Momma Politico: The World According to Perry

Sorry to have taken so long, CM, but I have been t...

2009-12-22T12:10:35.079-08:00

Sorry to have taken so long, CM, but I have been trying to give the system a chance to work...I've been thinking about you and Monkey Girl throughout this whole process, CM. My Hubby feels the same way, the good is better than nothing, and perfect can happen down the road. But I, like you, see big Pharma and Insurance Companies still making their profits, and the middle class being taxed even further...not working for me, either. I desperately hope that the Committee process manages to restore some of the common sense measures back to the bill, but realistically, I just don't see it happening. I fear the losses we'll incur in 2010, and when we lose our foothold, nothing will get done. In fact, without it being given time to show savings and improvement in folks' lives, it'll be quickly reversed by the GOP. Really hoping for a Christmas miracle.

Meanwhile, Merry Christmas and good health in the coming New Year to you and yours, CM. Try to take some time for you - that's my gift to you and my other blogsistahs: permission to take a breather! And you can tell everyone I said so! Happy Holidays from the Politico household to yours!

I've been waiting to hear what you had to say abou...

2009-12-22T08:14:29.107-08:00

I've been waiting to hear what you had to say about all this, MP. As usual, you and I agree. Although lately, I've been calling myself a progressive and NOT a Democrat. Sadly, they don't have the ability to get their message out like the Repubs do. Not sure how those R's do that so well.

I'm sure there's something good in this bill. I'm sure it will help lots of people. I also know it will help the insurance companies, and that's no good in my book. I am mourning the loss of what could have been. I saw all the political capital that the President and the Dem's had, and was truly hopeful for something close to a progressive agenda on health care. I'm not surprised by what has happened. I've said all along that if Congress takes too long on this thing, it will turn out to be a mess. And it has!

My husband says we should be happy with a good first step, just like yours. And we've both decided that this process, out in public, has proven just how broken our system is. I'm not sure any one person or party can fix it, however.

RIP, universal coverage. RIP, public option. You were both a possible dream, until Congress got ahold of you!

Thanks for your thoughts, MP. And thanks for letting us all vent a bit.

Hi Annette, I acn always count on you, Girlfriend!...

2009-12-21T22:55:22.438-08:00

Hi Annette, I acn always count on you, Girlfriend! ;) Y'know, there's a lot of good that could come from this, but I am so disgusted that we've wasted all this energy on Lieberman and Co. Should've pulled his committee chairmanship and kicked him out of the caucus when we had the chance. Sure as Hell didn't help us get the filibuster-proof majority...

I do agree, Annette, that it is a lousy time to be President, and that with the financial mess, there has been much accomplished. But I fear that if we don't get this right, we won't be around in 2010 to fix it...you know me well enough to know that I have great faith that government can make life better for its people. But it has been difficult to sustain that faith when we're paying off legal blackmail to get votes. And can Lieberman just switch parties already??? He's a Rethug if I've ever seen one.

I will hope for the best, and will consider both your and Bob's words (I like yours better, Girl!)and see what time will tell. Thanks for your dose of sanity - always appreciated, Girlfriend!

TFT, you are right - if this doesn't change the wa...

2009-12-21T22:41:15.138-08:00

TFT, you are right - if this doesn't change the way we all deal with health care in a positive manner, we're gonna be ousted from Senate to Dogcatcher in every election in 2010...I am extremely worried, and would love to get in there myself and kick some ass, take some names! Politico 2012! Keep the faith, my friend. Don't give up yet...

Sue, Annette is pretty damn good at the talking do...

2009-12-21T22:37:07.106-08:00

Sue, Annette is pretty damn good at the talking down! :) You're right - it's out of our hands at this point. But damn it to Hell, why is it all hush-hush if there's nothing objectionable? Making me crazy, Sue. If you hear anything about the content, tweet me or email it over, will you? I will do the same. Thanks for commiserating! Great comments, as always Sue! Thanks!

Thanks for the comments, Carlton. Glad to have you...

2009-12-21T22:34:03.850-08:00

Thanks for the comments, Carlton. Glad to have you here! I share your frustration. The thing that scares me the most is that no one's been out in front of this giving us the real deal, like was happening in the House bill. God knows what we're getting. If Jane Hamsher from FireDogLake has her story straight, there is much to worry about:
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/12/21/10-reasons-to-kill-the-senate-bill/
Thanks again for the great comments. Come on back anytime, and follow on Twitter! :)

Thanks for the comments, Carlton. Glad to have you...

2009-12-21T22:33:59.795-08:00

Ok, Perry, I am going to try to talk you down and ...

2009-12-20T18:18:40.826-08:00

Ok, Perry, I am going to try to talk you down and I am going to borrow from some people who are smarter than I am to help me do it. For example my friend Bob Cesca has a post up quoting Steve Benen which says:

Remember: nothing becomes law in this Congress unless Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman approve. Literally, nothing. That's not an encouraging legislative dynamic, and it's a huge impediment to progressive lawmaking.

It's not within President Obama's power to change that. It's not within Harry Reid's and Nancy Pelosi's power to change that.

Bob, himself goes on to say this:

What we have, unfortunately, are Conservadem obstructionists who are willing to stand in the way of good policy simply because they can. And we have a progressive caucus that is rightfully unwilling to filibuster good things for the sake of blocking some objectionable things.

In other words, Lieberman, Nelson, Stupak, Landrieu and the others merrily block legislation that will help save lives simply because they're willing to kill bills regardless of the good they'll do. It's transparent posturing devoid of morality or reason. Lieberman, for example, filibustered the bill as vengeance against progressives -- and was willing to let reform die because of it. I can't imagine lawmakers like Bernie Sanders, Ron Wyden and Al Franken filibustering major subsidies for poor and middle class Americans in order to settle a score or to demand perfect legislation. It simply isn't within the capacity of most progressives to behave like this -- and I'm glad, even if it means we don't get perfectly progressive laws.

President Obama has a respectable list of successes so far. Successes that have done- and will do a lot of good for a lot of people. In order to achieve these successes, however, he has been forced to worm his way around enemies as unprincipled as the Republicans and Conservadems. So what we have are achievements that are, to some extent, imperfect. Imperfections proportional to the power of the obstructionists.

That is very important for us to remember.. What it is that President Obama and the Congress we have has managed to get done. No it isn't everything he and we wanted, but this has been an exceptional year with the recession and near collapse of the banking system and the measures that had to be taken to correct it.

Still all in all he has done a LOT, with the crowd he has to work with.. just the numbers make you think he has a great majority.. but you have to remember.. those 60 seats in the Senate include Traitor Joe, Ben Nelson and the others who have a very hard time voting for progressive causes.. Just because they have a D after their name doesn't mean they are really D's...lol More like D lites..

I hope that helps and if you need more.. come see me and we can talk some more..

Love ya gal..

I am with you, obviously. They sold us down the r...

2009-12-20T15:45:57.724-08:00

I am with you, obviously.

They sold us down the river. 60 is the new 50.

Vote them all out next time. ALL of them!

I have felt EXACTLY the way you do and Annette tal...

2009-12-20T15:41:34.586-08:00

I have felt EXACTLY the way you do and Annette talked me down, LOL! But its all so true, dems can not get their act together and be a force to be reckoned with! Its so friggin frustrating!! I have chosen to wait for the final bill to see just what we have, there's no use in killing ourselves with worry over it all, what can we do about it anyway?

I am with you on this. I'm not sure how to get a b...

2009-12-20T14:48:38.099-08:00

I am with you on this. I'm not sure how to get a better bill, but I think it is ridiculous to settle for what we have at this point.
I have heard that while ins companies how to cover those with preexisting conditions, they cancharge them more because of their conditions. Not sure if that is still the case.
I am angry that this is the best we can do.

Thanks, Perry. Glad hubby enjoyed my comment. :)

2009-12-12T11:34:41.739-08:00

Thanks, Perry. Glad hubby enjoyed my comment. :)

Hi Annette, I think the CBO will score it as pret...

2009-12-11T22:47:42.141-08:00

Hi Annette,
I think the CBO will score it as pretty sound over a 5-20 yr. span. ANd there will definitely be some immediate saving, too, as we cut the fat. I am happy with rolling out MediCare and MedicAid to broader groups, but am really worried about two things: 1)the cap they want to place on treatment, leaving critically ill patients high and dry once they've gotten $x worth of treatment, and 2) how does this help the working class families who aren't old enough on one end and not poor enough or disabled on the other? I see the middle class shrinking in our country and I wonder how much longer families can sustain without crumbling. Now, if we extended both programs to meet in the middle, I could definitely go for that, as long as everyone was allowed, insured or not, to join either single-payer system.

Thanks for the info - have not had time this week to do much online...the two weeks before winter break are crazy at school, as the kids and teachers both are ready for a well-deserved break! So glad you came by, Girlfriend, and so glad to have a smart pal like you!

LOL! Lauren, you are my kind of gal, and you certa...

2009-12-11T22:38:55.233-08:00

LOL! Lauren, you are my kind of gal, and you certainly fit right in here at MP! :) Keep it comin', Girl! BTW, The Hubby thought that was hilarious!

LOL! Lauren, you are my kind of gal, and you certa...

2009-12-11T22:38:52.870-08:00

LOL! Lauren, you are my kind of gal, and you certainly fit right in here at MP! :) Keep it comin', Girl! BTW, The Hubby thought that was hilarious!

Actually, the more I am hearing about this new bil...

2009-12-10T07:53:28.121-08:00

Actually, the more I am hearing about this new bill, the more I like it. I haven't read the entire bill, but the high points I have seen sound wonderful. Medicare for people 55 to 64, with a trigger if the insurance companies don't keep the profits they make at 10% or less and the medical payouts at 90% of premiums then the public option kicks in, it will be implemented in 2011, instead of 2013 or 14, That's all good news I think.. I have Medicare, due to my disability and trust me it is the best thing I have ever had..

Just ask anyone who has it.. I would almost bet no one would give it up. You might find some wingnut who doesn't want it.. like Dickless Armey...but he is worthless and doesn't count anyway..

There are some other great points but I can't remember them off the top of my head... Weiner and Grayson and Dr. Howard Dean have all supported it now.. in fact this is the basic plan Dr. Dean had in his 2004 run for the White House, and is what Anthony Weiner tried to get passed in the House in July.

So there is much about this that is good.. Don't get too discouraged yet.. just hope the CBO comes back with good numbers.

I received word from an anonymous source on the lo...

2009-12-10T07:50:34.876-08:00

I received word from an anonymous source on the location of the meetings. Apparently, the Republican leadership are meeting in a highly sensitive secret location hidden deep inside Cheney's ass.

I was just talking to a friend I hadn't seen in qu...

2009-12-09T22:08:14.848-08:00

I was just talking to a friend I hadn't seen in quite some time, and she mentioned that she's married to a "pretty angry Republican." It was an interesting discussion, as much of the GOP has been withered away, what with purity oaths and far right evangelicals taking over the party.

I can't imagine not discussing politics much with The Hubby, although he is less vocal and impatient than I. Interesting to hear how the other half lives, though! I think your CSPAN compromise is brilliant, might I say! Thanks for swinging by, Girlfriend, and thanks for the great comments!

Perry, My husband and I have been married for 25 y...

2009-12-08T06:59:11.520-08:00

Perry,
My husband and I have been married for 25 years and rarely discuss politics. No surprise there. Although at times he puts on Fox News, he will reciprocate by watching MSNBC with me. Both news stops are short. During election season, we watch C-Span, as a compromise. :)

A close friend, who is a Dem, also has a husband who leans right. So we have lots to talk about. Her dad was a professor and writes great articles on politics. Her husband is a retired professor of economics. So, it's safe to say he's no fan of Paul Krugman. My friend and I love Krugman.

Oh, Lauren, I am so sick of this "Gang of 10" busi...

2009-12-07T22:26:21.094-08:00

Oh, Lauren, I am so sick of this "Gang of 10" business...WTF??? Why do we keep bargaining away the Public Option when we know the GOP will have none of it? Let's run it through Reconciliation and be done with it! Gah! Makes me nuts.

Hannity? Really? I am SO sorry, Sweetie. I can't wait to read your post, though! Thanks for the heads-up! Great comments, as always, Girlfriend!

Great post! However, after reading the news today,...

2009-12-07T20:55:46.972-08:00

Great post! However, after reading the news today, I'm becoming increasingly pessimistic about the Public Option passing. It appears the Dems are working out a deal with Republicans involving a Public Plan. Looks like the inmates are running the asylum again.

Btw, while my husband (a right leaning Independent) was watching Hannity last Tuesday, I got physically ill. Really! But at least it gave me something to write about on Wednesday. I posted it at my blog.

Thanks, Annette. I think you nailed it on the head...

2009-12-06T11:09:15.347-08:00

Thanks, Annette. I think you nailed it on the head. They are so used to putting forth legislation that they don't stand behind that they never dreamed we'd do differently. I had to laugh when I heard it all - just too much!

Now that C Street is gone, they just don't have a good secret hideout anymore...

Thanks for swinging by, Girl, and for the right-on comments!

I love it when a plan comes together...lol Great...

2009-12-06T10:03:57.509-08:00

I love it when a plan comes together...lol

Great post as always girlfriend.. it is amazing how the rethugs can shoot themselves in the feet so many times and still manage to stand.

It is hard to imagine they didn't know we would stand behind the Public Option. I guess they were projecting their own thoughts on the Dems... they don't stand behind their legislation, so they figure no one else does either.

Hi QU, and welcome! O.K. for straights sympatheti...

2009-12-01T20:35:46.541-08:00

Hi QU, and welcome!
O.K. for straights sympathetic to the cause to follow your tweets? (I'm a fag ha from waaay back, if that counts for much!) :)
Glad you've been able to stop by MP. Enjoy!

Thanks, Sue - good to hear from you, Girl! See you...

2009-12-01T20:33:30.462-08:00

Thanks, Sue - good to hear from you, Girl! See you around your blog soon! ;)