dagblog - Comments for "Call Your Representative"

Amen. "Le mieux est l'ennemi

Nebton — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:24:26 +0000

In reply to Passing the Senate bill is

Amen.

"Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien" - Voltaire (The best is the enemy of the good.)

Passing the Senate bill is

Doctor Cleveland — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:46:35 +0000

In reply to Yeah, you guys are on your

Passing the Senate bill is exactly what I want, right now. Because that's what's left on the table, and it includes some important previsions, like the end of companies retroatcively canceling your beneifts when they're sick. Is that bill what I want. No, but I'll take what I can get.

And then I'll start campaigning for the next round of reforms. This is how you get what you want ... step by step, part by part, not all at one glorious moment but progressively.

It's not abandon hope now and wait for next time. It's take what you can get now and start tooling up for next time.

Yeah, you guys are on your

acanuck — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:44:47 +0000

In reply to The good thoughts of our

Yeah, you guys are on your own from this point on. Just to be clear about what you're urging, doctor: you want the House to pass unamended the Lieberman-edited Senate version of the bill. The one that doesn't even repeal the insurance industry's anti-trust exemption.

Like a lot of House Democrats, I can't work up much enthusiasm for that -- even if I thought it would work. I'm sure Nancy Pelosi would love to give the president his paper victory, but she's right -- she doesn't have the votes. Too many members think the watered-down bill is just a bad piece of legislation, and they are pissed of at Harry Reid and the White House for sticking them with responsibility for this turkey.

I only know what I see on TV or read in the papers and blogs, but I don't think any version of this legislation can pass. By all means let your legislators know you're really, really angry that they botched what should have been a slam-dunk, but be prepared to move on.

After the dust settles, the first thing Reid should do is repeal the anti-trust exemption. Warn any Dems thinking of joining a filibuster that he'll slash the 60-vote rule as needed and kick them out of caucus to boot. But I don't think the threat will be necessary, because everyone will be eager to regain a bit of public trust after this fiasco. And call in Howard Dean to mastermind future incremental reform bills, cutting Rahm out of the process. (Ideally, Obama would fire him altogether, but as I wrote earlier that won't happen. Also dump Menendez from the Senate campaign committee; no-one who fucks up this badly should get a second chance.)

Alas.

The good thoughts of our

Doctor Cleveland — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:35:50 +0000

In reply to Well, sure, if they don't

The good thoughts of our Canadian friends are very welcome. And there are lots of other ways to help at other stages of the process. But Congress only takes calls from its own voters. Today, Canadians are like History itself

"which may say alas, but cannot help or pardon."

Well, sure, if they don't

Nebton — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:47:49 +0000

In reply to It leaves them with sane

Well, sure, if they don't care about their southern neighbors.

It leaves them with sane

Doctor Cleveland — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:44:25 +0000

In reply to Where does (3) leave our

It leaves them with sane national health insurance.

Where does (3) leave our

Nebton — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:28:23 +0000

In reply to Call Your Representative

Where does (3) leave our Canadian misfits? Can they just pick a couple of the fence-sitters, figure out what towns they represent and pick one of those?