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Stop Being Distracted by Loudmouths Like Limbaugh: The Real Problem Is Lousy Democrats Like Evan Bayh and Ben Nelson

Posted by Chris Bowers, Open Left at 3:27 PM on June 10, 2009.


Republicans are not the obstacle to progressive governance. Instead, Democrats who refuse to support a public option are the obstacle.

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Sign up now to fight for the public option

Here is a message that progressive organizations and media outlets need to start sending to all Democratic party committees and members of Congress:

We are done attacking Republicans until you pass a public option for health care.

Until a public option is passed, I don't want to hear about the latest hate and idiocy spewing from Limbaugh, or Tancredo, or Palin, or Gingrich, or whoever. And to tell you the truth, I don't want to attack them for it, either. Because, right now, Republicans are not the obstacle to progressive governance. Instead, Democrats who refuse to support a public option are the obstacle.

More in the extended entry.

As I wrote last week, passing a public option is the lowest bar for Democrats to cross in passing major progressive legislation right now:

Real health care reform--aka, a public option--is the lowest bar for progressives to clear with the current Congress. It has the most lobbying behind it, bringing in not only health care reform groups, but also unions and mutli-issue groups like MoveOn. It only requires 50 votes in the senate, whereas Republicans will force 60-votes on virtually everything else. It is a very popular, not only in absolute terms (60%+), but also relatively popular compared to other major Democratic agenda items like climate change. And President Obama won't have a 60%+ approval rating forever, either.

The bottom line is this: if we can't get our most popular major agenda item, during the peak in Democratic popularity, when we need only 50 Senate votes, and on the issue where we have given our strongest lobbying and activist efforts, then we aren't going to pass meaningful progressive legislation on anything else.

Stop telling me how bad Republicans are--we don't need a single one to pass the public option. In fact, not only do we not need any Republicans, but a public option can become a reality even if nine Senate Democrats, and 39 House Democrats, defect. This should be a slam dunk.

We should be naming names, flying to their home states to hold large rallies, and lining up primary challengers against public-option averse Democrats. Instead, our leaders are holding fundraisers for them, pressuring their primary opponents, and hosting dinners in their honor. Kind of makes you wonder how serious even those Democrats in favor of the public option are about change.

So here is the deal we should make: progressive media outlets and organizations will only start attacking Republicans again Democrats pass a public health care option that is open to all Americans who are not currently eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or S-CHIP. Until that happens, we are not allies. Instead, they are the obstacle, and we are the pressure.

But, once a public option is passed, Democrats will have rightfully earned themselves years of good will. A public option will be the first major step forward in social investment in this country in decades--possibly since the enactment of Medicare 44 years ago. I'll gladly rip Republicans to shreds, and push for Democrats at all levels if they pass such a public option. It would be a generational achievement.

But, until then, I really have grown sick of progressives telling me about the latest stupid thing that fell out of Limbaugh's mouth. He is not the problem right now. Democrats like Evan Bayh, Ben Nelson, and Arlen Specter are. If the Democratic leadership is either unwilling or unable to pressure enough of those types of Democrats into passing the lowest bar of progressive governance, then it is time to redirect our activism into less partisan and /or less electoral directions.

Digg!

Chris Bowers was a full-time editor at MyDD from May 2004 until June 2007. Some of his projects have included the creation of the Liberal Blog Advertising Network, the first scientifically random poll of progressive netroots activists, the Use It Or Lose It campaign, the nation's most accurate forecast of Democratic house pickups in 2006, and the 2006 Googlebomb the Elections campaign.


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Are There Enough Votes For a Public Option? Here's the Math
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October 1, 2009.
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View:
From today's New England Journal of Medicine
Posted by: Defenestrator on Jun 10, 2009 3:08 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
» Are You Serious? Posted by: armorypk
More than 300,000 have signed this
Posted by: racetoinfinity on Jun 10, 2009 11:04 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Please sign this petition from Dr. Howard Dean demanding that A PUBLIC OPTION be a non-negotiable part of any health care reform bill:

click here

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» RE: More than 300,000 have signed this doughtnut Posted by: wagnerrocks@gmail.com
Call, Email and Write Congress Now! Single Payer Option!
Posted by: mmckinl on Jun 11, 2009 12:13 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Federal Officials By Zip

You can email your Rep, 2 Senators and Obama in one easy step ...

But Please Call Your Rep, Senators and the White House, even if it is only to leave this message:

We Want Single Payer Health Care ... PERIOD !

Do it Now, Don't Wait !

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Well, Yeah...
Posted by: Revolutionary (Direct) Democracy on Jun 11, 2009 1:08 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
That and the fact that progressives don't really have an agenda so much as a crazy quilt of half baked panaceas.


FREE AMERICA

YOUR NAME HERE

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» RE: actionable intelligence Posted by: Sister_Lauren
Nelson's turning
Posted by: dobrzepolak63 on Jun 11, 2009 1:25 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Nelson was governor when I lived in Nebraska. He like to tell everyone he was a political independent, which is a very grey area. From the color of his hair, it looks more like he has turned so independent, that he has just faded out. Has he ever stood for anything?

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» RE: Nebraska Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» RE: Nelson's turning Posted by: JSquercia
Private insurers are the problem, not solution
Posted by: james_allen on Jun 11, 2009 2:24 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
HMO's and private insurance companies are a major reason for high cost of health care; involving them in the "solution" is like inviting the Mafia to design an anti-crime program. Unfortunately, some might consider it "UnAmerican" to take action which would reduce the wealth of certain stockholders.

One problem seldom remarked is that the normal market mechanism of price-setting based on supply and demand doesn't work in American healthcare. This is because HMO's and health insurers have a long-term interest in higher prices, since their profit will be a percentage of (higher) premiums. (Of course, they also have a short-term interest in lower costs, i.e. denying care.)

Any health-care solution designed to keep present private insurers happy is doomed to failure.

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Democrats Suck...
Posted by: Xynyx on Jun 11, 2009 2:34 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Of course... Republicans are outright evil and totally without value for anything other than organ harvesting.

Hey you Democrats out there!!! Do you get it? You are NOT a party of Progressives. The catastrophic disassembly of the GOP is going to be echoed by the Democratic Party... and that will be a good thing.

If you purge the blue dogs, as you should, those constituencies will just switch back to Republicans. But if you don't, you'll lose your heart as the Progressives abandon you for the Green Party or similar.

Personally, I can't wait.

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» Right on target, Xynyx.... Posted by: Tom Degan
» RE: Democrats Suck... Posted by: daw13
Don't fall for Public Option buzzword; it's a trap
Posted by: Moonray on Jun 11, 2009 2:37 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The Blue Dogs are beyond contempt, but passing something called the Public Option isn't enough in itself. The Democratic leaders no doubt intend to pass such an option, but one that will be meaningless. The devil will be in the details -- who qualifies, and how it's implemented.
Keeping insurance companies as the main coverage providers will ensure that the public option is virtually meaningless. In fact, the public plan could end up as a dumping ground for the chronically ill while the insurance companies make record profits because ordinary folks are forced by law to pay higher and higher premiums. It's capitalism run amok.
Unless we can get single-payer it would be better to scrap the health insurance effort altogether. And let's NEVER, EVER agree to stop criticizing Limbaugh and the other porkers on the right.

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Faux progressives
Posted by: Perry Logan on Jun 11, 2009 3:17 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Lay off the Blue Dogs. You're barking up the wrong tree.

It's the progressives who have bollixed up our party.

If the people at Democratic Underground, Huffington Post, Daily Kos, and the other big "progressive" blogs are really progressives, then the Democratic Party is screwed.

I was hanging around Democratic Underground during the primaries, and with progressives like these, we don't need Freepers. It turns out no one hates Democrats more than progressives! They hate the Clintons, and seem to have uncritically accepted every smear against the Clinton family that has ever been made.

They hate the DLC, but are far tighter with the corporations than the DLC Democrats could ever hope to be. Obama is living proof.

And they called their fellow Democrats racists--over and over and over. They called me a racist when I protested their dirty tactics. They continually accused the Clinton campaign of dirty tricks, but in every case the accusations proved to be a lie. This is my observation.

Obama's hardcore supporters behaved worse than any Democrats ever. They called themselves Democrats, and yet the core of their being seemed to be a hatred of Democrats.

A quick visit to Democratic Underground will verify this. The only Democrat they defend is Obama, but neither Obama nor they are Democrats.

It is customary for Obama supporters--if any still exist--to attack anyone who points these things out as a disgruntled Hillary supporter. They are 100% ad hominem.

And if they're saying this of me, they are also liars. I am a Dennis Kucinich Democrat who never supported Hillary. I was just a more or less objective observer, and the dirty primary campaign waged by the Obama people is the worst thing I've ever seen.

No real Democrat would call another Democrat a racist, and that's all there is to it. I want these people out of my party.

I will say little here about the flood of misogyny that greeted Hillary and her female supporters. Millions of Democrats left the party in disgust because of the primaries (in which Hillary received far more votes than Obama, by the way).

If you didn't notice this sh*t, you need a complete neurological work-up.

Fellow progressives, there has been a coup within the Democratic Party. It is my contention we have been taken over by some bad apples. That's why the primaries were like World War III, and that's why things have gone south so quickly. It is important to realize our problem is not the Blue Dogs. It's the forces behind Barack Obama who have hijacked our party.


Swine

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» RE: Faux progressives Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» RE: Democratic Underground Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» RE: Faux progressives Posted by: popeurbanxxiii
» RE: Faux progressives Posted by: hagwind
» RE: Faux progressives Posted by: hagwind
» "Ends" and "Means" Posted by: AdamSelene40
» RE: Faux progressives Posted by: GatoPreto
stupid, STUPID Democrats
Posted by: Tom Degan on Jun 11, 2009 3:56 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Well now! You would think that the Democrats would start to show some long overdue profiles in courage now that they are firmly back in power, wouldn't you? Wouldn't you? Think again.

A tip of the hat to that silly party is in order. Once in a blue moon I'll find myself trying to remember why I disengaged myself from that stupid organization over a decade ago. But as soon as the thought crosses my mind, they will cheerfully remind me. At a time when the nation is desperate to take a decided turn to the left, a number of Democrats are in the process of sabotaging that party's traditional progressive agenda

Back in March on MSNBC's Morning Joe, the announcement was made that Evan Bayh (pictured above) was going to be providing that program with an exclusive. Sure enough, within an hour, there was the distinguished senator from Indiana telling Joe Scarborough and Mika Brezezinski that he had organized a group of "moderate" Democrats in the senate whose sole purpose was keeping that party's Liberal wing in check.

First of all, let's get honest here. The goal of Bayh and his co-saboteurs is not to nudge "their party's liberal agenda to the center". Their purpose is to force that party's essentially centrist agenda to the far right. They are also positioning themselves to have their collective butts kissed by the party's rank and file in order to get anything done legislatively. Call it what you will, but my definition is outright political blackmail. It is one of the most disgusting power plays I've seen come from within " the party of FDR" in a long time. Count on it: Bayh is positioning himself to challenge President Obama in the primaries three years from now. Gee, I wonder if Evan Bayh would have been this dead-set against the president's agenda had he been chosen to be second on the ticket? This has got to be revenge.

To paraphrase the late, great Mr. Fred Rogers: "Can you say 'Contemptible Bastard'? Sure you can!"

Treacherous Democrats are hardly a new phenomenon. Remember poor old, crazy Zell Miller challenging Chris Matthews to a duel immediately after addressing the 2004 Republican convention? Or how about "loyal Democrat" Joe Lieberman who refused to accept the verdict of his party when they denied him the nomination three years ago? He ran as an Independent and defeated the Democratic nominee. To show that there were no hard feelings, Joe would endorse John McCain in '08 and even did an award winning reprise of Zell Miller's much heralded performance when he made a key note speech at the GOP's convention last summer. Do you remember all of those cowardly Democrats who stupidly voted to give George W. Bush the authority to invade the sovereign nation of Iraq in October of 2002 without the constitutionally mandated Congressional approval? As far as yours truly is concerned, that party has damned near lost all of its much lamented credibility. As Theodore Roosevelt once said of President McKinley, they have "all the backbone of a chocolate eclair".

And while we're on the subject of wayward Democratic politicians, let us not forget the entire eight year reign of Bill Clinton. Clinton could have (and should have) put an end to the era of deregulatory madness that began with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. Instead he ended up merely passively enabling it. For the first two years of his administration he had a majority in both houses of Congress and he blew it. Although he was an able and competent chief executive in many substantial ways, no Democrat since Johnson (Andrew, not Lyndon) was a more bitter disappointment than William Jefferson Clinton.

I quit drugs in 1977. It's days like these when I seriously consider taking up the habit again. Oy vey!

Lenny Bruce's House

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY

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» RE: stupid, STUPID Democrats Posted by: DEBKAMAINE
» RE: stupid, STUPID Democrats Posted by: popeurbanxxiii
» RE: stupid, STUPID Democrats Posted by: Tom Degan
» RE: Yep, stupid Democrats is right... Posted by: popeurbanxxiii
Why not cut our Health Care costs 90 percent?
Posted by: disc golf on Jun 11, 2009 4:40 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
As a health care professional (nutritionist), I look at this so-called "health care crisis" in a different light than most people. While I support single payer, publicly supported Health Care, I am ONLY in support of this type of program on two conditions: (1) Americans have TOTAL freedom to visit the health professional of their choice. This would include naturopaths, herbalists, nutritionists, doctors, acupuncturists, etc. and (2) The media will STOP trying to cover-up the amazing benefits of natural medicine.

Upwards of 80 percent of Americans are deficient in vitamin D with enormous health consequences. (One consequence of this fact is an extra 100,000+ deaths per year from extra cancer, another 70,000 from heart disease and a significant number of MS and osteoporosis patients who would NOT have gotten their illness had they gotten sufficient sunshine over the years! Go to http://tompetrie.net/id8.html for more); Sixty percent of Americans don't participate in regular exercise; fifty percent of Americans are overweight; one in three get cancer, one in four die from it. Less than 10 percent eat sufficient servings of vegetables and even these are often low in nutrients because of our awful agricultural practices (yes, eat organic!).

Why should I pay for care because MY NEIGHBOR refuses to cut down on HIS of sugar or "corn syrup" intake (now about 120 pounds per person, per year)? Or because the neighborhood child thinks it's "cool" to drink 55 gallons of soda per year? Or because the parents think it's "OK" that their child or children never eat vegetables or can receive 66 vaccinations before the age of 5 (and then they're shocked when they're "suddenly" have autism, are a diabetic or are sick with allergies, asthma or juvenile diabetes)?

(By the way, our clinic recently reversed a case of Type I diabetes in a 14 year old boy. It took 10 (ten) days to get the child off insulin. The insurance company would not cover the "natural therapy" (the therapy that has made him NO LONGER A DIABETIC for the previous 15 months), BUT they WOULD cover conventional insulin therapy FOR LIFE had he stuck with his arrogant doctors who initially had their parents cancel their appointment with our clinic! (I know since I'm the one who wrote their dietary/supplement program and spoke with the skeptical/scared parent on the phone.)

I don't want to sound like I'm whining, but I have zero medical bills because I take care of my health. Why should I have to pay because my neighbor chooses not to?

And for those that do get some serious illness, we have a medical profession where the majority of doctors will denigrade the benefits of natural therapies and vitamins to their patients until their disease/s (such as cancer) has just about killed them! THEN, they'll reluctantly "permit" some alternative therapy--when it is really too late to be of help! Three friends of mine have died in the past year TRYING to get vitamin C in the hospital, but the doctors or pharmacies could not or would not provide it! How cynical can we get?

I saw a cancer patient yesterday who was told NOT to take supplements for three years by her oncologist; she ignored the admonitions of family members to eat better foods and take certain vitamins. (The doctor can't be wrong...they're Gods!) Now she's almost dead.

Americans need to take much better care of their health to dramatically cut health care costs. And the media needs to stop their bias against covering the honest benefits of nutritional programs and the dangers of Rx drugs. Yes, there's much more to this topic, but this is a good start.

http://tompetrie.net

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We have the best Congre$$ money can buy
Posted by: tginmn on Jun 11, 2009 4:51 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Remember Part D? The plan that was written to benefit the drug companies and requires a law degree to understand? Watch what happens when we get Part E and health costs go through the roof and politicians stand around and brag about how we got health care reform while they cash their checks from the health care lobbyist.

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» RE: Watch what happens Posted by: Sister_Lauren
This comment has been removed from the site due to non-compliance with AlterNet's community policies.
» RE: toxic spam Posted by: Sister_Lauren
Who cares about party?
Posted by: liz-at-blackrose on Jun 11, 2009 5:12 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Why are progressives so blinded by party labels? It doesn't matter whether someone calls themselves a Democrat or a Republican, it matters what their position is on the issues, and how they will vote.

It's ridiculous that so many progressives celebrated a Democratic majority in the last election, or the party switch of Specter, when the balance is held by people who have made it clear from the start that they do not and will not support progressive causes like a public health care option (even a watered down one!) or the Employee Free Choice Act.

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Amen
Posted by: Femmy68 on Jun 11, 2009 5:15 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
No matter how much we complain about the republicans standing in the way of progress, I have to agree that many Democrats are doing exactly the same thing. Come ON GUYS! Get OUT OF THE WAY!

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» RE: Amen Posted by: Sister_Lauren
Who are these obstructionist Democrats?
Posted by: janelynne on Jun 11, 2009 5:21 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This is clearly the case. So much effort is spent whining about what the Repugs are doing, when Evan Bayh and his bluedogs are the problem.

We need to identify each one of these Democrats who are influenced by Evan Bayh. Bayh operates like a gang leader in Congress. Who is Evan Bayh, and why on earth do junior Democrats like Bob Casey and others like Mary Landreau pledge their allegiance to someone like Bayh over the President? Specter, one the other hand, is only a pretend Democrat a la Leiberman. Neither belongs in Congress because they put the voters last, a distant second to their careers.

We the Democrats who voted for change, need to know which obstructionist Democrats are are standing in the way of the mandate that we overwhelmingly gave to Obama.

I cannot help but think that these obstructionist Democrats are being influenced, as the GOP is, by the giant Pharma and Insurance industries. Let's get these Democratic names on the table and start putting the microphone in front of them. Who gave how much to their campaigns? We elected these people to represent us and to follow the mandate we gave them.

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» RE: Most of them Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» All of them. Posted by: Tweck9
Remember what our mothers always told us
Posted by: we_need_Abe on Jun 11, 2009 5:44 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The best way to get a sibling or bully to leave you alone is to ignore them. Yes, it's hard but if everyone stopped commenting or paying any heed to what Fat Bastard has to say - he would go away. We can't directly control the MSM but trust me, in time they would get it too.

Can someone more technology saavy start a twitter or facebook movement to stop uttering any "his" name?

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Yeah!!!
Posted by: sausage on Jun 11, 2009 5:56 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
All I needed to read is the headline in the email update to post a comment saying I wholeheartedly agree!!!

Republicans-in-donkey suits like Bayh, Nelson, Vilsack, the Clintons and perhaps even Obama himself have got to go.

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What's good for the public....
Posted by: Spiritgirl on Jun 11, 2009 6:03 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Congress needs to remember that they work for the American people, they are supposed to represent "US" not the corporate oligarchy! These people need "term limits" because once they become too comfortable the "perks and side benefits" that they receive has allowed them to forget that they are supposed to do what is best for the public interest! Flood their emails/faxes/phones to remind them that they will be coming up for re-election at some point!

Power concedes nothing without a demand, if it takes all of US taking to the streets to demand that these people recognize that fact, then so be it! We are the ones that are going to have to move them to act - for the good of society as a whole!

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Obstruction...
Posted by: frank69 on Jun 11, 2009 6:05 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Don't forget Senator Max Baucus (D Montana) who has taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from the so called "HealthCare Industry."
Congress, both sides of the aisle, has taken millions from Big Pharma and Big Health Care Industry.
See how far the Public Option goes!

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the perspective from a Nebraskan
Posted by: frantic1971 on Jun 11, 2009 6:18 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I am a lifetime resident of Nebraska, where I am a farmer. I would like to give Alternet readers some perspective on Mr. Nelson.

Allthough he calls himself a Democrat, he has consistently been supported by the Republican establishment in this state. When he was governor, he strongly supported LB775, which gave huge tax breaks to local businesses. Later, when Progressives in the state wanted to add riders to the bill that would make it transparent as to which companies got how much in tax breaks, Nelson was instrumental in defeating the proposal.

He has been a strong advocate of the Iraq war since the beginning, appearing at dozens of American Legion doings and mouthing his firm support of the Bush Administration. He was a vocal supporter of the Patriot Act. (I do have to give our other senator, Chuck Hagel, the credit that despite being a Republican he has been strongly critical of the Iraq war.)

He has been endorsed for every election he has run in by the Omaha Chamber of Commerce.

He strongly supports repeal of the estate tax.

What is the worst about all this is that at every opportunity he invokes the tradition of famous Nebraska Progressives such as William Jennings Bryan and George Norris.

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leveling the playing field
Posted by: Jinx on Jun 11, 2009 6:29 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
as we approach universal health care we need to work on reallocation of funding. the more we give to the needy the less will be available to the support of research and development that has become a cash cow for the drug industry and university research. Better we treat for the real medical problems now than give government money to preceived, possible, maybe illnesses of the future. Let the Europeans and Asians who have profited off of our research start to do their own. I do fail to understand why we continue to treat drug users in emergency rooms when their health problems are self inflicted by choice. develop a health care system to make our children healthy and wise about how to stay that way.

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A REAL Kuchinich supporter wouldn't see a dime's worth...
Posted by: brunowe on Jun 11, 2009 6:42 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...of difference between Obama and Hilary, because from a policy standpoint there isn't. The big difference was the approach to party building and the "swing state" vs. "50-state approaches".

Your whining is clearly the disappointment of a Hilary troll -- I've seen your kind before.

The vote count argument is dubious as well. Are you, like the Clinton campaign, counting the Clinton votes in the illicit Michigan and Florida primaries?

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A REAL Kuchinich supporter wouldn't see a dime's worth...
Posted by: brunowe on Jun 11, 2009 7:04 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...of difference between Obama and Hilary, because from a policy standpoint there isn't. The big difference was the approach to party building and the "swing state" vs. "50-state approaches".

Your whining is clearly the disappointment of a Hilary troll -- I've seen your kind before.

The vote count argument is dubious as well. Are you, like the Clinton campaign, counting the Clinton votes in the illicit Michigan and Florida primaries?

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Medicare for all
Posted by: kww355 on Jun 11, 2009 7:09 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The system is already in place. Let all Americans sign up for Medicare and have done with it. Allowing two options is a sop to private insurers. They will cherry-pick their healthiest clients ( i.e.-those who don't file claims )and dump everyone else.

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Yeah but
Posted by: J. C. Miller on Jun 11, 2009 7:14 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
try telling that to Joan Walsh!

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Don't Hold Your Breath
Posted by: progressiveview on Jun 11, 2009 7:20 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Everyone in the progressive community should know by now the Democrats are just the flip side of the same coin. They, like the Republicans are bought and paid for by the Insurance industry and Big Pharma. No surprises there that "single payor is off the table".

If you want to be involved in electoral politics, support true progressive candidates, the Green Party, or independents like Bernie Sanders. It has been shown that 3 way races can have an impact, if you look at Jesse Ventura's election as governor in MN. There are other examples, as well.

Finally, direct action like the doctor's and nurses who got arrested trying to put single payor on the table is the most important thing we can do. As Noam Chomsky says, change will never be a gift from above, but will only come about by the struggle from below.

Peace

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so what are the names
Posted by: grkjr on Jun 11, 2009 7:43 AM   
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and the districts/states that these democrats represent????? a first step.

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» RE: so what are the names Posted by: Tweck9
UnAmerican and Unconstitutional
Posted by: Purple Girl on Jun 11, 2009 7:50 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Relegating 'We the People' to only the consumer aspect of the Free Market and effectively Prohibiting US from entering it as a collective provider/producer seems to be innately UnAmerican,and Unconstitutional.
It is not merely our form of gov't that is 'Of, For and By the People'..so is the Free market.
By blocking the Gov't, which acts as our collective agent, from competing in the market place these Politicans and industries are blocking our access to it as supplier of good and services.
That one sided prohibitive structure is more akin to a feudalistic cast system, a dictatorship or communism. Please tell me the difference between a family crest, an emblem and a Logo if they are they only ones afforded accessiblity to the market as 'vendors'?
If 'We the people' are kicking in and essentially acting as the shareholders in a way similar to being Incorported, why is this any different than those private investors.
What honest Free marketer would claim that 1,300 insurance corps are enough? If you truely believe in the Free market, there is always room for more competitors. Otherwise the market is not 'Free', nor will true market forces be unimpedded, operate effectively. Weeding out the inferior products, the over priced or obsolete.To keep a Free market operating at peak performance-innovation and accessibilty must be a priority.
Don't tell me you're a Free Market Supporter if you haven't got the balls to taken on a publically owned and operated entity. And Certianly don't claim to be a Patriot if you intentionally block 'We the people' from the market as competitors.The market has two sides- We are afforded the birth right to work both sides, as buyers and sellers.

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If everything is on the table all you will have is a dirty table
Posted by: solrev on Jun 11, 2009 7:53 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The problem is Obama, all he has to say is he will not sign a bill that does not have a good public option. This would cover the butts in congress. Instead Obama wants to hide behind congress so he will not alienate a potential vote in 2012. You people better start electing a divider in place of a do nothing uniter.

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Finally, someone admits that the Democrats are enabling Limbaugh and his ilk !
Posted by: John More on Jun 11, 2009 9:16 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Listen up all you fucking Obamabots and don't make me thump your fucking skulls ! How do you like getting FUCKED by blue dog motherfuckers such as Evan Bayh, Ben FUCKING Nelson, and similar? You want centrists ? They ain't no fucking centrists. They're just placeholders for the fucking GOP. You wanna build a fucking consensus ? Moving to the GOP ain't the fucking answer ! The Democrats in Washington need to be DISCIPLINED and PUNISHED and I hear that Harry Reid ain't doin' great in NV and could face a tough reelection battle next year. Any motherfucking Obamabot who wants to preach about being centrist ought to be sent to GITMO and shot !

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» RE: You sound like me Posted by: solrev
» RE: Fortunately Posted by: solrev
Well, you are correct............
Posted by: ava1984 on Jun 11, 2009 9:19 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
to a point. The cowards that be are Dems; and, it is their cravenness that has given Rush and his ilk the fuel these monsters feed on.

Let's not forget that Evan Bayh was to be veep had Hillary won the WH; which leaves me to wonder just who is in charge?

I had my complaints with LBJ, massive, but can anyone imagine that he would have tolerated this crap from ANYONE; much less Dems? Of course, it does not help that Obama seems to be one of them and not one of us. I voted for the man; he takes so long to utter a sentence these days as to parse the very air.

It's time to get over the awe of having a president who can speak in complete sentences and demand he and the so called DEMOCRATS to MAN UP!


I never listen to right-fiend radio; if not for progressive radio (air and online), I'd never hear their filth; Mike Malloy, Jeff Farias and others do so I don't have to.

When a doctor is murdered in church and a guard is killed in the Holocaust Museum, can their be any doubt that our nation is now seething with ignorant cowards?

If the Dems do not take their heads out of their asses and remember why they wanted to be Dems in the first place; we are in for another civil war, for reals!

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Anyone notice thru all the Dem/Rep bickering that NOTHING is being accomplished?
Posted by: magiquarian1969 on Jun 11, 2009 9:24 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I've read people on both sides: Well they said, well they think, well blah blah blah. OUR elected officials are not doing their jobs, they are looking out for themselves. We the people should be able to strip them of their healthcare/retirement if they aren't doing their jobs. All my years of working I have had to set goals and have evaluations with the understanding that if I don't accomplish my goals then I will lose my job. This should apply to our GOVERNMENT. They should be evaluated just like we are and if they aren't at least trying to make their campaign promises happen, they should be REMOVED FROM OFFICE! America wears the veil of democracy when everybody knows it's not the truth. People need to wake up or WE will be the cause of our own demise.

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I agree PARTIALLY
Posted by: jaglover on Jun 11, 2009 10:11 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Weak, on the fence, Benedict Arnold types like TRAITER JOE Leiberman are a major problem for the Dems HOWEVER, National Health is a fiscal black hole that WILL NOT WORK. This could be the undoing of President Obama this early in his first term. He'd better back off of this until he can prove that it will work. I'm a Dem and Obama supporter but he's making some bone-head moves and National Health is right at the top of the list.

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MSNBC
Posted by: Kitty Lady Oregon on Jun 11, 2009 10:49 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I have stopped watching Olbermann and Maddow on MSNBC due to their continual airing Druggie Limbaugh's rants. I am tired of hearing about that crap. I wish they would spend time on the traitorous Dems who are stopping the government option.

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» RE: MSNBC Posted by: ava1984
m
Posted by: Makaainana on Jun 11, 2009 10:59 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Health care is the greatest most obvious test for CONGRESS.

Either they will vote for Big money and Big insurance or the they will vote for helping 100 plus million folks that need free health care.

Simple. Never mind all the good sounding reasons of why or why not. ITS SIMPLE.

You know the saying, "Your actions speak so loud I can't hear your words?"

It has never been more true than now.

By the way has anyone suggested that whatever plan Congress votes to give us should be the NEW CONGRESSIONAL HEALTH CARE PLAN???

Ha!!!

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» RE: m Posted by: allyourbasearebelongtous
"Health Choices," Act or Scam
Posted by: A. Z. Arrow on Jun 11, 2009 10:59 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"Health Choices," Act or Scam

The “Health Choices Act” is not a solution for the uninsured.

Any attempt at mandatory and obligatory “private insurance” will backfire. Subsidies are not a substitute for real coverage.

America needs to join the civilized and industrial nations.

Plain and simple, that means a Universal Single-Payer insurance plan for all Americans.

This week’s European Parliamentary elections moved that body to the extreme fascistic RIGHT because the labor and Democratic parties in Europe keep coming up with non-solutions in their bid to “triangulate,” their effort to expand government power without accountability, to hang on to office while undermining progressive solutions, and by actively blocking progressive appointments within their governments in favor of their subservient version of the status-quo. The reason for this leap to fascism according to the BBC is the failure of laborites to enforce the distinction between “legal” citizens and “illegal” refugees. Voters did not go to the polls within nations that did not protect their citizen’s jobs nor provided sound programmatic economic “security.”

In the US, the Clintonoid pro-insurance-company “Health Care” scheme is one more example of why people become frustrated with the Democratic Party, and with their pro-corporate, and pro-capitalist liberal ideology. Change this, or the Democrats will become irrelevant on the morrow. Sounds impossible, doesn’t it? You had better look closely at the European elections.

For leftist and progressives the alarm bells are ringing!

The government bankrupting of American Auto producers while bailing out Banksters, crooks, and Billionaires is insane!

The time has come to close down shop on the Military/Contract/Complex and to create a non-war human centered economy.

For many newly unemployed American workers its’ either guaranteed socio-economic equality with protection of citizen Rights, and, especially, good paying jobs, or it is bust, and, perhaps, extreme political reaction.

Alternative to fascism: Onward to socialism, on to democratization of the Federal Reserve and to nationalizing of the US currency > with an eye towards the rapid re-industrialization of America . OR, otherwise, it could get very ugly.

I for one will never click my heels and shout “Sig-Heil ” at the finance-capitalist bastards, at media liars, at the rulers of the corporate police state, at pirate bankers and thieves that steal wealth created by the public for personal use. (Change . . . What Change? The ship of state is still being piloted by lobbyist, and social wealth is still being pirated by corporate lawyers and by most of the “representatives” and elected officials in DC, and by a fully-armed sleazy group of aggressive warmongers beyond.)


Have a good day,
A.Z. Arrow
---------->

June 11,2009

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"Lousy Democrats"? How about "Lousy Liberal Media"??
Posted by: burro_mail on Jun 11, 2009 11:34 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
AlterNet is as much of a problem as sold-out Democrats (which is nearly all of them, when you look at how they vote relative to the party platform, let alone how most voters feel)...

A so-called liberal media outlet that lacks the cognitive abilities to identify 9/11 as an inside job, and the implications, really shouldn't throw stones.

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How Antisemitic Conspiracy Theories and Fearmongering Led to the Holocaust Memorial Shooting
Posted by: edgar_michel on Jun 11, 2009 11:50 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Interesting that there weren't any comments allowed for this post.

anti-Semitism isn't the same thing as holding Israel accountable for atrocities committed against Lebanon and Palestine nor is it the same as investigating Israel for complicity in 9/11.

Being a holocaust victim does not give a people license to inflict holocaust on innocent others. That distinction needs to be clearly understood.

Again it would appear that Alternet has been coopted.

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And while we're at it...
Posted by: Aredee on Jun 11, 2009 12:00 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Let's start pushing for an end to consumer-directed ads for prescription drugs. This "ask your doctor if (fill in the blank) is right for you" crap is a major factor in driving up health costs, when low-cost generic equivalents are usually just as effective as the brand name junk being pushed on us.
Since these are drugs, I think the FDA already has the right to regulate their advertising; if not, it belongs in the health care bill.

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Obama's honeymoon with the left is clearly over - he lied to us and is playing us for fools.
Posted by: Paul_C on Jun 11, 2009 12:29 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
He repeatedly conflates progressives with far right nutjobs, citizen activists with corporate "grass roots" marketing campaigns.

He is a dishonorable man who appears to lack a core set of values that go much beyond "what's in it for me?".

Again and again he says one thing while secretly pursuing another agenda altogether, throwing us the table scraps to keep us "pacified".

I have had enough. I no longer trust him and I no longer believe anything he says.

Progressives must move on. Right now before it is too late. We need our own movement and our own voice, whoever that may be.

We must search for an honest person of principle capable of stirring a crowd out of their apathy and alienation.

We need a third party movement or we are lost.

peace,
Paul

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» We HAVE a progressive third party Posted by: antiapathy
Amen
Posted by: nobyjingo on Jun 11, 2009 5:21 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It's spinning our wheels attacking Repugs, when DLC-PPI Dems are the problem.

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Totally Shill Author Totally Shill Story
Posted by: ak47blog on Jun 11, 2009 8:23 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Author, educators, academics, bankers wild-eyed shills sinister spokesmen leaders of the illuminist two faction one government kleptocracy term applied to a government that extends the personal wealth and political power of government officials to the ruling class [collectively, kleptocrats] at the expense of the population. Currently on the political and media circuit advocating the subterfuge demise and total collapse of America, the U.S.Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the entire U.S. financial system.

These shills is now part and parcel of the world wide circus routine of perpetuating the corrupt two faction one government corporate mainstream media myths and exausted propaganda routines. Some examples of this depraved mentality show are the insidious two faction one government distraction focused against the entire U.S.A population. "Us Against Them" "They Hate Us For Our Freedoms" "We Kill Them Over There So We Do Not Fight Here" c.Vietnam 1964 "US Torture Rape of Children Murder Civilians Do Not Impinge International Law," "USA Torture Keeps Homeland Safe," "Iraq No Connection to 911," c. June 1, 2009 "Jail Terrorists or Kill Them," May 20, 2009

RULE BY DIVIDE AND CONQUER

Utilizing the Roman rule divide and conquer, The Americans learned the tactic of divide and conquer from the English, who picked up the trick from the Roman Empire.."de Bello Gallico" 'divide conquer' Julius Ceasar c.55.BC...with approval and green light from the Obama administration along with complicity of the U.S. Congress these two face representatives of one government. America is witness to subterfuge demise and evisceration of the U. S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and repeal of Magna Carta c.1215 800 year law Writ of Habeas Corpus. [Latin: You shall have the body] is a legal action, or writ through which a person can seek relief from the unlawful detention of himself herself, or from being harmed by the judicial system. The writ of habeas corpus has historically been an important instrument for the safeguarding of individual freedom against arbitrary state action. These demonic figures operated for eight years unopposed to divide and conquer America advocating the very same torture, international war crimes, repeal of Habeas Corpus under Bush administration faction and now the Obama faction one government policy with total absolute impunity and zero accountability.

Consequently, Washington, D. C cronyism kleptocrats, sociopaths, psychopathic war criminals, psychotic international genocide artists supreme, so called guardians of the U.S. Constitution continue to project and act as subterfuge for the neocons the Bolsheviks of our time.

http://21stcenturyreversepyramid.blogspot.com/

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Political Parties are Useless and Outdated Abstractions
Posted by: Quist on Jun 11, 2009 11:37 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
First of all, I do not vote for a party...I vote for the person and their ideas.

The Two Party (or Three, Four, Five or so on) system is a total distraction from real governance. There is no "party" that truly represents "the people" because parties only support their party agenda and their own interest.

Personally, I've grown weary of party politics. It is a waste of time and time is one thing that we never have enough of. I hope that some day we move away from useless, divisive, arrogant, and contentious party politics...but I am not holding my breath.

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Congratulations
Posted by: cdcmtotr on Jun 14, 2009 10:21 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I have said the same thing. But I will say it differently. The enemies we have to fight are in our own camp. They have forgotten what it is to be a Democrat; from health care to the Employee Free Choice Act. It is becoming a 1 party system in this country run by the lobbists and corporations. People need to wake up and make some noise. Bayh, Nelson and Spector are not the only ones. There is Baucus, Udall and Bennet to name a few more.

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HEY OBAMA...WE R NOTICING!
Posted by: reelman on Jun 16, 2009 5:01 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Obama says he loses sleep over deficit fears…

Senate health overhaul costs top $1.6 Trillion…

CRAWFISH NOTE: Its the bizarre world of the modern democrat (secular socialist)…how can anyone read these two headlines of June 16.2009 and not see the arrogant distortion of reality?
This is now a weekly thing…you see Obama saying one thing yet allowing another contrary to it go on (usually within his Party) without him making a peep…in fact, his own actions may obviously be the opposite!

We know the same Party POTUS-Congress are not separate political planets never communicating or coordinating. We know the history of tax-spend when that Party controls all. Who is conning who?

Hey, Obama…even an 8th grade dropout notices by now that the truth, the honesty, the integrity…is just not there…if it ever was.
Can you imagine the media outrage if any Repub POTUS constantly said one thing and did another? There would be network TV news panels of shrinks discussing for days his emotional-ethical shortcomings. Picture what “The View” gals would say most every day.

The juke and jive phase is over…we get it Barack…and its at least quite unsettling. When will the fawning network media get it?
“Ignore what is said, watch what is done”..an old saying that is the theme song for this administration.

http://conservablogs.com/theconservativecrawfish

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