It ain't rocket science, people.
Confusing image, unrelated... try:
Make caption: It's time to pressure the Democratic leadership to better exert their mandate
There seems to be good reason the hip expression these days has become:
"Really?"
(Too casual... people won't take you seriously... )
A "supermajority", popular Democratic president, unprecedented public support-- and meaningful health care reform is being dismantled by our own party? Really?
Make: While a good percentage of Americans legitimately oppose Barack Obama's seemingly failed bid for "reform", it may not be too late. Are Democratic senators missing an opportunity to force an up-or-down vote on their favored agenda?
The health care industry itself announces to the world that it plans to extort the congress with threats the day before a crucial vote and, yet, WE cannot turn that into a political coup? Really?
Harry Reid hints that he will allow the Democratic senators who vote to support Republican filibusters to stay anonymous. To protect them from the rightfully deserved anger of their OWN constituencies? Really?
And he takes minimal political heat for this.
Replace with: Even ignoring the health care industry's concerns over out-of-control costs, the Democrats could possibly pass the most radical versions of their bill with cloture, yet Harry Reid, a voice of reason in a world of screaming partisans, has chosen to allow people on his panel who may vote in favor of allowing filibuster. Not to question his motives, but this could ultimately backfire, perhaps even hurt him politically in the long run. I believe the correct procedural move here is to discourage filibuster by acknowledging who is likely to vote for it, including the Democrats who may (my apologizes to anyone I may offend with this opinion).
With a straight face, Reid explains the process is difficult because if you do one thing, big pharma gets "mad," and if you do something else, the insurance companies get "mad."
Let me get this straight, Harry. Can I call you Harry?
You expected the major reform and overhall of an industry that is exempt from anti-trust laws, denies coverage to whoever it deems a bad risk, that has followed a for-profit strategy of denying care successfully to record profits ... that has powerful lobbies precisely to prevent any changes in the current system (or more accurately, any changes that don't benefit IT) ... and you expected to do this without making them MAD?
To quote Barney Frank, "on what planet do you spend most of your time?"
You are supposed to make them MAD. That is the point. Why, Harry, do you lack the requisite male parts to ACTUALLY represent the people?
Replace with: Sen. Reid has a real opportunity here to show leadership and courage, ultimately helping the party's image and political clout for the next election. I have faith that the good senator will do the right thing and, no matter what the outcome, set an example of true leadership that people (on both sides of the political spectrum) will respect. I'm sure he can do this with a minimum of bad blood resulting with the health care industry. Lord knows he doesn't want THAT hanging over him in November. (again my apologies to anyone who finds my opinion hurtful, but I feel the industry does need to make some changes, and these may be uncomfortable for them. Please feel free to tell me (at length) what your opinion on this matter is. I believe greater accountability is in order, personally.
And as far as the people go, have we forgotten the populist rage of just a few months ago? Why the deference to huge corporations that ANNOUNCE their plans to rape and pillage? They must KNOW we won't put up any fight.
The sad fact is they are right.
This is Upton Sinclair shit and we sit back and take it. Keith Olberman showed on a recent show that if the current trends don't change, the US will have similar mortality to Dicken's London. And not the good neighborhoods, either.
The tubercular, industrial soot-covered, kick-Tiny-Tim-down-the-stairs, kidney-pie-eating, raw-sewaged, vermin-infested hell that Dickens so famously portrayed will have better outcomes than we do if we let the for-profit Scrooges of our day have their way.
And we are.
Try: Let us not forget that our elected officials should represent us. Certainly those who agree with me can write their senators, blog about it, or take other action (remember tone is very important, please refrain from anger and hyperbole) to compel the good senator to do the right thing! We have the power, folks, but only if we USE IT! (excuse the all caps, I got a bit excited).
Even though the health care industry is spending huge amounts of money to further its (sometimes legitimate) concerns, you do have a say. But only if you use your voice. (not too loudly, please)
One congressman has stood up and given this the full-throated courage, advocacy, and sound-bite ready rhetoric this deserves.
One.
Instead: While I would never begrudge Alan Grayson's right to free speech, his antics could potentially derail our efforts, so I would urge all of us to be respectful in this effort. There is certainly no need to resort to the same sort of theatrics and emotionalism used so effectively against us by our political opponents. Let's be better than this and show Grayson there is a better way, too.
Where's Al Franken? (judging from this video his strategy is to bore the crap out of reform opponents)
He spent his entire career outing hypocrites and he can't come up with a memorable quip about this or a decent controversial moment? Of course he can. Why is he "playing fair" with a corporate monolith that expects, no, feels ENTITLED, to command us all to bend over?
And not for a prostate exam. That isn't covered.
Really?
Add: Al Franken has taken the measured, correct approach here. He even managed to actually engage his critics, which is more than I can say for most of the status quo in Washington. I only wish he would use his powers of persuasion (if I might be so bold as to offer a suggestion) on the Senate leadership as well. This sort of cooperative effort can go a long way in convincing reluctant Democratic senators from voting against, well, Democrats (pardon the sarcasm, but I do find it a bit confusing). If Sen Franken can convince tea party protesters to agree with him, couldn't he apply the same charms to the so-called "conservadems" (a misnomer, to be sure, LOL), with the ultimate goal of getting them to put aside some of their (most likely legitimate) concerns with the ultimate goal of defeating a filibuster and ensuring a majority vote?
A fellow can dream, can't he?
What's it really going to take for people to get angry enough at the Democrats that they stand up and represent the people?
To paraphrase Alan Grayson:
No one gives a damn about 60 votes or 51. No one cares about Olympia Snow. No one cares about the Republicans "feelings" or the turn-coat Democrats "feelings". People care about getting this done, about us doing what we were elected TO DO.
Why isn't Harry Reid publicly shamed for this disgraceful behavior? Have we all lost our minds?
It's time for people on the left to stop being pussies and invite some controversy into this debate.
If this post makes some people angry there is a simple reason for that.
It was designed to.
And like Grayson, I ain't apologizing for it. When we stop being EXACTLY the clichés the right has saddled us with, I'll shut up.
Until then it's time to realize that this is a fight, a fight against a well-funded and gigantic BULLY.
You don't back down, and you don't bring a knife to a gun fight.
And when you get an advantage, you STRIKE. Let's take our balls off the shelf and finish the goddamn job, with or without Reid, the so-called "conserva-Dems" ... without Obama if needed.
If you aren't angry at the health care industry you just aren't paying attention.
And Minnesota didn't vote Franken in so he'd shut up, either. If we just lay down, we will get precisely the bill we DESERVE.
My suggestion is to focus on the ridiculous crime against the voters that is this filibuster nonsense. Democrats will vote FOR Republicans to filibuster?
Really?
And be allowed to stay anonymous? Really? These outrages against US need to be stopped.
But if we cave in to the bullies, we get what we deserve.
You aren't angry?
Really?
Add: the populism that elected Barack Obama. Surely the Democrats have some political capital left to wield against members of their own party who won't vote against a Republican filibuster. And if they don't, we can certainly help by taking measured, sober action to gently steer them to an outcome we enjoy.
I humbly submit that the time to do this is now.
Namaste
