Comments on: The Baucus Caucus: PhRMA, Insurance, Hospitals and Rahm http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/ Politics for liberal newsgeeks Sat, 18 Feb 2012 05:37:02 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Mellifluous http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39629 Mellifluous Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:34:08 +0000 http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39629 <p>Why in the HELL aren’t We, the People, defined as at least part of “stakeholders?” If we’re not stakeholders, then let the stakeholders hold the stake while we drive it through their hearts.</p> Why in the HELL aren’t We, the People, defined as at least part of “stakeholders?” If we’re not stakeholders, then let the stakeholders hold the stake while we drive it through their hearts.

]]> By: Arturius http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39500 Arturius Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:03:22 +0000 http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39500 <p>I wish I was skeptical about Jane’s thesis. But it’s really hard to be. My 40 years of political activism resulted in maybe three significant victories. You can’t argue with the numbers: it’s difficult to win when the deck’s stacked and those around the table that you thought were your partners are actually cheats out to get you. </p> <p>Earlier this year, I witnessed the Secretary of State committing a rather base act, playing along with Bush holdovers to complete the sell off of a major public asset to corporate interests. This is where Rahm got his start, right, as consigliere for the Clintons? It’s all too cliché to gain power merely to rape the commonweal. People do that? I can’t empathize. It seems to me that honest stewardship and progressive policymaking are their own best rewards. They’re not?</p> <p>What does this foretell about policy battles to come? Climate change? Privacy protections (I know, that’s almost a goner)? Alternative energy? Educational reform? Transparency in government? Gay marriage? Fair and open elections? An end to the wars? Will the quest for each progressive Holy Grail turn into an auction resulting in more private riches? And a party put in power by its left ends up being a party of the right? What a Hardingesque nightmare. Tell me it ain’t so, President Obama. I know you’re reading this.</p> I wish I was skeptical about Jane’s thesis. But it’s really hard to be. My 40 years of political activism resulted in maybe three significant victories. You can’t argue with the numbers: it’s difficult to win when the deck’s stacked and those around the table that you thought were your partners are actually cheats out to get you.

Earlier this year, I witnessed the Secretary of State committing a rather base act, playing along with Bush holdovers to complete the sell off of a major public asset to corporate interests. This is where Rahm got his start, right, as consigliere for the Clintons? It’s all too cliché to gain power merely to rape the commonweal. People do that? I can’t empathize. It seems to me that honest stewardship and progressive policymaking are their own best rewards. They’re not?

What does this foretell about policy battles to come? Climate change? Privacy protections (I know, that’s almost a goner)? Alternative energy? Educational reform? Transparency in government? Gay marriage? Fair and open elections? An end to the wars? Will the quest for each progressive Holy Grail turn into an auction resulting in more private riches? And a party put in power by its left ends up being a party of the right? What a Hardingesque nightmare. Tell me it ain’t so, President Obama. I know you’re reading this.

]]> By: Jane Hamsher http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39492 Jane Hamsher Fri, 21 Aug 2009 04:03:56 +0000 http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39492 <p>That’s an interesting thought.</p> That’s an interesting thought.

]]> By: bobash http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39491 bobash Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:59:25 +0000 http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39491 <p>Jane,</p> <p>I’m new to your blog. Dropped in today by way of Greenwald. </p> <p>Fantastic post. You pieced the puzzle together in a way that answered several questions about Obama’s true intentions that had been nagging me. Very fine work. Thanks.</p> Jane,

I’m new to your blog. Dropped in today by way of Greenwald.

Fantastic post. You pieced the puzzle together in a way that answered several questions about Obama’s true intentions that had been nagging me. Very fine work. Thanks.

]]> By: Justinajustice http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39405 Justinajustice Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:13:11 +0000 http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39405 <p>Yes, I think we have to thank President Obama for running for office and proving that a majority of Americans have rejected racism. Thank you President Obama. </p> <p>Now, unless President Obama is prepared to drastically change his act to carry out his campaign promises and those of the 2008 Democratic Party Platform, we have to turn our energies to electing someone who we all know will carry out his campaign promises and those of the Democratic Party platform. Welcome, Governor Howard Dean to the 2012 Democratic Party presidential race.</p> <p>Whether he want to so not, we have to draft Dean for 2012 to restore the Rule of Law, Democracy and the lives of millions of Americans who are deprived of basic health care.</p> Yes, I think we have to thank President Obama for running for office and proving that a majority of Americans have rejected racism. Thank you President Obama.

Now, unless President Obama is prepared to drastically change his act to carry out his campaign promises and those of the 2008 Democratic Party Platform, we have to turn our energies to electing someone who we all know will carry out his campaign promises and those of the Democratic Party platform. Welcome, Governor Howard Dean to the 2012 Democratic Party presidential race.

Whether he want to so not, we have to draft Dean for 2012 to restore the Rule of Law, Democracy and the lives of millions of Americans who are deprived of basic health care.

]]> By: JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39298 JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:24:12 +0000 http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39298 <p>Dean was the architect of the 2006 landslide as DNC chairman. Dean came up with the 50 state strategy (which Rahm opposed vociferously). When the Dems won, Rahm was the first to go on TV and take credit, and being a media darling, the MSM indulged Rahm. Despite Rahm’s attempts to steal the credit, everyone involved in Democratic politics knows that it was Dean who masterminded the takeover.</p> Dean was the architect of the 2006 landslide as DNC chairman. Dean came up with the 50 state strategy (which Rahm opposed vociferously). When the Dems won, Rahm was the first to go on TV and take credit, and being a media darling, the MSM indulged Rahm. Despite Rahm’s attempts to steal the credit, everyone involved in Democratic politics knows that it was Dean who masterminded the takeover.

]]> By: JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39295 JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:16:22 +0000 http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39295 <p><strong>Does Rahm think we’re just a herd of dumb sheep?</strong></p> <p>Yes.</p> Does Rahm think we’re just a herd of dumb sheep?

Yes.

]]> By: PMA1 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39258 PMA1 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:30:08 +0000 http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39258 <p>Thank you for this summary. I came here from Glen Greenwald’s amazing blog and have bookmarked this site.</p> Thank you for this summary. I came here from Glen Greenwald’s amazing blog and have bookmarked this site.

]]> By: eagleye http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39141 eagleye Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:01:51 +0000 http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39141 <p>Jane,</p> <p>I wonder to what extent Obama and Emmanuel have boxed themselves (and us) into a situation where they have already made concessions to the healthcare industry that can’t be reconciled with the bill that is likely to come out of Congress?</p> Jane,

I wonder to what extent Obama and Emmanuel have boxed themselves (and us) into a situation where they have already made concessions to the healthcare industry that can’t be reconciled with the bill that is likely to come out of Congress?

]]> By: TheCallUp http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39109 TheCallUp Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:10:01 +0000 http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/the-baucus-caucus-phrma-insurance-hospitals-and-rahm/#comment-39109 <p>It’s hard to believe that Obama is as Machiavellian as the worst of them.</p> <p>I just wrote an Op-Ed that I submitted around and now Jane and Glenn’s superb insights and investigative work has largely made my points null and void. :)</p> <p>The audacity of the hoax!</p> It’s hard to believe that Obama is as Machiavellian as the worst of them.

I just wrote an Op-Ed that I submitted around and now Jane and Glenn’s superb insights and investigative work has largely made my points null and void. :)

The audacity of the hoax!

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