Update II: At the end of the 15 minute procedural vote, Republicans are 144 Yea-0 Nay, Democrats are 4 Yea-82 Nay. Gregg Sargent indicated Democratic leadership weren’t whipping, so it appears that they are forcing the Republicans to pass this. Democratic Yeas are hanging back until the Republicans put this over the top.  Total: 157 [...]

The deal between President Obama and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell calls for the creation of a “Super Congress” to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits. You won’t find a Super Congress mentioned anywhere in the Constitution. It will be an elite body of 12 members of Congress who write legislation behind closed doors and [...]

I don’t believe in getting people worked up when it’s not necessary. Energy is a finite resource, and when you don’t have a lot to work with anyway (especially relative to the opposition), the key to successful organizing is selectively applying carefully targeted effort to achieve maximum impact. It’s like the difference between hitting your [...]

It appears Earl Blumenauer thinks he can make a pledge about something people really care about (a public option), break it, and then scold people into showing up for him because the alternative is worse. But he’s probably not unique.

Call members of Congress and ask them if they intend to stand by their pledge to vote against the Senate bill. Let them know that you don’t think they’re “monsters” for keeping their promises. Let’s see how deep this “Bluemnauer problem” is. Because if they don’t keep that promise, the Senate bill could pass (and despite reports to the contrary, don’t think they’re not thinking about it).

On Wednesday, NYCEve and I delivered over 63,000 petition signatures of support to Rep. Raul Grijalva and Rep. Keith Ellison who are fighting to organize progressive members of the House to stand strong on a public option.