It sounds like the House liberal caucus is a big part of the problem. They simply do not understand that if the Senate bill goes nowhere, health care is over. Kaput. And so is their party. Those of you who live in their districts know who you are. First thing tomorrow, get calling!
Archives for January 2010
Slow Motion Suicide
I’d have to say the most irritating thing about the blue dogs and the centrists is there just doesn’t seem to be much that can be done to them. You can’t even primary them.
Well, you can primary them, but what is the point? If they keep blocking reform, if they keep praying to the alter of fiscal conservatism and concern trolling about deficits while unemployment is at 10% for sustained periods, there simply is no point in primarying them- they will be the ones wiped out in November 2010. They live in districts where it is hard to be elected a Democrat in good times, in bad times, when it is time to unload on the party in power and the Democrats are the party in power, they are simply going to be decimated. The Republican tsunami in 2010 isn’t going to take out Maxine Waters or Nancy Pelosi or Barney Frank. It is going to take out the blue dogs (and honestly, it is hard to really get too worked up about that at this point).
For some strange reason they think they will be spared in Nov. 2010 because they were “moderate” or not “too liberal,” like that means anything to the Republicans or an electorate out for blood. They are writing their own death warrants by blocking reform- primarying them would be akin to attempting to murder someone who is busy committing suicide. What would be the point?
It just makes you feel so helpless.
Open Thread
Cats and a red laser pointer.
Good Question
From my post below:
Who are the key figures and what are their numbers?
That stopped me for a minute. Barney Frank is obviously a key figure, but he doesn’t need your money. Ditto for Nancy Pelosi. We need a list of wavering Democrats who might actually notice a money bomb from a site as thunderingly significant as this, and I honestly don’t know the answer. I suppose a lot of Reps are still too shellshocked to know their own position yet.
The list would have to include include liberals who think they can get a some magic pony deal down the road as well as spooked “moderates” and some Blue Dogs. I might even put up an ActBlue account for Reps on the list who come through.
Share your thoughts in the comments.
Profiles in Chutzpah
Ben Nelson: “Clearly, the vote showed that people are frustrated with Washington…and I am too.”
Seriously, Ben- GFY. Your toxic sweetheart deal has been cited repeatedly among voters yesterday in Mass.
He’s Right About This
I’m honestly hard pressed to think of anyone who I can tolerate less than Lanny Davis, who I think really embodies everything wrong about the Democratic party and politics in general, but contained in this ridiculous piece blaming the left for the Coakley defeat is this:
The Democrats have a simple message on health care that has still not really gotten through: If our bill passes, you never have to worry about getting, or losing, health insurance for the rest of your life. How is it that so few people have heard that message?
Putting aside the fact that according to what I have read, the left came out to vote, he is right about the messaging. We hear all sorts of talk about procedural hoops to get to HCR, we hear about all sorts of nonsense about the bully pulpit, we hear all sorts- well, I could go on forever. The simple fact of the matter Democrats have talked about the need for health care reform for decades, and then, when it came time to sell it, they fell flat on their faces.
Never having to worry about losing your health insurance again is such an appealing proposition. I would gladly pay several thousand dollars more a year in taxes for this kind of security. Banning pre-existing conditions is huge. But somehow or another it all got lost in the chants of death panels and socialism. For that, I think you can blame the Democrats from the top down. It is a potent message, and it just never was passed on to the public in a meaningful way.
One other thing- I know I am a cantankerous prick who can not help himself from goading progressives, but to blame HCR failure on the progressive left is just flat out absurd. If HCR dies, the blame lies solely on the moderates and the Republicans and the Obama administration. The Republicans voted down the line against any and all reform, the centrists never really wanted it or added so many poison pills that it became impossible to move on the bill. And even with all the legislative insults to progressive sensibilities and the removal of so many provisions they wanted, you know who was still willing to suck it up and vote for reform- the progressive wings of the House and Senate.
The reason that online progressives have driven me insane is that they seem immune to the political realities- Joe Lieberman is a sanctimonious prick who is going to vote against anything he and Marshall Wittmann think will piss off the Jane Hamshers of the left. He as much as admitted that with his Medicare buy-in reversal. Evan Bayh is a posturing fool who is only where he is because of his gene pool, and he will do or say whatever he can to prove how very moderate and reasonable and sensible he is and get himself back on Imus. And on and on with them through Lincoln and Nelson and the whole crowd. Screaming about the bully pulpit or pushing to have Rahm fired and then investigated or attacking Democrats with right-wing talking points was never going to change those realities. The moderates and Republicans never really wanted a bill, and the liberals and progressives are without leverage. And then you have that asshole Stupak and his band of brothers at the Family.
The whole thing is just frustrating, and now it appears the Dems are going to run away from it.
Tips For Calling Your Representative
Might as well put this up.
(1) Use a phone. Email has nigh on zero impact. Trust me on this. Letter mail gets read, but you don’t have time. Reach the House switchboard at (202) 224-3121 .
(2) Remember, this person works for you. You pay his or her salary and you voted for them. You’re the boss here, or at least one of them, and it’s they who should worry about what you think of them.
(3) Identify your name and the town or neighborhood where you live. If you are not a constituent, save your phone bill and yell at the TV.
(4) State the issue. This is easy: pass the Senate bill or the party gets it. We can (and certainly will) fix the shortcomings later.
(5) How strongly do you feel? Don’t apologize about feeling passionate or pissed off. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
(6) What are you going to do about it? Again, squeaky wheel. Will you reward good behavior with money or volunteers? Support a primary challenger if you feel let down? Stay home in November? Do you belong to a group who listens to your opinion or feels the same way you do? This part will get their attention and get the message passed on. Do not forget it.
Good luck!
***Update***
This made me chuckle (some day I’d love to vote for fantasy unicorn Democrats who have the balls to do something like that), but this from Josh Marshall suggests that constituent heat might already be adding up.
***Update 2***
A thought: Wouldn’t it be more effective, especially if your rep already supports passage or never will, to target calls to those reps holding out on voting for the bill as is but would have voted for it after conference committee? We call can contribute or not contribute to any campaign we want. We may not be able to vote in District X in State X but we can sure as hell tell Rep X that we will contribute to his/her opponent in the future.
If you have the disposable income, might as well call key figures and let them know that you will gladly support anyone who steps up and makes this happen. Choose your battles, though. Influential legislators often have a potent money spigot.