The media is now reading the AARP message boards. May filibuster.

[madfloridian]

Headline reads:
Democrats contemplate Medicare filibuster

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/7294546.htm
SNIP...."For the AARP, selling the bill to lawmakers is only the first step. It must also market it to its members, some of whom were making their displeasure clear on the AARP's Web site.

Hundreds of messages in an AARP chat room called on seniors to drop their memberships and to urge their lawmakers not to follow the organization's lead...."

This paragraph is important:
SNIP...."But even though a majority of senators could support the bill, opponents were still counting votes to determine if they had the 41 votes necessary to block the bill through a filibuster. Senate Democrats debated that point in a closed luncheon Tuesday and emerged divided. Two senators - Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan - spoke against the bill. Sen. Max Baucus of Montana and Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana, the only two Democrats permitted in the months-long negotiations, spoke in its favor.

[La_Serpiente]

1. Woohooo

Finally, getting some dissent into the news.

[girl gone mad]

2. They need to fillibuster.

I think the AARP foolishly believes its members will just go along with it. Seniors are not idiots - these are people who have organized drug runs across the border and follow the issues very closely. They are more media savvy than given credit for, and I think they know the bill would be a raw deal.

From what I've read, they would blame Republicans overwhelmingly if a bill didn't get passed, so what do the Dems have to lose?

[MoonAndSun]

3. Breaux and Baucus, what a surprise!

NOT :mad:

[Cha]

4. Really! That's what I thought to myself!

:hi:

[Hippo_Tron]

25. Breaux's main purpose in the Senate is to negotiate...

The bill is probably better because Breaux and Baucus were allowed to negotiate with the Republicans. Nobody has betrayed the party except Zell.

[ParanoidPat]

5. What say we all give them a shout!

Contact 'Max' here....
E-Mail him at this link, http://baucus.senate.gov/emailmax.html
Or you can mail, fax or call him here...

Washington D.C.
511 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
[phone]
[phone] (Fax)
[phone] (from MT)
[phone] (TDD)

Billings
222 North 32nd Street
Suite 100
Billings, MT 59101
[phone]

Bozeman
Federal Building, Room 114
32 East Babcock
Bozeman, MT 59715
[phone]

Butte
Silver Bow Center
125 West Granite
Butte, MT 59701
[phone]

Great Falls
113 3rd Street North
Great Falls, MT 59401
[phone]
[phone] (TDD)

Helena
Empire Block
30 West 14th Street
Helena, MT 59601
[phone]

Kalispell
30 4th Street East
Kalispell, MT 59901
[phone]

Missoula
211 North Higgins #102
Missoula, MT 59802
[phone]

You can E-mail John Breaux here, http://www.senate.gov/~breaux/webform.html

John Breaux (D)
Address: 503 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510-1803
Telephone: [phone] — TDD 224-1986
Fax: [phone]

:kick:

[madfloridian]

8. Just wrote Baucus and Breaux.

Told them they had never seen anger like they will see if they sell seniors down the river.
:mad:

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. I wrote them both.

I cannot believe this is happening.

[unfrigginreal]

6. We really need to follow the lead of Max Baucus

He's one of those "Democratic uniters" you know.

[Purrfessor]

7. I called AARP and ranted for 5 minutes.....

saying that I'll cancel my membership if they do not rescind their support of this atrocity. I also called both my Senators.

I posted a link on the AARP meassage boards to the Buzzflash piece about Novelli, AARP CEO, writing the preface for Gingrich's book on transforming the healthcare system.

I'm glad to hear that the media has taken notice of AARP's message boards and the members' outrage over this issue.

[Cha]

9. Thank you for your action! n/t

[Kanary]

10. Number in DC?

Thanks, madfloridian, for staying on top of this!

I remember seeing the 800 number for the Senate, but now can't find it. Would you happen to have that number handy? I'm trying to alert others, also.

Thanks again!

Kanary

[madfloridian]

14. Here is a page with all the numbers handy.

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

I know there is a single number you can use to call. I sure can't find it.

[Kanary]

15. Thanks!

This page will help greatly in spreading the info.

Wish I could remember what thread I saw that toll-free number in..

I have a good memory.. it's just short.

Kanary

[TacticalPeek]

17. Capitool switchboard - 800-648-3516

Ask for your tool's office.

:)

[Kanary]

12. bump n/t

[demgrrrll]

13. Atrios had the first link to the AARP message boards and I did leave

a message. I think more than a few journalists read Atrios
Eschaton. He comes up with more great stuff than any other blogger.
Tom Tommorow calls him "the king" of the bloggers. I agree.

[TacticalPeek]

20. Atrios rules!

:hippie:

[jpgray]

16. Hooray!

I've been sending letters and making calls about those boards all day! Since the Dem leadership is going to host a rally in opposition, and Pelosi, Daschle and Kennedy will attend, there may yet be hope for the New Deal.

[sendero]

18. I consider this...

... along with the "energy" bill, a litmus test for the senate. If the Dems roll over for this, my question would be "just how lousy does a piece of legislation have to be before you will get a spine and oppose it".

This isn't a "close call", this stuff is plain malignant.

[jpgray]

19. You and me both

And those candidates who are Senators would be advised to VOTE on these decisions, and not crawl under a rock as they do for 87 billion and Syrian adventures.

[TacticalPeek]

21. A-Fn-men!

[demgrrrll]

22. Atrios has posted some new information on just how much money

AARP is making from their medicare supplemental programs.
I think it is over 100 million dollars. Gee it really isn't
too hard to put two and two together on this one. They have
become another corporate insurance company with GOP interests.

[TacticalPeek]

23. Capitol Report - CNBC tonight had an interesting segment

with EJ Dionne and John Harwood (WSJ) talking Medicare.

I think they smell a little revolt. They recalled the beating the Chamber of Commerce took when they got too close to the Clinton health initiative, and think the AARP could face something similar, obversewise.

Dionne figures seniors know the score on things like this that effect them so directly, and the bill is obviously a little short-term gain and long-term loss big time. Heat may come on AARP and Congress.

It might replay later.

[madfloridian]

24. Don't forget, a rally tomorrow at Capitol by my new organization.

The one we just joined today.
http://www.retiredamericans.org

They are already set up with buses, and numbers to call. Good for them. They got together with Daschle et al.

Alliance to Hold November 19 Rally Against "Lemon" Medicare Bill—Join the Alliance, Senator Edward Kennedy, Senator Tom Daschle, Representative Nancy Pelosi and hundreds of activists in a rally against the "lemon" Medicare bill on Wednesday, November 19 at 12:00 p.m. in the Russell Caucus Room, Russell Senate Bldg-3rd floor after gathering at Upper Senate Park, located at Delaware and Constitution Avenues. For more information, contact Ed Braman at [phone] or Keith Wallington at [phone].Distribute this flyer to your friends and family.

Elements of the Medicare Bill (source: NYTimes)
Alliance Statement Opposing Medicare Bill
Take Action! : Send a message to your Senators and Representative asking for a real prescription drug benefit
Background : Medicare & Prescription Drugs

[dmr]

33. This is the group I belong to

that won't sell us down the river.

Take Action!
Rx Bill Does More Harm Than Good
We need your help to tell AARP to oppose this legislation because it will destroy Medicare and shift costs to seniors like you. Call AND email AARP CEO William Novelli and tell him that you would rather Congress not pass a prescription drug benefit at all than pass a bill that does more harm than good.

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/rxbill_aarp/8u7bug41jj75m

Thanks madfloridian and everyone for making this a priority item.

[madfloridian]

26. Kick because it is important, and news is not covering it yet.

:kick:

[Magginkat]

27. A freeper at AARP message boards gave this link....

On the thread "Don't be fooled by "Guest" postings" which was obviously posted by a freeper as a "GUEST" who was complaining that Democratic Underground was organizing a rebellion within AARP! LOL


http://community.aarp.org/rp-legislative/start

I thought perhaps you people might like to give him a piece of your mind. I did two times!!

We've got that bunch of slugs worried people, now all we have to do is to continue the fight to get that vermin out of the White House and his goons out of Congress. Give'em hell and send that phony cowboy back to his phony ranch. }(


Magginkat
"I Want My Country Back Dammit"
www.iammagginkat.com

[Magginkat]

28. By the Way

A friend referred me to what may be an alternative to AARP if they are going to sell us out.

http://www.retiredamericans.org/

I am definitely checking this one out.



Magginkat
"I Want My Country Back Dammit"
www.iammagginkat.com

[BuckeFushe]

29. Boards on fire, some interesting info taken from them

"Critics say AARP, which formally unveiled its new headquarters building in downtown Washington last month, has softened its earlier militancy because it is preoccupied with its profit-making enterprises, including $100 million in earnings from the sale of insurance, mostly Medicare supplemental policies."
- Newsday, 10/21/2000

"AARP's receives more than $100 million in revenue from health insurers."
- Denver Post, 5/21/96

"Critics suggest that AARP's substantial profits from the sales of Medigap and other insurance policies, drug company advertising in its magazines, and investment schemes conflict with its interests on behalf of seniors...AARP President William Novelli acknowledged complaints from members that AARP has been too timid in the political battles to defend Medicare and Social Security. He conceded that AARP has pulled its punches since right-wing groups and members of Congress criticized it as too liberal."
- Newsday, 2/19/02

"AARP's pharmacy service is part of its insurance sales operation which generated $ 101 million in revenue last year - 17 percent of the organization's total budget."
- Capitol News Service, 8/15/02

"AARP receives millions of dollars from UnitedHealthcare, a national health insurance firm based in Minnesota."
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/24/01


Novelli= conflict of interest

[xultar]

30. Hey you guys, Be careful the BLUE hairs are watching...what am I saying

We have BLUE hairs amongst us.

My mom dropped her membership.

[madfloridian]

31. Just checked back at the boards......still going at it.

I just hope some media notices. It is only the Miami Herald so far.
The time on the messages is messed up, though. Hard to tell when something is posted.

[oasis]

32. AARP head Novelli praises Gingrich who said "Let Medicare die on the vine"

Newt said that when he was House Speaker. Novelli writes a glowing preface for Gingrich's new book.

AARP members had better do their homework.

[Cat Atomic]

34. There's a message on the AARP board blaming the criticism on

Democratic Underground, and this thread in particular.

I'd just like to point out that this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=730021

Is the first thread I found on DU about the AARP's decision to support the Bush plan. It's dated Nov. 18, 07:35 AM. That's AFTER the AARP board was filled with complaints from posters.

Also, the thread's title, "The people on the AARP message boards are going ballistic" sort of suggests as much. It's pointing at the AARP and commenting on the backlash that was already taking place.

[madfloridian]

35. No, it was going on long before we were mentioned there.

Actually seniors are very intelligent and have figured things out. There have not been viable options for many other than AARP, so they really had no choice.

Many are now joining this group:
http://www.retiredamericans.org

It was formed in 2001.

[dmr]

36. Kick

:kick: