Excellent!

Yeah, I’m spoiling for a fight. Got a Dem challenger, state senator Charlie Justice, to Bill Young (R-FL10) but I’m going to have check his record in the FL legislature before I commit to him.

Tangentially on topic…

WTF is up with Sen Ron Wyden on Countdown saying how Harry Reid is trying to preserve a PO or PO like measures?! “He’s fighting hard” blah blah blah.
This just is not tracking with what’s being reported here by the FDL team.

Not buying the happy talk. Seems like Kabuki to me!

FunnyWheelieDiva

PO like. LOL

Very nice interview, Jane.

Indeed it is: intentionally-misleading circles within circles.

In another example from today’s public Senate session, of some of the secret Party/presidential manipulations (in lieu of public, democratic legislating) that have now slipped out into the open, and await decoding and deciphering [as posted in a comment to mikesong's Obama-character-witness Seminal diary about the once-secret PhRMA deal]:

The Dorgan amendment (the drug re-importation amendment, which has 30 co-sponsors, including Snowe and McCain) was called up for floor debate by Dorgan (as instructed by his Party leader) on Tuesday evening. It is now Thursday evening, two days later, and the Senate has adjourned for the night (as of shortly after 8 p.m.), without yet taking a vote on Dorgan’s amendment (though Dorgan was openly expecting one sometime yesterday afternoon), and after moving off the health care bill to debate (and, three hours in, see filed a cloture motion to end that debate two days hence, unless waived by UC) a motion to proceed to the multiple-appropriation-bill (trillion-dollar-plus) omnibus conference report just passed by the House.

Though no unanimous consent request to actually vote on the Dorgan amendment has yet been agreed to, one was offered at about 7 p.m. this evening by Harry Reid, after he was publicly pressured on the floor to do so (at least on behalf of the parallel Republican Senator Crapo amendment – formally a motion to commit – that was also called up for debate on Tuesday evening) by Republican leader Mitch McConnell at about 3 p.m. this afternoon.

After being publicly cast as the one stopping the amendment process by McConnell (rather than the other way around, as is the conventional wisdom the Democrats promote at every opportunity), Reid rather-petulantly agreed to try to do some more negotiating behind the scenes with McConnell on amendments later in the afternoon.

Then, at 7 p.m., Harry Reid came to the floor and proposed a UC request for (60-vote-margin) votes on four amendments (only two of which have been under active debate – Dorgan and Crapo). The other two amendments included were a Baucus Sense of the Senate amendment, paired with Crapo’s amendment, and a new, 100-page (Democratic) Senator Lautenberg amendment apparently also dealing with drug re-importation in some manner, to pair with (Democrat) Byron Dorgan’s.

Unanswered Questions: What is this new 100-page Lautenberg amendment (which was provided to the Republicans for review for the first time at 2 p.m. this afternoon), did Lautenberg come up with it on his own, and, most of all, why isn’t Lautenberg working with Dorgan to amend Dorgan’s amendment? Rather than undermining, presumably, the chances of Dorgan’s amendment passing (with 60 votes) by offering – assuming it is – a watered-down, political-cover substitute to Dorgan’s re-importation amendment (as is usually done by Democrats to counter “tough vote” Republican amendments, not Democratic amendments).

Meanwhile, while we try to figure out what this Lautenberg gambit is, Mitch McConnell was willing to agree to proceed to the Crapo and Baucus amendment votes this evening (in response to Reid at 7 p.m.), but could not agree on the Lautenberg/Dorgan pairing, because Republican Senators were taken by surprise, with only one hour’s notice, on the Lautenberg amendment’s lengthy language.

As he shut down the Senate this evening an hour later, Dick Durbin indicated that they hoped to renew their UC Request tomorrow (after Republicans have had a chance to review more carefully the Lautenberg amendment). So votes may in fact be held tomorrow on Dorgan and Lautenberg.

[In case my reading-between-the-lines point is less than clear here, yes, I am surmising, without proof as yet, that the White House is intervening via Lautenberg to save the gist of its PhRMA deal without being caught in the act (so mikesong's position, for example, can still be safely asserted, with plausible deniability), hoping that Democratic arms can be successfully twisted to support Lautenberg's amendment in lieu of supporting, and in order to defeat, Dorgan's...]

Correction: The new 100-page Lautenberg drug re-importation amendment was first provided to the Republican leader for review at 6 p.m. this evening, Thursday (according to Mitch McConnell), just one hour before Harry Reid propounded his Unanimous Consent Request for a vote on the (mystery) amendment. [Because you see, it's only and always Republicans who want to delay, delay, delay, and object, object, object for no good reason - right, Debbie Stabenow? Right, Harry Reid? Right, duplicitous Democrats and partisan talking point authors?]

A great spot, Jane! It was a nice touch, too, to thank Ed, first, for being in KC to cover the free health care clinic.

It means Positively Offensive.

Lucky me; Marcy Winograd in my district, good riddance Jane Harman!

We may have to throw out our whole Democratic majority to show them we mean business. Too bad we have to cut off our nose to spite our face but that looks like the only answer. (No re-election for the kill our hope president either).

Wow! Markos now Jane. I was wondering if Ed would step it up.

I like everything I read about Winograd. Harmen’s departure would be a vast improvement.

One criterion, for sure – no “former” Republicans!

Would that there were a viable candidate to defeat (spit) Lamar Smith.

Do you have someone who wears plaid shirts really well?

Is Jane here? anybody got a favorite in the JWJ grinch contest this year?

I saw the show. You did great, Jane. But, then, you always do!

it’s a start. my frosh blue dog wanna be is spoiling for a primary. nobody stepped up yet.

Rachel Maddow also put up a significant part of Jane’s statement during her Howard Dean segment, and Dr Dean said “Jane needs to continue pushing.”

So let’s keep pushing!

Glad to see jane on Ed. i like Ed. Football player in the day.

Thanks, powwow. We are now into the endgame of this horrendous bill, and the goal at this point is to avoid any major changes or surprises.

gonna go watch some Tv and hit the hay.

ted, the gay marriage bill should be coming up for a vote in NJ senate any day, no?

What do you make of all the “progressives” coming out today and saying that Medicare 55+ is the first step toward single payer, the goal all along, and for which PO was just a stand-in.

Good night BFL.

I am sick of the status quo and am sick of the greed in Washington. People are dying. We voted for this change. We are the only one’s who can make it happen. I’ve seen what is deemed, defended and supported as quality health care in America. http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 The link is an outcome of rationed care. After three days, my father didn’t have anymore insurance, ten months later he was begging for a gun and I wish I had granted him that wish.

Oh, good lord. I cannot believe these senators are not seeing money outside of campaign contributions. There’s gotta be something in it for them to screw Americans at every turn.

I think you’re right and they are living well.

watertiger has late night up at the mothership

You are bound to be right. No other explanation. I just hope I live to see the day all the a-holes inside the beltway rue the day they let the ‘internets’ escape from the DoD.

What do you make of all the “progressives” coming out today and saying that Medicare 55+ is the first step toward single payer, the goal all along, and for which PO was just a stand-in.

I think it is a belated attempt to put lipstick on this pig. If it really were opening up Medicare to everyone 55-64 and at Medicare or near Medicare rates they might have a point. But it is only a tiny subsection of this group. The rates will be higher. And Medicare doesn’t cover 100% anyway. It really looks like they are trying to use this as cover to justify an otherwise unjustifiable vote.

ooooh I tivo’d it

Ed has been en fuego, he is as angry as we are. heard him all but channel Jane Hamsher more and more of late.

Jane Hamsher called out a sitting US Senator on Rachel Maddow and is now recruiting candidates to run against apparatchiks on national television – suhweet! and amazing

saw the Jacob Hacker piece earlier – oy

the words “broad” and “affordable” appear in his statement, which of course we already know, does not apply to the proposed Medi+55, was just sickened thinking about how they will run buck wild with it

Saw your appearance live. Said this:

Jane,

Phenomenal job on MSNBC this evening!

Thank you! G’nite all.

Should they be challenged? They should be run out of office but that doesn’t matter because the midterms are going to be a bloodbath for the democrats. The lunatic right AKA tea baggers are going be out in big numbers, the independants and progressives are going stay home on voting day and Obama is going to be the first president that was a lame duck three months into his first term. Our congressmen and senators are for sale and corporate America owns them like so many nickels and dimes. When the American people finally realize that we the people are no longer part of the equation, that will be the first step in taking our country back. While America is asleep corporate America is stealing it all. Our representatives are gangsters and what they call the people’s business in reality is a criminal enterprise. If history teaches us anything is that all of this will come tumbling down. Greed brought down all the great civilizations and America will be no different, this is unsustainable.

Jane, would you PLEASE organize all the Progressive groups under ONE UMBELLA (the PDA, ActBlue, Blue America, Dems.com, PCAF, DSA, Am.Votes, Nader’s raiders, etc, etc.) under a group call ”3rd Party Progressives within the Democratic Party.” For God’s sake, if we can’t organize to take on the Democratic Party Establishment like the Teabaggers stand up to the Republican Party Establishment, what the hell am I wasting my time for ??

see steffie woolhandler’s statement:

http://pnhp.org/blog/2009/12/09/medicare-buy-in/

jane posted on it too (see the thread for more comments):

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/12/09/pnhp-statement-on-lowering-medicare-age-to-55/

worst case it undermines medicare further, but no way to know until we see the actual bill’s language (earlier reports are not good though).

Wow! good job Jane.Keep fighting.

Ed Shultz looks drained.Like almost all of us who are immensely disappointed by the Dem Part and it’s pathetic leadership.

But folks, has anyone stepped up like Jane,she is the only one willing to say if so called “progressive dems” don’t step up,they must go.
Glad to see Jane drawing the line.

And pay attention to how the congresscritters couch their enabling of a bad bill;Jan Shakowsky”I am for a single payer but……..”

Hey!if you are for a single payer, why are you voting for a bad bill.

I am all for that.. I would sign up for 10 dollars recurring donation for a 3rd party progressive movement. Please let’s do this.. Jane lead the way on a 3rd party progressive movement and more than 905 of us (I hope) will follow with our efforts and our pocketbook. We can recreate the “2008 Obama fund raising” but this time for real progressist ideas (not individuals).

Seconded.

Jane, pitch perfect.

Fire.Them.All!!!

The tea partiers (at least after they unplugged from Dick Armey) rightly see that the only benefit the average citizen receives from the R party is a carrot on a stick and a bill of goods and are getting ready to bail out on it.

Leftist groups haven’t had the similar revelation yet.

I am not linking to RedState but they have a story that says Howard Dean is the one who came up with this, and that Republicans should not fall for it. Maybe it is just Republican paranoia. In this Plumline story he says it has “real reform“. I respect both of them. I’d like to see him come on here and defend his ideas. I would like to hear them debate the issue.

Hear Hear. We have to figure out a way to unite and finally use our leverage within the Democratic party – I think there’s potential for millions of people to sign a petition saying you don’t give every American some progress towards better health care, you don’t get my vote.

I’m hoping this doesn’t become necessary, but if Obama does give in on his principles, I’ve got an idea of who could challenge him in 2012 on the left and hold his feet to the fire: Ed Schultz/Jane Hamsher! Seriously, you take the radio/TV world Ed represents, the activist/blog world Jane does, and that’s millions upon millions. We’ve got to organize and use our leverage. Or Howard Dean could just run again. His appearance on Rachel was like Jane pt. 2 for all the times he mentioned her. This line said it best, though (paraphrasing):

“We’re basically on the same side. I don’t always agree with her, but her role is vital because someone has to hold them accountable.”

I could not say it better myself, even if I sometimes think Jane hits Obama and even Reid a little hard, I almost always agree with her on the underlying policy in question…and most importantly someone always has to be holding Obama accountable and Jane’s often one of the most effective at doing that.

I already have a Single Payer supporting congressman, Pete Stark. Not a bad guy, but someone who is running out of energy to tilt at windmills, or Rahm for that matter.

I suggest that what is REALLY needed is publicly funded elections. Otherwise we are going to be fighting with lobbyists again and again. The Senator from AETNA has demonstrated that he can orchestrate quite a delaying strategy by merely threatening a filibuster.

Ed Shultz looks drained.Like almost all of us who are immensely disappointed by the Dem Part and it’s pathetic leadership.

Boy, Jane, I don’t know how you do it. I come in here, day after day, read the blogs, read stuff at some other sites, watch KO & Rachel, and get more depressed by the day.

Things seem so horrible on EVERY front: if it’s not the “demise of the public option,” it’s Obama’s “peace through war” crap.

It just feels like we’re losing on every front, and there are so many fronts to lose on!!!

I feel horribly, miserably discouraged. I lived through Nixon, Vietnam and the 60’s; through Reagan, and like everyone here, through Bush. But i swear this is as bad as I’ve ever seen it, specifically because those who were supposed to be our allies and our heroes have turned out to have feet of clay or be outright enemies.

Thank you for all you do. I’ll continue to write and donate, but God, this feels awful.

Are you going to go after Tammy Baldwin? I would laugh my ass off.

Well, almost all of them are in unique positions to make long and short buys on stocks for the industries that are in the news for regulation and/or reform. A press release here, a media leak there, and with the right timing on purchases and sales they could really ratchet up a nice string of earnings.

Some countries put elected officials’ assets into a black-box trust while they serve office; specifically so they can’t use their political pulpit to influence markets for their personal enrichment.

Whether admitted or not most people thought Obama was the last best hope for saving the Republic. After one year of weak timourous leadership in a Democratically controlled Congress and a President that has one message for the public and another message to entrenched interests of the status quo it’s inevitable that most are experiencing the bitter taste of defeat and betrayal.

Ditto

Civil rights marches too.

Just seems the ability to hide behind concepts like “Peace through war” have become so much more sophisticated. Don’t know but the amount of thuggery and the ability to walk seems more out of control than ever before. Doug who?

Do you think the talk of incrementalism has a leg to stand on? We missed bringing on health care reform during LBJ, Nixon, Carter, Clinton.

Do you think the “realist” have something? Do they desperately want to get something through before the holdiday period because they fear the liebaggers will have more time to destroy what they have put together?

Is fear motivating them/

I really hope this bill is defeated for the following reason: the pressure of rising health care expenses in the coming years will be such that we won’t have the false luxury of fiddling with small bore solutions to what will have become a crisis. Single payer/Medicare for All will be the only remaining practical solution.