Being the political junky that I am, it often drives me nuts when unserious or politically immature people make comments that show that they have no clue how our political system really works. It isn’t pretty at all, lobbyists, big money, deal making, earmarks, largesse, paybacks and that is just some of what goes on. The legislative process has all that plus the rules committee and lock-step partisan voting, which is one of the reasons why I ALWAYS vote Democratic. It is a good versus evil proposition in my mind.
I’ve railed against the media a lot on this blog because it is very rapidly become one massive joke, one massive “infotainment” business, one massive pile of innuendo and lies. There is no objective truth anymore, simply he said, she said. I was very impressed with Savannah Guthrie for challenging Donald Trump on his “Just tell them” theory of governing. Here is a little clip of the Donald…
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But really, it isn’t just Donald Trump who thinks you can just say it and it becomes so. And it isn’t just wingnut Republicans who think that way. Remember the health care debate? I don’t know how many times I heard some naive people on the left say, he has to just tell the GOP that we are going to have a public option. He has to be forceful, as if the power of his words can stop the stubborn, childish Republicans from being so obstinate.
The closing of Guantanamo Bay is another good example, the President did come out and “tell” the congress to close it. What happened, the NIMBY people came out when people started talking about what state they would send them to. “Not-in-my-backyard, no freakin way” was pretty much the response from people. So wimpy politicians in the congress de-funded the process, they closed up the purse and said….nuh, ah…you ain’t closing nothin’. But of course who has taken the blame for that, of course it is the President, the one who is “telling” them to do it. I guess the next line would be, he didn’t tell them firmly enough. So a louder voice maybe, a megaphone, maybe a big ass PA system would help him “tell” them what to do. I have a hard time respecting anyone, left or right, who is so naive to think that the President can wave a magic wand or speak in an authoritative tone and voilà, it’s done.
Extreme Liberal's Blog 
REALITY!!
( Gov. Peter Shumlin: Real Healthcare reform — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yFUbkVCsZ4 )
( Health Care Budget Deficit Calculator — http://www.cepr.net/calculators/hc/hc-calculator.html )
( Briefing: Dean Baker on Boosting the Economy by Saving Healthcare http://t.co/fmVz8nM )
START NOW!
As you all know. Had congress passed a single-payer or government-run robust Public Option CHOICE! available to everyone on day one, our economy and jobs would have taken off like a rocket. And still will. Single-payer would be best. But a government-run robust Public Option CHOICE! that can lead to a single-payer system is the least you can accept. It’s not about competing with for-profit healthcare and for-profit health insurance. It’s about replacing it with Universal Healthcare Assurance. Everyone knows this now.
The message from the midterm elections is clear. The American people want real healthcare reform. They want that individual mandate requiring them to buy private health insurance abolished. And they want a government-run robust public option CHOICE! available to everyone on day one. And they want it now.
They want Drug re-importation, and abolishment, or strong restrictions on patents for biologic and prescription drugs. And government controlled and negotiated drug and medical cost. They want back control of their healthcare system from the Medical Industrial Complex. And they want it NOW!
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL NOT, AND MUST NOT, ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL MANDATE TO STAND WITHOUT A STRONG GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE! AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
For profit health insurance is extremely unethical, and morally repugnant. It’s as morally repugnant as slavery was. And few if any decent Americans are going to allow them-self to be compelled to support such an unethical and immoral crime against humanity.
This is a matter of National and Global security. There can be NO MORE EXCUSES.
Further, we want that corrupt, undemocratic filibuster abolished. Whats the point of an election if one corrupt member of congress can block the will of the people, and any legislation the majority wants. And do it in secret. Give me a break people.
Also, unemployment healthcare benefits are critically needed. But they should be provided through the Medicare program at cost, less the 65% government premium subsidy provided now to private for profit health insurance.
Congress should stop wasting hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money on private for profit health insurance subsidies. Subsidies that cost the taxpayer 10x as much or more than Medicare does. Private for profit health insurance plans cost more. But provide dangerous and poorer quality patient care.
Republicans: GET RID OF THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE.
Democrats: ADD A ROBUST GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION TO HEALTHCARE REFORM.
This is what the American people are shouting at you. Both parties have just enough power now to do what the American people want. GET! IT! DONE! NOW!
If congress does not abolish the individual mandate. And establish a government-run public option CHOICE! before the end of 2011. EVERY! member of congress up for reelection in 2012 will face strong progressive pro public option, and anti-individual mandate replacement candidates.
Strong progressive pro “PUBLIC OPTION” CHOICE! and anti-individual mandate volunteer candidates should begin now. And start the process of replacing any and all members of congress that obstruct, or fail to add a government-run robust PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE! before the end of 2011.
We need two or three very strong progressive volunteer candidates for every member of congress that will be up for reelection in 2012. You should be fully prepared to politically EVISCERATE EVERY INCUMBENT that fails or obstructs “THE PUBLIC OPTION”. And you should be willing to step aside and support the strongest pro “PUBLIC OPTION” candidate if the need arises.
ASSUME CONGRESS WILL FAIL and SELLOUT again. So start preparing now to CUT THEIR POLITICAL THROATS. You can always step aside if they succeed. But only if they succeed. We didn’t have much time to prepare before these midterm elections. So the American people had to use a political shotgun approach. But by 2012 you will have a scalpel.
Congress you could have pass a robust government-run public option during your lame duck session. You knew what the American people wanted. You already had several bills on record. And the house had already passed a public option. Departing members could have left with a truly great accomplishment. And the rest of you could have solidified your job before the 2012 elections.
President Obama, you promised the American people a strong public option available to everyone. And the American people overwhelmingly supported you for it. Maybe it just wasn’t possible before. But it is now.
Knock heads. Threaten people. Or do whatever you have to. We will support you. But get us that robust public option CHOICE! available to everyone on day one before the end of 2011. Or We The People Of The United States will make the midterm election look like a cake walk in 2012. And it will include you.
We still have a healthcare crisis in America. With hundreds of thousands dieing needlessly every year in America. And a for profit medical industrial complex that threatens the security and health of the entire world. They have already attacked the world with H1N1 killing thousands, and injuring millions. And more attacks are planned for profit, and to feed their greed.
Spread the word people.
Progressives, prepare the American peoples scalpels. It’s time to remove some politically diseased tissues.
God Bless You my fellow human beings. I’m proud to be one of you. You did good.
See you on the battle field.
Sincerely
jacksmith – WorkingClass :-)
We may get the public option before the election.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/weiner-says-scotus-will-rule-against-health-care-law-paving-way-for-public-option.php#more
And I don’t think Democrats should have a litmus test for candidates, by doing that, you are pretty much assuring Democratic losses in a lot of districts, thus setting us back even further.
But if the goal is to be angry and stomp our feet, then fine, let’s give Republicans even bigger numbers in the congress. Woooo hoooo. Maybe I’ll jump on the Hamsher/Greenwald money train and bash Democrats all the way to the bank. /snark