That picture is a constant reminder that we need more minorities in Congress.

I'm keen on transparent, accountable gov't but does anyone really think it would be productive to have meetings such as this covered by CSPAN?? Congress already gets too little accomplished. Having every single meeting covered would be a disaster.

Oh no not

Get a mop!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5esvgAm1Fww&feature=player_embedded

I've come to the point where I'm kinda hoping that Reid and Emmanual fuck over the country by failing to include a public option and thus scuttle their own bill. All in all, the mandates are so onerous that there really is nothing that can be offered in exchange for that. It's a deal killer and nothing but a boondoggle for the insurance industry. If the bill dies, we'll have plenty of opportunity to renew the fight on ground where this battle should have been fought in the first place and that is on single payer.

They can stick their mandates where a man date would.

When the government uses torture, supresses civil liberties, or spends a trillion dollars to wage war, this is called patriotism.
If the government were to make it possible for millions of people to buy PRIVATE health insurance, this is called "big goment."

Getting "something" cannot be the objective. What we all wanted and voted for was single payer (medicare) for all. We've given on that.

Then we said ok, if we can't have that, then we need a strong PO available to all on day one. We gave on that.

The we said ok, if we can't have that, then we need a strong PO in the exchanges, available to all that don't have insurance.

Now, we're going to give on that?

No. If we keep giving, what we are going to wind up with, is individual mandates, no employer mandates, taxes on prime insurance plans, no PO at all, bullshit co-ops, and still have millions without coverage.

Is that the "something" you're willing to deliver to yourself and the American People?

You cannot be so married to the idea of getting "something" that you are willing to compromise on ALL your values. You MUST be willing to entertain the idea of getting "nothing".

Look, the Democratic Party stands for a set of values. If we have Democrats in the party that are unwilling to support those values, at least to the point of allowing those values an up or down vote in the Senate, then what are we doing?

I mean, seriously. What are we doing? Are we just the party of "whatever we can get"? Even if we KNOW its a bad bill and a policy disaster?

I don't think we are. I would encourage those that are starting to slide on those values to do a little soul searching. We're going to need your support for the home stretch.

Call your Senators: no public option, no cloture. It will only take 1, max 2 Senators to kill a bill without a public option. They don't even have to come out in public. They just have to tell Reid: no public option, I'm not coming to work that day. I'm calling in sick.
And: it must be a strong public option that is Medicare lite, as Baucus says. Not subject to triggers. Not contracted out to private industry. Open to everyone who isn't covered by their employers. The only possible compromise would be an opt-out clause.

Put rich white politicians behind closed doors and let the whoring begin. Check out Glenn Beck's solution for bringing down health care costs.

http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=2575