Public Option NOW! Healthcare rallies - across the country July 9th (tomorrow)

[redqueen]

Just in case anyone is interested in taking part tomorrow, here's a link for info:

http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?action_id=180

"The fight over health care reform is reaching a critical moment. The heart of President Obama's plan -- a strong public health insurance option -- is under attack. MoveOn members are organizing Public Option Now! Health Care rallies on July 9th to send a strong message to the Senate: Health care reform must include a strong public health insurance option.

Right now, there are 172 gatherings planned."


You can find the closest rally or sign up to start your own.

[Hissyspit]

1. Please rec this to the Greatest Page so that people who would like to know about this will know.

[redqueen]

7. Thanks.

This funny comic got 10 recs in 20 minutes.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8517195

I should've posted a funny comic in this thread too.

[monmouth]

2. Found one very close to me here in West Palm Beach. Signed up

to read letters from people with health care problems. Thanks for the post. So far I am the 42nd person signed up, hope it increases between now and then.

[Cant trust em]

3. The one in San Francisco is scheduled for Boxer's office

Why wasn't this at Feinstein's?

[backscatter712]

4. I'm there!

There's rallies in Denver for both of Colorado's Senators: one at Michael Bennet's office, the other at Mark Udall's office.

[me b zola]

5. Done

:kick:

[TomCADem]

6. Sweet - Here's One For Senator Feinstein's Office in Santa Monica

Since she is one of the conservadems, we need more people!

Sen. Dianne Feinstein's District Office
65 registered participant(s) (100 maximum)
11111 San Monica Boulevard, Suite 915
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Directions: 11111 Santa Monica Blvd. (five one's). Take Santa Monica Blvd. exit off 405 Frwy. Go one block east(inland) to Sepulveda. PARKING -- adequate parking on Sepulveda (meters) and nearby residential streets. Allow 10-15 mins. to walk to corner of Santa Monica and Sepulveda Blvds.
Hosted by bruce benson
Description Gather outside district office of Sen.Feinstein to hold placards and encourage drivers to honk in support of public option for health insurance. Then deliver petition to senator's staff.

[redqueen]

8. Glad there's one for her.

Let's hope word gets around to a lot more people by tomorrow.

[warren pease]

9. I know politics is the art of the possible and all that...

... but am I the only one getting a little damn sick and tired of petitioning, begging, pleading, whining and sniveling at these goddamn obstructionist, bought-and-paid-for corporate employees rather than DEMANDING WHAT'S ALREADY OURS IN THE FIRST DAMN PLACE?

Health care is a right, not a privilege. Only a pure sociopath would argue in favor of the current profits-uber-alles obscenity that triages on bank balances rather than on medical need.

So aren't you getting a little past the point of quiet resignation when these miserable swine steadfastly deny every American the same single-payer, universal-access system they all enjoy?

I refuse to let them get away with this idiotic "public option" shuck and jive they're trying to con us rubes into thinking will be just like their own menu of Cadillac medical plans?

We're actually supposed to believe that this is just as good as their own set of single-payer "public options" that will follow them and their extended families around for life -- with never a gap in coverage or a concern about some "pre-existing condition" or a lifetime benefits cap.

All this while watching the privileged rat bastards make damn sure HR 676 remains "off the table" on orders from their corporate sugar daddies.

The single-payer concept's been out there since the Truman administration and, in its latest form, since John Conyers, of all people, first introduced HR 676 on February 8, 2005. It's been re-introduced every session since then, maintaining the illusion that the public is occasionally being served.

Then, with great haste and no fanfare, it's returned to its bleachers seat in the bottom drawer of Conyers' file cabinet drawer -- gathering dust right along side Kucinich's 39 articles of impeachment against Bush and Cheney.

Single-payer, universal-access health care is an elected official's right, but it's apparently just too good for the peasantry -- not when it'll cost their corporate sponsors hundreds of billions of dollars it now siphons off every year as its parasitic cut of the action.


sf

[redqueen]

10. Until people stop keeping their noses buried deep in the M$M,

there's really no hope for more significant change, that's the way I see it.

We need a much more educated electorate... and for lots more people to be willing to educate themselves in the meantime.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

14. Very well said! Thanks. n/t

[slipslidingaway]

15. I think all of this "fighting" about a public option is to distract

people from the plan that is feared the most by corporations and politicians...HR 676.

[Romulox]

38. It's basic bait and switch. There is no grassroots demand for mandatory, for-profit insurance;

these rallies are meant to distract from that.

[redqueen]

40. Are you framing the public option as mandatory, for-profit insurance?

[Romulox]

41. The public option is a thin sugar coating on the horse pill that is mandatory, for profit

insurance.

[redqueen]

42. So you think the 100s of thousands of people standing with Dr Dean are... illusory?

Or do you not consider that grassroots support... and if so, why not?

[Romulox]

43. Link?

edit: Astroturfing for the Obama health plan?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3912491

[redqueen]

44. It's in my sig. What astroturfing?

:wtf:

[Romulox]

45. Definition from wiki:

Astroturfing is a word in English describing formal political, advertising, or public relations campaigns seeking to create the impression of being spontaneous "grassroots" behavior, hence the reference to the artificial grass, AstroTurf.

The goal of such a campaign is to disguise the efforts of a political or commercial entity as an independent public reaction to some political entity—a politician, political group, product, service or event. Astroturfers attempt to orchestrate the actions of apparently diverse and geographically distributed individuals, by both overt ("outreach", "awareness", etc.) and covert (disinformation) means. Astroturfing may be undertaken by an individual pushing a personal agenda or highly organized professional groups with financial backing from large corporations, non-profits, or activist organizations. Very often the efforts are conducted by political consultants who also specialize in opposition research.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing

From the Reuters article:

Democrats stoke grassroots healthcare campaign
Mon Jun 8, 2009 3:23pm EDT


KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - From a living room in Kansas to a bagel shop in New York to an Alabama church, Democrats have started mobilizing support for President Barack Obama's healthcare reform plans.

Suburban housewives and social workers mixed with Baptist ministers, college students, retirees and many others at grassroots gatherings over the weekend. Spurred by the Democratic National Committee's burgeoning political machine dubbed "Organizing for America," thousands of such meetings had been planned for Friday through Monday.

...<snip>...

SCRIPTED TALKING POINTS

Supporters are receiving talking points and scripted messages to lobby friends and family. A signature drive is underway to petition members of Congress and online fund-raising is earmarked for TV and radio advertisements.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE5570TN20090608

[redqueen]

46. I asked about Dr. Dean's organization - Democracy for America.

Is there some reason you don't want to answer the question?

Is DFA astroturfing, in your opinion? Is DFA an astroturfing organization?

How about MoveOn?

[Romulox]

47. Dean? No. Moveon? (and "Organizing for America")? Ayup. nt

[redqueen]

48. So the 100s of thousands of people standing with Dean, for a public option...

how are they not evidence of grassroots support for the public option?

[Romulox]

49. To be clear, are you talking about signatures on an internet petition

found at the link in your sig?

I don't take anything away from that, but I don't put much stock in it, either. :shrug:

[LynzM]

11. I wish I could go!

The one at Senator Dodd's office is about an hour from me, unfortunately it's at noon, in the middle of my work day. /sigh

[redqueen]

13. Sorry you can't make it...

perhaps you could pass the word along to fellow activists in your area. Every little bit helps.

[LynzM]

31. Me to, redqueen...

If I weren't right in the middle of a huge project that has to be done very soon, I would take the day off.

I have been spreading the word, don't worry!

[dana_b]

39. me too

if it were on Saturday, I'd be there.

I'm glad it's happening though. I'm sure there will be more!

[flamingdem]

12. Extremely URGENT TO ACT ! nt

[slipslidingaway]

16. Public option will leave 15 to 20 million uninsured - CBO preliminary analysis

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6016037&mesg_id=6016037

What about the people who will fall through the crack while we spend over a trillion dollars.

:shrug:

[RufusTFirefly]

17. +1

[slipslidingaway]

24. :) n/t

[Matariki]

18. self delete

oops! multiple windows opened - wrong thread!

[redqueen]

19. Yes, that one is much more popular. (nt)

[Matariki]

22. 8 posts vs. your 21 (now 22)

so quit yer' complaining. ;-)

[redqueen]

25. Heh...

well I've only been in the one in LBN... waaaay more than 8 posts in there!

[jazzjunkysue]

20. Nope. Long Island is really not worth it, in the summer. I'll never get there.

Sorry. I love a protest.

[redqueen]

21. Sorry to hear you can't make it.

Hope you'll pass it on to anyone who might be interested.

[blaze]

23. Wish I could make it

but this is the middle of a work day!!!

My thanks to all who are able to and are attending!!!

[redqueen]

26. Sorry to hear that, but please pass it on...

to anyone you know who might be interested.

Thanks!

[JimWis]

27. K&R

[fascisthunter]

28. kick!

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[redqueen]

30. Idiot.

[dysfunctional press]

32. if they want the massive show of force that's going to be necessary, they'll have to plan it better.

this is the first i've heard of any such protests, and i'm betting that attendance will be meager.

[redqueen]

34. There is no "them" that has to plan anything better. WE have to do more, ourselves.

Lots of people are signed up for MoveOn alerts, visit their website, etc.

Anyone could have signed up to start one of these rallies. It's very easy.

[dysfunctional press]

36. the point of having a rally is to get people to attend...

and to do that you have to get the word OUT to people- not wait for them to come to you for the info. 'lots' of people may be signed up for moveon alerts, but the VAST VAST majority aren't. a "rally" without widespread knowledge of it's existence is more of a 'meet-up', and won't gain the attention(s) of anyone. :shrug:

[redqueen]

37. Join if you want, don't if you don't.

Or you can just keep complaining about how other people aren't doing stuff as well as you think they should be doing. I guess you get something from it, so have at it.

[dysfunctional press]

50. if you have to sign up to be informed of a rally- it isn't much of a rally.

[eilen]

33. Too bad it is during the work day

I have to actually provide healthcare today for people who do have the public option.

I have one pt with medicaid who we've managed to keep out of a nursing home and another with medicare.

I might have one that is private insurance at 1:30 but I'm not sure about that. He sounded youngish on the phone. His visit is on the other side of the county than the Federal building.

I wish it was after noon on a Friday....

[redqueen]

35. Not sure why they chose this time...

but we'll have lots of opportunities before this issue is sorted.