I doubt AFL-CIO has the muscle to singlehandedly knock off any single congresscritter who runs away from public option.

Dems had 60 votes in the Senate and they couldn’t even pass EFCA, for chrissake.

toe the line

… faux progressives quietly not pledging, reliably in lobbyists’ pockets.

tow the line

… baucus/conrad/bluedogs/obama shilling lobbyists’ line.

anyhoo, I’ve obviously seen this after the PA meeting, but just in case you or someone you know is to attend the Ben Lommond event – here is a Slinkerwink diary with some research on her. probably need to use the Control F to sift through to the Congresswoman’s mention – but I found it enlightening

diary link

the fun starts about here

No one doubts the merits of a publicly finaced health plan in reducing costs while providing the same level of care as private plans and for that reason alone it is crucial.

An equally important point is that private insurers by their nature are the reason that health care costs increase perpetually. Private insurers limit the full reimbursement of the cost of health delivery and that non-payment of cost is covered by the the public directly and perversely to the benefit of those same private insurers.

Firstly, private insurers do not fully cover any services when they feel the cost of doing so becomes too expensive. Also by making insurance inaccessible for various reasons, the cost of caring for the uninsured is also not fully covered and passed on.

The health care providers faced with unreimbursed costs raise the price of their services and based on those increased prices the private insurers then increase the premiums on their policy holders.

Private insurers are therefore both the cause of raising health costs and the direct beficiary at the public’s expense. This point needs to be emphasised, it is the private insurers by their nature that perpetually drive up the cost of health care.

Lastly, Obama has openly stated his predilection for profit making, and has acted just as openly on that predilection. He must basically be seen as an impediment and the brunt of the effort directed to electing candidates whose interests lies with us. That is why in spite of what they may proclaim, Obama and those that side with him must realize that by our offorts our local representatives will vote for our interests or they will be voted out.

What, other than gratuitous wishful thinking, justifies confidence at this point that whatever bill emerges from the sausage-making process, passes (maybe) and is signed into law will have stronger consumer protection features than what’s been discussed so far?

By the time a bill emerges, certainly by the time it’s voted on and signed into law, it’s too late to do anything about it. If regulations are going to be the poor substitute for the strong public option (itself a poor substitute for Medicare expansion leading to universal single-payer) then they need to be strong regulations. If such is not part of the current discussion then we need to impress upon Obama and the Dems that it needs to be.

What of Richard Trumka? How can he say the things he has said and then contaminate himself with this ‘goody bag’ shit at the picnic? (Yes, I am assuming the prez will be offering ‘goody bag’ shit. If it turns out I’m wrong, I will be ecstatic.)

The O Administration has by now built up a significant track record, early though it be. Name an issue. Any issue. From a progressive perspective, the Administration has crashed and burned. And alas, progressives are right about everything. If we are talking health care, education, the economy, the environment, torture or the permanent war in the East, we are fucked.

What do progressives do now? This is a serious question. What do we do now? OK, maybe Obama will pull the fat out of the fire, maybe he will change course and turn into the president we thought he would be. But the signs and the portents are all crap and the augers are ill.

What is to be done?