Talked to a Blue Dog Dem Senator's staffer today about the public option.

[bertman]

This was a friendly conversation with a long-time friend who is now working with the Senator--whose name I will not disclose because I don't want her to get in trouble.

I had not realized that she was working for this conservative Democratic Senator until our conversation today. As soon as she told us who she is working for I said "tell him we want a public option for healthcare". Her reply was that he was getting lots of calls about healthcare. And lots of different opinions about it.

She then said that the senator often had to vote against things he wanted to get passed because HE HAD TO VOTE FOR WHAT HIS BIG DONORS WANTED HIM TO VOTE FOR OR HE WOULD NOT GET RE-ELECTED. She said that he doesn't always get to vote for the thing he considers "right" or "moral" because it's more important for him to keep his Senate seat.

So, what we all suspected is true, true, true.

Maybe we should go to a one-term limit for all Senators so they can vote for what's "right" and "moral".

[annabanana]

1. She should tell him that a bold move in a progressive

direction might garner more $$ on the internet than he loses from the fatcats....

[NC_Nurse]

2. Why is it "important" for him to keep his seat if he won't pass what we need?

Total bullshit. I hate the way they justify betraying the public for stupid shit like that. What's the point?

NEWSFLASH: We have enough useless congresscritters, thank you.

[pleah]

3. You might be right on the term limits.

And, yes, no surprise here that they all sell out to some extent to get re-elected.:(

[BlooInBloo]

4. Tell her to punch the senator in the mouf for me, please.

[Psychic Consortium]

5. Most of our US Congress is corrupt. They work for themselves and corporations.

They have no idea at all what it means to be a public servant.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. They have not for a long time

problem is people see a D or an R and think they are one of us. No, they are one of them, and we are one of us.

[Psychic Consortium]

9. Yes you are correct.

That will begin to change as Obama teaches us what it means
to be a public servant.

[roody]

31. I am patiently waiting.

[Psychic Consortium]

34. Yes, Obama is up against a great deal.

And he must tread carefully right now.
But he is making changes slowly and methodically
and will continue to do so....

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. It will take millions in this country

putting their walking shoes and hitting the streets.

yes, it is that simple, and no, it won't happen

[Fire1]

12. True dat. n/t

[sandnsea]

8. I hope she doesn't get fired

For repeating what would clearly be her boss admitting to bribery.

[bertman]

10. Unfortunately, sandnsea, in our current governmental setup it is not considered bribery but

"responding to the needs of your most important consituents".

[sandnsea]

11. No. Your post is quid pro quo

But I don't believe any of it anyway. I know people who work for politicians from local to the Senate, hell even the White House now, and they do not talk that way about their bosses.

[Fire1]

14. No, they probably don't talk that way about their 'bosses.'

They LIE, just like their bosses.

[sandnsea]

15. They lie or they clam up

But they sure as hell don't go around saying their bosses vote the way monied interests tell them to.

[bertman]

17. So, you're saying I'm lying about this, sandnsea?

[sandnsea]

20. Saying someone is lying is against DU rules

I can say I don't believe the story though.

[bertman]

22. So, you're calling me a liar without having the courage to say it. "It's against the DU rules"

is a bullshit excuse.

I don't know who you are and I really don't give a shit who you are, but I can tell you that I do not lie. You on the other hand are the one who is lying about me by insinuating that I am lying.

Pitiful.

[sandnsea]

23. Maybe you are, maybe you aren't

Only you know for sure.

All I know for sure is that *I* don't believe the story.

[bertman]

24. It's not a story. It's the truth.

[PassingFair]

26. Then get out of the thread.

I *ucking CAN'T STAND people who
claim that others are LYING when
they don't like what they're reading.

Get lost.

[sandnsea]

27. I said I hoped her friend didn't get fired

For basically saying her boss was committing crimes. What's wrong with that?

Politicians hire people who have been very loyal and dedicated on the campaign. They don't hire people who are going to say they're voting based on who gives them money. It's absurd. Don't like reality, don't read my posts.

[PassingFair]

28. You called the poster a liar.

"What's wrong with that?"

:eyes:

Plenty.

[sandnsea]

29. No. Her post does not mesh with reality

consequently *I* don't believe it.

Oh.My.God. I COULD BE WRONG.

That is why I am not calling the poster a liar. I don't know. I only know what I know and based on that, I don't believe a Senator's staffer said that.

[PassingFair]

30. Fine.

Then don't read it.

Why bother to "contribute" to
a post you "don't believe".

And you ARE calling the poster
a liar.

Over and over again, while saying
that you are not calling the poster
a liar.

You are annoying.

[druidity33]

37. you have nothing

constructive to say here, so why not find another thread to poop on?

:)

[rocktivity]

13. If Obama's election proved only one thing

it's that money isn't everything when it comes to getting votes. He won't keep his seat if he's voted out anyway, will he?

:headbang:
rocktivity

[bertman]

18. Candidate Obama outraised and outspent Candidate McCain almost two to one:

Obama $750 million; McCain $370 million

Here are the links: http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.php?cid=N00009638
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00006424

[unblock]

16. that attitude is at the heart of modern-day corruption. the astounding egocentrism

that *I* have to maintain my seat at the expense of the people i represent.

look, mr. senator, if *YOU* lose your seat, your state still gets 2 seats in the senate, it's just a different person. there might be some loss of seniority (another aspect of modern-day corruption) but even that is a temporary and inevitable part of the process.

and it's not even a guarantee that you would lose your seat, just a risk. there are other issues and other sources of campaign funds, including employers who would save on health insurance premiums if they get the public option.

the seat in the senate belongs to the people of your state, not to you, and not to big donors, most of whom i'm willing to bet aren't even from your state.

if you're not in public service to, er, serve the public, then take your ass to the private sector and make way for someone willing to stand up and do the right thing and let the chips fall where they may.

[Kansas Wyatt]

19. You should have told her...

To go back to the Senator and have him justify her explanation when he works FOR the People, not his donors.

Then follow up with, if he worked FOR the people, like he is suppose to, then he wouldn't have to worry about his donors getting him re-elected.

For Christ's sake... Aren't these dumb asses any smarter than that?

[bertman]

25. This was not a political gathering or even a political discussion except for my

learning about her job. There were a number of us who are longtime friends who only had a few short hours together to catch up on years of not seeing each other. Had we had more time I would have engaged her about her comments and put forth some arguments. But since this was a social get together I didn't go into that discussion. Not that anything I would have said to her would have any effect whatsoever on the Senator's view of what's necessary for him to keep his seat.

[undeterred]

21. So what is the point of holding office anyway?

Is there any other point than to keep being re-elected? Isn't there a 1% desire to do just one thing good or right or moral, just once, even if it meant only 2 years or 6 years? Jeez, how do we elect these moral weaklings over and over and over?

[roody]

32. Having good health care.

[PassingFair]

33. Once they get there, it appears they want to STAY there.

Corpo money is the easiest, and sometimes
the only way to ensure their re-election.

[backscatter712]

35. Bring up that old quote from Texas.

Molly Ivins quoted it, but I don't remember who said it first...

"As they say around the Texas Legislature, if you can't drink their whiskey, screw their women, take their money, and vote against 'em anyway, you don't belong in office."

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

36. Many come planning to "do good" but learn it's more important to "do well"

I don't know who said that, but it certainly seems true.

Why do so many "public servants" leave office so much wealthier than when they entered? Part of the issues are that their SPOUSES end up with lucrative jobs as lobbyists or in corporations that hire them for "access" as well as sons and daughters. One reason I like Joe Biden so much is that his wife is a teacher who stayed in Delaware, his family stayed in Delaware and he managed to collect very few sheckels in his terms as Senator, comparatively speaking.