Oh looky here . . Blue Dog opposition to Public Option fades!

[Phx_Dem]

I will not be at all surprised is the senate passes a bill with NO public option, but then votes for one in the final bill that comes out of conference. I think that's how it will go. :D

Blocking a public health insurance option is a relatively low priority for conservative Blue Dog Democrats, according to an ongoing survey of its members. The fading House opposition could clear the way for the public option to move through the chamber.

<SNIP>

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/24/blue-dog-opposition-to-pu_n_298637.html

[Demeter]

1. Guess they Couldn't Come Up With a Good Reason

to go against 85% of the electorate and the the C in C of their own party.

[Bleacher Creature]

6. What was wrong with their reason?

What was it again? I remember two:

1. It is a government entity and government is inherently "bad."

2. It would harm our biggest campaign contributors.

[bluestateguy]

2. Good news is not allowed. Only doom and gloom.

You didn't get the memo did you?

[Phx_Dem]

5. Shit. I forgot.! PUBLIC OPTION IS DEAD! DEAD I TELL YOU.

[grantcart]

3. to be fair a lot of the Blue Dogs said that their main concern had nothing to do

with the Public Option, that was a projection from the media, and that they were more concerned with keeping the deficit down than any single aspect of the plan.


Also, in the interests of fairness, it was blue dogs that persisted in getting the plan committed to move away from fee for service reimbursement and work on outcome based incentives, which makes it both a more cost effective long term solution and a more progressive bill.

[SpartanDem]

8. Many them supported from the start

so even though they make most of those in the party opposed they're not united on the issue.

[Odin2005]

4. The Nay-Sayers have egg all over their faces.

[Phx_Dem]

7. What else is new. Wait until a bill passes with public option.

Actually, then they'll just find something else to naysay about.

[Enrique]

23. maybe some nay-sayers contacted these representatives

maybe the naysayers went to townhall meetings and made these reps aware of the sentiment in favor of the public option.

[DrToast]

9. Suck it, Rahm

I believe this reversal is at least partly due to targeting Blue Dogs with commercials.

I'm starting to believe again! Any money I donate is going to organizations supporting the issues I believe in. That's how you counter the lobbyists.

[polichick]

12. I think the ads helped too. nt

[Clio the Leo]

13. Yeah, cause the President's Chief of Staff is defying boss' orders.

(please!)

[wyldwolf]

14. he's gone rogue, I tell ya! Obama is hapless as Rahm plots with Hillary

[Clio the Leo]

17. lol! They're trying to stage a coup!!!! NT

[DrToast]

16. Where did I say that?

Did Obama call us "fucking stupid"? I don't remember that. Do you?

[Clio the Leo]

18. If you say, "Suck it Rahm!" you might as well say "Suck it Obama!"

He serves at the pleasure of the President. It's that simple.

[RichGirl]

10. I think it's possible that with President Obama....

...doing a media blitz, explaining the bill, that people are understanding Public Option better and writing to their congress persons. There's nothing that motivates a congress person faster than VOTERS threatening not to vote for them.

[polichick]

11. My blue dog Congressman is all for the public option...

...and always has been.

Just heard Rahm tell Charlie Rose (video on the Ed Show) that there aren't enough votes in the Senate for the po ~ what happened to that famous Chicago-style muscling??

[BlueIdaho]

15. Amazng what a good old fashioned ass kicking will do for ya huh?

I gotta think these fucking traitors got more than an earful from the real Democrats that spent money, time, and shoe leather getting them elected...

[Phx_Dem]

19. Yeah, funny how that works. Rahm is the "known" asskicker, but

Obama is also an asskicker, but doesn't let people know it. He and Rahm have some of the same "strong" qualities (which I love, cuz we need ruthless, I mean "strong", qualities to deal with Republicans), but are world's apart when it comes to how they go exercise their "strength."

RAHM: "YOU MOTHERFUCKING COCKSUCKER, I will FUCKING END YOU and no one will ever know what happend to your MOTHERFUCKING ASS!! YOU COCKSUCKING SON-OF-A-MOTHERFUCKING-BITCH! :mad: :mad:

OBAMA: "Senator Grassley is a good man who is instrumental in working with us,:7 and we look forward to a continued relationship blah blah blah . . . .:7" Out of the public eye, he instructs Rahm to knife him in the gut.

Obama reminds me of the SNL carcicture(sp?) of Ronald Reagan as the publicly hapless doofus who doesn't know nothing 'bout nothing, but as soon as the media is ushered from the room, he's a smart, take-charge, ruthless leader who not only knew of Iran Contra, but ordered it!

[WestSeattle2]

20. I remember that skit, and it was hilarious.

[Phx_Dem]

21. I know. The soft "old man" voice that Phil Hartman used to do Reagan

was priceless, and sounded just like him!

[WestSeattle2]

22. Ahhh, the good ol' days of SNL....

[last_texas_dem]

24. Could some of these Blue Dogs actually be listening to their constituents

instead of their contributors? Imagine that.