There has been a great wailing and gnashing of teeth over the past day or so as those who follow the healthcare debate react to the Stupak/Some Creepy Republican Guy Amendment.
The Amendment, which is apparently intended to respond to conservative Democrats’ concerns that too many women were voting for the Party in recent elections, was attached to the House’s version of healthcare reform legislation that was voted out of the House this weekend.
The goal is to limit women’s access to reproductive medicine services, particularly abortions; this based on the concept that citizens of good conscience shouldn’t have their tax dollars used to fund activities they find morally repugnant.
At first blush, I was on the mild end of the wailing and gnashing spectrum myself…but having taken a day to mull the thing over, I’m starting to think that maybe we should take a look at the thinking behind this…and I’m also starting to think that, properly applied, Stupak’s logic deserves a more important place in our own vision of how a progressive government might work.
It’s Political Judo Day today, Gentle Reader, and by the time we’re done here it’s entirely possible that you’ll see Stupak’s logic in a whole new light.
It was a long hot August for those who would like to see health care reform, as rabid “Town Hall” protesters proffered visions of public options that would lead to death panels and socialism and government tax collectors with special alien mind control powers that would use sex education and child indoctrination and black helicopters as the means for gay people to impose their dangerous agenda on the innocent, God-fearing citizens of someplace in Mississippi that I’m not likely to ever visit.
Part of the reason that opposition was so rabid was because health care interests were spending millions upon millions of dollars doing...well, doing whatever the opposite of giving a distemper shot to the angry mob might be, anyway.
So wouldn’t it be great if all the CEOs of all those health care interests were to gather at one time and place so you could, shall we say, gently express your own thoughts regarding the issues of reform and public options?
By an amazing coincidence, that’s exactly what’s going to happen Thursday in Washington, DC, as the Patient Centered Primary Care Cooperative (PCPCC) holds its Annual Summit.
Follow along, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know.
So we are now finding out the answers to some of our questions about which members of Congress actually represent We, the People...and which ones represent, Them, the Corporate Masters.
We have seen a Democratic Senator propose a policy that would put people in jail for not buying health insurance and a Democratic President who has taken numerous public beatings from those on the left side of the fence for his inability to ram something through a group of people...and yes, folks, the entendre was intentional.
But most of all, we’ve been asking ourselves: “why would Democratic Members of Congress who will eventually want us to vote for them vote against something that nearly all voting Democrats are inclined to vote for?”
Today’s conversation attempts to answer that question by looking at exactly how money and influence flow through a key politician, Montana’s Senator Max Baucus—and in doing so, we examine some ugly political realities that have to be resolved before we can hope to convince certain Members of Congress to vote for what their constituents actually want when it really counts.
So it’s the day of the big speech, Mr. President, and we got trouble with a capital “T” right here in Health Care City.
What are you gonna do? Do we follow the traditional Democratic Party legislative process of passing...something...at any cost, assuming the entire time that the Left and the Netroots will “go along with the program”, or is there a risk that the calculus doesn’t work as well today as it did in 1994 and 1996?
Well, lucky for you, I’m a fake consultant, and I know a few things about your “target market”, so before you answer that question...we need to talk.
We’ve all been hearing the “Town Hall Meeting” stories the past few days, and the images presented have been of gatherings where you might see some current or former official “death panel” for the benefit of the crowd, where the few people who shout the loudest bully the rest into silence, and where threats of physical intimidation are part of the debate.
I attended one of these meetings, and based on what I saw I’m here to tell you that it is possible to hold an event that features none of the images previously described.
Instead, what I say was an event where people asked their questions, the Congressman answered—and from time to time the angry members of the audience got their shout on, too...but not in a way that was able to ever take control of the venue.
There were helpful lessons that can be applied by others who want to have these meetings, and today’s conversation examines what can be done to make them work for you, too.
Below, in three parts, I am going to display the piece of redistricting that I am most proud of so far, Michigan. I might have settled for less than some people, but I can make a guarantee; I guarantee you that under this map Thadeus McCotter is screwed six ways from Sunday, and that Democrats will have too, reliable, if swingish, western Michigan seats, and that a 10-4 delegation is tough, but fair seeing the direction Michigan has been trending the past two decades.
(Excellent points below the fold. - promoted by ScottyUrb)
Now that President Obama has been in office for nearly a week, it’s time to get the ball rolling on that economic stimulus plan. With a planned vote in Congress that could take place as early as this week, it’s become more imperative than ever that we here in the Great Lakes join together with the voices of the nation in support of the proposed $825 billion economic recovery package, especially after watching our own economy tailspin downward while our jobless rate topped record highs of 10.6%. With billions promised to help improve the state of our roads, health care, and jobs: in fact, the unemployed and taxpayers could build a cutting-edge clean energy economy, making the passage of the economic stimulus plan absolutely critic to us in Michigan.
We need President Obama and the members of Congress to step in and fight for our economic future. Unfortunately (or, perhaps, tragically), some members of Congress think we should keep doing the same thing – tax cuts for the wealthy – that got us into this mess. To derail the stimulus, the right-wing whack jobs have started spreading myths and rumors. It’s time we all caught up to the latest misinformation from the right and corrected them. Here are some corrections to the myths you might hear about the proposed stimulus package, courtesy of thinkprogress.org:
Growing up in the Metro Detroit area, there were good times, and then there were tough times, but my family still managed to always have Christmas that included plenty to eat and gifts under the tree.
Some years, that required my dad to work three jobs and my mom to work two, not to mention raising three kids, one of which was chronically ill (me) often times paying up to 25 different medical bills a month. Somehow we always got by, and now as adult, I can only imagine the financial juggling act that occurred with a mortgage, car lease, bills, groceries and the like.
After he was laid off from the Buick plant in the late 80's, my dad took on a side job as a pizza delivery man to help supplement the family's income. As a pre-teen, I remember being a little embarrassed seeing my dad don the company hat and come home smelling like a pizza oven. I'll never forget my mother admonishing me, "Be proud that your father is able to work and support his family, that's more than some people can do." I had really never thought about it like that before, too young to understand how dire the circumstances actually were.
This year is on track to be one of the toughest years for most Michigan families, including my own in the last 50 years. My mom starts her new job today, after being unemployed for the better part of the year, while my dad tries to not let the frustration of his own unemployment get the best of him. In addition, I have an uncle and an aunt who are also both without jobs, and my own sister walks into her job each day uncertain if she will be included in the latest round of lay-offs.
Even with all this, my family is among the lucky few this holiday. When Christmas Day arrives, there will be gifts under the tree, and there will be food on the table, but certainly not to the extent there was in years past. Instead of everyone getting gifts for everyone else, we're drawing names. We're cutting back on the type of food and the quantity we're serving, and clipping coupons and checking sale ads before making any purchases.
A recent report from the Michigan Non-Profit Association shows a dramatic increase in the demand for support, while financial and in-kind support for these same organizations has dropped significantly. The reasons will come as no surprise to any of us: the economy, fuel costs, foreclosure rates, and cuts to the state budget.
For the past several weeks I wrote diaries [on Daily Kos] imploring Kossacks to help us in the Michigan 9th to raise some funds for Gary Peters' campaign against GOP incumbent, Joe Knollenberg, through the fundraising contest held by People for the American Way's Voters' Alliance Progressive Champions campaign.
To say that these diaries seemingly fell on blind eyes is an understatement. I mean, do you guys have any idea how lonely it feels to be the only one to comment in one's own diary?
Nonetheless, I received the following email today, and it was quite gratifying:
So, the Senate has agreed to vote on this bill tonight. Basically, the Republicans are getting everything that they want while the Democrats seem oddly beholden to Bush and his policies. (Somehow, I think campaign contributions may have something to do with this.)
I made several attempts to call our Senators earlier today to register my extreme displeasure with the republican version of the bailout bill steamrolling through any appeal to common sense. Senator Stabenow's office said she hasn't made her mind up, while I couldn't get a polite response from Levin's office.
Now, the Free Press reports:
Michigan Sen. Carl Levin said he would back the plan.
“The risks to the economy are just simply too great to let this continue to free fall,” Levin said. “There’s too many people’s pensions and savings and businesses that could get wiped out. There are no guarantees this will turn it around quickly, but without this kind of a stabilization package the confidence will be shot. It’s already shaky, and it will be shot if Congress doesn’t act.”
Sen. Debbie Stabenow said she remained uncommitted. “I’m still looking at it,” Stabenow said. “I understand the seriousness of it, but I want to make sure it addresses the underlying fundamentals on housing.”
Congress was elected to represent the will of the people. Yes, we know something has to be done, but you mean to tell me with a democratic senate and a democratic house, we can't even get help for homeowners in this bill? Seriously?
It's not too late to act. We have clogged up the e-mail system, so e-mails won't get through. But you can place a call to your Senator TODAY and tell them that NO means NO! We are positive that we can hold out for a better deal that helps regular people on Main Street!
133 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4822
You can also visit the TrueMajority.org website for more details on how the American public can prevent being steamrolled again by corporate interests.
If the massive investment banks still have enough money to buy out other commercial banks, they don't need taxpayer funds to prop them up. Seems like they just want a handout.
Instead, we should look at our history for successful models. Remember that (Republican) Hoover failed, and (Democratic) Roosevelt succeeded.
Resurrect the Home Owners' Loan Corp. Fund only occupied primary residential real estate. That was a successful program, and actually made taxpayers a modest profit.
(One of those issues that affects everyone. I'd call my Rep., Mike Rogers (MI-08), but talking to the fence behind my house would get me a more productive response. - promoted by rich)
82% of Americans think our health care system needs a "major overhaul." On top of that, over 90% of Americans [pdf] think the next President and Congress should improve the quality and affordability of health care.
With the worsening economy continuing to be the top issue for most Americans, this hope for change isn't hard to understand. American health care spending is projected to reach a full 1/5th of our GDP by 2015, which means by then, we'll be spending twenty cents of every dollar we make on health care. Health care premiums have risen 86% between 2000 and 2006 while wages only rose 20%, putting the strain on working families. Health care costs continue to be the #1 cause of bankruptcy in America.
"Rapidly rising health care costs are not simply a federal budget problem," the GAO report says. "Growth in health-related spending is the primary driver of the fiscal challenges facing state and local governments as well. Unsustainable growth in health care spending also threatens to erode the ability of employers to provide coverage to their workers and undercuts their ability to compete in a global marketplace."
Quite simply, with rising health care costs (including $50 billion per year to pay for insurance industry advertising) being born out by working families and American businesses, health care is a top economic concern. To keep American workers at their best, and to keep American business competitive in the world, something has to change.
Nancy Pelosi has recently declared health care expansion to be #2 on her list of legislative priorities, right after ending the Iraq war. In the past month, tens of thousands of Americans have told us they want quality, affordable health care for all. Now it's time to ask Congress.
So, Congress, which side are you on? Are you with us for quality, affordable health care for all? Or are you with the insurance companies, working to preserve our broken system?
We've set up a quick and easy way for you to contact your Members of Congress and ask them if they support our vision for health care reform. Just click here and enter in your phone number and address. Choose the elected official you want to talk to and in a few moments, we'll call your phone and connect you automatically.
Over the next few weeks, we want to make 100,000 calls to Congress, asking every Member which side they are on. We need your help to do it, so please click here to call!
Once your done with your call, tell us what happened so we can keep track of where Congress stands. As of today, we're proud to announce Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA), are with us. The rest, so far, are unknown. You can see the full list here.
Health care is a priority for the American people. It's a priority for Nancy Pelosi. It's up to us to make sure it's a priority for Congress as well. Please take a moment, call your Members of Congress, and ask them which side they are on.
Oh, and if you have a blog or website, you can help spread the word about this campaign by embedding the widget you see above on your site. Just copy and paste the code here.
In the other Kilpatrick political news, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick is facing primary opposition for her House seat for the first time in.... well.... like... a really long time.
People in DC are really upset as the Congresswoman appears to be well liked among her peers. While trying to be 'politically correct' [read, not trashing the mayor], they really can't understand why Mayor Kilpatrick is willing to trash his mom's career in addition to his own.
Yet all does not appear to be lost. The latest news from the Free Press:
Meanwhile, in the state's one closely watched Aug. 5 primary race, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick raised $180,475 in the second quarter. That brought her total for the year to $710,654, with $481,543 in cash on hand.
The mother of embattled Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is being challenged in the Democratic primary by former state Rep. Mary Waters and state Sen. Martha Scott. Neither challenger had filed Federal Election Commission reports -- which were due by midnight Thursday -- as of The News' deadline.
Overall in this election cycle, Kilpatrick has raised slightly more from political action committees -- $362,410 -- than from individuals -- $353,494. Her PAC contributors include DTE Energy ($7,500 total to date), Ford Motor Co. ($6,000), Northwest Airlines ($2,000) and Wal-Mart Stores ($5,000).
In the second quarter, she spent $5,610 on a political consultant, $245 for campaign buttons, $190 for "wire for yard signs," $12,000 for a "contract for opinion poll" and $48,350 to CBS Outdoor, apparently for her billboard ads.
David Wasserman, the House analyst for the Cook Political Report, called Kilpatrick the favorite. "It helps an incumbent anytime the opposition is split," said Wasserman.
(Congressman Mike Rogers has a challenger. - promoted by rich)
(Editor's note: The location for Alexander's concluding remarks will actually be at a public location near the Orion Assembly plant, not at it. This comes to me not from the Alexander campaign, but from GM, a representative for which said that they do not allow political campaigning on premises.)
The Alexander for Congress Campaign released the following press release today:
Change is coming to Mid-Michigan, and Bob Alexander is leading the way!
Bob believes Mid-Michigan deserves a representative who understands that the serious challenges facing its citizens require real solutions and immediate action. He wants to foster America's energy independence, protect the environment, and safeguard Michigan jobs. So when it came time to say goodbye to his 1995 Ford Escort – all 256,000 miles of it – Bob chose the Chevy Malibu hybrid: an American car driven by American innovation.
(Welcome to soon-to-be-Congressman Peters! - promoted by Eric B.)
Friends,
First, I’d like to begin by thanking all of you for your support. Because of contributions from people like you, our campaign has just been ranked in CQ’s list of the top ten best funded challengers in the country. The voters in Michigan’s 9th Congressional district are tired of the failed leadership they’ve gotten from my opponent, Congressman Joe Knollenberg, for the past sixteen years, and they’re eager for a real change in Washington.
As a former Lt. Commander in the Navy, I wanted to take a moment to write to you this week as we pass the fifth anniversary of one of the most shameful moments in recent American history. On May 1st, 2003, President George W. Bush landed on the USS Abraham Lincoln, in front of the now-infamous “Mission Accomplished” banner and said these words: “My fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.”
Last saturday, Fred Johnson participated in a candidate forum sponsored by Muskegon Community Solidarity. Fred Johnson responded to questions from the audience on a variety of topics, including the economy, health care, and fighting for progressive causes in the 2nd District.
Video highlights of the forum have been posted on our website.
Halloween maybe over, but news out of Washington D.C. yesterday may prove more tricks are yet to come. It also proves that Michigan's Democratic Congressional candidates will need even more help fighting the Religious Right in 2008.
The announcement was made yesterday that The Christian Coalition of America will be skipping the presidential primaries and instead be focusing on Congressional races. From the AP -
"We're going to be focusing on congressional races," president Roberta Combs told The Associated Press by telephone. "I think it's more important that we focus on the congressional races and getting more conservatives in office because that's who makes the laws that govern our land."
-snip-
Combs said she was meeting with others to help determine which 2008 congressional races to rally around. "I plan to look at targeted states where we need more conservative lawmakers," she said.
Meanwhile, the coalition hasn't decided whether to develop voter guides for the presidential primary. The group has released the information in the past, but Combs said the candidates' positions are fairly well known already.
The coalition became an important ally to George W. Bush when he ran for president in 2000. Christian conservative support only grew after Arizona Sen. John McCain called Robertson and Jerry Falwell "agents of intolerance." (emphasis added)
So where does logic tell us they'll head here in Michigan? Skip below for the details.
