee Hawwwww !!!

That was his version of “Make me do it.”

Go Lloyd! My congressman does me proud.

Anyone want to match me $50 for Doggett?

You people are cranking today!!!!!!! You are awesome. Mike does a great job of listening to their words and not letting them slide on past w/o a commitment.

Citizen Hamsher:

I only got $25 left in the mad money Mrs. Norske gave me for rewardin’ citizenship…is Dogget vulnerable down there, or is he a potential leader of a Texas Democratic resurgence? If not, I’ll pass…give ‘im a Norske Medal of Citizenship and tell ‘im thanx for doin what he’s s’posed ta do.

Blue Texan’s regularly scheduled post is up on the front page: “Blue Dog Mike Ross Made Millions Selling Prescription Drugs, Threatening to Kill Health Care Reform”

Yay Mr. Doggett! I knew my rep would come through in the end. The most responsive Congressional Representative I have ever had, bar none. When I contact my Senators on the other hand, I get a nice email telling me how happy they are that I support their, _____________, bill/policy/idea, (never what I’ve written or phoned about), and if I could see my way clear, they could sure use a donation using this conveneint form… Raise your hand, everybody who thinks I have ever included a donation to Hutchinson or Cornyn…

I’ve always respected Rep. Doggett. The reality of Washington is that lobbyists have the good wine, the fancy European cheese and the money to host lavish parties. It’s somewhat natural for people to like that stuff (though a small minority, including myself, disdain it). If I show up on the hill with a bag of Cheetos and offer some to Chuck Grassley, he might wave at me. I was on the hill earlier this year and bumped into an unnamed Senator. I said “Hi, Senator.” There was no response and this Senator kept on walking. I wasn’t in an armani suit. I was just walking around with briefing books and delivering them to offices. A few people there were very friendly, but for the most part it reminded me of a giant high school where everybody was concerned with being seen in the “in crowd.” Unfortunately that means that there is a strong incentive for them not to be seen with the owners of the Capitol–the people. And because they don’t want to be seen with us, it’s rare that they ever hear from us directly.

Of course! I believe that a huge part of the congress not wanting to extend a public option to the rest of us is to maintain their perceived privileged status

It’s nice to be part of the ruling class. Your every whim catered to by sycophants and other courtiers. The only thing missing from the Sun King’s court are the ermine lined clothes. Now it’s Armani silk suits and Gucci shoes, no buckles, however.

I know. Tom Coburn thought he was killing the public option when he added an amendment to the HELP bill which required all Congresspeople to take the public option. Then Ted Kennedy phoned in and said, “Sign me up, I want to be the first one on the public option,” or something to that effect. The Committee then unanimously adopted Coburn’s amendment. Just another reason to love Kennedy.

Back to the cesspool.

Namaste

This is great, great work.

I’m a little confused though. You’re getting D’s to commit to not vote for a bill that doesn’t include a public option, yet yesterday I was ridiculed for committing to not voting for a Democrat if they didn’t pass a bill or passed one without a public option. Seems similar logic to me, trying to put pressure on them in any way possible to get them to do the right thing.

Anyways, just cause I’m confused doens’t mean I’m not happy. Glad to hear this. I just wish ALL of em would grow a set of balls, and pass a good bill. Damned lobbyists representing wealth has too damned much power.

Way to go Jane. I first came here yesterday after seeing you (I think it was you) and the FDL.com blog mentioned in a documentary (from 06 IIRC). LOL, thought it was nice to see a sexy woman with brains and a sense of humor and wanted to check it out.

Got off on the wrong foot yesterday I think, but boy I’m impressed. Love that you’re pressuring them to do the right thing. Keep up the good work.

Anyone have information on the whip count at this point?

You have to have people demanding more.

as long as they don’t demand too much, like actual single payer, then you’re a troll. (see previous thread.)

OFG, we’re happy to have you hear and appreciate your enthusiasm.

I think people were concerned not because you said you wouldn’t vote for a D, but because you said you’d vote for an R. I appreciate that people feel their Dem reps have failed them — if by some weird freak chance I wound up in a district where the D was Joe Lieberman, I’d never be able to cast a vote for him myself.

But I think voting for an R just makes matters worse.

Anyway, happy you’re here. Hope you stick around.

You’re not demanding anything of anyone who has any power to do anything, unless I’ve missed something.

Where’s your whip list? Who are you pressuring? What’s your strategy?

and your demands upon the (D) congresspeople are not backed up by a convincing ‘or else’ clause.

OldFatGuy came and announced that he had called his reps and included and ‘or else’ clause and he got a thumping for it.

nice to see he’s back, nice to see you extending a welcome.

and sincere, genuine appreciation to you and FDL for not utilizing >kick/ban the way some other Prog sites do – not that I have experienced it personally.

I’ll work on writing up my secret master plan – might take a week or two.

Omg – love, love Doggett. I wish he were my representative – but in a district where Lamar Smith keeps getting re-elected, guess Lloyd wouldn’t have a chance.

I will send him a thank-you, since cash isn’t available right now.

And imagine, a congressman who encourages popular action to counterweigh the lobbyists.

btw, the clip on the Meek post – the ins. lobbyist on the steps- gaaaah. Talk about spouting the talking points. Hard to listen to. Yay NYCEve and Jane for continuing to keep calm, instead of busting him one for his lies. (Yes, I have a suppressed violent streak. It’s why I don’t do confrontation if I can help it.)

Remember, he’s in frickin’ TEXAS. And he’s taking the pledge.

Well, I really am sticking to that part of the pledge (as well as my family), but I also won’t be posting asking others too. IMO it was (and is) a good idea, because I agree with sporkovat, they need an “or else” or otherwise the calls are just calls.

Look, after 8 years of Bush and Cheney trashing the Constitution and everything American stands for, I’m not ever going to “be” a Republican. But if the Democrats don’t act like anti-Republicans, and instead act like Republican (Lite), then IMO, there’s not enough of a difference there to really matter. Also, I believe by my pledge to vote for the R, it “doubles” the “or else”. Instead of just losing my vote, it costs Webb/Warner twice as much, as they lose my vote PLUS the R gains one.

I am sorry once again for ruffing feathers, and was quite a bit distressed at basically being called a Republican plant (not by you), but I do assure you my intentions were in the right spot.

I want health care reform THIS YEAR, with A STRONG PUBLIC OPTION.

Now, that said, I agree with sporkovat 1000% about the need for single payer. I just believe there are 4 possible things outcomes this year.
1) Single payer, fully government financed healthcare (my favorite)
2) Health care reform, with a strong public option (Obama’s idea)
3) A co-op (or cop out) that is really just the status quo with dressing.
4) Nothing.

Of those 4, I’ve felt 1 had 0 chance, 2 had the best chance, 3 and 4 were realistic alternatives to 2. So, because while 1 had 0 chance (basically because Obama threw it overboard from the start), that the best, and most realistic, way to get there was through 2, as it would be a “stepping stone”.

However, in recent days, it became clear to me that instead of 2 being likely, it was no looking more and more like 3 or 4. And IMO, if it’s 3 or 4 (no bill or a cop out bill), then that will delay by at least a generation real health care reform being done. Thus, it’s why I became alarmed, and why I contacted my Senators. And I’m not going to make a pledge and not live up to it.

Also, sporkovat, THANK YOU for that link to the Bill Moyers episode. I wish I knew how to copy it to a DVD and give it to my family. Leave it to PBS to be the only station that would carry such a thing. The rest of the media is entirely right wing owned and operated (despite their constant cries to the contrary). Excellent piece, and should be required viewing IMO. Thank you.

austin, texas constituent here. doggett’s my rep i’m almost always happy to say. he’s never vulnerable and he’s always got plenty of campaign $. if you’ve got limited funds, norske, do save them for someone who is vulnerable.

“Remember, he’s in frickin’ TEXAS. And he’s taking the pledge.”

he’s in austin, which isn’t really in texas.

Lloyd is a great member of Congress. He was also a great state senator and a great justice of the Texas Supreme Court. A man motivated by doing what’s right.

Keep Austin Weird!

Lloyd Doggett was at the top of Tom Delay’s hit list (right next to Martin Frost) when the republikans tried to re-district him out of his seat. Doggett was forced to run from a different (new) district when his district was gerrymandered from here to west Houston.
I have been blessed to be able to vote for Lloyd for every office he has ever run for. Despite the gerrymandering and change of districts he has remained my congressman to this day. They tried to bring in a carpetbagger to run against him. She ran under her Hispanic name to pander to our Spanish speaking voters, but it became known that she’d never used her Spanish surname before in her public life. She’d rented a house in my neighborhood to claim residency. And she was a hand picked “Bushy”. She moved out after her defeat. Nobody hears from her anymore. Kind of like Delay.
Lloyd Doggett is the best representative I’ve ever had and Not just because he’s the only one I can remember. (memory-recovered edit: Jake Pickle wasn’t a bad congressman.) Being a good politician from Texas is a miracle. It is a miracle that Llyod Doggett performs every day. Knowing that he is My representative and that we are of the same mind on the issues gives me the fortitude to endure the hell hole that is Texas politics and it gave me the strength to survive the Shrub cheneyBushco illegitimacy.
May All That Is Holy Bless Lloyd Doggett.