Roll Heads, Kick Ass, Split and Pass a Decent HCR Bill or We're Dead Meat in Nov.

[leveymg]

Okay. We tried it their way. For six months, we handed the Senate Health Care Reform Bill to the "Gang of Six" conservative centrists in the name of bi-partisanship. Had it not been for the decision to hand it all over to that little centrist bloc last July, we would have had Senate Bill with a Public Option by Reconciliation before the August Recess.

What did we get for playing nice with the Blue Dogs? Six wasted months - no Public Option, no prescription drug re-importation, no anti-trust enforcement against the Health Insurance industry, a mandate on individuals to buy private insurance, and a ban on private insurance pools to cover abortions. Now, add to that, Democrats have lost elections in MA, VA, and NJ. Are you seeing a pattern developing here?

This is what happens when you rig the process to keep conservative, old-guard senior members at the levers of power. We didn't have to do it this way. When the Blue Dogs barked, Harry Reid and White House rolled over. The Bill could have been taken out of the paws of Max Baucus and the Finance Committee, and passed by Reconciliation by as few as 50 Democratic votes plus the Vice President. But, there was a failure of political will.

The result was a Joe Lieberman, Ben Nelson, Kent Conrad, Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln Blue Dog Health Care Bill. All the progressive "good stuff" was stripped out. No wonder insurance industry stocks began skyrocketing. Wall Street is lovin' it. The Tea Baggers are lovin' it - the Democratic Right-wing is doing what they couldn't - destroying the best chance for broad reform in 15 years. Again. But, the rest of America doesn't seem to like what they're seeing, and are punishing the Democratic Party for that. We're going to lose our Majorities and the White House if this continues.

How does the Democratic Party get out of this cesspool we've dug for ourselves?

Start by rolling heads in a very public way. First head on the block is Joe Momentum - strip him of his Homeland Security Committee Chair and caucus privileges. Do it quickly. Threaten to do the same thing to any Democratic Senator who votes against split Health Care Reform (HCR) and Health Insurance Reform (HIR) Bills. Separate out the votes on several key issues so everyone can see exactly where each Senator stands. Put Obama and Biden up front of a new HCR Bill and do the thing quickly.

Those Democrats who go against their Party should be marched to the guillotines.

[chimpymustgo]

1. Start kicking ass NOW. Send up a one-page healthcare bill for single payer.

Roll back tax cuts for the rich. Start a real JOBS program.

Let's go. OUR WAY.

[ShortnFiery]

6. Outstanding Suggestions!

I'm with you ... All The WAY! :patriot: :thumbsup:

[VMI Dem]

2. A centrist is in charge.

[rudy23]

5. Yes--I think they are kicking ass and rolling heads, and we're seeing the result as they intended

I can only conclude that this is close to the bill that THEY want.

[Ganja Ninja]

3. Screw the health care bill.

We'll be better off from a political stand point not passing it. Once that thing passes everything and I mean every little thing that pisses people off about the health care system will be the Democrats fault whether it has anything to do with them or not. Every horror story that comes out of it will be blamed on the Democrats. If it fails then the health care system and all it's flaws becomes the sole property of the GOP.

We need to purge the blue dogs and bide our time. When we have a real liberal majority then and only then will we be able to fix the health care system by replacing it with a single payer system.

[HillbillyBob]

4. Frankly purge every incumbent but the 3 or 4 that are progressives

not the mouthpieces.
Public campaign funding but you know that ain't gonna happen with the supine court drools that corpses have the right to buy elections.

I am so pissed and so at the end of my rope I could give a fuck about any of them and have written to the dnc and dlc and told them to f off, don't call don't write, I have been a steady D voter for 30 years, my patience with spineless bastards and rpigs is at an end.

\

[ShortnFiery]

8. You're correct. The only way to make this work is to vote out Corporate Incumbents ...

until we finally get representatives who serve the people and will support Public financing of elections.

It's a long, slow process ... but it's all we've got. :shrug:

[stray cat]

7. So where do you think this massive power and ability will suddenly come from

when everyone knows Obama can't help them in elections?

[cascadiance]

9. Teddy MIGHT forgive us for giving away his seat if we started doing this now!

GET RID OF THE FILLIBUSTER NOW! And start some cleaning house of DLC corporatist administration "help"!