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More fights ahead in Congress over health care
Underscoring how every lawmaker is under intense scrutiny, the liberal blog Firedoglake.complanned to begin TV ads in Arkansas next week criticizing two of that state’s Democratic members of Congress for not fully supporting the health care drive. The $78,000 campaign — a significant sum in that state — was aimed at Sen. Blanche Lincoln, a member of the Finance committee, and Rep. Mike Ross, a leader of the House’s moderate Blue Dog Democrats who have sought to keep the bill’s price tag modest.
Greg Sargent, The Plum Line:
Liberals To Rahm: Who’s “F**king Stupid” Now?
The ad, which FDL is raising money for right now, also represents an implicit shot at the big liberal groups for largely backing down from targeting centrists at the White House’s insistence.
Indeed, there’s a bit of a split in the pro-health care reform movement between those who are willing to place their trust in the White House and want to maintain access, and those who maintain that the only way to affect real long term change is to build Congressional progressives into a powerful and unyielding force that won’t budge on core principles.
That tension, of course, is only going to get exacerbated in the weeks ahead.
Rick Klein, ABC’s The Note:
So much for Rahm Emanuel’s cease-fire.
“Stand with Democrats now — or we’ll find someone who will,” says the ad from the FDL Action PAC which organizers said would run for the next 10-14 days in the Little Rock market.
Ben Smith, Politico:
Firedoglake, which has lately become a hub of congressional-oriented organizing, and raised quite a bit of money for members of Congress along the way, is planning to air this ad targeting Senator Blanche Lincoln and Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas with the kind of confrontational rhetoric that, Greg Sargent notes, Rahm has waved them off.
We’ve already raised over $11,000 just this morning toward our goal of reaching 60% of Arkansas Democrats statewide and nearly 100% of Democrats in Mike Ross’s district. That is a meaningful buy that will send a very strong message right in the back yards of Lincoln and Ross.
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Let’s force the Republicans do a real Jimmy Stewart filibuster, and pay the political price.
Take one of the _Senate_ committee bills, with a strong public option, and introduce it to the _House_, expedite it thought committees, and pass it while the Senate dithers. There will probably be zero Republican votes. Have the polls ready to show that it’s what the people actually prefer.
Then bring the same to the floor in the Senate. The Republicans will filibuster it, of course.
But send Joe Biden to preside over the Senate, and make the Republicans actually hold the floor and talk continuously to block the vote. It will be great TV: the reason you can’t have health insurance reform is that the Republicans won’t even let it come to a vote.
And if they make a tactical mistake, pass it with 51 votes. It’s the same bill that the House passed, no need for conference committee nonsense, just send it to Obama and it’s law.
Getting their attention already.
I think you’re assuming that the D leadership really want to pass such a strong bill, which may be a stretch. At least it is for Reid in the Senate. I think that’s part of the rationale for the ad campaign. To push the conservative side of the Democrats further left, or at least make them pay a price for their part in dragging the debate to the right.
Rahm is the personification of bleeping stoopid.
If we ever get a public option, it will be thanks to the FDL community.
MSNBC, Howard Dean on the BadMadMaxTax. “It is an outrage!”
Howard Dean, “I am delighted that the trigger was not there. It is a total fraud.”
Great job guys!
OT – I got an email from my lunatic fringe Righty parents about how the world is coming to an end because we’re letting Muslims hold a prayer gathering in the capitol. In trying to refute their lies (Obama’s a Muslim, banned the Christian prayer gathering, etc.) I discovered the Web is just lousy with sites lamenting this Muslim prayer gathering.
Just giving you a head-up on what bile is going to be spewing forth from the Right – I’m sure the MSM is going to pick up on this shortly.
The ad is a big waste.
Rahm is the man!
wow. AP, ABC, & Politico reporting absent the usual tsk-tsking
So what exactly do you do for a living that you’re able to be in every single health care thread almost instantly?
As someone who has watched over an active comments section for years, I have to say it’s kind of anomalous.
This blog is so punk rock. Love you Jane.
whatever you do, don’t send them this :D
Anybody see this little gem from the Values Voter Summit?
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/…..alth-care/
Good news for D’s 2010 and beyond, especially considering that the D’s have been less than stellar at governing these last few months.
AND THE KILLNI’ GOES ON AND ON AND…
Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:
As a contributor to Act Blue in the past I am VERY reluctant to add any more money I can’t really afford until I get an understanding of not only where the money is goin but what the strategy is and what efforts are bein’ made to advance progressive leadership alternatives to the existing pathetically ineffective group.
It seems that in the past Act Blue has been partially responsible for getting Blue Dogs elected when it would have been better to have wingnuts occupyin’ the seat…now we hafta spend money to pressure the same DINOS like Lincoln and Pryor but they have a bit more cover because they’ve got numbers, especially in the House of Representatives.
So please convince me that my money is not gunna go down the same fuckin rat hole that got us in this mess in the first place. I’m serious, Sister Jane, I really wanna believe that Act Blue has it’s shit together here and that there is an end game that includes advancin’ progressive alternatives to Rahm and Nancy Pelosi.
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, BUT CHOSE YOUR TARGETS CAREFULLY!!
Sounds like a typical RNC boilerroom troll to me.
I’ve seen him/her before, too. But never noticed the timing. Don’t know if he/she works in an affected industry. I know s/he is worried about the brown people being covered. Doesn’t want a government take over but wants to put the whole thing off 10-15 years so s/he can enjoy Medicare in the meantime.
“government take -over” shoulda had quotes in the original post
and another thing…there are enough progressives in the House of Representatives to block ANY healthcare bill and if the House moves fast enough and the leadership is motivated, the House can control the reconcilliation process. So why not use Act Blue to pressure the leadership in both chambers and support a couple of progressive leaders in both bodies who are willin to stand up against the existing sell-out leadership. In my opinion, the threats from Act Blue hafta be targeted right at Pelsoi and Reid.
Citizen tinman 1967:
Ok, now you got your fifteen seconds in the sunshine…back under the bridge before you hurt yourself.
Way to go, FDL!
I’m unemployed, so my contribution is pretty small, but it keeps me able to make such contributions at critical junctures in this fight.
Go, Firepups!
In puppy love, JimmyJeff
i was planning to surprise my sweetheart with dinner at a nice restaurant tonight. i’ll donate the money to bring down lincoln and ross instead. my partner will approve. thanks, jane and everyone else at FDL.
This should add some fuel to the reform fire:
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.c…..hp?ref=fpb
45,000 die per year because they don’t have insurance. Remind me how many people die in the USA from terrorism each year? Yeah… puts the wars and the police state we are paying for in a whole new perspective.
Citizen Norske,
I am with you all the way. We are asked to give money almost as if it is not a legal bribe with a quid pro quo.
Representative government is a bit dangerous, ain’t it.. because we put reps in and then they become tied to special interests who have their ear and stuff the bank accounts.
I would DEMAND that any money taken from Blue America require the recipient to sign a pledge to sponsor or support public finance of elections and to outlaw all private political contributions.
Money has perverted democracy.
That IS a form or terrorism. STATE sanctioned terrorism. Our government is complicit in these murders.
Thanks, Jane.
The press calling House Blue Dogs “moderate” is like calling torture “strenuous questioning”. It doesn’t quite capture their position on the political spectrum of obstructionism/cooperation and insider/outsider that defines today’s Capitol Hill politics.
Thankfully, blogs are here to help correct the uninformed and uninforming quality of the traditional media.
Hee hee hee… I’d love to hear what Rahm has to say about this!
“Those fucking firepups are fucking stupid!”
“I’m serious, Sister Jane, I really wanna believe that Act Blue has it’s shit together and that there is an end game that includes advancin’ progressive alternatives to Pelsoi and Reid.”
Guess ya don’t want my money…sigh, I been invoved in enough fund raisin’ ta know that it’s just as important to expand the dialogue with your supporters as it is ta get their money because after all it’s your supporters’ votes that you are tryin’ ta use ta pressure these corrupt bastards.
Obviously, Jane and Co. didn’t get the DNC memo.
It’s Happy Time!
I would suggest that when saying, “Republican” we should always substitute “RepublicanAsshole”. Likewise “Rahm” should always be edited to “Rahm-The-Destroyer”.
I agree that the Democratic Party’s current leadership does NOT want to pass credible health care reform, though many of its senior members and many more of its rank and file do want to pass such reforms. They still remember what it means to be a Democrat.
Classically liberal California is giving us more DiFi’s and Issa’s than Henry Waxman’s, though Mr. Waxman’s leadership is no small thing.
Economically war torn Ohio may give us artificially bronzed, crying John Boehner. But it also gives us progressives Sen. Sherrod Brown and Congressman Dennis Kucinich. Mr. K is a classic maverick, aka old-style liberal, but in three years in the Senate, Mr. Brown has shown a greater capacity to build networks, especially on health care reform.
It’s a good state for Jane to continue to watch. Next year, the conservative Sen. Voinovich will retire, which gives progressives a chance to capture both senate seats. Jane hosted here the two leading Dem. runners a short while ago.
Keep up the stellar work, Jane. To all, donate if you can; agitate for credible reform if you can’t. If it’s all you can do, keep up your informed, constructive comments here. Many thanks.
this strikes me as exactly the way you deal with DLC/blue doggers. forget the threat of a threat and platitudinal deflections that are designed to alibi inaction and calculated deferrals.
demonstrations of intent is what they understand.
i agree. while i know my contribution this time will go for this specific ad campaign, i refuse to throw money at blue dogs through ActBlue, which is what happened in the 2008 election.
Well at least the AP is a consistent shill:
The big lie of the folks hiding behind those Blue Dog masks.
i pitched in and I’m poor as shit.
Everyone needs to throw in a couple of bucks.
“who’s fucking stupid now” indeed.
love the ad, go kick some blue dog ass.
Blue Texan’s regularly scheduled post is up: “Jon Kyl’s (R-AZ) Brilliant Idea for Health Care Reform: Let’s Be Like Texas!”
Citizen Hamsher,
I was a participant in local phone-in Health Care meeting with my Rep. Doris Matsui. Doris (as heir to her husbands seat) is generally viewed as a “toe-the-line” House Democrat. She’s not a member of the Progressive Caucus and wasn’t a signatory of the “We Won’t Sign Without The PO” letter. Yet last night all she could talk about was the how it was essential that a strong public option be included. She consistently pointed out that this was the ONLY way to realize competition with the private insurers. I’d say that 90% of the callers enunciated support for a PO, as well.
It was interesting that the participants were screened to be only her constituents. I was on for about 40 minutes and didn’t hear one “Tea Bagger”. There were a few people, clearly fed right-wing memes, that were confused about how the plans might compel them to “accept a public option”.
I’ve also noticed a slight change of tone from NPR…perhaps after local affiliates complained that their fund-raising was being hit by the “inside-the-beltway” attitudes of the Washington -based announcers.
My head is exploding but I do not think that is covered by my health insurance. It could be worse, if I lived in New Orleans and I was an African American.
I certainly didn’t. Most of the US didn’t. If Rahm thinks that he can push us around like a Chicago pol. orders the prefectmen (or aldermen, whatever they have in that town) he needs to get real.
Fantastic ad, Jane. Getting all this attention for it BEFORE it runs is event better: that’s tremendous leverage for the money collected.
It’s been a while since I said this, but it fits this post:
Rahm = Rove
Citizen whataretheysmoking:
There is something else that I am tryin ta get accross but my English are terrible and it’s the only language I know well enough to abuse. What bothers me is that the tactics used on a lot of blogs is to try and scare up enough hits and enough cash to make it onto the cable talkin’ heads or be mentioned in “Politico”…in other words, to become a player in the Washington bubble and the political entertainment business. There are enough progressive Democrats in BOTH houses of congress to make a difference in the leadership but only if they know their asses are covered. By playin the ad game against DINOs, some of which Act Blue helped to elect, we ignore spendin resources to shore up progressive leaders. Good God, the Democrats have enough votes to get ANYthing they want if the leadership will go there.
Me too.
Well done Jane.
Oh Please! You trolls know that the request by firedoglake.com is to pay for the ad! If you’re ready to give up then, go ahead and do so but, don’t was our time. We know exactly what we’re doing and have done. It sounds to me like the Republicans are starting to smell their own corpses. They’re about to get crushed again and these blue dogs will pay the price. These ads are perfectly timed with the release of Baucus’ piece of crap. Soldier on guys! I’m starting to see the finish line for health care and the Republicans!
BTW, Good ad, that sums it precisely. Critters don’t give a rat’s ass about their continent’s wishes and in this case their health or their pocket books.
Citizen roxsteady:
I hope it wasn’t me that you were referring to as “You trolls”…but if it was then it’s clear that you have drunk the KOOL AID and are incapable of bein’ trusted with sharp objects.
Citizen SanderO:
Yep it’s a great ad but I would also like ta see efforts to give the progressive leadership some testosterone and pressure the existin’ leadership to go after the DINO bastards…this is using scarce resources to play the same old game instead of takin over the playin field.
Slight criticism here – Act Blue isn’t choosing whom to support. They are just a way of getting money to the candidates. It’s lists like Blue America, the list that FDL and other big blogs support, that are choosing.
On the point of who was chosen for Blue America, I agree that they chose badly. I looked down that list and wondered why half those folks were on it. That’s one of the reasons I wrote this. In contrast to that strategy, though, I think this is a good one. I try to support the strategies that I think might work, and don’t support the ones that I think will fail. I think it’s going to be a learning experience for all of us.
i disagree we need to make people aware of who is stoping the public option and real reform from happening and mobilize against them, its not republicans its so called democrats , we got 60 and still no change, we need to try harder im sorry thats just it lets get 65, or 70, or 80 whatever it takes i mean , peoples lives are at stake!
i agree. that’s why i will only donate to SPECIFIC campaigns. if it is for individuals, i will donate AFTER they deliver – not attempt to bribe them to deliver when they receive salaries funded by my tax dollars to do the same.
as for people calling randomly calling others “trolls” here, i hope the mods are taking notice.
that was beautyiful, oh cook somethin nice for her at home, and then get freaky!!!
i’m the gal. i’ll cook something nice for him and have a toast for the pups here.
Jane, you naughty girl, have you been letting Greg Sargent copy answers from your homework?
Slipping ahead to the next post, here is what to emphasize over and over and over again when talking to people who say “but it’ll be 1994 all over again if we don’t pass SOMETHING!”:
i disagree its not just about keeping what weve got its about bringing on more and expanding our reach, those progressives are oviously not enough alone , count the numbers its not hard, we need to take out THE TRASH!
Thanks for making this available, Jane! I just contributed.
From what I have seen, FDL looks at actions as well as words in campaigns and pledges and it rewards progressives as a movement, to borrow from Sirota, not Democrats as a party. Perhaps more FDL fundraising like this one would be better for you than generic ActBlue donations? I like the idea of Accountability Now donations because I prefer to give the money after the votes are over whenever possible rather than before. But realistically speaking, there is going to have to be some donation before you really know in order to get people elected and to reward steps along the way to the ultimate goal and show fundraising power. Then you just have to be ready to throw them out if they don’t follow through, which is why I love these ads.
Citizen heartrem:
I must not be speakin loud enough…we have enough progressive power now to go about “…bringing on more and expanding our reach..” Good God Citizen, we have overwhelmin’ majorities in BOTH houses and we’re still goin after the same DINOs and sell outs by buyin ads and puttin pressure on folks who are in safe districts or states. Muscle up the existing progressives so they can put the heat on the leadership to whip the Blue Dogs and DINOs into shape. Use the power that’s already there instead of playin into the triangulation game that keeps progressive chasin the Holy Grail of “just a few more seats and we’ll be ready to fight”…that’s horshit, Citizen!
I’m with you that Lincoln and Ross need to be exposed.
How vulnerable is Ross to having a R get his seat? I really don’t mind DINO Blue dogs being voted out in 2010.
Do we have plans for how to influence re districting in 2010? Blue America should be looking at state legislative races for 2010 with the idea that re districting can help us put progressives in Congress in the 2012 and later elections. I’d love to see Baron Hill defeated by a Republican in 2010, then find his new district doesn’t love blue dogs in 2012 when he tries to come back. I imagine there are many districts where such a scenario could play out.
I keep belaboring this, because I think we need to be taking the strategic offensive, not just focus on shorter term tactical actions.
To Whatare and Norske: Did you read the blog from cujo #46? He/she freely admits that ACTBLUE supported candidates they probably shouldn’t have. Politics is not an exact science. It is well known that the candidate will say one thing and the legislator will do another. Plus in most of these Blue Dog districts I’ll bet you it’s pretty tough to find a VIABLE Progressive candidate out there. So things aren’t perfect. Do you withold $ because ACTBLUE must use a shotgun rather than a sniper rifle (so to speak.)? Was your money completely wasted in the last election? Mebbe so. You’ll have to answer that yourself. One thing I find that Progressives have a hard time accepting is the fact that we live in a REDNECK nation. Most progressive legislation that emerges is usually an anomaly. I learned this to my dismay 35 yrs ago hitchiking around the country for a few yrs. As cujo said: this is going to be a learning experience.” Trial and error. Finally, I don’t think you are trolls. I think you ask good questions.
Well said.
This ad is brilliant in every way. It’s timing, it’s targeting, and the scope of who it will cover in a very affordable market compared to almost any other in the nation.
It will also hit constituents of New Dem congressman Snyder, Senator Mark Pryor, and Blue Dog Berry… all of whom are problems. Considering AR media is arch conservative or otherwise inept (with few small exceptions), I think letting people know that their support of PO is not a lonely position is very powerful indeed.
Thank Dog for FDL and all who help take this ad into the heart of the D party problem.
So chip in if you can… the bang for your buck will be quite significant here.
Citizen GDC707:
“…we live in a REDNECK nation…”
That’s total and complete BULLSHIT…look at the results of the last national election and look at how far the fascists and rednecks have been pushed into the backwoods and trailer courts. A majority of this country is NOT, read my fuckin’ lips, NOT redneck or “conservative” but the corporate oligarchy can keep the majority scared and splintered by playin the political fear game and scarrin the hell out of progressives with shadow puppets!
couldn’t agree more! have decided any health care reform bill finally coming out of congress will be bi-partisan: democrats in name only but who vote like republicans!
those who are obfuscating, delaying, attempting to water down and rejecting the public option in favor of more profits for the health care industry, need to know while they think only their conservative base will come out in their next primary, they are sadly mistaken!
Jane, my liege;
Never give in–never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.
- Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill
Thank you
You comments about Rahm are playing out here in Colorado in spades. The appointed Sen. Bennet is up for re-election in 2010. He has been wishy-washy on healthcare reform and EFCA. So, a local Democrat, former speaker of the state house of representatives, announced he would primary Bennet. Within 24 hours the White House announced that Obama was endorsing Bennet in the primary. So much for local – even state – control of the party.
This is clearly untrue, otherwise we would not be having the problems we are with the Blue Dogs and DLC Dems. The Progressive Caucus is still a minority within the Democratic Party, that’s what needs to change.
I don’t want to “take down” Blue Dogs, I want them to quit being Blue Dogs and be Progressive instead. If shaming them is a way to do that, so be it. If they won’t change their ways and would rather dare us to vote them out, so be it and let’s vote them out. Better to have a Republican who is clearly and unabashedly ideologically set on screwing the poor than a Blue Dog who hides behind being a “Democrat” while voting the same way. Blue Dogs are cowards and I don’t think it’s good to have cowards representing and leading us.
Let me add, I wouldn’t be supportive of Republicans replacing Blue Dogs if Progressives actually were in the leadership and setting Democratic policy. But in an environment where Progressive interests are going to be discarded anyway, I’d rather have Republicans be responsible for the destructive policies than “Democrats” who would just link those policies to Progressive Dems as well as themselves.
I think Roland Burris agrees with you, too.
I’m in for $25 today. More tomorrow.
It’s like putting my money on Jane (and of course, the American people).
OK FlameGuy let’s take a look. How ’bout a nice, cool, groovy PROGRESSIVE state like California? Governors: Ronald Reagan, George Deukmejian, Pete Wilson – all Right wingers. Arnold? Not a winger but a Repub nonetheless. The 2 Demos elected since 1967? Jerry Brown relegated to statewide joke status and Gray Davis cut off at the knees by recall vote. If you look at the state as a whole, the only truly Prog area is the Bay area and even THAT has red areas. Think San Diego is progressive? Think again. Orange County? HA! LA? Purple at best. And haven’t even gotten to the Central Valley -Bakersfield? Whoa. Fresno? Grrrrr. The desert districts – San Berdoo, Barstow ,PALM SPRINGS? RED, RED, RED. Now that’s wonderfully progressive CALI. Head east from there to the suburbs of Denver, into Utah, Idaho, Iowa, W. Virginia, New Hampshire,TEXAS, all of the South. Hell when you really start to look at it the only real reliable Prog areas are SF, Parts of the Northeast corridor Boston and NEW YAWK CITY. Toss in a smattering of college towns such as Ann Arbor and you are just about out of real true liberal areas. The election of 2008 was an anomaly due to an incredibly bad outgoing administration, an appalling Repub VEEP candidate and the STRONG scent of economic Depression. I’ve been listening to my fellow Progs predict the coming Revolution for 40 friggin’ years and we’re no closer now than we ever were. I’ll keep working and fighting for the cause, but don’t tell me to read your F****** lips cause you don’t know what your talking about.
Makes the blood boil.
I didn’t know that about ACT Blue. I have immediately withdrawn support from them.
It seems to me that Ross and Lincoln, using Obama as their example, feel quite comfortable accepting corporate cash even though it means betraying the people who put them into office.
Remember, Obama cut secret deals with BigPharma and the med.ins complex this summer, and stiffing the people who elected him is at the heart of his cynical plan.
While I am no fan of Rham, I think we need to keep in mind that he didn’t appoint himself chief of staff. The people Obama chooses to keep close to him and the decisions he makes reveal who President Obama is and what he cares about.
As I watch him, I am experiencing much cognitive dissonance. The values he
champions in his eloquent speeches are not realized in his actions.
Perhaps he should be challenged in a primary.