Submitted by seajane on December 15, 2009 - 2:57pm
We Democrats stand on the verge of ushering in a world of nearly unregulated mandates, in which we're all forced by the state to hand over our money to failed private monopolies, with no cost control in return. Without a public option and no hope of expanding Medicare coverage, this bill is not worth supporting.
I've asked Cantwell and Murray to vote against the Lieberman insurance company welfare act.
We'll have to live another day to try to correct the injustice, waste, inefficiency, and unfairness of our current health care system. Nine months wasted. What a shame.
Thanks to both our reps for voting NAY on the Stupak amendment. Unfortunately it still passed. Here's to hoping we can get rid of this assault on women's rights and health when the bill goes to reconciliation.
I followed the last legislative session in Washington State with much hope and ended with nothing but despair. If I understand correctly, we have a Democratic governor, a Democratic senate, and a Democratic house of representatives. Yet, when all the dust settled, the same people who would have been disenfranchised by the Republicans ended up carrying the brunt of all the cuts enacted by a Democratic State Government. Why then should I trust that Democrats will do better on a federal level? I greatly fear that the pharmaceutical industry and the insurance industry with its myriad lobbyists will end up warping any attempt at health care reform so that it will resemble the "reform" that Washington State has enacted this last year.In other words, health care reform will overlook the needs of those who have no voice: children, the disabled, and the elderly. Can someone please persuade me differently? I want to believe, but so far have seen nothing but empty promises from the Democrats in power in Washington State.
We knew healthcare reform would face fierce opposition -- and it's begun. As we speak, the same people behind the notorious "swiftboat" ads of 2004 are already pumping millions of dollars into deceptive television ads. Their plan is simple: torpedo healthcare reform before it sees the light of day by scaring the public and distorting the President's approach.
We need the resources to take them head on with an urgent, grassroots campaign to pass real healthcare reform in 2009.
When the swiftboaters flood the airwaves with distortions, we'll flood the streets with volunteers armed with facts. When they send lobbyists to tell Congress to back down, we'll send millions of calls, letters, and stories from real Americans asking them to stand up.
The swiftboaters are once again trying to sell the American people short. As during the election, we deserve a serious conversation -- not fear-mongering and deceit. You and I see the importance of healthcare reform every day. We can't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to face one of America's greatest challenges head on.
Passing real healthcare reform will be the toughest, most important challenge we've faced together since electing Barack Obama President.
But it's also a big reason we fought so hard to get here. I know that by working together, and speaking with one, determined voice, we can prevail over the cynics and defenders of the status quo. America's families are counting on us to do just that.
Please donate $25 or more to defend healthcare reform today:
Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Monetary contributions to the Democratic National Committee are not tax-deductible.
If any of you have reviewed the torture legal opinions over at ACLU site, I'm sure you are as outraged as I am that one of the facilitators of these torture memos is a Judge in our United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On April 14th, the LA County Democratic Party passed the resolution that follows. I recommend we pass a similar if not identical resolution as soon as possible.
RESOLUTION TO IMPEACH JUDGE JAY BYBEE
Passed Unanimously by LACDP, 4/14/09
Whereas, the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the people a right to petition the government for a redress of grievances; and,
Whereas the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment, the supreme law of the land under Article VI of our Constitution, requires the prosecution of those who authorize torture, waterboarding is torture, and both former President George W. Bush and former Vice President Richard B. Cheney have admitted to authorizing waterboarding; and,
Whereas former Assistant Attorney General, and current Federal Judge of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Jay Bybee signed the "Bybee Memo," or "Torture Memo" of August 1, 2002, which advised the C.I.A. that "cruel, inhuman or degrading" treatment was at times allowable under U.S. law, and authored, co-authored and signed other memos on "extraordinary rendition" and "enhanced interrogation," more of which are being currently revealed to the American public as the new administration brings them to light; now,
Therefore be it resolved that the Los Angeles County Democratic Party urges that the United States House of Representatives begin impeachment proceedings against Judge Jay Bybee of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, charging him with facilitating the authorization of torture while employed by the United States Department of Justice; and,
Therefore be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution with its original authorization be sent to the Office of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and that copies of the signed resolution be sent to each member of the California delegation to the United States Senate and House of Representatives.
