Subscribe to Common Dreams News Updates
Most Popular This Week
Popular content
Today's Top News
Massachusetts Vote Could Threaten Health Reform
BOSTON - Voter disenchantment in liberal Massachusetts with President Barack Obama's policies has turned a Senate election into a nail-biter that could imperil U.S. healthcare reform.
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley speaks to supporters in Boston, Massachusetts December 8, 2009. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder) Democrats envisioned a smooth passing of the baton in the January 19 special election to fill the seat of the late Edward Kennedy, a political giant who died of brain cancer in August after holding the seat for 46 years.
A victory would maintain the Democrats' 60-seat Senate majority, allowing them to overcome Republican procedural hurdles that could block reform of the $2.5 trillion healthcare sector, Obama's top legislative priority.
Instead, some polls say the race between State Attorney-General Martha Coakley, 56, and her Republican opponent, State Senator Scott Brown, is too close to call.
"The closeness of the race reflects deep voter dissatisfaction with how the president and the congressional majority are dealing with vital matters," including healthcare and the war on terror, said Mark Landy, a political science professor at Boston College.
Both sides are pouring millions of dollars into the northeastern state to buy television advertising, much of it negative, and Democrats are bringing out their big guns for Coakley's final push.
Obama made a personal pitch for the candidate via e-mail and a Web video on Thursday. Former President Bill Clinton, who is popular in the state, will stump for Coakley in Boston on Friday. And the Kennedy family has come out in force this week on her behalf.
Raising the stakes for Democrats, Brown has vowed to vote against the health care bill should he pull off an upset win.
To forestall that possibility, Secretary of State William Galvin, Massachusetts' top election official, said on Wednesday certifying the election results could take weeks.
Until the winner is certified and seated, interim Sen. Paul Kirk, a Democrat, would remain in the Senate and has said he would vote for the health care bill.
"THE PEOPLE'S SEAT"
Surveys over the past week suggest the election could be anything from a double-digit Coakley cruise to a statistical tie. Republicans last held a U.S. Senate seat in the New England state more than four decades ago.
But Brown, 50, an attorney, former model and Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard, threw down the gauntlet on Monday in a debate with Coakley.
"It's not the Kennedys' seat, it's not the Democrats' seat, it's the people's seat," Brown said.
2010 was already shaping up as a rough year for Obama and the Democrats. The party in power typically loses seats in an off-year election after a Presidential victory.
But the possibility of losing a seat in the most liberal state in the country -- and Kennedy's old seat at that -- shows the extent of Obama's troubles.
As the campaign winds down Democrats have tried to link Brown to the policies of former President George W. Bush, noting he is opposed to financial reform on Wall Street.
DON'T TAKE US FOR GRANTED
Regardless of the national mood, Coakley's bigger risk is a voter backlash against Massachusetts' long history of one-party rule and political corruption, said Thomas Whalen, a political historian at Boston University.
The state's Democratic Party is seen as rife with scandal. Three consecutive former Massachusetts House speakers have been indicted and three state senators have resigned in disgrace in the past two years for various infractions.
"Voters are very angry at the way things have turned out locally; the way the state's Democrats have abused their power with one scandal after another," Whalen said. "The message of this election is 'don't take us for granted,' and Martha Coakley is collateral damage."
In the end, Coakley's support in western Massachusetts, her backing by many women's groups, and the Democratic Party's more effective get-out-the-vote apparatus could pull out a narrow victory that weeks ago seemed all but assured.
(Editing by Todd Eastham)
- Posted in
120 Comments so far
Show AllWhat reform? You mean the meager crumbs provided for the people , overshadowed by the truckloads of loaves provided for the insurance industry?
What a joke the entire process has become...40 GOP Senators refusing to pass anything art all, out of sheer spite, and 60 slimey Dem senators grasping for whatever they can cajole and extort for their own party. No one is representing the "People" and reform has become a residual byproduct.
Personally, I would refuse the pitiful crumbs offered and kill the entire process, then reform the GOVERNMENT and start over without the corporatist scumbags now in charge..
Correction. 58 Democrats. Sanders is Independent and Lieberman is the head of the Joe Lieberman Party.
Today Obama and Congress are jettisoning the meager crumbs that remained in the House Bill.
Is there a third party candidate in the Massachusetts race?
Ted Kennedy's struggle for universal health care has been exploited and abused no matter who wins.
His "struggle"? I suspect 'pinko' doesn't describe your politics, if you think Teddy did even 1/100 of what he had the power to do. Just like Obummer: could have, but didn't.
Is there a Green candidate?
No.
There IS a third candidate.
Joseph L. Kennedy.
He's a Libertarian running as an independent. His adoptive name is Kennedy but he is not related to the Ted/Robert/John F. Kennedys.
You never know, stranger things have happened. A better bill and system would eventually result if the Democrat loses this Mass. race. Both parties are corrupt failures that are now generally doing more harm than good.
Kill the Bill and throw worthless Obomber to the dogs.
Perhaps a majority of Repugs in Congress will give the Bomber the impeachment he richly deserves.
Oh come on. Were you out there rooting for the impeachment of the chimp and his evil puppet master for all the criminl activiy they were engaged in. What impeachable offense has Obama comitted? Get a grip on yourself.
Rich 7:18 Of course I was. Impeach Obomber for the myriad instances he has failed to uphold the constitution which is everytime he has failed to enforce federal or treaty law with prosecutions of the previous criminals.
The Repugs will impeach Obomber in a heartbeat and that would help discredit Obombers fascist policies and laws.
What "reform"? What is needed is a 360 degree revolutionary Health care bill that provides for all its people based on what they earn and not-for-profit. Only in a corrupt system of usury are citizens referred to a "consumers".
kill the bill.
KILL the bill.
Kill THE bill.
Kill the BILL.
just,
KILL THE BILL.
and because it is evil it is most likely certain to pass. seems the way things are here anymore.
I saw on MSNBC that the Democratic candidate took all this money from big pharma. I don't think she should win. She is just another corrupted politican who serves big pharma. It is time for the Democratic party to get the message that Progressives will not tolerate anymore corruption and lies.
If we stand by our principles and let the Democrats, who keep running these corrupt people who serve big pharma, king coal and oil and all the other large corporations who with their money have corrupted the political system and our government,know that we Progressives will not vote for these corrupted candidates; than I think in the long run it will send a strong message that WE THE PEOPLE WILL NOT TOLERATE BEING LIED TO BY THOSE SEEKING POLITICAL OFFICE WHO PRETEND TO BE FOR THE PEOPLE BUT WHO TAKE ALL THIS MONEY FROM BIG PHARMA AND SERVE BIG PHARMA AND NOT THE PEOPLE.
I used to live in Massachusetts, and if I still lived there I would not vote for the Democrat or Republican I would write someone's name in or vote for the third party candidate who got their name on the ballot. I am sorry that Massachusetts Democrats don't have a real candidate this time around. If we continue to vote for these corrupted politicans who take big money from groups like Big Pharma than we are to blame because we voted for them knowing that they were indentured servents. If we vote for them than we have to face the fact that we accepted this corrupted system and chose to play along with it instead of having the courage to do the morally right thing and fight. To accept it and just continue to voting for those who are corrupted than we have joined those who are destroying our political system of government.
If the next generation has any chance of inheriting the government that was founded on the principles of truth, justice, freedom, equality, and being a source of good in the world; than we must start fighting against those who by their actions and vision seek to destroy the system of government that was founded by the Founding Fathers. I really worry about the future of our country when I see the quality of the candidates who are chosen to run from both parties.
Sorry, but this is another case of not being able to vote for the Democratic candidate. I am Green Party. I think more and more progressives are joining the Green Party. I think that more and more youth are joining the Green Party because they see the corruption in the Democratic party and know that they too are owned by large corporations and do their bidding. If we Progressives stay home or write in someone and not vote for either of the corrupted candidates I think that the Democrats will start to listen. That will give them two years to change their ways and prove that they will bring the change that is needed. Let this Senate race be the race that lets the Democrats know that we Progressives will not VOTE FOR CANDIDATES WHO ARE CORRUPTED AND ARE SUPPORTED BY BIG PHARMA.
In my state, Washington, write-in votes don't even seem to be reported. So I think the best strategy is to vote for whatever third party is on the ballot, preferably Green Party or Socialist.
The Democrats are counting on progressives to come crawling back to vote for them even though they have sold us out every step of the way. We are supposed to be so afraid of the Republicans that we will vote for Democrats who are essentially Republicans, anyway.
Never again.
It's not useful to recommend that people vote for "somebody else". For a protest vote to be effective, it has to all go to 1 person per office. ALL to the Green candidate, *OR* to the Socialist, *OR* to the Commie, *OR* to.... But not each person pick their own. That just creates a buzzing noise, like flies.
In this case there is just one other candidate:
Joseph L. Kennedy (no relation)
He's a Libertarian but is on the ballot as independent.
I'm sure the whole special election funky filing deadline thing kept most other candidates away.
matthew loughran
good post chrisy58! i agree with you. the greens are the way people have to go. the dims and repugs are corrupt and crappy.
down here in texas the greens are trying to get on the ballot this year and hopefully we will have success and we will stay on the ballot. the corrupt and shitty 2 party system needs to be broken down here. texas has the most hurdles for third parties to get on the ballot of any state in the country.
keep supporting green party candidates and work to get the green party on every state in the US. And tough shit if the dims and repugs don't like it.
matt in galveston
www.hcgp.org
chrisy58, you are absolutely right ---- one can not confront a fascist EMPIRE by funding your supposed fight, like the DNC/DLC does, by taking money from the EMPIRE itself.
We are not quite yet in a situation like those trapped in Belzec, Majdanek, Sobibor, Treblinka, Dachau, and Auschwitz-Birkenau, where the only choice was between the "least worst" of the Nazis or their non-German guards.
However, we do not have the luxury that any formerly comfortable population might have enjoyed of calling on their normal resources, and support of democracy in a Republic sliding down-hill fast on a slippery slope. The surprise can come quicker than the population of such a country senses --- until it is too late --- and today, there is no boat to the freedom of a by-gone American that even one as smart as Einstein can take.
Everyone in America needs to put all their best efforts, resource, and the "good will of men" (as Kennedy said during the Cuban Missile Crisis, that caught even him by a surprise of corporate/financial/militarist Empire) to the task of saving democracy and our 'shared' world from Global Empire. It is only through the solidarity of a Global People's Movement to confront Global Empire that we can mutually survive the coming Holocaust being planned by this Global Empire.
As was presciently and poetically said by Martin Neimoller:
“First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out.”
Remember this, like it was itched by laser in your brain:
Today, those freely speaking of liberalism in America are already gone ---
Those who speak of the kind of sustainable ‘social democracy’ that all of Europe and Japan adopted after their Empire experiences are gone ---
Those who dare to openly call for socialism are gone --- and prevented from even using that nasty word in their Senate party title are silenced.
The unions have been decimated without a whisper of resistance.
The blacks, and immigrants, and poor, and working poor, and now even the supposed American invented ‘middle class’ are disenfranchised without a whimper.
Then they will come for you --- and your choice now (but NOT THEN) will only be, “Are you for democracy or EMPIRE” --- so make your choice for inclusiveness and democracy smartly and strongly, or accept your fate to Global Empire foolishly.
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
When will there be meaningful reform of the electoral process in this country?
WHY THE **** IS THE TALK ONLY ABOUT DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS?
Why is the third candidate 'Joseph L. Kennedy' not even mentioned here?
I am not Libertarian but I would go for him since anything is better than the status quo.
Because the "mainstream media" is totally biased toward the Big Two Parties.
Even if there is no actual corrupt press/party collusion going on, I am sure the bias would remain since the Big Two provide the media corps. with the reliable, clear-cut stories and the routine spectacles (big conventions, PR-coached charismatic figure, regular "political battles" etc.) that keep people watching and reading and therefore the advertisers paying.
This election demonstrates the massive importance of Citizen-driven Internet info and discussion for retaking our democracy.
Reuters will never mention non Dem/Repub candidates, that's not where their "story" is.
CD doesn't have the time or worker-power to flesh out such wire-reports or flash news items like an old-fashioned paper could.
So it is up to us to fill in the blanks and get the full story out.
On CD that means here in the comments section.
As for Kennedy (no relation).
If he can help skew the Repub candidate toward sticking to popular stances like NO on this SlaveCare bill. Then that is all to the good.
What matters now are not his chances, but whether his involvement can help ensure that the winner of this race is a NO vote on SlaveCare. Dem or Repub or independent.
Of course, I'm just ASSUMING he would be a NO since he's a Libertarian party member.
-matti.
"Massachusetts Vote Could Threaten Health Reform" We can only hope...
Unfortunately, this is not about the 'issue' of health care, or the 'issue' of abortion, or the 'issue' of jobs, or the 'issue' of banking reform, or the 'issue' of global warming, or even the 'issue' of the Afghanistan, and Iraq, and Yemen, and Pakistan, and soon Iran wars ---- this is about the far more dangerous and seminal issue that lies hidden, like a tumor, as the actual cause beneath all these subordinate, and symptomatic 'issues' and 'identity politics' of our 'illusion of democracy' --- this is about the reality of the "EMPIRE of Illusion" (Chris Hedges), which is right now planning its Blitzkrieg on the weak and ill-prepared Maginot Line of our fading democracy somewhere between 2010 and 2012.
I know. I know. I'm sounding perhaps like a 'conspiracy theorist', even in these hallowed free-thinking halls of CD. But as the old saying goes, "Just because one is paranoid, doesn't mean that there's nothing to fear", I would defend myself by saying, "Just because one hears whispers in the air of Global Empire's attack plans, doesn't mean that you need to turn down your hearing-aid".
I hear whispers, if not Tiger tank rumbling, of an equally nasty 'lightning war' of "inverted fascism" (Sheldon Wolin) of corporatism senior to statism in this unholy alliance of Global Empire.
The Boston Globe's front page story today shows the fingerprints of the Empire's planning for this Blitzkrieg of a much more sophisticated and veiled attack on democracy on a global scale, behind a 'Vichy' facade aimed not just at France, but to support global and historic proportions for a more sustainable Thousand Year Global Reich --- although the superficial media reporting so far only rlays a whisper of the true intent of EMPIRE.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/01/15/gop_sees_template_in_run_by_brown/
To which I replied:
Yes, this is a national political model (much as Brown is a model of a friendly 'Ken Doll') --- but beneath the surface, and beneath the 'Vichy' facade of polite ‘center right’ vs. ‘center left’ discussion and ‘fair and balanced’ coverage in the corporatist media --- lies an egregious strategic error by the Democratic Party (and the media) of where the political center of America really lies, and a gutless misjudgment and appeasement from that error that could well make Neville Chamberlain's appeasement and negotiation of a "less of two evils" pale in comparison.
Yes, the Brown model is a “template” and ‘national model’ of seminal political significant in our waning Republic --- our ‘commonwealth’, our common interests, and our common good.
In January of 2001 I wrote the lead letter to the editor in the Globe’s search for “Clinton’s Legacy?” and warned:
“Clinton tried to triangulate corporate fascism with a slightly friendlier
version, that could feel our pain while applying it also. He learned too
late that you can't co-opt fascists by applying half their programs for
them. They will only grouse and continue to do the second half with rougher
hands on the controls.
Clinton has left America without the defense of a democratic party ----
without an opposition party to the rule of global corporate empire.
Clinton and the DLC hijacking of the democratic party were a 'one trick
pony', as proven by Gore's loss.”
Since that time, not only has Bush’s more overt fascism applied “rougher hands on the controls” for eight years, but the totally gutless (and/or complicit) Democratic Party (and Obama) has made the same egregious mistakes AGAIN, of misunderstanding the political center of real popular democracy in America, and of allowing themselves to be “co-opted by fascists”.
One letter in today’s Globe (“Rightwing yahooism”), Joan Vennochi’s one op-ed (1/12), “Brown comes across as just an excitable boy”, and more debate in the alternative media and liberaliness blogosphere have attacked this new “Brown model” as possibly more dangerous than it appears. However, the real danger, which is understood by principled progressives and serious antiwar analysts, is actually far greater and veiled than it appears.
The seed of the Democratic Party’s error in misjudging the ‘center’ of a popular democratic America was first diagnosed by Ralph Nader in his 2000 campaign when he said, “the Green Party platform actually represents the majoritarian view of average Americans”.
However, Nader was not a friendly ‘Ken Doll’ candidate, and the corporatist media excoriated, ignored, and easily blocked his campaign to the delight and payment of the ruling-elite Global corporate/financial/militarist EMPIRE that now even more fully controls ‘our’ former country by hiding behind the façade of its two-party ‘Vichy’ sham of democracy.
To the extent that the ‘Brown model’ is the ‘national model’ of not only the GOP (as the Globe suspects) but of the entire two-party ‘Vichy’ front for this Global corporate Empire (which it most certainly IS), then 2010 is going to be much more dangerous than a few gutless Democrats losing Congress. 2010 to 2012 is going to be a much more visible slow-motion train-wreck and burial of the entire American founding and noble ‘experiment in democracy’.
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
[more to follow]
Sioux Rose
ALAN: I totally agree with you that Clinton was a major facilitator along with the DLC in pushing the "party" towards the alleged center. What I do not agree with is your take on motive! The illusion of creating bipartisan support, or supposedly addressing the interests of the larger majority of Americans who hypothetically exist at this illusory center is just smoke and mirrors! The fact is that both parties rely upon media access for elections, the same media access that might have been far more wisely negotiated when the existing broadcast corporations were GIVEN access to the PUBLIC'S airwaves in the FCC deregulation/ruling (a travesty that took place during Clinton's reign). Had the digital bandwidth, a parallel to the land giveaways during "Maniest destiny," been executed in a way that forced these behemoths to render 10% public access time, then candidates would never have needed to whore themselves so transparently to gain the funds to win their intended seats. So it is all about the money. And since corporations have lots more money to pass around, they effectively own the candidates of both parties with few exceptions.
There should be publicly funded elections starting with taking back 10% of air time during election cycles. This time would ideally be allotted to all viable candidates. And I'd personally like to see a law that forced at least some percentage of senators and representatives to NOT be millionaires, and to legalize a time limit between their leaving public office and taking some cushy job with the very corporation(s) they were previously intended to regulate on behalf of the public's interest!
Money has corrupted the entire system. We can argue surface strategy all day long, but the bottom line is the bottom line. Both serve the same god, Mammon (with equal credence to Mars, the MIC make-war state Eisenhower warned against); or as Nader put it, both bow down before the same interests. Not being one who likes soda, I resent a political landscape in which I only get to choose between Coke or Pepsi. I, too, am done with the democratic party. I'll opt for whatever is in the mystery cup.
Mr. MacDonald your words are eloquent and no argument, this is end game. I find a common misconception in your words however, "...misunderstanding the political center of real popular democracy in America." I don't believe they "misunderstood" anything. They are Overseers on the great BIG Slave Plantation, the 'New' Roman Slave Republic and Overseers do not have a 'color' or a 'gender' - they have a job description: Xfer all wealth to the top 1/4 of 1% by any means necessary and debase and degrade the general population into silence, conformity, and obedience. Every 'President' and the overwhelming majority of our political class since Raygun have completed this task with 'admirable' zeal for Master and they have been well rewarded for their success. We on the other hand have been consigned to Hell On Earth - all according to Master's wishes.
BHO carries an additional task which all subsequent 'Presidents' will be required to maintain and expand, Domestic Demographic Collapse, human Die-Back, that means us. That means that our 'Leaders' aka Overseers as part of their committment to Master will design the methods and means of murdering us and our children - as part of their NORMAL job duties, e.g. poisoned corporate 'food', privatized water (and subsequent denial), denial of health care, hunger (no Medicare/SSI), civil unrest, debt-labor camps.
This is a bit too much 'Reality', too much Horror for most folks to even consider let alone accept. But then we're here now, aren't we. It's already happening. We are going to die in our millions and I am very sorry. They were warned and they wanted their "Sugar Pops" and sold the ranch for their addiction. Master knew they would.
I can and have been called a "Conspiracy Nut" and worse, but then, I live in a "Magical Age" where buildings fall down all by themselves...
BTW, I often hear these days comparisons to '29. It is normal for people to grab analogies so they think they can "know" was is coming. "This is just like X". Sameness. Comprehensible, defined limits, and hopefully means of solution. What if the analogy is wrong? What if the folks are facing very different circumstances to such an extent that they've NEVER seen or read anything like this before. Then, we are in no-man's land, we have to take the evidence around us and drop the analogy. We aren't going to do that. It's a bridge too far for an obese population with a 6th grade reading level, no critical thinking skills, and a penchant for voting (93%) for politicians with the same criteria they used for "Student Body President" in high school. No going to happen.
All the best to you sir. I've had my time here and will not be living through what is about to follow. I've already had more than enough Horror in one life.
Hey luckylefty--Did you see this Raw Story item, http://rawstory.com/2010/01/obama-staffer-infiltration-911-groups/
Excerpt: "In a 2008 academic paper, President Barack Obama's appointee to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs advocated "cognitive infiltration" of groups that advocate "conspiracy theories" like the ones surrounding 9/11."
Too bad CD hasn't posted that juicy item.
Here's how corrupt the Democratic Party is:
If Scott Brown wins the election Tuesday and the Democrats drag their feet to certify him in a "timely manner" thereby assuring the "interim" Sen. Kirk the right to cast the deciding "Yes" vote on this despotic piece of legislation, an ugly court challenge may ensue.
Why?
Because the hypocritical Democratic Party in Massachusetts already set the precedent of "fast tracking" the certification of Congresswoman Tsongas within TWO DAYS so she could be sworn in "El PRONTO!!!" and cast the deciding vote that would override Bush's veto of the SCHIP legislation.
Here's a link:
http://trueslant.com/rickungar/2010/01/13/what-a-gop-win-in-massachusetts-means-to-health-care-reform/
The best thing that could happen for Progressives in this country would be for Obamacare to be TROUNCED AT THE POLLS TUESDAY.
Pray for a blizzard. Pray that the Democrats and Republicans and Greens and Independents and All Night Partiers (and LOVE the snow!!), who realize that Obamacare, and the greedy corporations that are backing it, needs to be stopped prevail on Tuesday and that if Brown wins that by some electoral karmic miracle he will be allowed to vote "NO!!!!!!" and KILL THE BILL!!!!
Kill the Bill!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okJBZo1hy5M
One year in and Obama is toxic.
If I know Obama people, they'll be blaming Bill Clinton for the whole thing.
Oh no, the Clintons, both of them, are saints. We know because you tell us every day.
Its been a long time since I wanted a Republican to win, but if Browns election sends this travesty of corrupt deal making behind closed doors to the rubbish heap where it so justly belongs, I will pray he wins. PLEASE let him win.
I see that more payoffs took place last night with the unions. There isn't any shame among thieves I guess.
Careful what you wish for
I know. but I can't help it. I'm not alone though, even people I never thought would agree are chiming in. Yee Gods, whats the world coming to?
Backing a candidate that is pledging to submit to the will of the People and vote against a massively unjust and Republic-killing Bill but can be expected to violate the will of the People in other votes,...
...is NOT more dangerous than:
Backing a candidate that is pledging to VIOLATE the will of the People and vote FOR a massively unjust and Republic-killing Bill AND can be expected to violate the will of the People in other votes.
One more Repub Senator would be of no consequence if the Dems would take the hint of such a result, dump this bill, take back their Majority powers in the Senate, turn toward the Popular mood and get the work that the People elected them for done in the second year of this Congress, and thereby retain their Majorities in this fall's elections.
It's almost like we have been so conditioned by the two-party scam that we have forgotten the basic rules of Representative Democracy:
If they'll vote our way, we vote them in.
If they vote against us, we vote them out.
Party affiliation does not effect this.
In the short run, things may go the wrong way. But if we keep this up (and the Rights of the minority are maintained throughout) the People become the Sovereign and the system works.
When did we all become so afraid of the other half (really third) of our Population?
-matti.
Democrats hate having this majority. They want their excuses back!
Correct.
Dems have a 60 vote majority? Really? And how's that workin' out for ya?
I laughed out loud that the Dems used Brown as a threat against Wall Street Reform when they're the ones at the helm of legislation that ensures we the taxpayers provide an endless guarantee for Wall Street's continued risks while they pillage the world.
And they have the nerve to say one GOP schmuck is gonna screw this up? Hysterical!
BTW: Start worrying when the Dems "reform" anything.
Reform is their code word for screwing every American earning less than 250,000.
Exactly. Even the title of this article denies reality: Massachusetts Vote Could Threaten Health Reform
How could a vote threaten what the Obama Party has already killed? There is no healthCARE (title couldn't decide to use insurance or care so they left it out all together) reform. No more than there is banking reform, but rather an institutionalization of bailouts. There has certainly been no reform of World War Permanent, as there has been no reform of spying, torture, elections, or of the Washington-K Street looting spree in even any minor detail. Nada reform to be seen anywhere.
I will pay the 2% tax, which won't amount to much based on income - since I make waaay less than $250K a year O'Promises, promises, and continue to live without health insurance. Thanks for the hope, change, I could believe in and so on and so forth.
Don't Pay the Tax.
Don't buy the insurance, don't pay the penalty. Make them collect it.
Mass Resistance!
You point out another grim reality: the "Mandate" is really a surtax FOR BEING TOO POOR TO BUY MEDICAL INSURANCE, because the penalty is less than the cost of the insurance. Talk about a stab in the back!
The ultimate regressive tax, probably never before seen in the World outside of slavery and quasi slavery contexts.
The united block of obstructionists is what has damaged the democratic (almost) super - majority by yielding power to blue dogs. It is about time they finally stood up.
Please, oh pretty please Obama go to Massachussetts and put your face on the resounding defeat of your failed, and self polluted agenda.
Martha Coakley is dull and boring, just what you would expect from a DA. Dems in Mass had a chance to support Rep. Capuano, a far more exciting and left of center figure, but they went for Coakley instead. Women were her strongest suit. Hopefully they will come out en masse for her.
Of course, Obama and his so-called health reform bill has been a disaster and that is dragging down Coakley. Enough people are unhappy with it. He should have stayed with a jobs program. After all, if you had to choose one, what would you prefer--a job or health care?
That's a false choice.
How about:
Which would you want the Congress to approve FIRST, a job-stimulus program that could somewhat mitigate the unemployment problem, or the extension of Medicare to cover basic healthcare for all Citizens and Legal Residents and Visitors from cradle to grave?
That's a true choice, but one we are not being given.
If Obama wants to save this, he must give his former supporters something substantial right away.
I'll take Extension of Medicare to all Citizens/Residents/Guests from cradle-to grave.
Think he'll offer that?
I am compromising, since what I really want from Obama and the 111th Congress is for "Social Security" Retirement Insurance to be extended to become TRUE Social Security like happened in Finland.
But since rolling such an expanded Medicare into Social Security would be a step in that process, I'll take it on its own.
Short of that Mr. Hope n'Change and friends can Sit n'Spin as far as I'm concerned.
Pass/Sign this bill and they will never have my vote again, and any worthy opponent of their's always will.
And I very much doubt I am alone in this sentiment.
-matti.
I will accept slashing military budget by 90% and removing all bases and troops back to USA.
This would be great news if this corporate welfare bill goes down to defeat with Coakley!
I never thought I would write this, but maybe we need a Republican least-worst in Massachusetts.
May the ugly bill die an ugly death, wounding and informing on its elected shills on its way down.
Honestly, I could hardly dream of a more informative slap in the face to Dem hacks than to lose their 2/3 by losing County Camelot.
Approximately one year ago I wrote in a CommonDreams posting that Senator Kennedy's stubborn clinging to his Senate seat was egocentric and a potential danger for the Democratic Party. At that time the Governor of Massachusetts could have legally replaced Kennedy with a young up-and-coming Democratic candidate who would have been allowed to finish Kennedy's term and would most likely have been re-elected at least once. I was roundly booed for my suggestion.
What is developing now is a textbook example of unintended albeit predictable consequences.
I did not make my observation and suggestion because I sympathized with the Democratic Party. Far from it. It was a passionless analysis of the trouble I discerned coming for the Dems. in the near future.
I think I remember that.
You were certainly correct, at least as far as the danger to the Dems bit.
But since I'm as concerned about the Dems welfare as I would be about the welfare of one of a pair of wolves who in the midst of chewing off my feet, I'm not exactly displeased. So the wolves tag-team me a bit? I still get eaten. And maybe while the grey bastards are fighting over my meat, that nice Ranger in the Green hat can get a coupla shots in?