It's time for this cheerleader to lay down her pom poms.

[Barack_America]

For those of you who may not remember, I used to be known around here as "Kristi1696". I was an early supporter of Barack Obama in the primaries and devoted countless hours registering voters and campaigning on his behalf. It would be fair to have characterized me as one of his more hardcore supporters on DU.

Needless to say, I was thrilled by his election and held great hope for what his Presidency could mean.

I am also a medical student at a school representing a medically underserved population and, understandably, health care reform was and is my top issue. And I'm pretty sure you all know how well that "fight" has been going.

A few months ago I posted this thread:

If a Dem controlled House, Senate and WH can't even succeed on the POS Public Option, I'm out.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6260940

So I'm here today to say, "I'm out". Really out.

Ironically, I learned the fate of the public option while glancing at the TV in the room of a patient who has been living at the hospital for YEARS because his insurance company refuses to pay for the rehab he needs, but are happy to pay his exorbitant inpatient fees and pass the expense along to all of you. I heard about the death of the public option just before rounding on a patient who has been trapped at the hospital for over a month, preparing medically for a life-saving procedure. She should be preparing at home, but she has no insurance. If she were to be discharged now she would never be readmitted for her surgery, and she would die. Everyday she cries to go home, but discharging her would be signing her death certificate. So we keep coming up with reasons to keep her until she can have her surgery. The hospital will eventually eat the cost of her treatment.

So the next time the Democratic Party wants money or help campaigning, they can look elsewhere. I'm going to be too busy dealing with the mess they made with health care.

I.AM.OUT.

[Bluebear]

1. You never really liked Obama to begin with.

I'm dying for them to come after you with that one, with your name change and all :)

Seriously, I am sorry, for your patients, for you, for all of us.

[AllentownJake]

17. I was one of his Team Leaders

and the cheerleaders now send me hate mail. You'd think if they were interested in his re-election they'd try to make people who helped the man they love get re-elected instead of sending them nasty grams.

[bobbolink]

67. Didn't you know?

Attacking people is soooooo effective in gaining supporters.

I mean, just look how well it's worked with the RW against US. We've all defected to their side because they have been so efficient at attacking us, right?

:crazy:

This is one sick society. "Progressives" included.

:hug:

[goldcanyonaz]

71. I'll never send you hate mail.

:hug:

[gleaner]

108. Sometimes people ....

act in ways that are incomprehensible. They might wake up with a sudden shock somewhere down the road and be sorry that they did it. In the meantime let me apologize for them. You are entitled to think what you want and say what you want, and I'll never write you hate mail either. Keep posting. We need to hear you. I was always not sure of Obama, so I hope this counts for something.

[bjobotts]

169. It's really the senate filibuster rule that allows a few dems to screw up HC reform not the dem part

[bjobotts]

170. 51 votes for a robust PO are there.Stop sayijng it's the dem party.It's the filibuster rule

[gleaner]

184. Yeah, those rules do need to change ...

unfortunately for all of us the Senate has to change its own procedural rules, and they seem perfectly happy with things as they are. I guess they can be. No one is stepping on their heads, and no one can make any changes but them. It is very unfair and very abusive to all of us.

[defendandprotect]

186. It's a Corporate Congress and corporate President with their pockets full of corp $$$ . . ..

[spiritual_gunfighter]

141. I campaigned here in my town for him

I donated to his campaign every month during the primaries when I was out of work and didnt have a lot of extra income to give to any campaign. I am now told by the pom pom crowd with some regularity that I never supported him anyway.

It's getting old.

[pengillian101]

176. ...and the cheerleaders now send me hate mail

Wow, what a supportive group /snark.

E-mail - or here at DU mail?

Best to ya. :fistbump:

[goldcanyonaz]

70. Yeah, just another secretive operative who was secretly working against Obama...

by getting people to vote for him.

:rofl:

Love your post Bluebear, it's so on point.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TwilightGardener]

3. Happy trails.

[roguevalley]

149. may you never get sick now.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Echo In Light]

5. ...with the mess they INTENTIONALLY made out of HC

:cry:

[Systematic Chaos]

6. There was an article published in The Nation in 2005 or 2006.

That article spelled out just how much of a corporatist and an opportunist Obama was.

I tried to take it with a grain of salt, didn't want to believe it fully, and tried to keep an upbeat attitude as Obama clinched the Democratic nomination. It still all had the taste of something which was just beginning to spoil.

My anger at the fact that Kucinich was totally marginalized by the media during the primaries knows no bounds. That's about all I can say here safely. Any further comments about Obama will just have to stay in my head. :(

[suzie]

119. Kucinich was never marginalized by the media.

He's a hostile, hateful little piece of work who seems to spend as much time criticizing other Democrats as Republicans.

The media didn't create that--he's just not at all likable and you have to be able to get voters to like you to have any chance of getting elected to higher office.

It's not the media's fault that Kucinich comes off as a scold--or at best, a self-righteous little opportunist who works hard at keeping himself in the limelight.

Blaming the media is simply a dishonest way of avoiding the truth about a particular candidate.

[chervilant]

124. hmm...

Really, suzie? T'would be nice if you posted something that substantiates your assertions. I do remember quite a few Kucinich supporters posting on DU before Kucinich was marginalized by the Corporate Megalomaniacs who (correctly) saw him as a threat.

I wonder just who is the 'self-righteous little oportunist' here...

[suzie]

177. When you're on the campaign trail and you stand in the back of the room,

you get a sense of which candidates connect with people. Which ones have that certain ability to get their message across. Which ones have an appeal that crosses all kinds of demographic, socioeconomic lines.

Sometimes you see your candidate up there and discover that he or she just doesn't have those qualities and that no matter how much you like the candidate, they're not going to win.

Dennis Kucinich is that candidate. No one ever had to marginalize him because he was no threat. His most salient quality is the self-righteousness that he projects. You can see it on TV and it's the same in person.

The media doesn't have to to anything to that kind of candidate because no one is going to take him seriously. I've never watched a political gathering where the attendees relished a candidate who scolded them and his other opponents.

That's Dennis Kucinich's standard operating procedure and he never dials it back.

Here's a guy who has no chance of being elected to higher office even in his own state. The media doesn't need to keep him out of the spotlight--a guy who isn't well-liked enough to get elected in his own state just won't make it in a national campaign.

And if any other person in politics made the kind of change that Kucinich made in a 30 year long commitment to being anti-woman to magically changing that stance when meeting a different constituency, yes, they'd be considered an opportunist.

[chervilant]

212. Wow...

Never, during any of the mere handful of times I got to see Kucinich covered by the M$M, did I see him acting self-righteous. Never, during any of the public appearances I personally watched, did I see Kucinich scold attendees.

Again, where are your resources that substantiate these claims, AND the claim that Kucinich made a "30 year long commitment to being anti-woman"? I wonder if Dennis' wife would support your unsubstantiated claim...

[Individualist]

126. Damn the DLC!

[rhett o rick]

143. So you alone know the truth. Well that's handy. I always wondered who it was.

Suzie says Kucinich was NEVER marginalized by the media. Hmmm. You mean the media that loves the right and hates progressives? That media? Suzie says that blaming the media is a dishonest way of avoiding the truth (because obviously the media and Suzie know the truth). So Suzie, when the media supported bush* invasion of Iraq, you went along, because it was the truth.

Well thanks but no. I am not accepting your bullshit media, nor will i drink your DLC Kool-aid and sing kumbiya with you and master Rahmbo.

The progressives have been marginalized by the reich-wing media, Rahmbo, the DLC and even the President. Rahmbo has decided to spit on the left to gain votes from the right. Betrayal.

There are two sides in this fight Suzie. The left that supports decent health care, withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, fair trade laws, union jobs, education for our children, etc. and the corporatists like the DLC and Rahmbo, Haliburton, GE, Exxon, and the reich wing. Whose side are you on?

[suzie]

179. I am not on the side of people too involved with one candidate

to take a look at the fact that he never was and had no intention of ever being a serious candidate.

I'm not on the side of folks who try to minimize the fact that electorally, their candidate is simply a loser.

I'm one of those average Democrats who lives in the most conservative community possible and gets out and works every election for Democrats. Average Democrats are far less concerned with the stupid labels that "so-called progressives" try to pin on everyone that disagrees with them like DLC. Those simple-minded Democrats that simply spend their time doing the work in campaigns, calling their representatives about legislation, contributing money. Those Democrats don't spend so much time trying to be divisive through constant name-calling of everyone as those who claim to be on the "right side."

And I'm also one of those average Democrats who has begun to believe that a whole lot of the anti-Obama sentiment on the part of those who call themselves progressives is simply old-fashioned racism.

[rhett o rick]

196. How do you differ with progressives on the issues?

Do you support single payer health insurance? You disagree with progressives on needing a strong public option? How about Iraq/Afghanistan? Do you support continued killing there? Do you support continued domestic spying and continuing the Patriot Act. The progressive want campaign finance reform, how do you feel. Do you think, as the progressives that the bush* admin should be prosecuted for war crimes?

Help me out Suzie. I see only two sides to the fight for freedom. You either support freedom or you dont.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

151. Really, so it's my imagination that the press in the Twin Cities

covered Edwards speaking to 25 supporters and on the same day didn't cover Kucinich speaking to 2500?

Is it my imagination that his appearance before that was pushed off the evening news on 3 out of 4 local stations by a scandal involving a rural sheriff having an affair with his deputy's wife?

Is it my imagination that the NY Times gave everyone's campaign schedule except Kucinich's during the primary season in 2004 when there were still four or five candidates in the race?

I could go on...

[AllyCat]

160. And did I imagine in the primaries the other Dem candidates were asked

"serious" questions and Kucinich was asked about UFOs? Was it all poor memory to be blamed on the photo that ran in the papers and online after the first big debate with all eight or so of them that conveniently edited out Kucinich?

he has rightfully criticized these conservadems and repubs who cannot seem to remember who elected them, but only remember those lobbyists that show up at the revolving door to their offices in DC.

Hateful! Positively spiteful!

[tomp]

197. right, the media has no influence on elections....

...or on who people like and don't like as candidates. have you seen some democrats? there's a pretty long list of them who are by no stretch of the imagination "likeable". rahm emmanuel, for example, obama's right hand man, is very well known as a hateful son-of-a-bitch. at least kucinich doesn't curse at people and politically strongarm them.

I don't perceive kucinich the way you do at all. Perhaps you have been influenced by the media's portrayal of him. or perhaps it's the truth you find so detestable.

btw, if that is how you feel about kucinich, you and i are not on the same side. be mindful.

[Zhade]

211. Man, you are truly fucking stupid.

NT!

[mmonk]

7. I understand how you feel.

The democratic wing of the party could use you though.

[Barack_America]

11. I'm with Dean.

He has always spoke for me regarding health care reform.

I'm also still reading my Doctors for America updates.

But my trust in our President is unfortunately gone.

[mmonk]

14. Good.

We're pretty much on the same page.

[SIMPLYB1980]

76. Really?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x82648

[damntexdem]

8. Well, technically, the PO hasn't failed until the conference committee.

Not that I'm optimistic.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

9. I remember you as "Kristi" --

and I understand completely your feelings. When forced to choose between Clinton or O in the primary, I chose O because he was against health insurance mandates, for reimportation, and for a strong pubic option.

So here I am about to get ass-fucked. I guess it's supposed to feel better because it is a DEM ass-fucking me, but there you go.

I hear you loud and clear.

[Barack_America]

64. Thanks.

It's especially painful to think of all the people I promised that this time, this candidate would be different.

Obama took my loyalty and made a liar out of me.

That really sucks.

[Matariki]

69. Ironic, isn't it? That was my main problem with Clinton vs Obama too.

I didn't like her suggestion of a mandate. It's an ass backward 'fix' for a serious problem.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. I KNOW exactly of what population you speak off

and yes, this is a mess...

My only hope, and no I am not a cheerleader, is that like SS it will be improved over the years. But as it stands right now it is a MESS.

[TwilightGardener]

18. Ironically, the population she speaks of would be helped by this bill--the expansion

of Medicaid, subsidized insurance for those of working/middle class wages, regardless of health--the public option wasn't ever supposed to be the sole embodiment of reform, it was just meant to provide some government competition (cost controls) for the private insurance industry--and it would still involve premiums, it wasn't supposed to be free. It's still a good idea and should be implemented, but talk about tossing the baby with the bathwater.

[MH1]

20. Shhh... you're not allowed to talk sense here.

[Bluebear]

33. Shhh to you. Please, shhh.

You can extend all the medicaid you want in the world, but if the reimbursement is bellow cost for the doctors, many doctors will continue to REFUSE to treat medicaid patients.

So even if you have the insurance, what good does it do if you do not get to see a doctor? Why they needed to go up to reasonable levels. That ain't gonna happen as long as we all worship corporations. Oh and Americans mostly do not care about the poor. That is your reality check of the day.`

(From an answer just below yours.)

[Cleita]

60. I guess the bill is going to open 30,000 new Community Health Clinics

which do operate on Medicaid. Bernie Sanders bartered his vote to include them in the bill. However, it's not really the best thing that could happen since the poor are treated like cattle in them. There are hours of waiting and you can't choose a doctor but have to take whomever is there that day. Also, there will still be the middle class people who don't qualify for Medicaid but still are too poor to have decent health care insurance so they fall between the cracks.

[Divine Discontent]

73. spot on - I guess if you don't KNOW anyone with medicaid, one wouldn't know that they won't see you

at most doctors, etc. But, again, facts like these are to be just laughed at by immature folks.

There's lots of good stuff in the bill - but it's sorta missing a BIG component.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. It will but not as much as you think

why the battle has just begun.

Not the way it stands right now. Nor will it slow down costs either.

<--------- policy wonk

In order to do what it is supposed to do even with this population it will require changes that will be hard to implement with the conservadems.

[TwilightGardener]

27. It's a start, I look at it that way. I think it will help more people than it will harm--

and I fully expect bugs and loopholes that will need to be fixed. But we've got our foot in the door, at least.

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. No it will not, not wiht the reimbursement rates as they are

right now.

You can extend all the medicaid you want in the world, but if the reimbursement is bellow cost for the doctors, many doctors will continue to REFUSE to treat medicaid patients.

So even if you have the insurance, what good does it do if you do not get to see a doctor? Why they needed to go up to reasonable levels. That ain't gonna happen as long as we all worship corporations. Oh and Americans mostly do not care about the poor. That is your reality check of the day.

[TwilightGardener]

30. Well, then, any kind of government health insurance run alongside private insurance

isn't going to be any different. Medicare has some of the same trouble with low reimbursement, and doctors don't like to take new Medicare patients, I've heard. That's a different animal that will have to be addressed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. No it had to be adressed in the bill

and it is part of the policy, and why it sucks. And that goes for medicare TOO.

This wholesale reform does not do that ON PURPOSE.

[TwilightGardener]

37. They're going to have to raise reimbursement rates, or we'll never

have single-payer in this country (simply put, either the government pays doctors more, or doctors get used to taking less--I don't see a third way). But this bill was meant to be general industry reform, I don't see why they can't address Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement and funding in other legislation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. You think they will be able to do that

with the current crop of republicans and blue dogs protecting industry? You really believe that?

[TwilightGardener]

42. No--that's why I'm willing to settle for whatever improvements we can get right now.

And wait for a public option, and then single payer, sometime in the future.

[nadinbrzezinski]

43. That's the difference between you and the activists

we fight, you wait.

[TwilightGardener]

47. It's been a fight just to get MODEST insurance reform, and subsidies, passed--

and it hasn't even passed yet! That's step one. Next step is to implement what Congress passes, and improve it, and make it a success so that Democratic chances stay good for the forseeable future. I am going to watch and see what happens with all of these proposals.

[Barack_America]

51. TG, the Dems control the WH and both houses.

Getting legitimate HCR accomplished should not be this hard if Dems were actually "fighting" for it.

I admire your patience, I really do, but I have to question whether the actions of Dems, particularly our President, are really worthy of such support.

[TwilightGardener]

55. The Dems and President chose to work within the existing framework (meaning

the private insurance structure)--that fact alone disappoints people here, who really wanted to see private health insurance go the way of the dodo and have single-payer implemented. And then public option was bargained away without enough fight for it--I agree. I don't think Obama realistically expected it, and worked on getting passage for what reforms COULD pass. Path of least resistance--but I'm not sure it would have ended up any different with the Nelsons and Liebermans and Landrieus out there. Time will tell what comes of all this--I won't judge it a failure until it fails.

[nadinbrzezinski]

128. The existing framework

you accept the words and views of the Political Elites... I see.

Yes, it is time to use the CORRECT language when it comes to this and any other subject.

We have supermajorities, but this is what we get? As I said up thread. You wait, we fight.

[Barack_America]

48. Respectfully, Obama sold the public option out.

That fact is never going to change, even if we miraculously get single payer in the next decade.

[Barack_America]

29. I mentioned the "medically underserved".

Do not confuse this with the "uninsured".

Many of our most heartbreaking cases are insured patients. We had to cancel a discharge of an insured man in order to sort out how to get his meds for less than $2000 a month. His wife called up from the pharmacy in hysterics over that.

The bill as it stands in the Senate will do nothing for patients like him, except create more off them while calling HCR a "success" and writing the issue off for another decade or two.

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. +1 most people do not realize

that many folks already have "insurance," that sucks ass.

[TwilightGardener]

40. I don't see why people make the argument that "insurance sucks",

and then get upset over THE FIRST REAL ATTEMPT EVER at insurance reform. And while it's hard to understand why this guy would have had to pay $2000 a month for meds, would it have been better if he were totally uninsured and couldn't pay his hospital bill at all--let alone the meds? I understand that everyone should be covered in this country at a low price for every medical procedure and lab and drug that exists and is deemed necessary--and our taxes and deficits won't go up, and there won't be any waits, etc. But since we're light years away from a system like that, you start at the beginning.

[Barack_America]

44. The only "reform" here is to make more people buy sucky insurance.

The bill as it currently stands does precious little to keep costs down, particularly when it comes to prescription medications.

I think people are upset that this is not an honest attempt at "insurance reform". And I think they've got a real beef there. Competition with a govt. not-for-profit insurance program was the only real "reform" left in this bill and now it's gone.

Pre-existing conditions and the like are a problem, yes, but pale in comparison to the larger and more sinister issue of people being forced to pay ridiculous amounts of money for insurance that covers very little. Without the PO, this bill does nothing substantial to address that.

[TwilightGardener]

52. There is a real effort to help people pay for insurance, though--

which is not something we've ever had. The subsidies and Medicaid expansion are a big new entitlement--and once people start receiving help (imperfect as it may be), they are LOATHE to give it up, which is why Repubs are having conniptions and praying that Robert Byrd keels over--they know they will have trouble rolling this back once it takes effect. The insurance exchange that is being set up is another reform, for those who are unemployed or self-employed. The proposal to limit insurance co. profits to where 85% of premiums must be spent on claims is yet another good reform (hopefully that's still in the bill). You can be disappointed that these reforms don't go very far--I am too. They do not seem "sweeping" enough to change a lot of lives--instead they'll probably only modestly help the people who need it, at best. But realistically, we can only get what we can get out of the Senate as it stands today.

[Barack_America]

56. With taxes paid in by American citizens.

Americans will pay for crappy for-profit coverage both with their wages and their taxes. The bill would have been a lot less had this money gone towards non-profit public option coverage. This bill will do very little to reduce costs of health insurance. We will still be paying money directly into the pockets of insurance executives, except now we'll be using public funds that should have been going towards infrastructure, education, etc. It's like Halliburton and Blackwater all over again, contracting out to corporations duties that should be performed by the govt. itself.

This is in no way a viable solution for this country.

[TwilightGardener]

58. The public option wasn't meant to replace the insurance industry.

And it certainly wasn't going to be free for anyone--and a new government bureacracy would have to be set up to administer the plan, which is tax $$$. At best, it would offer some competition, and maybe lower some prices or improve service--I wanted it to pass. But the industry will stand for the foreseeable future. That is a fact that cannot be circumvented. But if there were no reform bill at all, people would still be paying private insurance co's just the same as today--only they'd be allowed to discriminate as they've been doing, and drop care, and you'd lose coverage with unemployment or be forced to pay for COBRA with no federal assistance whatsoever. I can't help but see this as an improvement, however imperfect.

[Barack_America]

59. I never said it was. It was designed to keep the insurance companies in check.

And now that it's gone, nothing else will. So they'll be up to the same bullshit they've always been up to, but this time they'll be funded by American tax dollars.

The public option was the compromise between scrapping private insurance altogether and continuing to let them exploit the American public. I would argue that the "reform" that is currently proposed is even worse than the status quo; the federal govt. will now be subsidizing the exploitation of its own citizens. The only way to save this is to force the companies to provide REAL insurance. I hold out very little (read: no) hope of this happening. That's what the public option would have done and it has already been nixed.

[TwilightGardener]

63. I look at it this way: five years ago, if someone told me that

we'd fix insurance to the extent that everyone could have it, no exceptions, for the same or lower price out-of-pocket, for the same coverage, and you wouldn't have to worry so much if you lost your job or developed a health condition, I'd think that was pretty damn good. Used to be we just wanted everyone to be insured, because so many people had absolutely none, and no hope of getting it--and hospitals and ER's and the rest of us had to eat that cost. Now, everyone here seems to be complaining about the mandates and the cost and QUALITY of the insurance coverage (hypothetically!) under this bill, and the principle of having to pay a private company for it (the horrors!--as if most of us don't already do this). In other words, we started with a simple idea--universal coverage, with some government help in paying for it for the lower-wage bracket--and that's actually going to happen, so now we automatically decide that's not good enough anymore: Gotta have a public option, or the whole thing is for shit! It'll be a disaster--no, MEGA disaster, Dems are going to lose for a generation, everyone will be made poor, I'm gonna hide in the woods, those evil insurance companies will never get MY money, insurance is always sucky, no exceptions!! My premiums will quintuple, I'll have to pay more than half my income and they won't even cover an appendectomy! AAAGGHHH, hair on fire, hair on fire!!1!1!! While I'm skeptical that it will work as well as Congress and the President insist (especially at first), I'm also skeptical that it will be deemed a disaster.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

153. I once asked the British DUers in the UK forum about their system

which is fully government-run health care (the NHS) with a private option.

They maintained that the fact that any legal resident of the UK always has the option of going to the NHS for treatment
keeps the private sector from price gouging.

[TwilightGardener]

162. I can believe that--that's why I think we shouldn't give up on a public option.

Competition is a good thing.

[abelenkpe]

139. I worry this will get worse and involve more

with no public option.

Great post btw.

[katkat]

92. "subsidized" premiums?

You mean unaffordable subsidized premiums and when they can't pay that, the feds steal 2% of their income as a penalty.

[TwilightGardener]

118. Do you have a chart or numbers you can show me that demonstrate

that insurance will be "unaffordable" with subsidies, compared to the system we have now? Or is anything short of FREE deemed "unaffordable" now? Jesus Christ.

[AllentownJake]

12. Welcome to the club

Now be expected to be called everything from a PUMA, Troll, Racist, Hater, wanting a Pony, wanting Sarah Palin, and Hitler.

Let me know if you need any support in putting down the Kool-Aide and drinking the reality. It is a bitter pill to swallow, but once you do it, you feel better than constantly having to deny reality.

Oh and the cheerleaders like Teabaggers celebrate when someone leaves their ranks. I think it is a game of Highlander. There can be only one cheerleader with all the powers of the rest!

[Barack_America]

25. I've already been called a freeper upthread.

Awesome.

I think I'll just step away from the politics for a while. My focus should be patient care anyway. Still, it's pretty fucking depressing. My team discussed health care reform briefly the other day. Everyone's bitterly disappointed. We were all hoping to not have to hear, "Wait, what kind of insurance does he have?" fifty times a day.

Oh well.

[AllentownJake]

26. Check your Inbox

I sent you a copy of yesterday's hate mail.

The Hope Squad sure sends me encouraging messages.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

45. No, he didn't. He was being sarcastic. Jake also worked endlessly for Obama and

from what I've read, shares your feelings.

Hugs to you.

[TK421]

41. "Why, oh why didn't I take the blue pill"?

[AllentownJake]

53. Truth is often brutal

It is why most people in America when polled like to think they have a mythological being that is personal to them following them around.

[TK421]

54. I hear you....kind of like a guardian angel

:thumbsup:

[snagglepuss]

13. A very powerful OP. K & R. nt

[The Straight Story]

15. K&R (nt)

[area51]

16. Thank you for speaking out.

One of the things that interests me are the opinions of medical professionals, who see first-hand the problems of our dysfunctional healthcare system.

[freddie mertz]

19. Welcome back. These are indeed trying times.

I was never one of the ga-ga brigade, but I had my hopes.

We needed real leadership.

What we got was, well, what we got.

[Wardoc]

21. You and me both Kristi, you and me both.

:hug:

[Barack_America]

75. .

:hug:

Thanks. And right back at ya.

[The Straight Story]

23. I am about to start asking Obama to show us his birth certificate

:rofl:

[leftstreet]

66. LOL

Okay, that was funny

:spray: :spray: :spray:

[ima_sinnic]

91. I'm starting to think it's from the same place as the rest of the lizard people

--which would be perfect for the professional chameleon (who works for ALL the insurance co's, not just Geico)

[katkat]

95. wear one of my joe wilson tshirts when you do it ;-) n/t

[B Calm]

105. I've heard he's a Commie, Nazi, Socialist, Black Man from Kenya, Africa who

pals around with terrorists and wants to pull the plug on grandma.

[Lorien]

166. Glad you crack yourself up

:eyes:

[The Straight Story]

175. I am too, glad you are so serious

:)

[Larry Ogg]

24. You’re an angle at heart Kristi, but don’t feel bad

I wouldn’t be surprised if some people got the name “Barack” tattooed on their back side; never thinking that they were going too get x*#!ed, if ya know what I mean...

[dpbrown]

31. She could be a curve

Or a straight line.

;-)

[TexasObserver]

34. Recommend

[AllentownJake]

36. How you doing friend?

[TexasObserver]

46. Pissed, and waiting for the first quarter of 2010.

[AllentownJake]

50. My pissed feelings are starting to go away

I'm sadly moving to where I was two years ago, where actions of the government only shock me when they do something noble.

[swilton]

39. Please keep up the good fight

Independents are growing after this debacle.

[lildreamer316]

49. Bless you (non-religiously :) ) for the work you do,

and thanks.
Just wanted to say that.

[philly_bob]

57. REC +74: BA feels the way many of us do.

Obama supporters who have contact with his handlers should let them know that, besides HealthCare and two wars and the economy, he has another humungous problem: an angry base.

And you know what? If he starts making the right moves, he could win us back.

Remember, he's made political compromises (and who doesn't make compromises?) -- but he hasn't made any huge world-class newbie blunders. (Well, maybe the surge in Afghanistan -- but nobody knows how that will turn out...)

[Orsino]

81. And even those of us who don't quite feel that way...

...can see it from here. No hatred from me--this is a consequence of concession after concession to the right-wingers, and the party ought to feel the lack of support from those they underwhelm.

I would only remind dissenters that Democratic control does not equal progressivism.

[SammyWinstonJack]

61. knr

:hug:

[EndElectoral]

62. I'm not out...just won't vote for Obama in 2012, and will fight Dems who sold out.

[bobbolink]

65. I'm sorry.

I hear the pain in your words.

I admire your care and concern for those of us who are suffering.

:hug:

[HipChick]

68. I'm not out..I don't believe it would be any different with Hilary or any other Democrat in the WH..

[Stinky The Clown]

72. I was trying to hold out to be rec number 100 .... but it will have to just be 98.

Thanks for all you do. I understand what you said so clearly. You're the kind of person who gives us hope.

[jus_the_facts]

74. ....

:hug:

[Goldstein1984]

77. Recommended

Thanks for a firsthand report about reality on the front line.

[shireen]

78. you have a compassionate and empathic heart

and it must hurt you so much to see, first-hand, the effects of our broken system.
I'm so sorry.
:hug:

[K Gardner]

79. As an ER nurse and also a long time activist and "giver", I too have laid down my pom poms. I

remember you from the primaries. I know how hard you worked. I worked hard too. I'm disheartened and sad; and the human misery and suffering I see at work each night seems to compound exponentially as the stuffed suits sit on Capitol Hill and recite talking points. I've already told the Democratic Party solicitors not to expect another donation until I quit seeing people die from unavailability of health care.

That we won a sweeping mandate and haven't been able to do this is beyond my comprehension. I must've been naieve.

Best to you, Kristi..when the suffering and infirm have nothing else, they will always have compassion from bedside caregivers. Right now, it seems that is all we can do.

[Barack_America]

85. I'm very sorry, K.

Somehow it's harder to hear of others' disappointments than to deal with my own. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to see the things you see, realizing that help is no longer on the horizon.

The patients I have been dealing with are the lucky ones, they've been admitted. At that point the thing at greatest risk is their credit rating, rather than their lives.

[AllyCat]

101. Another disillusioned nurse checking.

I work in L/D, c-section surgery and recovery, and the Newborn ICU. I even hear other NURSES say things like "well, that person (usually one with brown skin) gets their health care for free and I have to pay for mine". So they don't support health care for everyone. It's ridiculous the hoops women have to jump through to get a tubal, since most can't afford birth control.

And now we will have a plan that does NOT help them and throws women under the bus to boot.

I'm with you two. Not one more dime from me.

[treestar]

80. Question

You did all that only for the public option?

[Barack_America]

83. A valid question.

And no, I did not do it only for a public option.

I did it for a number of reasons, with health care reform being reason #1. I do not believe this bill qualifies as "reform" without the public option.

I also did it to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which has obviously been a mixed bag under Obama.

So far I'm not seeing a lot of return on my investment in general.

[democracy1st]

82. K & R

[FarLeftFist]

84. But the bill just got endorsements from the AMA, AARP, ACS (cancer society), AHS (heart society),etc

Plus a lot more.

[snagglepuss]

122. FYI the biggest donor to ACS is Big Pharma. nt

[AllyCat]

159. The AMA and AARP are hardly in favor of helping us little guys

The AMA controls admissions to med schools to keep the number of available docs low and thus, driving up salaries.

The AARP is, in many respects, a front for United Healthcare.

Don't know about AHS, but I would suspect a similar situation to the ACS and the link with Big Pharma another poster has mentioned.

[Pryderi]

86. Quitters never win. n/t

[Barack_America]

87. Tell that to the Dems who quit on the Public Option. nt

[Lorien]

165. Zing!

They quit on universal single payer as soon as the election was over. :-(

[Lost-in-FL]

200. +1,000,000,000!! nt

[jonnyblitz]

89. all you guys have is tired cliches.

[Bluebear]

100. Maybe they can make campaign buttons with those witty slogans!

[Blasphemer]

110. Yep pretty much, "quitter", "immature", "crybaby", and on and on..

and then they themselves will whine about election results. Somehow, they think Democratic leadership should make decisions without consequence. They should be voted for en masse regardless of the decisions they make while in power. If they make crappy decisions and you continue to vote for them, guess what?, they will continue to make crappy decisions. I don't see why the cheerleaders fail to understand that.

[Bluebear]

96. Q-u-i-t-t-e-r-s never win! Never, never win! Never, never win! NeVEeeeerrrrrRRRRR WIN!

[Pryderi]

204. To the jackholes in between this and my previous post...

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

What we're getting is the first step.

[saracat]

88. I am so sorry. I did not believe in Obama but did vote for him and hoped.

At this point I do not really believe in any of them, except maybe a few congressmen that I know personally. But my days as a democratic donor are over. They clearly don't want or need my vote or what little money I have.And for all of those who call be "bitter" dam straight I am bitter. I really wanted and needed HCR and drug reimportation. And I never expected my rights as a woman to be literally sold out by the Dems as well. I am bitter and really , really angry.

I will only support individual candidates that I am certain represent me.

[BigBearJohn]

181. I'm with you Saracat.

[Barack_America]

193. Saracat, I wanted to thank you for your reply.

It really meant a lot to me as I know that we haven't always seen eye-to-eye on things.

[saracat]

202. You are very welcome. I honestly wish we could be celebrating.

[Name removed]

90. Deleted message

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

[ima_sinnic]

94. what are we going to "see"?

I don't really understand your post.

[sendero]

104. Lots of lost ..

... house seats. More than the typical.

[HuckleB]

93. The mess the Dems made with health care?

Say what?

[Barack_America]

103. Yes. They'll own it now.

That's the cost of promising "reform" and failing to deliver.

[HuckleB]

106. Well, health care is likely to be improved, so what is your point?

[Barack_America]

112. I don't believe that is a given.

More people will be "covered", sure. But what will that "coverage" be worth?

Will it look like these stinking piles of shit of "coverage" from Florida?

http://www.coverfloridahealthcare.com/docs/Comparison%20Grid%20-%20Full%20Matrix.pdf

[HuckleB]

121. Try life without coverage.

Then get back to me.

And don't try to pull any "I have lived without it" crap.

[Barack_America]

125. I haven't lived without coverage.

But I have lived for years now with coverage that covers about 5-10% of my standard yearly healthcare costs.

If that's the level of coverage that uninsured Americans get with this so-called "health care reform", I don't see how we can claim it a success.

[HuckleB]

136. Uh huh.

Do you know anything about the health care plan at all?

[DeSwiss]

174. Dream on. n/t

[rhett o rick]

146. So you support forced insurance for everyone? Insurance that we cant afford? You support the

killer health insurers. How can you sleep at night? Do you own stock in the killer companies?

[EmeraldCityGrl]

97. Thank you for all you do. Losing someone like you is a

great loss. What a shame they don't realize and probably don't care.

[secondwind]

98. DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE A**, FICKLE FRIEND! n/t

[Bluebear]

99. See EmeraldCityGirl's reply made a minute for yours to see what class looks like.

[Ignis]

115. Yep, FIVE years of "fickle." But welcome to DU, anyway. (nt)

[mnhtnbb]

102. Health care people who aren't in it for the money understand your statement

completely.

Hubby has been a member of Physicians for a National Health Plan for years. For years. I am a retired
hospital administrator.

The insurance companies have agreed to take on 30+million more people--to fatten their bottom line--by giving up the right to cherry pick subscribers. It's a travesty.

The people of this country deserve a single payer system and what we're getting is affirmation
that fascism (government run for the benefit of corporations) has taken over.

I have to say that I'm not disappointed in Obama because I was never a big fan. After reading
his book, "The Audacity of Hope", I predicted that he'd come down on the side of corporations
when push came to shove. I'm sad to say that I was right.

[snagglepuss]

127. what we're getting is affirmation fascism (govt run for the benefit of corporations)

has taken over."


You nailed it.

[gleaner]

107. I'm sorry that ....

It turned out this way for you, and for your patients. I was a part of your loyal opposition here on DU. This is a sad and thoughtful post. I hope that your patients realize what a wonderful person they have looking after them and know how much you care. That will help some.

And I hope that you realize that we value you here and would hate to see you give up. You have an eloquent voice and a compassion that we all need to see and hear as often as you want to grace us with us. Take care of yourself and the people who need you and thank you for giving us this post.

[Name removed]

109. Deleted message

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

[Blasphemer]

111. I hope one day your pom poms can be used for a party that's worth cheering for

This one isn't. It's sad that they don't even realize how much of a blunder they are making. I am pretty disgusted by the people around here who react to genuine concern and frustration with nasty comments and schoolyard level swipes. The same sort of attitude is coming out of the White House from people like Axelrod and Emmanuel. It really makes you wonder. Swiping at people who are angry because they think the party should and can do better and not swiping at those who would sink the party to level of the GOP? It really goes to show just how much we are up against.

[valerief]

113. Yep, it's hard to cheer failure and lie to oneself when disappointment looms.

I know there are all kinds of excuses as to why this can't be done right, but, dammit, if the civilized countries can do it, why can't we? I guess we're not civilized.

[Fire1sKid]

116. This country has never been civilized

:fistbump:

[Fire1sKid]

114. I layed my spirit stick down....

after I was informed that Pelosi was supporting the Senate revision,which DOES NOT INCLUDE A PUBLIC OPTION.I would have really preferred the public option over that goddamn Christmas card I received from the WH.Someone please tell how much longer we are going to be screwed over by corporate America,which has never been for the people of this country since the beginning of it's existence.John Locke even wrote a publication about it,the people of this country supported this publication that criticized and spoke against this great evil known as corporate sovereignty.

[FrenchieCat]

117. We will miss you, but we will finish the job......

"Anyone who is “betrayed by their naiveté” should feel doubly ridiculous for thinking the change they voted for would come overnight. Status quo is not “kicked out of the door” like a weak, stray cat. Status quo has to be rallied against, systems have to be put in place to combat it, people have to put in work. Status quo will remain the “status quo” if people are too lazy to stick around for the entire fight."

You were the one that you were waiting for....
you just weren't willing to wait long enough.


As for the mess,
I think that you will be proven wrong.

Krugman:
The usual suspects are out in force on the op-ed pages, declaring that the health reform bill doesn’t control costs, it’s a huge cost, etc.. And I had a new thought: part of what’s going on here, aside from the fact that these people just hate the idea of expanding social insurance, is that they haven’t looked at all at the actual numbers involved.

The theory of the reform is as illustrated above. Expanding coverage will, other things equal, increase health care spending. But the expansion of coverage is linked to a serious effort to control cost growth that will, one hopes, “bend the curve”, so that costs eventually fall below what they would have been otherwise.

What the bah-humbug crowd insists is that this is highly implausible; implicit or explicit in this claim is the idea that covering the uninsured is extremely costly. But it isn’t.

The key thing to understand in the coverage debate has always been that it costs surprisingly little to cover the uninsured. For the most part, the uninsured are relatively young, and hence have relatively low medical costs. Also, they receive a fair amount of uncompensated care, as well as spending funds out of pocket. So even if you ignore the possible monetary gains from preventive care, avoiding emergency room visits, and so on, we’re not talking about a vast rise in health care spending.

Take the CBO estimate of the cost of subsidies and Medicaid expansion in the Senate bill — that is, ignoring all possible cost savings. It’s $179 billion in 2018. Take the CMS projection of total health care spending in 2018: it’s more than $4.5 trillion. So the direct cost of expanding coverage — the initial bump in the blue curve above — is less than 4 percent of total health care spending. That’s the amount by which, on the current trajectory, health spending rises every 7 months.


http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com /

[Barack_America]

120. I hope that I'm proven wrong too.

Failure of health care reform is not something I want to be "right" about.

But when Obama doesn't even pressure Lieberman to support the public option? Well, that dealt a pretty powerful blow to my faith in him.

[FrenchieCat]

123. You are stuck on an ideology of the PO,

while we have moved on understanding
that the foundation have been layed for additional
improvement to be included via budgetary action
via budget reconciliation.

Understanding the process of government
goes beyond presidential election.

Since it is in your heart to stop now....
please do so.

The rest of us front line soldiers remember Obama's words well.....
and thus we remain.

"I know you didn’t do this just to win an election and I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime – two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years – block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

This victory alone is not the change we seek – it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other.

in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.

For that is the true genius of America – that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow."



Be proud of us, because if we were all like you,
there would be no one left to fight.


Krugman............
Down memory lane
Many progressives are deeply dismayed about the shortcomings of the Senate bill. And they should hold onto that feeling! History suggests that this reform will get much better over time — but only if people keep demanding improvements.

But I think my reaction to the bill’s apparently imminent passage is being shaped, in part, by memories of how it was, not long ago. Five years ago, after the 2004 election, I was devoting most of my efforts to an attempt to stop Social Security privatization. And it seemed likely to be yet another losing battle: all the wise heads, all the makers of conventional wisdom, were sure that Bush was going to get what he wanted, and that people like me were just boorish obstructionists unwilling to embrace change.

But Social Security survived. And here we are now with a reform that, for all its faults, is the biggest expansion of the social safety net since Medicare. That, in my book, counts as a big victory.

[rhett o rick]

154. So you think the left should support the Pres when he has gone out of his way to disparage us?

The argument that we are getting something better than nothing doesnt set well with me. Not when I think that if the Pres tried, we could have gotten more. But his man Rambo has publicly spit in our faces. Appears willing to dump the left to gain the right. Sickens me. I worked side by side with other progressives that hadnt chosen Obama as our first or in some cases our second choices. But we door-belled, passed out fliers, phone banked, emailed, called and donated, to get Obama elected. And he has his henchman spit in our faces. He doesnt try to get a PO. He has secret meetings with big pharm to keep up prescription costs.

I think Americans will die because Pres Obama is willing to settle, to compromise with the devil or Lieberman.

But I am not quitting, far from it. We must exorcise the evil from OUR party. We must fight the corp influence.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

156. Sorry, Frenchie, but that is not affordable for a family of four

I fit in one of those categories as a single person, and the "reformed" out-of-pocket liability is the same one that I as a single person am paying now.

Besides, what about us single people? Why is it always stated in terms of "a family of four"? Hasn't anyone figured out that a significant minority of Americans are single without children at home?

[Individualist]

129. K&R

[davidwparker]

130. Thanks for the post. I supported John Edwards and thank goodness he

didn't get it.

And, I didn't think Hillary would win the generals. Obama was out best shot, so I can see why you would support him early.

It is too bad that he either 1) folded so early or 2) lied so well.

He won't be elected to a second term.

[emilyg]

131. k/r

[WillyT]

132. K & R !!!

:kick:

[grandel]

133. Going Out

...and while you're at it, go up, way up.... north of the 49th parallel, that is. Immigrate to Canada and help us strengthen our universal healthcare system, toughen our environmental laws, and simply build the society we all know is possible.

[berni_mccoy]

134. You'll be back.

[Barack_America]

137. Maybe.

But it will take some solid results.

[stray cat]

135. I prefer intelligence and thoughtful consideration of facts to your pom poms

If throwing away your pom poms means you will actually inform yourself of the real facts and think about the options in a logical fashion than throw away the pom poms by all means

[rebel with a cause]

140. +1

Time to think about who gives up the ship/throws away their pompoms when the first sign of trouble appears.

[SergeStorms]

182. The FIRST sign?

You obviously haven't been paying attention. Or you're willfully ignoring the other signs. Oh, that this WAS the "first sign".

[pleah]

138. K&R

:hug:

[RedCloud]

142. The House may insist on the Public Option.

Stay somewhat tuned.

[ramapo]

144. This is the part where we begin to eat our own

I am pretty disgusted right now. I am sick of all the lame excuses from the gutless bastards we call our leaders. I'm not sure how Obama can spout the nonsense he spoke this morning. For the first time, I was ready to throw a shoe at the computer monitor while he was speaking.

I'm not sure where I go from here but I do know that health insurance reform was my number one issue and I don't feel at all happy about it. I really don't get it. If nothing else, the bill is bad politics. Few benefits up front, a mandate that millions will hate and a perfect issue for the Republicans to run on. I can hear the attack ads already.

This may indeed be the democrats Waterloo and it will be all of their own gutless making.

[BrklynLiberal]

145. I know. disapointment from such great expectations is very painful. heartbreaking, in fact.

[Ildem09]

147. Welcome to the dark side

be prepared to be harangued by the kool-aid drinkers

[FourScore]

148. I understand. n/t k/r

[MrMickeysMom]

150. While ignoring others hyperbole here, lemme get with you on the health issue

... I relate to the ridiculous revolving door, or death warrant patients are currently faced with, a la the insurance industrial complex of health care delivery. As a respiratory therapist, I've seen patients be caught in the middle, not be able to receive the care that addresses getting them OUT of the most expensive part of the health care system. We all know we can do so much more to attenuate this kind of selective care. This drug's not on the formulary, so that patient can't be managed at home. Or, the concept itself of restorative and rehabilitative care that is comprehensive. THIS SAVES MONEY IN THE LONG RUN. When everybody has access to the same care, we DON'T HAVE to consume the GDP with sick care dollars, because it would be true health CARE.

There's no reason why Obama could not have worked with Congressional leaders who will WILLING to push this kind of health care reform through!

(on edit, typo's)

[Barack_America]

152. Makes you wonder about the funding for those low income "health clinics"...

...that Sanders championed. I know that Bernie meant well, but isn't that sort of health care stratification based on class exactly what we're trying to get away from?

Why can't we just all get the same care at the same places?

[MrMickeysMom]

155. You know, sometimes I think the only way you can make a point about the have-nots-

... is to see them lined up to receive "free" health care. It embarrasses (or should) so called leaders of the richest nation to see that definition of rich.

What other benefit could surpass good health when it comes to being the richest nation?

Like the ALA states, "When you can't breathe, nothing else matters..."

(we just donated to NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FREE CLINICS INC)

[chill_wind]

157. Many of us hear you and understand. Many, many. Put your money where your heart is,

in the causes you believe. We know you will go on fighting for the right ones. The patients and their families whose lives you will go on touching and healing and advocating for will always be very lucky to have you. Keep fightig the good fight in your own committed way, Kristi, and best wishes to you in your demanding studies. With your heart and conscience, we know you will make one more very special and positive difference in the world, no matter what ineffective politicians do.

[David Zephyr]

158. Year One.

Three more to go.

There are a lot of pompoms on the ground.

:hi:

[midnight]

161. What a wonderful, caring, doctor you will be. I hope that by some magic a

public option is slipped in on Christmas eve. for you, all the medical people who care, and the sick who need care.

[JustAnotherGen]

163. I'm sorry to read this

But I understand. ;-)

I got my BarackObama.com email today with his statement on what the Senate had done. I said - why not log on and express my disappointment?

Evidently - you aren't even allowed to post at his blog unless you are 100% behind this bill. You aren't a real Liberal or Progressive. That was made very clear to me by a '40 year democrat'. Who told me that 'we are Republicans, Independents, and Democrats'. That right there (the use of the word Democrats) tells me the individuals ignorance but I digress. . . . So I saw it myself earlier this evening. Two people (myself and a sheep) who voted for Barack Obama totally split. Not even remotely on the same page.

Will I vote for the ticket in 2012. Probably. But it's not a guarantee. If they run Pataki - I might not be at DU anymore either. I don't see much difference between the two . . . and I was at least happy with Pataki as my Gov'nah in NY - when I lived in NY.

Sorry for the rambling - but I'm off my Democratic high. I think we as liberals/progressives have failed.

[mcablue]

164. k & r nt

[liquid diamond]

167. Buh-bye.

Compromise is necessary in politics. We don't live in utopia but the really real world. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[bjobotts]

168. Don't confuse a handfful of conservadems with the dem party. We have 51 votes but not 60

[defendandprotect]

188. We have a party completely trashed with corporate money . . .

PLEASE, stop denying that --

[ruggerson]

171. I remember you Kristi

We had a couple of dustups during the primaries, but you always kept an open mind. Good OP.

[TacticalPeek]

172. The tranquilizing drug of gradualism.

MR. SMILEY: I think ultimately it, again, depends on what the bill is going to be. But I do believe that you have to stand on your principle. And with all due respect to the White House and the president, who deserves great credit for taking this issue on and pushing it further down the field than any other seven presidents have done, you still have to ask where is the principle that we started out with, and how firm have we stood on that principle? I think that the danger of this White House is this, that the president and his team appear to be incrementalists. I, I warned the last time I was on this program, quoting Dr. King, about taking the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. I don't know that we get from here to there on all the issues that matter to Americans, that we sounded off on at the polls last year. If the strategy on health care, on torture, on climate change, on the economy, is going to be one of incrementalism, that ain't going to get it done.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34490422/ns/meet_the_press/page/4/

Reality-based talking going on.

[Egnever]

173. The republican party thanks you!

[Wardoc]

180. And the establishment/insurance industry thanks you.

[jonnyblitz]

183. that's such a lame response. nt

[fascisthunter]

195. ok... welcome to ignore

[Jamastiene]

178. K&R

Your perspective is one I have been wanting to see. Thank you for giving me a perspective of how a health care professional feels about this.

Your heartfelt post restored some of my faith in humanity. That is not easy to do. Thank you.

[johan helge]

185. The "I.AM.OUT."-attitude pleases Republicans

So progressives were not strong enough to save the public option this time. But is that a reason to stop fighting for progressive causes?

Of course not, progressives should stay on fighting, no matter what. One reason for this are the results, this time that "more than 30 million Americans (are) gaining coverage, and premiums for lower-income and lower-middle-income Americans (are) falling dramatically" (Krugman - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/opinion/18krugman.html?_r=1).

This was achieved not because of the "I.AM.OUT"-attitude of many people, but in spite of it.

The "I.AM.OUT"-attitude is the Democratic version of the Republican "Club for Growth, the Washington-based anti-tax group dedicated to weeding out RINOs (Republicans in Name Only)" (http://www.mlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/04/the_arlen_specter_switch_club.html).

They weeded out Arlen Specter, who became a Democrat, and that may have saved health reform (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/20/heroes-of-health-reform/).

[defendandprotect]

187. Thank you for letting us know -- though very sad, indeed --

Glad you didn't try to self-delude yourself about the real meaning of all this

and that you see it clearly --

HOWEVER, this is an overwhelmingly liberal nation -- despite the attempts of the

corporate/CIA press to hide that reality.

Liberals and Progressives have to come together as a voting bloc and decide on a

new plan --

Continuing to vote for the "lesser of evils" -- continuing to put our hope and trust

in candidates who are PRE-OWNED and PRE-BRIBED with corporate money is not going to

actually change anything.

What we are suffering is CORPORATE/FASCISM and we've known that for about 40 years,

at least -- i.e., corporations buying government and elected officials.

PLEASE find a way to unite with other liberals and progressives --

And may this new period of Winter Solstice also bring the "light" of wisdom to us all

in seeking ways to defeat fascism.

:)

[Enthusiast]

189. I understand your anger.

I am torn.

On the one hand I am angry at President Obama because he was not forcefull in his advocacy for single payer or a subsequent public option.

On the other hand I fear this crazy opposition we see on TV. I don't want my action, or lack of action, to contribute to the election of a single Republican or Tea Party candidate.

Make no mistake, as bad as things have become, they can certainly get worse.

[Gman]

190. Sorry you're disappointed with the Democratic Party, so maybe

you should have supported McCain. I'm sure you'll get what you want with President Palin. Be sure you jump on her bandwagon early too.

[girl gone mad]

191. Maybe if she had supported McCain..

Obama would pay attention to her.

[saracat]

203. That was a totally uncalled for and imature response to a heartfelt OP

[Gman]

205. No. The problem right now is emotions.

Sorry.

[saracat]

206. So apparently you get to decide which emotions are acceptable now?

It is just this type of arrogance that is driving folks away.

[Gman]

207. That's my job

it's a tough one but somebody's got to do it. And I really don't care who goes away because they're too damn few to worry about anyway. And, they've been threatening to leave for the last 40+ years. I wish they'd quit threatening and just leave. Unfortunately, they won't get any attention if they leave so they have to stay and threaten to leave to get the attention they crave.

[Bluebear]

208. But not a surprise.

[SteveM]

192. Thanks for your explanation; I don't blame you...

My activist friends who still support Obama say: Wait it out, he'll do better. I hope so.

It is never a good thing when a candidate for any office so turns off his activist supporters that they turn to other matters (you sound like the kind of person who will continue to do good things). Obama, and the people around him, must realize by now that they have made their choice: rely on "leftist" activism, then kick 'em out the door publicly. And so early in his term. Where Obama will get the grunts who pulled in those big crowds (even in the age of electronic "communication") is beyond me; perhaps he figures that this kind of activism is obsolete. In any case, the "left" is without a real party, and frankly has been so for the past 30+ years as the DNC has made peace with corporate America and rid itself of any real hard-edged philosophy. Pragmatism is the DNC/media order of the day.

BTW, it is not at all surprising that one of the two most identifiable Democratic Party stands --being for reproductive rights-- is now the centerpiece for debate and restriction in the new "HCR" bill. Them GOPers never let up.

That other stand? Gun-control. On that, the GOP hopes the DEMS will never let up.

[fascisthunter]

194. sorry, Kristi1696

I'm not going to jump up amnd down because this truth we all have come to is not something for me to celebrate and just in case I am misunderstood, I do not mean to imply others are. I'm just not feeling so well these days, but hope we all collectively can emerge as a united front against corporatism as dems.

[racaulk]

198. K&R

[SacredCow]

199. Welcome to the basement of the Greyhound....

It was kind of dirty and ugly at first, but teh gays have been busy putting in curtains and a juice bar.

K&R

[man4allcats]

201. It's too late for me to rec this, but thank you nevertheless for

the post and for your skill and dedication to the those who need you.

[tedzbear]

209. Your comment doesn't make sense.

You said you have "a patient who has been living at the hospital for YEARS because his insurance company refuses to pay for the rehab he needs, but are happy to pay his exorbitant inpatient fees and pass the expense along to all of you."

Whaaaa? Why would an insurance company save money by paying to keep a patient in the HOSPITAL (at a thousand dollars + a day) for YEARS instead of paying for the less expensive rehab?? Me thinks they would go out of business.

[Zhade]

210. This is heartbreaking, but I admire your courage and ability to see the truth.

Some here are invested so deep, they can't even see a lie for what it is WHEN IT'S PROVEN ON VIDEO.