Eighty Fucking Five Percent. EIGHTY FIVE. What the living fuck are you waiting for?????

[Stinky The Clown]

85% of the US population WANT health care reform.

And Congress' whistle ass shitbirds are worried about the REPUBLICANS????????? WHAT the FUCK?

Here's a story from Reuters, published less than 24 hours ago. http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE55K00220090621

But don't bother with that link. Here is the money shot: "But the Times/CBS poll found 85 percent of respondents wanted major healthcare reforms and most would be willing to pay higher taxes to ensure everyone had health insurance. An estimated 46 million Americans currently have no coverage.

Seventy-two percent of those questioned said they backed a government-administered insurance plan similar to Medicare for those under 65 that would compete for customers with the private sector. Twenty percent said they were opposed."

So what's the excuse THIS week? The polling is not in the 90s?

WHAT

THE

FUCK

????

[annabanana]

1. abused spouse syndrome is hard to shake.....n/t

[myrna minx]

5. More like bought and paid for syndrome.

:puke:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

11. But what I don't understand is that without the voters, campaign contributions matter little.

I don't understand why these politicians are commiting political suicide by ignoring the voters and what they want. All the campaign contributions in the world aren't going to buy them votes.

[RufusTFirefly]

16. Alas, I understand why you're perplexed, but I think you might be naive

All that corporate money works in concert with perception management to convince us to believe lie after lie after lie: that George Bush is the kind of guy you want to have a beer with, that Howard Dean is an angry liberal, or that Dennis Kucinich is a woo-woo elf.

They'll ultimately manage to get most of our votes in spite of it all.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

35. I'm not naive at all. I'm a political scientist. My question was more rhetorical tongue-in-cheek

than serious.

[leeroysphitz]

37. Exactly. It's the "Al Gore invented the internet" technique and it works all too well...

[ieoeja]

68. A conversion with my brother in the year 2000...

HIM: Al Gore claimed to have invented the INTERNET.

ME: He did. All the top developers have said that Al Gore, more than anyone, is the reason there is an INTERNET today. Even Newt Gingrich said so.

HIM: He lied about discovering Love Canal.

ME: He was misquoted by a New York Times reporter. After the children Gore was talking to sent a recording of the talk to the reporter saying Gore did not say what the reporter thought he said, the reporter reviewed the recording, realized he made a mistake, and issued a correction.

HIM: He lied about he and Tipper being the model for Love Story.

ME: According to the author of Love Story, the man in Love Story *was* a composite of Al Gore and Gore's college roommate. Tipper wasn't part of it, but the person who told Gore what the author said was the one who made that mistake.

HIM: Well, I'm still not voting for him. Because he is such a liar.

ME: But I just pointed out to you that all the "lies" were no such thing.

HIM: Yeah, but people wouldn't believe all these stories about him lying if he weren't so well known for being a liar.... Doesn't it hurt when you bang your head against the wall like that?

ME: It feels better than this conversation.

[newspeak]

107. that's just amazing because I had almost the exact same

discussion with my friend about Gore "the liar." I went head to head with her on every piece of shite she got from MSM and she still came out and said she didn't trust him. All because of the lying, propaganda tool media we have in this country and some of the most dishonest PR firms--sell ya a car, sell ya a war.

[AlbertCat]

96. A woo-woo elf?????

So he's not a tally-wacker elf.....

[myrna minx]

17. They are cynical and assume that we citizens have short term memories and attention spans.

They assume that we'll be angry for a while and then go back to our dulled apathy of low expectations. Meanwhile the lobbying cash is flowing from the powerful, stuffing the pockets of the powerful, while they manufacture the message that all is well. They have been exposed for the cancer that they all are, because we all thought that change was coming and they thought we would be satisfied with feel good platitudes, while conducting business as usual. They were wrong.

[newtothegame]

89. It's amazing how much shock and surprise there is on DU that this isn't working out...

People, did we really think "change was coming?" You wanted to make 'HISTORY.' You wanted to take pictures of your ballots. If you wanted anything besides to make history and post pictures of little old black ladies crying on election night, you would have worked to get a PROGRESSIVE elected. Unfortunately, we were too busy posting pictures of Obama in his sunglasses to even stop Prop 8. We reap what we sow, plain and simple.

[chimpymustgo]

95. I'd almost suggest you post this as an OP, but I wouldn't wish the ensuing abuse on anyone.

But you have truly hit the nail on the head. Hey, the whole thing WAS about HOPE.

[newtothegame]

97. I'm glad there are like-minded people on here that see this for what it is. And yeah, I will post.

[Grinchie]

98. Actually, they KNOW citizens have short term memories

Since they KNOW that 30% of all Americans are on some sort of Antidepressant, and millions more on Prescription Opiates.

Despite that, more than 30% of Americans are substantially challenged enough to require supervision...

Add to that, the fact that most Food today is not worth the Toilet Paper needed to clean up after it nutritionally, and you have a society of Zombie drones.

[Cass]

43. Propoganda. They can spin anything and they do.

The news media in this country are enablers of the BS that gets spewed out. Then we have the professional propogandists like Limbaugh, Hannity and the Faux News channel. They can and do get the brainwashed masses to vote against their own self interests.

It is amazing to me that some people still actually believe that Saddam Hussein had something to do with 9-11 because Faux News and the other professional propogandists told them so. Those people are so brainwashed that you can't tell them otherwise. They still believe it even after Bush himself said it wasn't true. It is frightening how easily people will fall for propoganda.

[liberation]

58. They get more contributions from corporations than from individuals...

... if voters kick them out, they can get a nice cushy job working for the same corporations for which they "committed" political suicide.

If it is a democrat who is committing "political suicide" the alternative is most likely a republican, which also supports the corporations. There is no longer popular representation, since they can ignore the will of over 2/3 of the population without any clear repercussions to their interests... they have no incentive to actually represent people but rather the corporations who bought and paid for them.

This is a country for the corporations paid for by the people. I would not mind as much the corporate take over of the government, if at least they had the decency of paying for it. Right now, all they have to pay for is just a few politicians... the overall cost of that pales in comparison with the cost of running the government... which is footed by us. If you think about it, we can make a very good case about the US being currently a country where the people are forced to pay taxes without representation.

[Psychic Consortium]

116. Elections can be bought with enough money. nt

[tomp]

133. wrong.

people vote. well, sometimes maybe half the people vote and those votes don't count (i've always believed "none of the above" should be an option with candidates required to get a certain percentage of votes cast, but anyway...). and of those who do vote vote dem or repub (for the most part). and many people here think it would be a hanging offense to a) not vote, b) vote for a republican, c) vote for a third party. it should be obvious to anyone with eyes and two brain cells to rub together that the system is rigged in favor of the dem-repub party, the right and left hand that wash each other.

[Celtic Merlin]

53. This is why public financing of campaigns has become necessary.

When we get the corporate cash OUT of our political system, Corporate America can no longer buy our federal officials. Our representatives and senators then become beholden to US - the currently-unimportant voters, not the lobbyists pushing wheelbarrows of money into their offices.

I believe that money spent on lobbying activities is tax-deductible for corporations.

You want your country back? Get public financing of campaigns to be the law of the land. Limit private donations to political parties and cap donations to individual politicians on a per-person basis. Allow business entities of any form and of any size to contribute the same maximum as individuals. Obama's average was what - about $150 per contributor? If you can run a national campaign on that level of funding, you can certainly run a senatorial campaign on alot less.

Only after we've chased the corporate whores from DC will we see a government responsive to the needs of We, The People.

Celtic Merlin
Carlinist

[destes]

130. Good ideas all. BUT.................

As I was reading your post I was asking myself, "where is the hole in this logic? How will the corporationists get around these regulations?" Then it hit me. They ARE the media. We get our information and thus our opinions from (like it or not) the MSM. I saw the result as being, we pay for campaign ads, ensuring equal exposure for ALL the candidates while the MSM "reports the horse race" however they want it twisted. Ultimately, the same result except they get it for cheaper since OUR money pays for the formal introductions.
Perhaps campaign finance reform coupled with REAL "fairness-in-reporting" reform would have the good effect. Except then you'd have the Limbaugh people as well as the Ed Schultz people complaining equally loud about abridging their free speech rights.

[Celtic Merlin]

144. If we eliminate the corporate influence from all of the OTHER sources, I bet that

we could deal with media bias with simple legislation. Big Pharma can buy all the reporting it wants, but this would be easily exposed. Besides, wouldn't slanted reporting become rather suspect and give one cause to look more closely at the other candidates?

Also, with the rise of internet news and information (which Corporate America can't control so far), they'll only be blowing their own heads off if they report crap. We'll leave them in HERDS out of mistrust.

Public financing may not be the ultimate answer, but it's sure on helluva good start towards throwing out the whores who buy OUR elected officials out from under us - subverting the will of The People.

Celtic Merlin
Carlinist

[N.Y. to Paris]

66. Steamroll their fuckin' asses..enough is plenty!

[HowHasItComeToThis]

125. INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE IN THE NUMBERS RACKET

SUCH A F-ING SCAM

[Political Heretic]

2. There is no intelligent excuse. One must conclude that a majority of D's in Washington....

...simply don't want what we (meaning the 85%) want.

Every explanation is merely an appeasing excuse for why they won't produce substantive, dramatic health care reform, despite overwhelming public support for precisely that.

These no greater example of the fact that our government, whatever the party, basically doesn't serve the interests of the people, but rather serves first and foremost the interests of wealthy elite.

Now... the question that needs to come next is, what do we do about this?

[tomp]

134. but the exposure of the dems is front and center.

THAT is the lesson, along with the exposure of the idea that if you put enough pressure on them they will come around to reasonable positions.

[SammyWinstonJack]

138. They empty the Treasury by funding 'wars' and refusing to tax the wealthiest/corporations

and then claim there is no money left for what we want. Which is true. Nice, eh?

[myrna minx]

3. But, but, but Max Baucus, the insurance companies and big pharma

don't, and they're the one's who *really* count. Screw all of them. :puke:

[Ian David]

4. But 85% of Harry Reid's balls are missing.

And 85% of Max Baucus' income is derived from personally felating the CEOs of health insurance companies.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Don't need to have balls to have moral fortitude. nt

[liberation]

60. Exactly, Feinstein and Pelosi don't have balls... but they sure can give Reid a run for his gonads..

when it comes to shilling.

[KansDem]

6. Careful! We made need more police!!!

Arrests on Capitol Hill over Single Payer Health Care Issue

[Autumn]

7. Unfortunatly the

Democrats and their very good buddies don't want it. That counts so much more than the paltry "Eighty Fucking Five Percent" of the population that does want it. I agree


WHAT

THE

FUCK

????

[snappyturtle]

9. I agree STC! What ARE they waiting for?

Well, they did throw us a bone last week, per the article:

"Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives suggested this week that all Americans should be able to get insurance regardless of medical history and that coverage should be mandatory for individuals and businesses."

But, I am very wary of this bone. At what cost? Reminds me of the ads on teevee for payday loans.

(One of the anti-government healthcare programs is that we would have to wait to get to see a doctor. I for one would even be willing for THAT. To even think I could see a doctor, in let's say three months, for a problem I've had for three years, I would be ecstatic! The congresscritters, well all government insured employees for that matter, need to give up their subsidized health plans to realize what many of us have to endure to have health insurance.)

[sasquuatch55]

70. Jesse Ventura for President in 2012!

nt

[snappyturtle]

79. I voted for him! He was great until he couldn't handle the press. nt

[nolabels]

126. Actually it's a fair bet that the rest of the population could

I think we should round up all those press critters and expel them to another country :evilgrin:

[snappyturtle]

139. I think many could vote for him too especially because he at least doesn't

seem to be a part of lobbyists' efforts.

The press was very aggressive with him and his family. He just shut down and moved out of the governor's mansion, if I am recalling correctly, and said,.....well, 'buzz off'....not his words but the effect is the same. I liked him for his plain spokeness.

[global1]

10. Our Elected Representatives Need To Understand That The Votes That Re-Elect Them Come........

from the people and all the money in the world from the big insurance, big pharma, big meddevice won't get them the votes when the people speak. It is time for them to give their allegiance to the people for a change and screw the corporations - instead of the other way around.

People are loyal. If an elected official does well by us - we'll do well by them. Corporations - on the other hand - will use their money to coerce or blackmail the elected official and when they are through with them - pull their support.

Listen to the people.

[endarkenment]

12. The corruption has no clothes. nt.

[NRaleighLiberal]

13. the 85% are not funneling millions into the congresscritters' pockets

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

14. ...and so ends our merry tale.

[The Doctor.]

20. What? Are you suggesting that some sort of corporate entities have control of the process?

NO!
WAY!

:sarcasm:

[Ikonoklast]

109. “I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!”

[The Doctor.]

141. Next thing you know, you'll be telling me we aren't all getting ponies.

Yeah, Like that'll fly.

[SammyWinstonJack]

140. Yeah, that is a shocker.

:silly:

[FourScore]

15. That sums it up! k/r nt

[ColbertWatcher]

18. We need to make sure we get the reform we want.

Not some backdoor, late-night Eli-Lily-Enron bullshit.

[Kalyke]

19. But, see 100 percent of corporate insurance companies who

give mega-buck$ to politicians are AGAINST meaningful health care (insurance) reform.

That's Congress's excuse - whether they admit it or not.

[valerief]

21. Insurance companies pay their congress critters well, I guess. nt

[Party Person]

22. Public Option is officially dead

I knew this would happen. Now we're going to get something even worse (tax deduction?) than what we have now.

[myrna minx]

23. Look to see if your member of the Senate & Congress is bought and paid for by the insurance industry

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5897802&mesg_id=5897953

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

24. According to the NYT/CBS poll, 72% want single payer!!!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/health/policy/21poll.html?_r=2&hp

[beac]

25. Just called my Congressman's office. He said they are getting LOTS of calls OPPOSING

the public option. The rightwing-freeper-nutbag phone tree is obviously burning up the lines. PLEASE everyone, take a minute to call your Senators and Congressman as well as the White House!


Find your Congresspeople:

http://www.house.gov/zip/ZIP2Rep.html (House)

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm (senate)



White House phone numbers:

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: [phone]

Email:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact /

[mtnester]

30. If they go by those "calls" only, they are completely out of touch

they do their own internal polls, if they don't know how many people want reform, or single payer, they need to fire their damn internal polling company

You would have to be dead, or an elected/desperate Republican, to NOT GET IT NOW!

:)

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

36. Who's your Rep? What about your Senators?

[beac]

39. I'm in Virginia. By "congresspeople" I meant Senators and Congressmen (should have been clearer on

that!)

Of the three, only Jim Webb's rep was willing to say he's on board with a public option. Lily-liver Mark Warner, as usual, hasn't commented publicly and his rep just gave the canned "thanks for calling" answer. I got an intern at my Congressman's office, but he was interested to hear about the Times/CBS poll and he's the one who told me he' been taking a lot of opposition calls.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

42. Mark Warner is a DLC Democrat. It doesn't surprise me at all about his response.

Luckily the congresspeople in your neighboring state of Maryland seem to be onboard, except for Senator Mikulski, who must be defeated!!

I am so proud to say that Chris Van Hollen, my Rep, is listening to his constituents. Of course, he represents the majority of Montgomery County and we are more liberal than many average Americans. But we can count on him.

Senator Cardin has been a progressive leader in the Senate and I am so proud of him. But Barbara Mikulski has disappointed so many people. It really is time for her to go! (She's the DiFi of the Eastcoast!)

[Stinky The Clown]

111. I agree with you about Babs. She has some totally inexplicable votes in her record

We worked our asses off in two campaigns of hers. But now we've just plain had it. She needs to go. I hope to hell Mfume runs against her next time. Or even my congressman, Cummings.

[Pacifist Patriot]

54. I'm beginning to seriously doubt this because...

Not doubt you, by the way. I mean doubt what you're being told.

A progressive group in my area had a phone blitz to our congressman's office regarding healthcare. Several hundred people called within a matter of hours. I called later in the day and was told "I'm sorry, but all we're hearing is how our constituents do not want the public option." Um, right.

[beac]

55. Interesting. The intern I spoke to actually told me to get more pro-public people to call, so

I doubt he was lying about it. That said, remember the right wing has the "small but vocal minority" thing down to a science (witness the Letterman flap), so I have little doubt they are flooding the phone lines. I fear that pro-reform people who don't pay attention as closely as DUers hear "85%" and think there is no need to call b/c they have statistics on their side. :(

Did you challenge the person who told you they were only getting negative calls with you knowledge of the progressive group's action?

[Pacifist Patriot]

69. Yes, I called her on it.

I told her I was a member of the organization and knew people had been calling for hours. A bit of hemming and hawing on her part, but I didn't put her on the spot for too long. I just suggested politely that it might be best if she simply take the information, relay it to the congressman accurately and not volunteer commentary to the consituents in the future.

[beac]

73. I think it's acutally kind of lucky she DID comment, so you found out about the lying.

Don't be afraid to be a little more forceful with her next time. Holding their feet to the fire is the only way we'll get anywhere, and that includes calling them LIARS when they are.

[liberation]

61. It depends what their definition of "public option" is... I want "single payer" or "universal"

they can stick their "public option" where the sun doesn't shine. That still does not mean I support the private HMOs by any stretch of the imagination.

Again, the private sector was allowed to include a canard like the "public option" (which actually benefits them more than the current system) to make sure any sort of reform is either DOA or it actually helps their interests...


Thanks Dem party!

[beac]

75. Agreed. Insurance company (scum) can't be allowed to cherry-pick the healthy and force anyone with

actual need onto the government public option. You are 100% correct. We must be vigilant about the definition of "public."

[NoSheep]

26. Maybe they are trying to figure out how to make it work.

[mopinko]

38. nah that couldn't be it.

that would be rational.

[liberation]

62. It would take less time to implement "single payer" than it took us to invade Iraq....

... figuring out how HMOs can keep their obscene profits for their insignificant value proposition in the marketplace would take significantly longer, thus the current stalling....

[Ninga]

27. GET THE BLUE DOG DEMS ON BOARD!! HAMMER THEM WITH EMAILS AND CALLS. n/t

[spanone]

28. 100% proof that congress works for the lobbyists..no other explanation imo

[Soylent Brice]

29. i love you.

[mtnester]

31. Stinky, you have to be either dead or a desperate ELECTED Republican

to not get it by now, because if 85% support reform, then some of those folks are REPUBLICANS.

I am with you on this outrage 185%

[HughMoran]

32. It's that 72% for a public option that needs to be rubbed in their chicken-shit faces

I don't want to hear any lame excuses about public support for reform.

[Orsino]

33. Wanting "reform" is too vague.

That's just an excuse for months of grandstanding followed by a do-nothing bill. We aren't yet educated enough on the issue to make a few coherent demands.

Your larger point, though, is well-supported and important, I think. American health care "management" has been sucking so hard and for so long that we are waking up, despite the television's daily efforts to befuddle us.

[liberation]

63. How is this for educated: We no longer feel like paying over twice as much for substandard healthcar

when compared to the rest of the industrialized world. Being the leader in costs, sure makes USA #1, but is that the only category in which we want our health care to shine?

From a purely business proposition, the current system makes no sense whatsoever: over 2.2 times the cost of the nearest competitor (per capita), for a system which ranks in the upper 30s out of the 40 top industrialized nations. That is a f*cking failing grade... and a bad one at that.

[Orsino]

74. Try getting simple facts like that through the MSM filter.

It ought to be a no-brainer, but they're busy pimping the FUD.

[dorkulon]

34. Simple. The gov't fears its rich donorsmore than the voting public.

We'll bitch and then vote for them anyway.

[Warren DeMontague]

40. But... But... But.. George Will says that 70% of Americans LOVE their Health Care!!!!

Obviously, there's not a problem. Everything is just peachy. Sure, there are one or two people who don't have insurance who actually want it, but we can fix that with vouchers, or something.

[dorkulon]

50. Yeah, great solution, George.

Just give people money so they can spend it on overpriced, under-covering HMOs! That's the fiscally responsible way to do it.

[eridani]

119. 85% have never been expensively sick

In any given year, half the population has NO health care expenses AT ALL. Of course they are all happy about that. The problem here is that the 15% who account for 85% of all health care expenditures are considered to be disposable human garbage by the healthy majority and by paid-off congresscritters.

[yellerpup]

41. You always ask the most relevant questions.

K&R! :kick:

[HamdenRice]

44. You're right Stinky, there's no excuse

Btw, I'm trying to connect long time posters with their new screen names.

If you don't mind, who were you before?

[Stinky The Clown]

112. I used to be .....

...... Husb2Sparkly

Actually, I still am .... married to her, that is. But she never called me "Husb" or "H2S" ...... but she *does* call me Stinky. :)

[NorthCarolina]

45. These polls and the reaction of Congress just serve to underscore

WHO our elected officials really work for.....and it isn't "we the people".

[Echo In Light]

46. Like G.Carlin said, politicians don't suck, the American public SUCKS

Its collective, uniform cowardice is matched only by its ignorance, apathy, and unfaltering ability to cast unfavorable data as "conspiracy theory."

Keep on being a fucking doormat in the "land of the brave and free and yadda yadda."

[mnhtnbb]

47. Congress would rather have taxpayers pay for missiles, weapons, bombs, etc.

than health care.

It's that easy. Close a couple of our many world wide bases. Cancel the orders on a couple of
star wars weapons systems.

The money is there.

Congress doesn't want to upset the military/industrial complex or the insurance/big pharma industry.

[Echo In Light]

52. Exactly, so shame on the public for their faith-based, wishful thinking...

...when anyone with a fucking room temp IQ knew that universal health care was NEVER part of the plan, aside from purely propagandistic form. Just like just about any and everything else in this parallel reality country.

Find a way to get people to snap outta the propaganda bubble that passes for "reality" here and you'll begin to see actual, real change that benefits humanity, not corporations. Until then, idiots can keep strokin' themselves, cause that's all they got w/politicians and fairytales.

[flvegan]

48. "whistle ass shitbirds"!!!!

:rofl:

You should copyright that.

[Stinky The Clown]

113. Whistle Ass Shitbirds©

Done! :)

[NorthCarolina]

49. My email to my Congress Critter (not that it will do any good)

Dear Representative Myrick,

I am sure you are aware that a recent Times/CBS poll found eighty-five percent (85%) of respondents wanted major health care reforms and most would be willing to pay higher taxes to ensure everyone had health insurance. (An estimated 46 million Americans currently have no coverage.)

I am sure you are also aware that Seventy-two percent (72%) of those questioned said they backed a government-administered insurance plan similar to Medicare for those under 65 that would compete for customers with the private sector.

We now know full well what voters expect from their Congressional Representatives. I hope you will do your sworn duty to uphold the will of your constituents in this important vote.

Your choosing to toe the GOP line by siding with Corporate Insurance interests over the interests of your constituents will be contrary to your sworn duty to vote the majority interests of your constituents. Are your potential campaign contributions from the Insurance Industry and Big Pharma more important than performing your sworn duty to the people you represent? I hope that is not the case, and I will be watching your vote very closely, and if you betray the will of your constituents I will take a proactive approach to informing voters of your choice of Corporate Campaign Funds over their needs.

Respectfully yours,
xxxxx

[steelmania75]

51. The 15% who don't want reform are the morons who listen to Sean Hannity

Sean believes we have the best healthcare system in the world.

[liberation]

65. Included the 0.001% of the people who will be affected because

they will no longer be entitled to obscene profits for no value added whatsoever as part of their business plans.

If you put in context the fact that the upper management of HMOs, which represent an insignificant fraction of the population (you will require a lot of decimal places to capture their magnitude)... are right now holding hostage almost 300 millions of individuals. All for their entitlement to receive insane compensation for a business model which basically revolves around providing substandard health care, or denying it altogether.

There has to be a special circle in hell for these people... but that still does not excuse the stupidity of a society which is allowing that situation to happen. In any other country in the industrialized world, any political party proposing something that would be half as bad as the "public option" (never mind the complete privatization of their health care systems) would be equivalent to committing mass political suicide for at least one generation: ask Thatcher. Heck, even the most pro-business, right wing parties in the EU would not touch their universal health care systems with a 50ft pole.

[spin]

56. We'll get heath care reform, but it will suck...

unless we start raising hell.

The politicians will go out of their way to protect the medical insurance industry and lawyers. "Bought and paid for", describes the people we elect.

We can change this, but we need to make a lot of noise. A LOT OF NOISE!

Then, perhaps, their hearing will improve.

[LiberalAndProud]

57. Our representatives aren't Representing. us.

When did a government of the people become ... quaint?

[vanbean]

59. Jesus. WTF is right.

[malaise]

64. Pass it without the Rushicans

It's that simple. And there will be a public option.

[liberation]

67. Right on... let them filibuster it...

I can't believe how spineless and incompetent the Dem political machine is.

Let the Republicans say openly which they want us to pay more for worse healthcare, just f*cking do it. That would render the GOP to political irrelevance for a few decades to come. Sometimes, I get the feeling that the ones more interested in the well being of the GOP is the Dems themselves. Maybe Nader was right all along...

[mtnester]

84. Do they have no clue how BAD a filibuster of providing healthcare

to every US citizen will be for the Repubs?

Think about it...standing up, saying denying healthcare to Jeannie Provost's little baby boy is a GOAL of the Repubs? A DESIRE of them?

Go forward, move ahead....whip it good baby, this is a no win situation for the Repubs, but a possible LOSING situation for the Dems if they do not simply move it forward, public option included.

[Joanne98]

71. But they're too scared. Especially the conservadems.

[bread_and_roses]

72. they're worried about their corporate donor masters

anything else they say is spin - to be kind - or simply lies.

[hay rick]

76. Push polling.

The poll results are good news but I find the assumptions underlying the polling discouraging. Noting that Americans would be willing to pay higher taxes to ensure universal health insurance coverage encourages the claim that a healthcare system that features universal coverage and a public option would be more expensive than our current system.

View the complete poll here: http://documents.nytimes.com/latest-new-york-times-cbs-news-poll-on-health#p=1

From Question 55: "...which is a more serious problem now- keeping health care costs down for average Americans, OR providing health insurance for Americans who do not have any insurance?"

Results: 65%- providing health insurance, 26%- holding down costs, 9%- NA.

In fact, our peers (other developed countries) have greater government involvement in health care, come much closer to universal coverage, and spend about HALF as much per capita on health care.

[Gary Kleppe]

80. Costs

The public option would add substantial costs. Basically you're retaining all the waste and inefficiency of scattershot private insurance coverage and subsidizing participation for people who can't afford it.

The way to cover everyone while saving money is through a single-payer system which covers everybody.

[hay rick]

85. costs vs.cost savings

Subsidized insurance for people who can't afford it will be offset in part by reduced costs for charity care. Many of the myriad wasteful and inefficient insurance companies should be run out of business by a good public option plan resulting in a substantial net savings over time...

[uberblonde]

77. If their friends all have health care...

How serious could it be?

:sarcasm:

[Javaman]

78. See it works like this...

We only vote for the popular candidates that, behind the scenes, were willing to sell their souls to the highest bidder for campaign money in order to gain more face time on the tv machine. They have never answered to us. They answer only to their corporate sponsors.

After they get the election, our vote means nothing to them, not that it really matters to them today with electronic voting.

It's only when they are up for reelection that they once again roll out the "candidate of the people" bullshit for all us mouth breather to fall for yet again and for their corporate overlords to nod in approval.

Rinse and repeat.

[TBF]

81. Recommended. n/t

[Cal33]

82. You're right. Maybe he wants a public demand, if not a public

outcry. Maybe he thinks he NEEDS a public outcry, before he does it.

[GreenTea]

83. Absolutely the NUMBER ONE issue! Until it's resolved....

The economy will also m begin to rise if small businesses don't have to pay rip-off insurance companies massive amounts in premiums for employee health care.

At the very least we want a public option...preferably single payer!!

If this issue doesn't mean much to you than you either have a health care plan paid by someone else (lucky you) or you are not sick or you're too stupid to realize someday you will be!!

[inna]

86. universal health INSURANCE is NOT the goal!

the goal is universal health CARE.

fuck insurance companies and for-profit health corps!! :grr:

[notesdev]

87. Of course there's a huge majority in favor of a change

The current situation works for very few. But what change? Good luck getting even a plurality in favor of any specific change.

The problem is that it's very easy to say one is for something, much harder to say what one is willing to give up in order to achieve a goal.

For me, the prerequisite for any plan to make sense is that it has to lower the amount of money this country spends on health care. So any plan that depends on new taxes or taxing benefits automatically fails the basic utility test. In order to get this I am willing to give up the potential to play lawsuit lotto should I suffer from an incident of malpractice.

[midnight]

88. Stinky, exactly! Let's get the job done.

[BigD_95]

90. not trying to be a dick

but if we dont get a public Option with a Dem President, Dem control Sen & Cong.

Im done voting. Im done fighting. I give up. Big Business wins.

85% of America wants it and if they dont listen now they never will.

sorry if Im a poor sport.

Maybe I will just vote Green Party or something but not even sure if I will waste my time.

[wroberts189]

103. A lot of us feel the same. nt

[RagAss]

105. I'm with ya...I will never vote again or volunteer...or drive the hundreds I did to the polls !!!

FINITO !!!!!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

91. We are a focus group with no money

this will take soles, shoe soles on pavement

[colsohlibgal]

92. The Senate Problem

The people overwhelmingly, and the percentage seems to go up every time another one is done, want universal care provided. The House could pass a fine bill providing it . The entire problem is in the staid and increasingly corrupt Senate. The Senate just doesn't get it that the public is in a much different place now. They are a little slow on the uptake, but then it's hard to pay much attention to the pulse of the public when one is busy gorging themselves at the lobbyists trough, just like little piggies.

It was encouraging to hear Shumer finally say they may have to just shove a bill through in reconciliation, the Hell with the republicans. About time Chuck, you're a little late to the party, but better late than never.

[Uncle Joe]

93. The Senate by it's nature is further separated from the people than the House and thus

the process takes longer, if they fail, we will need to challenge the corpse supporting Dems in the primaries.

[paparush]

94. My Wife's Idea - Single Payer Coverage for Registerd Democrats Only

F#ck the Rushpublicans.

[Seldona]

99. K&R

Even if you are a bought and paid for politician, you won't be one very long ignoring 85% of your constituency when it comes to what is one of the most important issues to them there is. Time to do the PEOPLE'S work! Or we will find someone who will.

Until voters consistently speak out in great enough numbers, we will always be stuck with corporate run government. We are going to have to spend the next year or so reminding them of that on a regular basis if we want anything to get done imo.

In my experience the squeaky wheel really does most often get the grease. You can be sure billions are being spent on disinformation campaigns that are already underway. That is over and above the normal bullshit the advertisers sell us, the lobbyist lobby, etc.

[earth mom]

100. Great Rant! K & R!

:kick:

[NorthCarolina]

101. Chris Matthews on MSNBC just put the odds for Passage of ANY Health Care Reform at only 48% nt

[wroberts189]

102. knr

[RagAss]

104. They are Bought and Sold !!!...Healthcare is circling the shit bowl !

[MSC2007]

106. ??? You Want Change ??? !!! Anti-Incumbent !!!

Start organizing and get "ALL" these parasites out of office. What a Joke!!!

Someone needs to start a data table showing how the parasites vote in relation to the top three people polls on the most important issues. Keep it simple and compelling.

Organize, Organize, Organize!!!

[humbled_opinion]

108. It doesn't help when the idiot repukes are out

challenging the uninsured number saying it is mainly illegal aliens and people that just refuse to buy health insurance because they don't want to spend their own money on it.

[sarcasmo]

110. Health Care for all NOW!.

[defendandprotect]

114. In other words, if MEDICARE is "socialism" . . . . Americans are saying, "Bring it on" -- !!!!!!!!!

[proud patriot]

115. Howard Dean expressed as much on KO tonight

We better get a public option

[Psychic Consortium]

117. Looks like our corrupt congress may have some tense moments ahead.....

an angry populace on the one hand,
and on the other hand the greedy corporations giving them millions.

[Kablooie]

118. As for me, I'm waiting for the Rapture.

Wa hoo! Jesus, snarf me up to heaving!!

[Agony]

122. Can I have your car? .

[Kablooie]

129. Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?

[GeorgeGist]

120. Clearly the Republicans have lost the War on Sanity.

Some people, including Democrats, can't resist the temptation to prove that they can write the history of something that will never be done. Perhaps it should be classified under 'Stupid Fiction'.

[MrMickeysMom]

121. Thanks for enabling me to send another e-mail to my Congress_republican_robot

Thanks, Stinky,

Tim Murphy (R, US congressional 18th, PA) keeps having fund raisers and phony town hall meetings. We simply couldn't get a strong enough person to beat this twisted up puppeteer who keep stacking up the deck against single payer. Too bad he couldn't go away last year, because it's pretty clear NON of them want to admit we want this type of health care.

He, and many others, also Democrats, I fear, just keep pumping this dark matter up our collective asses. We KNOW it's NOT TRUE.

So, anyway, I forwarded that article to my dick head of a congressman. I've tried to talk intelligently with his staff or him, had been promised the usual response, I've tried to take part in his phony phone call town meetings. It's of little use. This guy's dug in. His real game is lies, and gearing up 2 years ahead of time with $200.00/plate fund raisers to beat the "next component", who I'm sure will be stronger. I sincerely hope someone thumps any member of congress out of office for the way they persist with this bullshit.

They tell lies to help perpetuate how we don't want Single payer when we want single payer.

Piss on them. Let's have a pissing contest all over them.

[farmboxer]

123. Congress wants the CEOs to get more big bonuses

Big corporations give Congress lots of money. Republican health care has made America #38 in health care. If we do not get health care, we will all die in the streets a terrible death while Congress eats in five star hotels with their call girls. We die to make them rich. America is like France before the Revolution.

"We have the best Congress money can buy." - Will Rogers.

[BrklynLiberal]

124. Some reporter should ask that question at the next news conference....

[AllyCat]

127. We fork over $350/mo for premiums and the uncovered stuff

And we are healthy for the most part (one child with expensive, reconstructive surgery for a birth defect). I would GLADLY pay that a month in taxes if it meant EVERY FREAKIN' BODY was covered!!! We have an Amish boy at our hospital right now with long-term care issues. That family has NO insurance. What are they gonna do? Take their Belgian horses? Repossess their black buggies? These people should be covered no matter what.

I face an uphill battle with even my nurse coworkers who were mad tonight because my labor patient was here from another country to get care for an obviously high-risk pregnancy. Yet they are mad because they are paying for it. I talk about single-payer every day and what it usually comes down to is that even among progressives (my RN coworkers are "progressives"), they are worried that someone who "doesn't deserve it" is going to get a "free ride".

No matter what we do, someone will learn to game the system. I'd rather everyone was covered and a few ripped us off than we get bilked by the insurance companies every day of the week, every minute of the hour.

[LaPera]

128. Kick!

:kick:

[w4rma]

131. Sen Reid is doing his wimp impression and Sen Baucus taking advantage of it.

And the Blue Dogs that are behind this can all go to heck.

[liberal N proud]

132. Congress only polls the lobbiest

And all polling is done with green paper, the more green each member of congress gets from any one lobby group, the more congress listens.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[no name no slogan]

135. I'm waiting for more profanity

BRING IT ON FUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Alcibiades]

136. North Carolinians: Call Kay Hagan

It looks as if Hagan is not going to support a public option. Officially, she's reviewing the options, but she has voiced "concerns" about maintaining the viability of private insurance. Why isn't she more concerned about securing good health for Americans rather than great wealth for insurers?

She still is trying to hide and not take a public position. Call her today, and every day, to let her know that we are paying attention, and that she should stand with the Senate Democrats who support a public option!

DC 202-224-6342, Greensboro 336-333-5311, Raleigh 919-856-4630

[man4allcats]

137. It's not about Democrats or Republicans, and it is definitely

not about We the People.

It's about the corporations that own and run this country.

[themoreuknow]

142. You, sir, are a potty mouth. Where is that bar of Ivory soap when I need it?

(But yeah, I think we need to put the insurance business out of businees.)

[workinclasszero]

143. We are waitin for the american hating party

to go along with it!:argh:

FUCK THE DAMN REPUBLICANS! And any blue dog dem that sucks at the tit of the big insurance companies as well!

If President Obama fails to get national health now with 85% of the public behind him....

AGGAGAGAGAGAGGAGAA!

It will be the doom of his presidency and the death of the dem party!

If it doesn't get done this year, it will NEVER get done!