Dean also said "there will be primaries against Democrats who vote against the public option." DFA has been doing terrific work of late.  They have remained safely outside of the veal pen and are doing a smart and vigorous job of advocating for true health care reform.  They never worry about losing their invitation to [...]

I love Bill Clinton, but we all make mistakes. Sometimes we even are forced to do things we don’t want to. That’s why I was prepared to ask Bill Clinton a tough question last night as he delivered the opening keynote address at Netroots Nation 2009.

And what should our takeaway be from all of this?

1. When the Justice Department starts looking into pay-for-play ($150 million for $220 billion is a damn good deal) because the reckless Billy Tauzin just can’t help himself, Baucus will be cannon fodder.
2. If there’s blowback onto the White House,  it’s all Messina’s fault.
3. Rahm is working through the Blue Dogs to get the House bill to conform to the Senate Finance bill.  
4. Anyone who thinks the White House is going to bring all these people to the table and cut all these deals, just to fuck everybody over in conference needs to be in rehab.

 Is Messina going to be a good soldier and take one for the team?  Well Rahm’s definitely setting him up.  We may well find out.

Ryam Grim of the Huffington Post got his hands on a July 7 memo documenting the deal between PhRMA and the White House, which both are now denying but which was initially confirmed by Jim Messina, Deputy White House Chief of Staff to the New York Times. The memo was ostensibly written following the July 7 meeting at the White House between pharmaceutical industry representatives and members of the administration (whom the White House refused to name).

Mike Allen reports in Politico that PhRMA and other White House friendly groups are going to launch a $12 advertizing blitz for August in support of the White House plan: PhRMA’s participation is key, because the group has promised to kick in as much as $150 million for advertising and grassroots activity to help pass [...]

You can see Allie ask her question on the local news. They didn’t get Rep. Fudge’s response, but I think that’s good enough to provisionally put her in the “only with robust” category. She is a 676 cosponsor and serves on the Education & Labor committee that co-authored the bill. If anyone has video of the event and Rep. Fudge’s response to Alllie’s question, send it along.

Before any Democrat sits down to negotiate with a Republican over health care, the Democrat must ask a simple question, in public with cameras rolling. If the answer is anything less than “No, of course not,” then send them home and don’t waste your time.

All across the country, the opponents of health care reform are spreading misinformation about President Barack Obama proposals to improve health care coverage for all Americans. We shouldn’t be surprised about that. The insurance companies, the right-wing radio hosts, the K-Street lobbyists and the Republican leadership who are spreading the misinformation have a vested interest [...]

Yvette Clarke doesn’t have any health care events planned so far for recess. She comes awfully close to taking the pledge on the WNYC with Amy Eddings today, saying she wouldn’t vote for a “watered down” version. It would be good to know exactly what “watered down” means — will she vote for co-ops, or triggers, or giveaways to PhRMA because the White House doesn’t want to be 13-1?

Howie Klein says it’s about two hours before Adam Schiff is set to get to the Alhambra town hall tonight, and the crowd is about equally split between pro- and anti- reformers:"yes we can" shouting at "no you can’t." Slightly more pro-health care reform folks. The wingers are more organized, yelling "Freedom yes, Obamacare no."  [...]