Request that Begich support a Public Option

[wolfsbane]

I called his office today. The assistant seemed to be prepared for it. Give him a call and let's see if we can get him to join the other 33 who have pledged support, in reconciliation, of a public option.

http://whipcongress.com/

[northofdenali]

1. Done, wolfsbane - welcome to DU.

I called and emailed, but we'll probably get the same Begich centrist crap. Should have gone with Benson. Oh well, at least we finally have ONE D representing us. From looking at the News-Minus and Anchorage Daily News, the wingnuts are very strongly represented in our fair state. Pre-pipeline, that was not the case. Dontcha just love big oil?

[wolfsbane]

7. THANKS! n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

2. I've e-mailed Mark a bunch of times about the public option,

but so far all I've gotten back in return is platitudes. I know Shannyn Moore has been jamming him up pretty hard about it, too. I'll give it another shot, though.

ed. Done, Wolfsbane. I called this time. I encouraged him to sign Bennett's letter. Also, I said I personally preferred single-payer, but at the very least we should have a public option. They took my address because she said Mark likes to personally respond to constituents.

[2Lib4Dem]

3. Begich Re-election?

Sen. Begich is losing his base. He is making a typical mistake that many Democrats make. He is running centrist/right and he thinks that that will get him re-elected. It won't. He is losing his base.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. A more progressive Democrat than Mark

would have a hard time winning a statewide election, in my opinion. I certainly would be happy if he were more left-leaning, but realistically I think he would lose to a Republican candidate if he tipped too far to the left. We knew Mark was not a progressive when we elected him.

[2Lib4Dem]

5. This is not Leadership!

Now I see that Sen. Begich has finally signed on to the PO reconciliation. MAYBE... If he had shown some leadership, and signed on earlier, Rep. Pelosi could not have used lack of Senatorial vote as an excuse not to put PO in the house bill. I think that Sen. Begich will not be reelected because of behavior like this. Dem voters want leadership. It is too bad that the Dems (including Sen. Begich) are doing a great job of uninspiring the voters; the result being that they will simply stay at home election day.

[wolfsbane]

6. Ethics Anyone?

Unfortunately, and I suppose within reason, politicians are too concerned with re-election to actually get things done. We end up with a centrist, indecisive majority who all blame parties and yet are too timid to spearhead initiatives which may threaten their chance to remain in elected office. What ever happened to politicians who actually did what they believed was right regardless of the consequence? Socrates/Plato had it right, you can't have just leaders because all the just people don't want the power.

Max Gruenberg on the other hand... he is the freakin' man! Just thought I'd add that.