Dianne Feinstein, as documented in this diary by askew, says that Democrats don't "h[ave] the votes right now" for a government option. How convenient of her to notify us that the officials we have elected to represent us don't have the testicular fortitude to do their jobs. Well, we can change that. In fact, it's our job to change that.
Below the fold is a list of Democratic Senators up for reelection in 2010, and their phone numbers. If they prove themselves unfit for the job we elected them to perform, it's our duty to replace them with people that can get them the votes.
Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas (202) 224-4843
Barbara Boxer of California (202) 224-3553
Michael Bennet of Colorado (202) 224-5852
Christopher Dodd of Connecticut (202) 224-2823
Daniel Inouye of Hawaii (202) 224-3934
Roland Burris of Illinois (202) 224-2854
Evan Bayh of Indiana (202) 224-5623
Barbara Mikulski of Maryland (202) 224-4654
Harry Reid of Nevada (202) 224-3542
Kirsten Gillibrand of New York (202) 224-4451
Chuck Schumer of New York (202) 224-6542
Byron Dorgan of North Dakota (202) 224-2551
Ron Wyden of Oregon (202) 224-5244
Patrick Leahy of Vermont (202) 224-4242
Patty Murray of Washington (202) 224-2621
Russ Feingold of Wisconsin (202) 224-5323
Sadly, Baucus is not on this list. But every Senator on this list should expect a hearty primary challenge if they fail to do all they can to make a public option a reality.
Healthcare reform should be the top item on the Democrats' agenda, and the only way to enact it efficiently is to phase in a public option. Don't let the "we have to reach out to moderates" malarkey fool you. Moderates would love a public option:
Both liberals and conservatives should be for this. Conservatives love efficiency and cutting costs, and the current system is wasteful and an inefficient drain on our economy. Liberals believe in social justice, in that all citizens of the wealthiest nation in the history of the universe deserve universal healthcare just like many poorer nations provide. The only possible philosophy that could justify a stance supporting the current healthcare system in this nation is one of corruption on the highest level. It is putting corporate lobbying interests above those of the people to whom this democracy is supposed to serve. No citizens (liberal, moderate, or conservative) deserve the current scam our semi-fascist healthcare system is giving us.