There was a sign last night that seemed omnipresent on one or another network. Its huge bright red letters screamed, "Washington, is this loud enough?"
Rahm Emanuel would be well advised to peel the sign off his office wall that asks all who dare face his infantile tantrums, "have you kicked the base today?" Mr. Emanuel, base kicking = defeat.
Americans need real reform and access to affordable healthcare. We can move in the right direction with RECONCILIATION.
What can we pass through reconciliation? The public option. The Medicare expansion. The Medicaid expansion.
PLEASE HELP US FIGHT FOR RECONCILIATION BY SIGNING THIS PETITION!
The morning after, there is only one path remaining for healthcare reform, and it's what should have happened ages ago. The alternative Democrats must use, is called RECONCILIATION.
If you missed it, I urge you to read one of the best posts about how stupid it was to take reconciliation off the table, Who's the Idiot Now, by Jed Lewison.
Don't let Republicans think they can kill health reform dead. Reconciliation is our weapon against them. Help us wipe the grin off their faces with just fifty-one votes.
The reform which was moving ahead, though far, far from what many of us believe was minimally adequate, was still a crack in the door. We cannot allow this to slip though our fingers yet again.
If President Obama abandons us on healthcare, then there should be nothing any longer between Americans who believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and nonviolent civil disobedience on a very large scale. This is what Dr. King would have done given such dire circumstances.
I look at these faces, and they are why we MUST push for reconciliation. If the Senate passes their bill which goes straight to the House for a vote, all we've fought for--the national exchange, the modification to the excise tax, an increase in subsidies, and strong consumer protections such as those in the House bill--will be gone.
We must try this last chance to pass real health care reform by reconciliation. We do have 51 votes in the Senate. We can do this.
David Waldman explains how reconciliation can be done here.
Here's what Bush was able to pass under reconciliation with a bare majority of Senators in the Senate:
– The 2001 Bush Tax Cuts [HR 1836, 3/26/01]
– The 2003 Bush Tax Cuts [HR 2, 3/23/03]
– Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 [HR 4297, 5/11/06]
– The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 [H. Con Res. 95, 12/21/05]
Will it be easy? No, but doing the right thing is never the easy thing to do. If you agree, please join us by signing our petition! We're aiming for at least 1,000 signatures on the petition which will be delivered to Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid.
We need the Democrats to understand that the entire theory of protecting corporate interests first in health care is a political fail and a massive policy failure.
We need to let Democrats know that ignoring the base is political suicide.
The idea we needed 60 votes to pass healthcare in the first place was ludicrous to begin with and it's quite breathtaking that we were sold this version of lunacy for so long.
Let me ask you, would we not have had healthcare if Arlen Specter hadn't switched parties?
Would we not have had healthcare if Al Franken hadn't finally won the Minnesota election.
And since we only have 59 so-called Democrats now, should we assume that until we have 60 votes--either Democratic or Republican--no legislation which fails to garner a super majority will ever again be passed?
Not to be overly simplistic, but what is the point of having a government, or elections, if this is the pathetic reality?
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TO DEMAND RECONCILIATION!
The nascent movement for healthcare rights in the United States began in earnest last night.
Organizing is the first step in what will be a very long road. We will fight every single day for progressive issues that we all care about as Americans.
And finally, let me assure you that slinkerwink (Noelle) and I are going to be here fighting until the last dog dies.