Ben Nelson has done so much damage in such a short time. Remember what he did to the stimulus package?
The Liberal blogosphere has been bashing Ben Nelson over his statements against not backing a public option for health care.
Sen. Ben Nelson is being targeted in a mailing and Internet ad campaign asking people to withhold their political contributions to him and other members of Congress.The campaign takes issue with the Nebraska Democrat's opposition to President Barack Obama's proposed public health-insurance option. That option would create a government insurance plan to compete with private plans...read on
He's taken a boatload of cash from the health care industry so when he said this, it didn't come as a shock to me. Nicole Bell wrote this story last month: Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) Opposes Public Health Plan. His pockets are lined with gold from the Health care industry
Nelson plans on gathering together some like-minded
sell-outsDemocrats to oppose any public health plan. Go to Open Secrets to find out who has donated money to Nelson last few years for his re-election and whaddya know? Blue Cross/Blue Shield is in the top 5 with $31K. In fact, Nelson received more than $230,000 from the healthcare industry in the last four years. Actually, HCAN lists more than $600,000 from the insurance industry to Nelson.
Now he's changing his tune a little bit, but don't let this fool you.
Nelson, according to three people in the room, told the group that he was open to a public option, the primary Democratic goal of reform and anathema to conservatives.
The word I'm hearing is that the health care industry is going to back the public option and then Nelson and Co. will make it so bad that nobody would ever want it.
Howie Klein met Donna Edwards last week at an event I was supposed to go to, but couldn't make and he writes:
One of the House's most outspoken and well-reasoned advocates of universal health care-- sidetracked by the puppets of the Medical Industrial Complex to a chance for a "public option"-- Donna is worried that Big Insurance will embrace the "public option." Embrace and then smother to death in a bear hug. They don't want the competition, so they have given their well-paid allies-- Republicans, Blue Dogs, members of the Evan Bayh anti-Obama Bloc of Senate Conservadems-- their orders: let it pass and then make it dysfunctional. They will gamble everything that their three highest paid shills-- Arlen Specter (R/D-PA- $4,026,933), Max Baucus (D-MT- $2,833,731) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY- $2,758,468)-- will be able to sabotage the public option sufficiently enough to ensure that it is not robust and not competitive.
That looks to be their strategy. Change Congress has a petition up and writes:
Ben Nelson said he may not support Obama’s plan. Is this why?
Nelson raised more than $2 million from insurance and health care interests in his three campaigns for federal office, 83% from out-of-state. -- Public Campaign analysis
We need to keep holding his feet to the fire so please sign on, but keep both our eyes on how Congress handles the "Public Option."
I guess I bitched about this enough...
me-oww!
This is the first I've heard of any plan to "pass it, then screw it up". Quite evil.
I hope that more people on the Hill are aware of their schwarmy scheme and prepare for it.
* There are two types of Republicans: millionaires and suckers.
"Mugsy's Rap Sheet": Recording history for those who seek to rewrite it.
Ben Nelson has been fairly well below my radar until just this past week, and it is already clear to me he's a huge DINO.
(Note Rachel's last comment: (cheerfully) "I get that you [opposed] it for political reasons."
Nelson: "Thank you."
Uh, Ben, that's not a compliment.)
* There are two types of Republicans: millionaires and suckers.
"Mugsy's Rap Sheet": Recording history for those who seek to rewrite it.
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"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Senator Nelson,
Many many Americans work much harder then you to make this country strong. And many many of those people have no health insurance at all. And the rest certainly have nothing like the free government sponsered coverage that Americans tax dollars provide for you. Stop doing the bidding of the corporations that fund your political campaigns and start representing the people!
He needs to be reminded who he is supposed to represent, and it isn't the insurance industry. He is not the only one who needs this treatment. There should be a concerted effort to get a petition signed by all citizens who want a single-payer option, and then present it to POTUS and Congress. I am sure I am not the only one sick of this outrageous and self-serving behavior by those who are elected to represent the interests of people, not corporations. We all need to register our discontent in a major fashion.
Sen. Nelson wants to further enable the 2% of Nebraskans over the 98% once again.
Social programs are out and all programs that benefit the wealthy 2% are in.....plus more tax cuts.
Seems the Senator has switched from a diet of meadow muffins to soylent greed.
'Talk to the hand'
All the pussy-footing and "across the aisle" nonsense--enough. Anyone, regardless of party affiliation, who does not represent the interests of the people who voted for them is not a friend. This is not a chess game, people's lives are at stake here. I hope the anger I am feeling right now spreads to everyone else who has an interest in this hunt. I have to take a walk.
Here is a hint if you will attach a dollar bill to your zipper or your lower posteria I will lick and as a good Representative of the Socialist Corporation retainers I will swallow. understand you schelps only vote my real constituents give me money so go do unlikely things to yourself and leave me a lone so spoken by yet another walking talking TURD in congress.
Dear Republican, conservatives, blue-dogs, and all others of that political persuasion: (Those saluting, hold up your middle finger here). YOU LOST! Act like it.
You say:
Sorry John, but if receiving boatloads of cash from the health care industry is a signpost of what drastic changes the Obama Admin is going to attempt to do, then you really have to wonder. How many boatloads of cash has Obama received from the health care industry? Biden? Hillary? I'm sure we'd all be shocked (not) to see the numbers. Like all the other watered down legislation, and republican type tax cuts and continued Bush policies, this will surely be watered down purposely with or without Mr Nelson's assistance. In the interest of looking forward, and bipartisanship, of course.
Look it up yourself, and let us know. With links, please.
Wasn't too hard at all. Took all of a couple of minutes actually.
Health Professionals: $1,021,960
68% to Dems / 32% to Repubs
Health Services/HMOs: $252,300
60% to Dems / 40% to Repubs
Pharmaceuticals/Health Products: $684,410
63% to Dems / 37% to Repubs
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/sector.php?tx...
2008 Election Cycle
Total to Democrats: $26,778,840 (55%)
Total to Republicans: $21,781,947 (45%)
Then there was the Presidential race donations:
Health $41,162,622
$27,243,954 Dem (Obama)
$13,819,417 Rep (McCain)
Had the GOP been heavily favored to win the elections you could reverse those numbers.
What's your point? That Democrats and Republicans are evil to take money for campaign funding? Do you think Green Party candidates would send it all back? How do you propose to rewrie our Constitution so that campaign donations aren't viewed as speech? Do you even know what our amendment process is?
BTW, you still haven't discussed the "Notwithstanding" clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms with me. What's up with the dodginess? Scared you'll get called out for hypocrisy?
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
As I wrote above you, do you really think an industry would financially support candidates in the multi-millions, whose advertised goal was to change healthcare and provide better affordable healthcare, taking away profits? And that point, is in response to the post, which is that Ben Nelson will sabotage any healthcare initiatives because he takes money from healthcare industries. Well duh, so do all the others, including Obama.
As for the Charter of Rights that you speak of, I have no idea what you are talking about. Must have missed that post. When did you post it? Sorry if I missed it. But, if you've actually read me on here for the last 2 years, you will already know my response. Who cares? As a rule, a majority of Canadians don't run to the "constitutional rights" excuses as much as Americans do. Perhaps we are not as paranoid of someone taking our rights away. When Trudeau decided to diddle with the Charters, he was met with a giant collective Canadian yawn, except from Quebec, who see themselves as specially privileged.
You'll wake up one day and they'll be gone. You have no process to protect against it, only faith.
And of course they'll give money to those who oppose them, if the opposition isn't vocal. It's lobbying to have their positions heard. But all that money goes to the candidate who must then decide how to win and keep voters on their side. A candidate could take the max from those interested in clubbing baby harp seals, but it wouldn't be wise to vote for clubbing baby harp seals when a vast majority of the voting public stands firmly against it.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Abortion doctor who provided legal procedure for pro-choice patients killed my right wing conservative terrorist?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/us/01tiller...
People would actually want the same government who can't handle Katrina,Iraq,The Treasury,The banks,The SEC,Medicare,Medicaid,Board of Education and we could go on all day to handle your health care. Is it me or have the world gone assbackwards. No thanx to government sponsored health care i don't want to become part of a human experiment. What I'll take is affordable health care please, i have a distrust of government and most things they subsidized. Have you noticed as the years gone by the dumber our students get. Some can't barely tell you who's vice president right now or who our president was ten years ago but government keeps telling us everything is okay!!!
You absolutely are the cliche king or queen.
The usual libertarian bullshit. Gee, color me surprised! You know, it's funny, I've never met a Libetarian who turned down an unemployment check; I've never met a Libertarian who, when fucked over by an insurance company, contractor, what have you, rather than go running to a lawyer to file a lawsuit, just shrugged their shoulders and chalked up said losses to "the free market at work". All these Libertards are the same - No government intervention except that which helps me directly.
If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you're gonna get selfish, ignorant leaders.
George Carlin
years of RW radio misinformation and propaganda and pressured by dittoheads when this issue comes up. that's the 'constituency' they are responding to.
if single payer activists boycotted and picketed their local limbaugh stations on this issue they might force nelson and baucus to side with either limbaugh or single payer.
most of the Congress-critters are whores (and I mean that in the nicest way) - they'll play with whoever pays them the most.
Since the corporations provide the money for campaigns, the lobbyists and the perks they offer to congress, they usually get what they pay for - legislation that benefits their bottom lines.
The slogan 'taxation without representation' has never been more true, because The People are not represented anywhere in our government anymore.
"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy
excellent reason to have publicly funded elections. Donating huge sums to political candidates is not "free speech" it is bribery.
Can the Corporate MainStream Media be counted on to do their part and honestly report to the American people what is going on or will they continue to be shills of the insurance industry getting their talking points from FOX?
Alas, I don't see single payer being possible unless there is a palace revolt to put half the Dem senators out to pasture.
First, dump Reid and install Feingold as leader.
Then both Nelsons, Ben and Bill need to be taken aside and read the riot act.
And that's just for starters.
Still, it would take a second term with Obama running on health care as a major issue to bring it into being.
Also be ready to compromise defense spending for the greater good of the public (not too hard to convince the C&L readers).
Therefore, even at the risk of going too biblical on your ass, the question must be asked;
Are you prepared to beat your swords into colonoscopes?
Really? How?
I might not think he's the greatest Majority leader ever, and it's obvious you don't think so either, but, again, how do you think he got the position?
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Reid obviously got the Repugs permission to lead the Dems.
Funny how that only works the one way.
I would like to give Dick Durbin a chance.
Durbin sounds like a populist, the Dems should give him a chance because if things go the way they are now, the Dems will be out of power in 2010.
The Repugs took power in '96 because the Dems stopped listening to voters.
The Dems took power in '06 &'08 because the Repugs NEVER listened to the voters.
The Dems had better start listening.
'Talk to the hand'
Each caucus, in both chambers, elects its own leadership. When the Dems won both chambers back in '06, Dems elected from amongst themselves (in the case of the Senate, Independent Bernie Saunders is a member of the Democratic caucus) their leaders. In the House, Steny Hoyer ran against Nancy Pelosi. I'm not sure who ran against Reid- if anyone did- but a majority of the caucus agreed he should have the job.
It's really unusual to have someone from the fringes of the caucus- in this case let's say Feingold on the left and Ben Nelson on the right- win a key leadership position because people from the fringes don't usually facilitate compromise inside the caucus, centrists do. So until the political center of the Democratic caucus shifts to the left, don't expect someone from the left of the party to be in a leadership position. And the only way to shift the center, you've got to look at each state individually and ask them to vote for someone from the left. But do you expect Oklahoma to suddenly elect a Russ Feingold? Pennsylvania?
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Reality raises its ugly head.
I like Saunders cause he's a fighter but Reid seems afraid of ruffling any feathers on either side.
He's just so underwhelming as a leader.
That's usually what they're like.
It's the rare bird that takes leadership of the Senate like LBJ did: through compromise and threats.
I'm a Michigander. I'd love to see Carl Levin in Reid's office, but all indications are that Levin doesn't want it. My other Senator, Debbie Stabenow, is rumored to be someone who's working her way towards the office...And she's just about the same as Reid, imo. She isn't a horrible Senator- and she's a lot better than the Republican she replaced(Spencer Abraham). But if there was ever a viable candidate for her Senate seat to her left, I'd vote for that candidate.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Sounds to me like your Stabenow and my Murray are probably BFFs.
:(
me-oww!
Of course it'll be watered down. Democrats have no intention of hurting the feelings of the poor beleaguered Health Insurance industry.
*
all the money the healthcare industry spotted Obama, and the Dems in the last election. The numbers are staggering. Now what would be the odds, that someone speaking of drastic change to the healthcare system, would be financially supported at election, by the industry that stands the most to lose IF he is serious? Slim to nil?
Nebraska. But that is no reason to give him any significant responsibility in the Senate.
There was a time until the Reagan era when most health insurance companies as well as health care facilities were nonprofit. It was thought to be unethical and unchristian, if you will, to make a profit for investors on the backs of the ailing. It was though that introducing the profit motive would create tendencies toward monopolies, and encourage price inflation since price is seldom a factor considered by someone in pain looking for relief. I guess they were right and here we are.
Only a public plan and nonprofit companies should be involved in providing health care. Doctors and medical specialists would continue to get paid well, probably better than under managed for-profit plans, which short-shrift the medical staff for the managers and stockholders.
Retort everything i have said, i know you cant since I'm stating facts. You might want to find out what the term "cliche" means since you keep repeating party line talking points. Learn to think for yourself and be individual it might surprise you how easy it is to figure the non-sense both parties spew out and call it intelligent. You'd be amazed at how dumb some people in government really are.
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