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You mean, for what it's worth, we can actually swap opinions and ideas?
Like many others here most likely, I received this from David Plouffe today.
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| (lefty) President Obama is holding a live strategy meeting on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time for all Organizing for America supporters. I hope you can join us, online or by phone. The President will update us on the fight to pass real health insurance reform -- what's happening in D.C. and what's happening around the country. He'll lay out our strategy and message going forward and answer questions from supporters like you. And we'll unveil the next actions we'll organize together. This is a critical time in this President's administration, and in the history of our country. I hope you can join us. Here are the details: What: Organizing for America National Health Care Forum When: Thursday, August 20th, 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time RSVP and submit a question for the President.  The President wrote to us a few weeks ago to ask us to go the extra mile this month in the fight for health insurance reform. And so far, you've stepped up in a big way: Last week, an astounding 60,000 Organizing for America volunteers stopped by representatives' and senators' local offices. You told your health care stories to staffers and members of Congress -- of losing insurance after getting laid off, of being denied coverage upon finding out about a serious illness. And you thanked those supporting real health insurance reform for all the work they've done so far. But these local office visits were only part of the story. The D.C. media has been trumpeting coverage oftown halls disrupted by angry opposition to reform. But the reality on the ground is very different. Organizing for America supporters are showing up in huge numbers at these meetings all across the country -- outnumbering opponents of reform, often by overwhelming margins. You've organized 11,906 local events in all 50 states -- from press conferences to community discussions -- since we launched our big campaign for reform in June. And you've made hundreds of thousands of calls to Congress. Your work so far has been incredible. But the special interests and partisan attack groups who oppose reform will not let up, and they will tell whatever lies they can to spread fear. There's a lot more work for all of us to do. This Thursday's meeting is our chance to huddle as a team, get the latest information and talk about how we're going to achieve this victory. You don't want to miss it. Click here to RSVP and submit a question for President Obama: http://my.barackobama.com/forum Hope you can make it, David Plouffe This is nice. David does a good job. I appreciate that he helped to get our President elected. I think we helped too. But is this also an opportunity, e.g. for those feeling a tad wistful about LBJ's reputed Oval Office charms, to inquire about the vigor of the bully in the bully pulpit? I am guessing we can submit one question. Today. Mine, in process of development, might have to do with removing health care benefits from all members of Congress if there is not health care for all, on the principle that members of Congress get to pay taxes and to vote. What's yours? |
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I want a single payer, universal health care system. Barring that at the least it seems we must have a public plan with real impact on costs and competition.
There are people who won't like it. There are people who will scream and shout, rant and rave. But this is about what is in the best interest of our country and some times doing what is right is 'tough'. I am counting on you to get it done.
questions and statements... which pass from what I've seen from his town halls.
Mr. President,
Either health care reform that reduces costs is 'crucial' to our economic recovery or not. We know that people 'with' insurance are going bankrupt and losing their health care coverage every day. Which is it? 'Crucial' or not?
If it is 'crucial', then 'why' would you allow the rhetoric to steer us in any direction that does not provide real cost savings and a real ability to bolster the economy?
August 19, 2009 2:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
I want single payer too. I hadn't thought about the British Welfare State for years, and that could be because the word 'welfare' has a such a negative connotation here, but really what the country needs in order to thrive is to support itself on the foundation of a healthy, educated and productive population.
Our problem is that politicians such as the Snake in the Grassley (a phrase for which I am indebted to my sister-in-law) either care less about such things, or fear them.
I think Obama gets it. How can he bend the arc of history more aggressively?
August 19, 2009 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another Chance to get out and demonstrate...
I am sending the following out to various leaders and orgnizations based on Ripper's blog today.
Americans need to learn how to demonstrate again...
Robert Reich has proposed a March on Washington Sunday September 13th, Grandparents Day.
He suggested the morning but I think that's ridiculous. 1PM makes a lot more sense for people trying to get there. I would ask you to get involved. Make it a 3 hour webcast, simulcast event. Get a pro to produce it and make it outstanding... See if Michael Moore is available. He has a new movie to promote I believe. You could make this an outstanding event! Please get involved.
I have asked repeatedly for something like this. I have suggested to moveon.org and DFA and other organizations to 'combine forces' and hold a web cast, simulcast rally in several major cities across the country, including DC. Joining cities like an MS telethon, speakers and entertainers could be present in each city and rally attendees could watch on big screen. This would create bigger numbers.
People have been desperately seeking leadership to help them organize and demonstrate their support for health care reform in a meaningful way. I believe we have to connect with the community organizers that made things happen during the election and get as many of them as possible involved.
Let's get some inspiring speakers and some entertainers to get us singing songs together across the country like 'imagine' or yes we can etc. and put some positive energy back into this country. Americans unifying in support of health care reform, singing together (this is important). We need the leadership to make this happen.
I am contacting Representative Weiner, DFA, Healthcare Now, Moveon.org. Also Elliott Gould is on the SAG board and fully behind Single Payer. You could probably get Bill Moyers, and Bill Maher... you might even get Stewart or Colbert. There would be massive support for this.
We need this!
Your organization will benefit in every way by taking a leadership role in this! Please don't sit on your hands and just tell us to keep writing, faxing, and emailing congress. We've been doing that. We need to offer a powerful demonstration of support for health care reform in response to all of the BS that has been going on. Please get involved, take the lead. You've got Reich already. I am sure we can get many people to join if someone will take the lead and do this. Please make this multi city, but limit the cities like every major city close to DC should be going to DC so pick cities farther out like Chicago, Denver, LA, Seattle, one in FL. Maybe make it 'seven cities' for people to try to get to.
Please 'if you build it they will come'. 'Unite the clans' of health care reform and help the people of this country have a real demonstration as they are aching to do.
The democratic party needs this and should be fully behind it.
Please get involved!
August 19, 2009 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just to remind folks that there is another call in web-based town hall meeting today, sponsored by 31 religious groups. It starts at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (Hope that works for you, Loosey, if you're interested) and information is at http://faithforhealth.org/
There is more than one place to make your voice heard. Use as many of them as possible.
August 19, 2009 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you, Professor. I was not aware, so you have done me a favor. A faith based effort on our side. This is sponsored by PICO (People Improving Communities through Organizing). They appear to have a real grass roots spirit with a refreshingly broad spectrum of sponsors.
http://faithforhealth.org/who-we-are
For some reason, I am reminded of the punch of the Civil Rights Movement.
For others who are still learning as I am, Obama is to be present at this web-based town hall meeting.
August 19, 2009 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink