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From left to right, the U.S. Senators pictured are: Max Baucus (D-Montana), Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas), Kent Conrad (D- North Dakota), [Second row] Bill Nelson (D-Florida), and Tom Carper (D-Delaware). What these five democrats have in common is that they joined the Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee and defeated the Public Option Amendment authored by Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-West Virgina). The amendment failed by a vote of 13 to 8.
Of the two public options amendments being considered by the Senate Finance Committee, Rockefeller’s was considered the most robust. Interestingly, ” the more liberal amendment offered by Rockefeller is also more fiscally responsible according to the Congressional Budget Office” (more here). Let see. Helps more people, and is more cost effective – Good reasons to vote against it!
I think I have had enough. Worse than us not getting reasonable health care, if we don’t start getting off of our butts, Michael Moore is going to stop making his movies (WashPo). So in the interest of saving our chances of getting reasonable health care, and preserving our rights to good political comedy, I am recommending that we form a PAC that should be titled something like “Ousting the Enemies From Within”. We need to collect funds and deliver them to the primary opponents of the above pictured Senators. It is time to get serious, but have some fun, at the same time…
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/29/first-public-option-amend_n_303228.html
PrairiePopulistsAndProgressives.net 
I guess Schumer’s less robust version of the Public Option was defeated by a 13 to 10 vote. The “public option” is down, but is it out?
I just emailed Max Baucus. I encourage everyone to let him know the compromise has already been made since there is no single-payer option on the table. A public option is a must!
http://baucus.senate.gov/index.cfm
Far right, top — “Contact Us”
Blanche Lincoln
http://lincoln.senate.gov/
Kent Conrad
http://conrad.senate.gov/
Bill Nelson
http://billnelson.senate.gov/
Tom Carper
http://carper.senate.gov/index.cfm
I’ve emailed them all now!
been watching them make the sausage on MSNBC’s webcast… it’s ugly
We need to find out how much money it took for the insurance companies to buy these people! And when we find it out, we need to spread it far and wide!
Total received by these Senators from 2005 to 2010:
Blanche Lincoln: Health Professionals $298,700 (total) $128,700 (Individual) $170,000 (PACs)
Kent Conrad: Health Professionals $239,533 $22,033 $217,500
Bill Nelson: Health Professionals $332,179 $307,154 $25,025
Tom Carper: Health Professionals $90,816 $37,486 $53,330
http://www.opensecrets.org/index.php
Sadly, it’s all about the money and getting reelected.
List of health professionals donations to politicians. Interesting Democrats are raking in more than Republicans next year. Must be something to do with who’s in charge, huh? (2009 not listed)
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=H01
Insurance industry the same thing:
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=F09
Makes me sick to my stomach!
We must do everything possible to be sure as many people as possible see these figures!
Michael Moore’s
Message to Barack Obama
“This is not the time to desert us. This is not the time to be the representative for the private health
insurance industry. We need you to
stand up!” – Michael Moore
… And to the Blue Dog Democrats
“We will come to your district and we will work against you, first in the primary and, if we have to, in the
general election.” – Michael Moore
This fight for the public option is not over…
Senators Thomas R. Carper of Delaware and Bill Nelson of Florida, voted against the first amendment, but supported the second.
I hope these Senators take heed of Michael Moore’s promises. I think he means it! I loved it when he said (paraphrasing) — if you were afraid of a few people at a town hall meeting, you haven’t seen anything…
Excellent post fnord.
From Dana Milbank:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/29/AR2009092903063.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
I’m trying hard to find the names of anyone who has announced their candidacy in opposition to Max Baucus, Blanche Lincoln, Kent Conrad (I’ll find same for Bill Nelson and Tom Carper once I’ve dealt with the biggest aholes!). So, I need suggestions on what to google, where to go — I’m not succeeding!
My goal is in my today’s emails and possibly phone calls I will be able to mention their opposition BY NAME and make them the promise I will contribute to and support that person!
Well, no shit, Sherlock! I’ll bet the voice they are listening to belongs to insurance company dollars!
“Poll: Public Says Voice Not Heard In Health Debate”
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113307616&sc=fb&cc=fp
Unfortunately, fnord, those folks re-election years are a long time into the future. Milbank provides dates on a number of them – see above.
Well, OK, if Baucus isn’t up for reelection until 2014 that will give a nice long time to prepare and make sure he is defeated!
Senate Majority Leader has cancelled the Senate’s Columbus Day recess so that senators can focus on passing health-care reform during the week of October 12. “The Columbus Day [recess] is fast approaching,” Reid said on the Senate floor. “It’s the week after next and with all the things going on here, it just would not be right for us to take that week off.” The Senate will work three days that week, taking off Monday and Friday. It will not vote on health care until 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/60893-reid-cancels-recess-to-get-healthcare-done
I just checked. The yard didn’t miraculously get shorter without me pushing that mower around. 🙂
See y’all!
Hey, this is a great website.
The Eagle weblog is not posting any comments . . . and the oblivious editors don’t even seem to be aware of it.
Regular must be going through major psychological withdrawal about now.
Howdy, flash, join the fun.
Hi Flash, great to have you visit! Pull up a chair and make yourself at home.
Maybe that blog is shut down so the feds can continue their investigation into the conspiracy potential of Tiller’s assassination.
The cons want to have a resolution of disapproval against this Congressman.
Like what was done to Joe Wilson when he called the President a liar at a state address?
But Congressman Grayson didn’t say anything that isn’t true. I tell ya folks, cons are EVIL. They are not just fellow Americans with a different opinion.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/30/alan-grayson-republicans_n_303996.html
Effort to Restrict Abortion Coverage in Health-Care Bill Fails
Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee defeated an attempt Wednesday to add further restrictions on abortion coverage to a sweeping health-care reform bill.
On a 13-10 vote, the panel rejected an amendment by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) that would have required women participating in a new insurance market known as an exchange to purchase a separate policy covering abortion services.
Also Wednesday, aides to committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said he was looking to revise a key provision of his health reform package in light of a new analysis showing that it would impose a particularly heavy tax burden on people over 65.
continue reading here —
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/30/AR2009093001752.html
Hey Flash,
Did you catch it where James M. in essence admitted he was a flaming troll? Fascinating – is all I can say.