Fellow Kossacks,
It really leaves me deeply concerned that we cannot get immediate sign-on from our progressive allies in congress to draw a line in the sand for a strong public option on day one.
I rarely get properly involved in our body politic. It was Bush's first disastrous first term that steamed me so much that I knocked on doors for Dean. Since that loss, I didn't knock on one door, nor make one phone call for the cause. Life got busy.
I got married, I became a dad of two little boys, I'm a teacher, and my time gets sucked dry. It happens to be the summertime, so my head can pop up for a breather and see what is happening beyond the NYTimes headlines and continually excited diaries here about the current injustice.
Nyceve , slinkerwink, and the steady strong stream of rec'd healthcare diaries this month are prominent here because this is precisely why so many of us have worked to elect officials to represent us. If they do not at these critical junctures of the American story, we will have a very strong reason to exchange them for people who will stand with us.
In fact, issues coming to a head like this- even if they fail- are a real blessing. It will become crystal clear to all of us who needs to be primaried. Please feel free to contact your congresscritter with a similar communique that I have just sent to my true-blue Austin Texas Democratic representative:
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Congressman Dogget (Enter your congressperson's name here) ,
Will you commit to voting AGAINST any healthcare bill which does not include a strong and well-funded public option available to all Americans on Day One?
Please understand, people are dying. I know you know this, but it's easy to make an unfortunate abstraction instead of a fire-in-the-belly call to justice.
I think you are generally a fantastic congressman. However, if you cannot commit to this simple important pledge at this very critical juncture in the battle for healthcare, I will do everything in my power (recruit, hold parties for, distribute yard signs) to make sure someone more willing to take courageous political stands for critical issues like healthcare wins in a primary against you in 2010.
I am not a particularly active citizen. Sometimes, though, it becomes very clear what we must do. This is one of those instances. Stand with the people today, Lloyd. Join the yeas on this whip count from a progressive web site:
http://action.firedoglake.com/...
I know it is not politic to take a stand on a hypothetical. This plan, though, is preferred by our President, preferred by the people, essential to saving the lives of thousands each year. I beseech you, fight with us.
Sincerely,
**** ******** (paziz)
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Folks, rarely has it been so clear. Hell, each one of us could run a single-issue campaign in these deep-blue progressive districts. You know the other issues are dear to us, too, but as a campaign issue to drive funding in the netroots, I think that ignoring this call to stand up for the public option is enough to show fellow dems where everyone stands.
WHIP THEM INTO LINE! LET'S DO THIS THING. PEOPLE ARE DYING.
Really, there is no hyperbole or further dire metaphor necessary to illustrate the gravity and urgency of this situation.