The point needs to be hammered home - no matter how conservative a Democrat is or appears to be, he or she will be voting for Pelosi as speaker. It’s probably the most important vote any congressman can cast - who leads the house.
A vote for a “blue dog” Democrat is a vote for Pelosi.
I saw this on YouTube last night, Dreihaus had the look on his face that communicates it well. He knows that he is a dead duck when he is up for reelection.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOLs7Cybnqw&feature=email
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOdlZgMHKcQ&feature=related
These town hall meeting videos are delightful. How many Dems are hearing the death knell toll for their political futures? I hope the rest of August continues in this vein, and that they all get a clear picture of what their constituents think about socialized medicine and tax-and-trade, and their constituents’ take on their re-election prospects. We need to create a Congress-wide feeling of deer in the headlights.
This is what dems were afraid of, no?
One of the most telling -- and bizarre -- aspects of that historic 1994 election was the aftermath. Bill Clinton blamed Democrats in Congress for passing a bad budget bill in 1993 and basically forcing him to sign it against his better judgement.
And this was after the Clinton administration itself had put the budget bill together -- and had strong-armed so many Democrats into supporting it against THEIR better judgement.
You could hear a bunch of Tea Partiers outside yelling. Finally, enough attendees were sufficiently disruptive that Driehaus began taking real questions. There were a lot of good ones, about illegal immigrants covered under the bill… how the government couldn’t run cash-for-clunkers, how could it run health care… etc.
I would say the ratio of those opposed to ObamaCare and single-payer ran about 8-to-1 (maybe more). In fact, when the “public option” was raised and people yelled that would destroy competition, one of the Obamatons screamed, “the public option is competition!”. The guy next to me erupted, “No, it’s MARXISM!”
The good news is that people are educated about what the public option is, which basically is a disaster for private insurance. One questioner noted that you could go on the Internet and get access to about 14,000 different health insurance quotes with reviews and so on. She wanted state portability. Driehaus, of course, ignored that part.
It’s hard enough finding a conservative Republican in Washington, what kind of moron believes in conservative Democrats?!
People are just extremely skepical of government. We have somehow managed to handle the adversity of an economy that washed away the solid ground we thought we stood on. We are learning how to live within our means, but we see a government way out of control. If we fail to rein them in on healthcare, there will be no stopping them.
Nancy Pelosi and crew did their best to take seats away from Republicans by finding “conservative” dems and having them run on “conservative” principles. Now their constituents, who elected them believing (however naive that was) they would vote conservative are mad as heck and they’re not going to take it anymore.
The idea of having Dems take seats from Republicans by pretending to be conservative isn’t working out for you so well right now, is it Ms. Pelosi?
bttt
LOCAL (DISTRICT) PHONE NUMBERS
OBAMACARE
ACTION
PING
Whoa! I forgot to mention this in my last ping:
Due to screening procedures, individuals sending written mail to their representative’s Washington, DC office are experiencing a delay of about three weeks.
DC Congressional telephone communication has reported breakdowns as well, because of the huge volume of calls. And of course, now they’re on August break.
There’s a group called Liberty Counsel which offers a fast, smart service: they will FAX your anti-ObamaCare to your Senators and Reps plus strategically selected Pro-Life and Blue Dog Democrats for a reasonable fee. I am not a member and have no connection with Liberty Counsel, but I think their Stop ObamaCare FAX idea is targeted, efficient, and a great time-saver.
Contact Liberty Counsel to check out what they’re offering.
Following is the official list of Blue Dog Democrats, followed by their LOCAL (DISTRICT) PHONE NUMBERS . Since they are in recess, these are the phone numbers to reach them at their “home office.”
Uusally they won’t ask you for your address on the phone, but keep in mind that they rightly make a priority of hearing from people in their own districts. If you have any pretext for using an address in their particular state (e.g. your mama lives in that state) please do so: you’ll get a higher priority response.
Following this list are 3 sample letters I offer for your consideration.
Now go get ‘em!
Altmire, Jason (PA-04) (724) 378-0928
724-378-6171 (fax)
Arcuri, Mike (NY-24) (315) 793-8146
Toll Free: 1-800-235-2525
Fax: 315-798-4099
Baca, Joe (CA-43) (909) 885-2222
Barrow, John (GA-12) (202) 225-2823
Berry, Marion (AR-01) (870) 972-4600
Bishop, Sanford (GA-02) (229) 439-8067
Boren, Dan (OK-02) (918) 423-5951
Boswell, Leonard (IA-03) 515-282-1909
Iowa Toll Free: 1-888-432-1984
Fax: 515-282-1785
Boyd, Allen (FL-02) (850) 561-3979
Fax (850) 681-2902
Bright, Bobby (AL-02) (334) 277-9113
Fax: (334) 277-8534
Cardoza, Dennis (CA-18) (209) 383-4455
Fax: 726-1065
800-356-6424
Carney, Christopher (PA-10) (570) 585-9988
Toll free: (866) 846-8124
Fax: (570) 585-9977
Chandler, Ben (KY-06) (859) 219-1366
FAX: (859) 219-3437
Childers, Travis (MS-01) (662) 841-8808
Fax (662) 841-8845
Cooper, Jim (TN-05) ( 615) 736-5295
Fax: 615-736-7479
Costa, Jim (CA-20) (559) 495-1620
Fax:(559) 495-1027
Cuellar, Henry (TX-28) (956) 725-0639
Fax (956) 725-2647
Dahlkemper, Kathy (PA-03) (814) 456-2038
Toll Free: (877) 528-4948
Fax: (814) 454-0163
Davis, Lincoln (TN-04) (931) 490-8699
Fax: (931) 490-8675
Donnelly, Joe (IN-02) (574) 288-2780
Fax: 574.288.2825
Ellsworth, Brad (IN-08) (812) 465-6484
Fax (812) 422-4761
Giffords, Gabrielle (AZ-08) : (520) 881-3588
Fax: (520) 322-9490
Gordon, Bart (TN-06) Phone: (615) 896-1986
Griffith, Parker (AL-05) (256) 551-0190
Fax: (256) 551-0194
Harman, Jane (CA-36) (310) 643 3636
Fax: (310) 643 6445
Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie (SD) (605) 367-8371
• Toll Free: (866) 371-8747
Fax: (605) 367-8373
Hill, Baron (IN-09) (812) 288-3999
Fax (812) 288-3873
Toll Free: (866) 440-1321
Holden, Tim (PA-17) (717)234-5904
Fax: (717) 234-5918
Kratovil, Jr., Frank (MD-01) (443) 262-9136
Fax: (443) 292-9713
McIntyre, Mike (NC-07) (910) 815-4959
Fax (910) 815-4543
Marshall, Jim (GA-03) (478) 464-0255
Toll-free: (877) 464-0255
Fax: (478) 464-0277
Matheson, Jim (UT-02) (801) 486-1236
Toll free: (877) 677-9743
Fax - (801) 486-1417
Melancon, Charlie (LA-03) (985) 876-3033
Fax: (985) 872-4449
Michaud, Mike (ME-02) Phone: (207) 942-6935
Fax: (207) 942-5907
Minnick, Walt (ID-01) Phone: (208) 888-3188
Fax: (208) 888-0894
Mitchell, Harry (AZ-05) (480) 946-2411
Fax: (480) 946-2446
Moore, Dennis (KS-03) (913) 621-0832
FAX: (913) 621-1533
Murphy, Patrick (PA-08) (215) 826-1963
Fax: (215) 826-1997
Nye, Glenn (VA-02) (757) 326-6201
Fax: (757) 326-6209
Peterson, Collin (MN-07) (218) 847-5056
Fax: (202) 225-1593
Pomeroy, Earl (ND) (701) 224-0355
Fax: (701) 224-0431
Ross, Mike (AR-04) (870) 881-0681
Fax (870) 881-0683
Salazar, John (CO-03) (970) 245-7107
Fax: (970) 245-2194
Sanchez, Loretta (CA-47) (714) 621-0102
Fax: (714) 621-0401
Schiff, Adam (CA-29)(626) 304-2727
Fax: (626) 304-0572
Scott, David (GA-13) (770) 210-5073
Fax: (770) 210-5673
Shuler, Heath (NC-11) (828) 252-1651
Fax: (828) 252-8734
Space, Zack (OH-18) (330) 364-4300
TOLL FREE: (866)910-7577
Fax: (330) 364-4330
Tanner, John (TN-08) (731) 885-7070
Fax: (731) 885-7094
Taylor, Gene (MS-04) (228) 864-7670 Fax: (228) 864-3099
Thompson, Mike (CA-01) (707) 226-9898
\ Fax: (707) 251-9800
Wilson, Charles (OH-06) (740) 633-5705
Toll Free: (888) 706-1833
Fax: (740) 633-5727
Do you really think government “reform” of the healthcare and insurance industry will be cost-effective, or even healthy?
I don’t.
I see where the “Cash for Clunkers” program was suspended after just six (six!) days (days!) because of “unanticipated” demand, “unanticipated” costs and “unanticipated” paperwork. Multiply that by 100,000 --- and that’s what I think would happen to a government-driven “reform” of healthcare and insurance.
Rep. Pelosi is trying to demonize private insurance companies as “villains,” saying (I quote from the AP story) "Of course they've been IMMORAL ALL ALONG in how they have treated the people that they insure."
Do you believe that?
WE, the citizens, are grown-ups: WE are in a position to judge whether the proffered services are worth the cost. Do our representatives think insurers are ALL immoral? Do they think we, the citizens, are ALL stupid?
Are our government representatives prepared to “save” health insurance the way they government “saved” General Motors? The way they “saved” passenger rail (Amtrak)?
Rubbish, in my opinion.
I am not asking for a reply because I will not be living at this address by the time you reply, and thus not a constituent. But I do hope you will stop this dubious and potentially disastrous “reform” before “American Health care” goes the way of Amtrak --- and “Cash for Clunkers.”
I urge you to vote AGAINST the so-called Health Care Reform which would
Any REAL solution must be to enact Tort Reform, since eye-popping jackpot liability cases both ruinously increase doctors' malpractice insuance burden, and motivate unneeded, edundant, expensive tests in the name of "defensive medicine."
Any REAL solution must also increase, not decrease, vigorous competition among private insurance and healthcare providers.
Only competition provides continuous, effective pressure for greater efficiencies. Only competition ensures that services will be provided in the way, the amount, and the manner that we, the people (the "health consumers") actually want.
But --- "public option" insurance?
With all the efficiency of FEMA?
And all the compassion of the IRS?
Please. Just Say No.
Please recognize that today’s “public insurance option” closely mirrors the debate they had in Tennessee 16 years ago. With expanding Medicaid costs and a huge big uninsured population, they created TennCare to provide universal coverage.
TennCare resulted in the most expensive Medicaid program in the country. Within a few years, 45% of the people on TennCare were folks who had previously been insured by their employers. The employers had made a perfectly logical decision: dumping their employees into the public plan.
Employers who are paying 12% o their costs now to their employees’ health care will look at “ObamaCare”’s, say, 8% penalty for employers who don’t provide care and immediately dump their employees on the public to save 4%. Those on private insurance already pay more than the cost of care to subsidize Medicare and Medicaid –-- now we’ll be required to pay even more to subsidize the new public plan.
When private insurers won’t be able to compete with a government-run plan, they’ll crash. Then the majority of Americans will simply end up with no choice: just one government-run program. And, with no alternatives, the government-run healthcare will be severely rationed to meet the budget.
This is a loser of a plan.
Please, I urge you, vote NO on “public option insurance,” the failed idea that underlies this health care “reform.”
Flipping through channels, I caught Olberman, or however you spell it, doing some very serious threatening to Blue Dogs regarding Obamacare votes. He took them on one by one...the following is the end...the part I caught...watch if you can stand it...”I warn you all....if you fail to pass or support this legislation, the full wrath of the progressive and moderate movements in the country will come down on your head....in a blink of an eye they will replace you...you will lose not merely our respect, you will lose your jobs...every poll, every analysis, every vote, every region of this country supports health care reform and the essential great leveling agent of a government funded alternative....cross us all at YOUR peril!....”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U25QfKpLMn4
Propaganda I got from Senator Patty Murray:
Thank you for writing me to share your thoughts on health care reform. It is good to hear from you.
Health care reform is one of the most critical issues facing our nation. Our current health care system is unstable and unsustainable. Too many people do not have health care coverage and many of those who have coverage are worried about losing it in this uncertain economy. Businesses and families are finding it harder and harder to deal with increasing health care premiums.
In addition, Washington state family budgets cannot sustain the continual rise in health care costs and hidden taxes in the form of rising premiums to cover the uninsured. If we do not get health care costs under control, local, state and federal government budgets will have to take on the weight of rising health care costs. While health care reform may require an initial cost investment, I strongly believe that it will pay off in the long term and the cost letting the system become more unstable is much greater. Without reform to our health care system, premiums will continue to rise, coverage will become more uncertain, businesses will lose competitiveness and it will be harder for Americans to have access to care.
After months of hearings and over 50 hours of public markups, I was pleased that on July 15th, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee passed the Affordable Health Choices Act. The Affordable Health Choices Act lays out policy changes for health care reform in America. This package works to rein in health care costs with a goal of lowering them in the long term and ensure that all Americans have access to high quality, affordable health care coverage. It allows those who like their health insurance to keep it and provides options to those who do not have access to health insurance coverage.
This bill includes provisions to implement several key health insurance reforms. For example, insurance companies would no longer be able to refuse coverage to individuals due to preexisting conditions, patients’ out-of-pocket expenses would be limited and all annual and lifetime caps on insurance coverage would be eliminated.
The passage of the Affordable Health Choices Act out of the HELP Committee is a major step in the longer process of health care reform. The Senate Finance Committee is also working on many aspects of health care reform and the Affordable Health Choices Act will need to be combined with this legislation in the future. The Finance Committee is expected to release their proposal soon. In addition, the House of Representatives is working on a separate version of health care reform legislation.
As the Senate moves forward on health care reform legislation, I will be weighing the many concerns that I am hearing from constituents all across Washington state. As this effort continues, I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind. You can find more information on my Website at http://murray.senate.gov/healthcarereform/.
Again, thank you for contacting me about this important issue. If you would like to know more about my work in the Senate, please feel free to sign up for my weekly updates at http://murray.senate.gov/updates. Please keep in touch.
I hope all is well in Seattle.
Wow, I am so inspired and impressed by the people in these videos. God Bless them and let us all stand together one day if we need to, for freedom and liberty.
Oh man. Finally, the “silent majority” isn’t silent any more. I think we’re looking at the beginning of lynch mobs. LOL Gotta love it. :o)