Activist Wednesday: Today’s Good Deeds, Plus: Gimme Three Steps…

Good Deeds

Upcoming Actions:

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Thursday, February 11th, 6:30 – 8:00 pm (reception afterwards)

American Constitution Society Healthcare Reform Debate

Columbia Law School, Jerome Greene Hall, 435 W. 116th Street (Off Amsterdam Avenue), NYC

Moderator: Abbe Gluck, Associate Professor, Columbia Law School

Confirmed Speakers:

Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America;

Jonathan Tasini, President of Economic Future Group;

Alan Aviles, President New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation;

Michael Sparer, Professor and Chair, Department of Health;

Paul Howard, Ph.D., Senior Fellow and the Director of the Manhattan Institute’s Center for Medical Progress;

Thomas P. Miller, Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute, and former Senior Health Economist, Joint Economic Committee

Wednesday, February 17th at 12:00 pm

Brown Bag Lunch Vigils Across the Country for HealthCare, Not Warfare

Friday, March 5th – Sunday, March 7th: Washington, D.C.

Washington, DC, March 5th, 6th, 7th

National Labor for Single-Payer Conference

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 Anytime Actions:

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Donate to Send a Nurse to Haiti

Sit-In for Single-Payer

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Gimme Three Steps 

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And now for today’s bonus discussion: Gimme Three Steps.

As I mentioned on Monday’s post, the Garden State Equality group has thrown the Democratic Party under the bus. I threw up a quick mention of this development on Corrente, and as we were discussing it, I laid out these three action steps for taking our country (and our Party) back:

My ultimate goal would be a voting bloc that forces the Dems to tack left.

Step 1: Flex muscles by doing a Lysistrata – just say NO – like the Garden State Equality group and many Mass Dems and Independents.

Step 2: Make demands (a la Full Court Press).

Step 3: Punish those who do not meet our demands by voting them out, reward those who do with money, volunteering and votes.

Hey, it worked for the Conservatives in the Republican Party. No Repub can win without them. Yes, we can…show the Dems they can’t win without us either.

It seems that the idea of Lysistrata is definitely taking hold, as PalinMania grows and ObamaMania wanes.

Ah yes, Sarah of the Endlessly Fascinating Palm-Scribbled Crib Note. (Because if crib notes are on the hand, they’re bad; if they’re on a TelePrompter, they’re good.) I feel obligated to say once again that, now that it’s no longer 2008 and many things have changed, I won’t vote for Palin simply because she’s a woman. The 30% Solution is a) Not just about voting, and b) Not about the President, but rather, about getting a minimum of 30% women in the legislature.

Unfortunately for those who are using my 2008 post as an excuse to justify supporting a patriarchy-supporting anti-feminist for President (ladies, I REALLY don’t appreciate that, thanks very much), there is no evidence whatsoever that having a female leader improves the lives of women. I would love to be happy for the women of Costa Rica, since a woman was just elected their President, but guess what? She opposes abortion and gay marriage. Surprise!

This is a trend we should be aware of and wary of, Widdershins: the patriarchy is going to put on a female face (see: Costa Rican President Chinchilla and Possible Presidential WannaBe Sarah Palin) and hope that angry, frustrated women will buy what it’s selling.

In effect, Palin is the new Obama – bad old patriarchal policies wrapped in a new-seeming, attractive package – and ironically, the two may be facing each other in 2012. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss, indeed.

We’re not looking at a whole lot of choices here, folks. I say, Gimme Three Steps…right out the door of BOTH Parties.

And you?

This is an open thread.

Morning Widdershins: The Blessing/Curse/Phenomena of Social Media

Why Talk When You Can Text?

Social Media exploded on the scene in the last decade. As opposed to face-to-face contact or telephone calls, we now e-mail, text, blog, Facebook, and Tweet. Communication is faster, but not necessarily better. For example, bloggers get steamed, type up scathing commentary and fire away with little regard to the eventual outcome of their message. We’re all familiar with blog wars, having been at the epicenter of a few (even a Joanie-come-lately such as myself) that have rocked our worlds for a period of time. For the sake of simplicity (and the simple fact that I remain electronically challenged) I’ll focus this post on blogs and bloggers: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I have found an article that traces blogging to the finger protocol (no, it’s not what it sounds like even if bloggers give “the [verbal] finger” to each others at times) in 1971. There’s a looooong stretch to 1994, when the first blogs and diaries got going. Blogging gained a measure of respectability when the federal court granted the first set of press credentials to bloggers. Bloggers then began recognition of accomplishments with the “Bloggies” in 2001. Blogs became general and specific: political blogs, advocacy blogs, professional blogs, sports blogs, craft blogs, wedding blogs, pet blogs and hobby blogs took off. Everybody but you and me got a blog – oh, wait. We did get a blog or two along the way and linked them together into a blogroll network.

Bloggers are likeminded individuals who gather to express their feelings, and in many ways blogging has changed our lives. Lord knows, my housework has suffered appreciably, but my knowledge base and understanding has grown exponentially through blogging. Posters mention things that impel me to Google the topic, and so my senior brain stretches on an ongoing basis. I do worry somewhat about my grandchildren who seem to spend approximately27 hours per day on electronics. I am cheered that this will enhance their literacy while trashing their spelling. I live in fear that they will soon think that “R U OK?” is actually a complete sentence. My granddaughter has practically moved into Facebook, and the grandsons spend an inordinate amount of time on Boy Scout and Weblo blogs, but I suppose it’s better than running the streets of South Florida. (Their mother spent her entire teenage years on the beach, I think. ) I hope that this will enhance rather than destroy their conversational abilities, and make for a larger circle of friends when all is said and done. Undoubtedly, it has enhanced their ability to multi-task. The grandmonsters even take classes electronically, and their mother finished her IT degree after nursing school with classes both on-site and online. For all of the wonderful things that electronic communications bring to us, I have one major concern: loss of civility.

Morning Widdershins: The Dark Times Have Begun

The Dark Times have begun. There are seven long, agonizing months until football starts again. Of course there are the combines, draft day, March Madness and baseball, if you are so inclined, but nothing beats a good kick-off. In the meantime, there’s always Washington for some giggles.

The Political Circus Is In Town

Meanwhile, Back at the Circus.

Ring 1: The White House – The Circus Parade and Ringmaster

President Obama has gone from exhorting Congress to get the job done to admitting that the health care initiative is pretty well dead. Over the past month, he has lost the crucial (?) 60th vote in the Senate, but not before pushing a diluted, compromised, pork-laden piece of legislation onward. He vowed not to “walk away” in his SOTU address. He has met with House Republicans, Senate Democrats, leadership of both chambers, and with the DNC during an epic blizzard. He has employed soaring rhetoric, impassioned pleas for solidarity, bi-partisanship, and civility of discourse. He has mentioned breaking up the bill into smaller parts to be passed individually, ramming it through the House as is, and temporarily shelving the bill. I watched a speech last week during which he floated the idea of sitting down with Republicans, Democrats and health care professionals to compare ideas methodically. Robert Gibbs has admitted that no such meeting has been scheduled, but there is going to be a televised “bipartisan healthcare summit” on February 25th for half a day. Confused? You’re not alone.

Ring 2: The Senate – LionTamers, Prestidigitation, and Feats of Legerdemain

Democratic Senators had some apparently heated conversations with the President. Many are concerned with their electoral futures, even more so than with the future of their electorates. Most are frustrated with the incessant niggling, bartering (Louisiana Purchase, the U-Conn, and The Cornhusker Kickback to name only a few) and shifting goals presented with this bill. Most are fielding ongoing wrath from their constituents who would like to know what the hell is actually going on there, and would really like to know what the hell they should say. Harry Reid has been meeting with Nancy Pelosi to see if she has the necessary votes to pass the Senate bill, with or without the necessary “patch” of a corrections bill. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fl) has said that Obama should “put on a pair of brass knuckles and get out a bull whip” to get the bill through the House. Sadly, I’m not certain that Harry has the necessary 51 votes to pass the “patch” if and when the House passes the bill in the first place. Just to throw extra salt on the popcorn, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Al) has placed a hold on each and every one of the 70 Obama nominees to various positions in order to protest budget changes that will impact his state.

Ring 3: The House of Representatives – The Flying Trapeze Artists and Unicycle Riders

The House leadership was meeting late into the night with the White House in order to resolve the sticking points of the Senate bill, at least until the Mass. Massacre happened. Now, those days are gone. Nancy Pelosi has stated unequivocally that she does not have the votes necessary to pass the Senate bill as is, and I really wonder if she can muster the votes even if the Senate says they will pass the “patch”, as there must be a growing amount of distrust between the chambers at this point. The House members are all facing re-election campaigns soon, and have are being left in the unenviable position of having to declare impasse on this matter in order to move on to other pressing needs such as jobs, two wars, and a budget.

And so, ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages, this is an open thread.

MW: Sunday Sundries and SuperBowl LiveBlog!

Which Team Will Prevail?

All right folks, after three freakin’ days of football at TW, we’ve reached the Big Day Itself. The Mighty Contest between those Titans of the Turf, the Colts and the Saints!  And we will be liveblogging once it starts at 6:25 pm. (Remember to flip channels when you see that odious Pam Tebow ad!)

But shockingly, there are other things going on in the world other than the most important football game EVAH! Here are a few for your reading and and discussing pleasure.

Wall Street CEOs Form Conservative “Action Tank”

This week, a group that includes some of the wealthiest Republican CEOs on Wall Street have formed a group to take advantage of new fundraising possibilities for the GOP.

The Supreme Court ruling could potentially allow the group, called the American Action Network, to take unlimited contributions from corporations for use in political campaigns.

“This administration as well as Citizens United [the Supreme Court ruling] — when you combine the two the prospects for funding these types of efforts are greatly enhanced,” said Norm Coleman, one of the group’s organizers.

Coleman called the group an “action tank” or a “think-and-do tank.”

Oliver North Compares Homosexuality to Pedophilia

Oliver North, the former Marine implicated in the Iran-Contra scandal and current Fox News host, says allowing gays to serve openly in the military will lead to same-sex marriages in the military and the admission of pedophiles to the armed forces.

In an interview with Fox’s Sean Hannity Thursday, North discussed what he sees as the implications of repealing the 17-year-old “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

“Now, here’s what’s next. NAMBLA members, same-sex marriages,” North said, referring to the North American Man-Boy Love Association, a group that advocates for pedophilia. “Are chaplains in the US military going to be required to perform those kinds of rituals? Do they [pedophiles and homosexuals] get government housing?”

North, who hosts Fox’s War Stories, told Hannity that the effort to repeal DADT amounts to a “stunning assault on the all-volunteer military, the very best in the world. Barack Obama now intents to treat them like lab rats in a radical social experiment, and it can be very, very detrimental.”

Tea Party “Patriots” (Because You Hate America and They Don’t!!!!) Create a Gingrich-Like Contract “From” America

Including these gems (don’tcha wanna just join up NOW?!):

1. Drill Here, Drill Now
2. Abolish the Department of Education
3. Make English the Official Language of the United States
4. Abolish the Department of Energy

It Really Freaking Snowed!

My relatives in Maryland and Virginia saw almost three feet of the white stuff. Meanwhile, in NYC we got NOTHING! I feel gypped!

There’s a LiveBlog with Single-Payer Expert Dr. Margaret Flowers at Corrente at 1:00 PM!

Mosey on over there and check her out!

There’s a SuperBowl Sexism Watch with Gloria Steinem and the Women’s Media Center at 5:30!

I have to admit Gloria has lost MUCHO points with me for being an Obama booster in the primaries, but maybe this will be worth checking out.

This is an open thread.

For Saints Fans:

 

For Colts Fans:

Morning Widdershins: Inside the 5-Yard Line

Fourth Down

As long as we’ve had two days of football, and we’ll have the Super Bowl tomorrow, my post should remain consistent in theme. Robert Gibbs insists that we are “inside the five yard line” when it comes to health care legislation.

Perhaps no one has told Mr. Gibbs that these short yardage situations are as tough as they come, particularly when the opponent is extreme and motivated. The Republicans have stood strong, linked arms, and made the Democrats eat a bunch of turf for each and every hard-fought yard. The Democrats have tried end runs, post routes and are now attempting the revered quarterback sneak – sort of.

The President is back on the road and the airwaves. He met with the Republicans on a neutral field in Baltimore. He called them out repeatedly, metaphorically accusing them of holding, clipping, and roughing the passer/punter/ cheerleaders. All of his trash-talking appears to have fallen upon deaf ears, and a fresh guard named Scott Brown insisted that he be sworn in – a week ahead of previous plans – for the goal line stand. The Republicans will apparently not be penalized for the extra man on the field.

Fresh with that success, the President moved into the old locker room to rally the offense. I watched him, surrounded by Tim Kaine, David Axelrod, and Paula Begala, intoning a tepid “finish the drill” type of pep talk far from the “Win one for the Gipper” genre. Despite the rhetoric, no clear path to the goal line was provided in the game plan. Apparently, the fun began only after the cameras and microphones left the room. The White House coaching staff went to a private question and answer session. Politico reports that senators who declined to speak on the record privately advised that “People were hot” and “There was a lot of frustration in there”. Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota) reportedly tackled good old Coach Axelrod, and stated emphatically that the White House had failed (dismally) to convince the public that these measures were necessary, and further had failed to provide support/direction/clarity for this and a plethora of other similarly stalled measures. In other words, Coach, your game plan is non-existent.

The moral of the story, Widdershins, is that you can draft the greatest of prospects, but they cannot play effectively in a vacuum. Lesser players can emerge victorious with proper coaching and a coherent game plan, even if the plan consists of “Hold that line!”.

Mr. Gibbs, you may be inside the five yard line, but you seem to be on fourth down.

This is an open thread.

Feminist Friday: Revoke My Feminist Creds – I’m Watching the SuperBowl!

D'oh!

Yes, it’s true. I’m going to watch this shameless display of male supremacism on Sunday, and you know what? I’m going to enjoy it, too!

Is my blogsister Violet right about the SuperBowl being sexist? Absolutely. But here’s how I see it: in our society, which feminists agree is structured in a patriarchal manner, we are surrounded by sexism all day, every day, in every area of our lives. In this environment, it is quite easy for an awake, aware person to go completely insane from the barrage of  anti-woman, misogynist propaganda. For Goddess’ sake, on my way to work I have to see ads for a sex toy shop, with a headless woman’s body being pawed by male hands. (I find the fact that the woman has no head robs her of volition, which connotes rape to me, not consensual sex.) In the subway, I see posters for a new show called “Caprica,” which  is about artificial intelligence and cloning, so of course, they display a picture of a naked woman with an apple! Makes perfect sense. Cloning = science = teh Bible = wimminz are teh EVIL and tempt you to defy God by trying to transcend humanity! Booga booga!

The CBS (surprise!) crime drama, “CSI New York,” recently did a show that prominently featured female football players. Empowering role reversal, right? Not so fast! They were in a “lingerie league;” i.e., they played football in their (Victoria’s Secret) underwear. Illegal forward pass, CBS! (The women wore “protective” pink shoulderpads and helmets and shinguards, though. All righty then.) It was possibly the most sexist thing I’ve ever seen on TeeVee.***

***Oh, who am I kidding? Bridezillas? Hung? All the shows about the poor little toddlers who are forced to compete in beauty contests? Everything on Lifetime “Television For Women?” Choosing the most sexist thing on TV is like trying to eat only one dark chocolate truffle from La Maison du Chocolat. Mmmm….chocolate…arglarglarglargl…

Ahem. My point is, there are certain types of things that really press my buttons, yet probably don’t annoy other feminists nearly as much. When the very air you breathe is contaminated with patriarchal excreta, there are filters you must apply in order to survive. Although I wouldn’t care if football never existed, or if it stopped existing tomorrow, I see it as a symptom of patriarchy, one of billions; and one that isn’t nearly as bad as the constant reinforcing of negative female stereotypes in our television shows, movies and advertisements. It’s probably my background as an artist that makes me see the patriarchy this way, but I tend to dwell on cultural sexism much more than sports sexism.

So, I ‘ll watch the SuperBowl, while other feminists find it disgusting and untenable. I think that’s okay. There’s plenty of outrage to go around.

Oh, and here’s an activist idea: if that ridiculous Pam Tebow ad does, in fact, air after all the calls and letters and protesting (in which I did participate, thank you very much), why don’t we all change the channel? CBS will be scrutinizing who watches what type of ad very closely in order to see which ads to purchase next year, and I think it might make quite an impression if our eyes were elsewhere during that inappropriate and hateful moment in time.

What do you think? Have I lost all my feminist creds because I think Drew Brees and Peyton Manning are great football players, and I enjoy drinking and having fun with my husband? Heck, do I lose my creds because I HAVE a husband? And are YOU going to watch the Super Bowl? (We can have a liveblog and drinking game that day too, folks, if you want it!)

This is an open thread.

MW: The United States of America vs. The BCS

Is This Really a Congressional Matter?

Really??? The same Congress that cannot manage to confront insurance companies with the Sherman Anti-Trust Act is going to challenge the Bowl Championship Series? Seems that they are indeed planning to do just that.

Now, many Americans believe that a championship playoff is the way to go. The schools and conferences have insisted that their athletes are student athletes, and cannot afford to lose any more class time. Sounds great, until you consider that the other divisions manage just fine, and have for years. The same schools cheerily send their basketball players to conference tournaments in hopes of getting into the March Madness scene without losing any sleep over lost academics. Methinks that the actual concern is the loss of funding brought in by the BCS (and some of the other) bowl games.

College football is a lucrative proposition, and colleges need the money. Many formerly large donors are cutting back on donations these days, and coaches’ salaries are escalating rapidly. My own college has a waiting list for season tickets, and admits that football pays a lot of bills at UGA. The purses on the BCS bowl games hit seven figures – and there you have the millions of reasons why colleges and universities believe that the BCS is the only way to travel. At least, the schools whose champions are automatically included believe this, although many would argue that playoffs are vastly more lucrative.

Enter Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). Orrin hadn’t rumpled his brow regarding monopolies during his decades of service until his Utes were denied a shot at the national title game. Utah is a Cinderella team that has done quite well in the past, most recently when they soundly defeated Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl. Boise State has also had its moment of glory defeating Choklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, and I’m at a loss after that. Cinderella teams can also be obliterated by BCS teams: witness Hawaii v. Georgia in the 2008 Sugar Bowl, when Hawaii’s most impressive performance was during the pre-game Haka Dance. Sadly, BCS schools have larger recruiting budgets, larger coaching budgets, and for the most part tougher opponents during the regular season. These are definite advantages which no anti-trust actions can really remedy.

Also, many people (like me!) enjoy bowl games. Yes, I watch each and every one of them. I enjoy the pageantry, the bands, the players and the affiliated charitable good works. A number of the athletes have never really traveled outside of their home states. Suffice to say that I believe that the bowls are a good thing. However, the entire BCS polling concept sort of sucks.

The BCS began as a response to split national titles – AP with one champion, coaches with quite another. The BCS takes the results of the Harrs, Coaches, and a number of computer polls and arrives at mystical conclusions. (The AP thought that the system was ridiculous and exited some years ago,)  At the end of the year, we have the four standard BCS Bowls (Sugar, Orange, Fiesta and Rose) plus the National Title Game between BCS number 1 and number 2. This has led to some squeakers of near-ties that catapulted coaches and athletic directors into the role of carnival barkers and snake oil salesmen during the final weeks in order to garner those few precious votes that will move them up a notch. On more than one occasion there have been three (and four) pretty even teams vying for two slots. Needless to say, numbers three and four have been less than thrilled to find themselves in that position. Only Orrin Hatch has decided that this requires federal action, and wrote a scathing letter to the Department of Justice asking for review of the situation.

Also, the President has now decided that what America really needs is a college football playoff system, and the Justice Department is now engaged. A recent letter from the DOJ to Senator Hatch says in part:

“Importantly, and in addition, the administration also is exploring other options that might be available to address concerns with the college football postseason,” Weich wrote, including asking the Federal Trade Commission to review the legality of the BCS under consumer protection laws.”

Here is Richard Cirminiello’s (College Football News) take on this, tongue in cheek:

Please, Mr. President. Make this your top priority in 2010 and forever how long you’re in the White House. I’d like for you to really dig your heels in on this one and develop tunnel vision.

I know, I know, there are far bigger fish to fry in Washington. Economic chaos, a couple of wars, and health care, to name just a few. But if you can break up the monopoly that currently exists in the BCS system, wonderful. That would be the kind of hope and change I can believe in.

As far as BCS mouthpiece Bill Hancock goes, this guy might have a tougher task than a tobacco lobbyist. I realize he has a job to do, but you’d have more luck selling a recalled crib. The product is clearly flawed, and just about everyone recognizes it. So what’s with the petulant, downright arrogant reaction to criticism or a challenge? In that regard, Washington and the BCS deserve one another. Mr. Hancock is going to quickly learn that he’s fighting an uphill battle, and copping an attitude only increases the elevation of that mountain. You can act like you’ve got a pure breed all you want, but, fella, that dog’s got fleas.

Ponder this. If the administration decides to examine the legality of college football’s championship system, it could be just enough of a diversion to keep this country from falling into deeper debt.

Pete Fiutak (College Football News) has plotted out the past decade as if a championship playoff occurred here, and declares that the system would be simply an extension of what we now love/hate.

However this goes, it will be certainly be a sideshow.

This is an open thread.

Activist Wednesday: Today’s Good Deeds

You Can Do A Good Deed Too!

It’s Activist Wednesday, peeps! Here are some things you can do to make your voice heard.

Thursday, February 4 at 12:00pm:

Not Under the Bus is joining a feet-in-the-street protest against the infamous Pam Tebow anti-choice ad:

Noon – 1:00 pm @ CBS Headquarters, 52nd Street & 6th Avenue.

Bring your own sign for what “C B S” stands for. “Christian Broadcasting Syndicate?” “Cancel Sexist Broadcasting”? “Complete B- S-?” Be creative!

Call World Can’t Wait (866) 973-4463 for more info.

Facebook link

Thursday, February 4 at 1:00pm:

Corrente is hosting a liveblog with single-payer expert Dr. Margaret Flowers of Physicians for a National Health Program.

Sunday, February 7th – Albany, New York

Albany, NY, February 7th

Forum Questioning the Direction of Washington’s Health Care Reform

Friday, March 5th – Sunday, March 7th: Washington, D.C.

Washington, DC, March 5th, 6th, 7th

National Labor for Single-Payer Conference

Anytime Actions:

Defund War has a million and one things you can do to help end the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

And our petition for the day:

Tell President Obama: Don’t Delay, Just End Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Want more? All our activist sites are on the left hand side of the blog, so if you are looking for something to do, check out those links!

This is an open thread.

Morning Widdershins: The Haitian Medical Snafu

Activate DMat for Haiti

Innumerable Haitians with grievous injuries remain in makeshift hospitals, waiting for a bewildering series of snarls to be rectified. The problem has been building for several weeks, as South Florida hospitals have received medical evacuees on an ongoing basis. These tend to be multi-trauma patients who will need operations, care for festering superinfections, and long-term rehabilitation. The cost per patient can hit six figures quite easily.

Florida has few true county hospitals left, and those hospitals are in dreadful financial shape. Much of their funding came from property taxes, and when values crashed the hospitals crashed with them. Many have closed beds and not replaced departing staff in order to survive. The state is in equally rough shape as far as finances go, and has little capital with which to help.

The University of Miami founded “Project MediShare for Haiti” some time ago, and Dr. Barth Green was one of the first to arrive after the earthquake. A number of physicians and nurses followed, and they have been on the ground working with the victims ever since. Needless to say, they were horrified when the transports ceased on Wednesday, as the suspension of flights added even more stress to the already catastrophic situation. Pilots said that they could not transport without a receiving facility on the other end, which is unfortunately true.

There is a bewildering number of charges, countercharges, and confusion over visas, costs and responsibilities. The South Florida Trauma Director states that she simply asked if the area could be by-passed during the Pro Bowl/Super Bowl time period. Now, I know that there can be serious injuries sustained by not only the players but the patrons as well, but this honestly seems like quite a window. The military seems to blame the Florida hospitals, and that may be partly true. More than 500 earthquake victims are being cared for in Florida. Apparently, Jackson Memorial’s administration asked Governor Crist for assistance last week, and the Governor formally requested that the federal government assume some of the financial burdens for care. Then, apparently all hell broke loose.

Morning Widdershins: What Next for the Health Whatever Bill?

(Thanks to everyone for your great blog suggestions yesterday! Chat and I will add them to our blogroll this week.)

A Sidecar?

I must admit that I am very confused by the latest spin on the Health Whatever bill, post-Massachusetts and minus the 60-vote filibuster-proof majority. Did they have a deal, or didn’t they?

Harkin (D-Iowa), who attended healthcare talks at the White House, said negotiators were on the cusp of bringing a bill back for final votes in the Senate and House.

Harkin said “we had an agreement, with the House, the White House and the Senate. We sent it to [the Congressional Budget Office] to get scored and then Tuesday happened and we didn’t get it back.” He said negotiators had an agreement in hand on Friday, Jan. 15.

Harkin made clear that negotiators had reached a final deal on the entire bill, not just the excise plans, which had been reported the previous day, Jan. 14.
 
Harkin said the deal covered the prescription-drug “donut hole,” the level of federal insurance subsidies, national insurance exchanges and federal Medicaid assistance to states.

So according to Harkin, everything was ready to go before the Massachusetts special election, awaiting only the scoring by the CBO. Of course, this story is disputed by one House source, and unconfirmed by either the White House or the Senate.

Senate Democratic aides declined to confirm Harkin’s account. A White House spokesman also declined to comment.
 
A House Democratic aide, however, said not all the issues were resolved.

Uhhhh…All righty then?

Whether there was or wasn’t a deal on something or other, the current idea seems to be to wait a little while, until the Shock and Awe of Brown’s victory wears off, and then to try reconciliation and something called a “sidecar.” (Why does that give me an image of Pelosi wearing a leather flying helmet and goggles, sitting in a motorcycle sidecar while Harry Reid, in leathers of course, drives the Harley off a cliff?) But reconciliation and sidecars in pursuit of what goal? I have no idea. What’s on the table? What’s off the table? Are “progressives” going to take this opportunity to start demanding single payer? Are pro-choice Dems (surely the vast majority) going to insist that Stupak and Nelson are out in whatever compromise is reached?

Don’t bother asking the Hill these questions. They don’t know. There is one thing they do know for sure, though, and that’s that the Republicans absolutely, positively will not vote for Health Whatever.

Democrats have essentially given up on the prospect of persuading just one Senate Republican to vote for the pending legislation.

“I think it’s a bridge too far,” said Carper, a member of the Finance Committee who spent months trying to win Republican support for a broad reform bill.

Once again, we see how he who compromises in politics, LOSES. The Republicans have staked out their territory, and for better or for worse, they are the Party of NO. What is the Obamacrats’ territory? Posturing about their beliefs and firm convictions, then doing exactly the opposite when push comes to shove. No wonder the Obama for America Party seems to already have become electoral roadkill. Who could be inspired by a Party of whining losers, who can’t accomplish what they promise even when they are given absolute power?

During our SOTU liveblog, I snarked that when Obama had asked for “better ideas” on Health Whatever, he was finally giving a chance for single-payer advocates to speak up. But hey, he said it, not me! If you’d like to make your voice heard, please check our left sidebar for single-payer activist sites, which offer ways that you can help out the cause.

In the meantime, let’s keep thinking about 2010, 2012 and third parties. Jeff Roby has another blog about the Justice Party and the Full Court Press – again, well worth reading.

This is an open thread.