If the Blue Ball Democrats don't want a public option, then let's find a primary challenger.

CitizenJ is right. Not only that, we need to start contacting the Blue Dogs and letting them know that we will contribute to their opponents in the next election. We need to be willing to show them in dollars that they are vulnerable. Obviously, the flip side to that is they represent conservative districts where they may be voted out for supporting public health care. My thought is if you're going to lose either way, why not do what you know to be right?

Obama has signaled that he's dead serious about including this. Not only will passage of a public option be a landmark for health care policy, it will make the rest of his agenda much easier to pass by demonstrating the hollowness of conservative theology.

Bob,

Is there a list out there of Democratic Senators that are on the fence? Of course, when I say "Democratic Senators" I am excluding Ben(edict) Nelson. Also, I can't figure out what Baucus's position on this is. Seems like he got an earful from his home state last week and might have changed his tune.

Let's get a list and start flooding their offices with calls and letters. We can't sit idly by while the pants-shitting Senate Dems get rolled over again by the Republican'ts.

OT...

eeep.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090605/ap_on_go_co/us_murtha_drug_dealers

I think any senator, especially democratic, that ignores the people's wishes on healthcare reform will really regret it come election time.

I think public opinion on healthcare is being way underestimated.

I agree, J M.

Maybe it's because politicians spend so much time in the twilight zone, DC. When each and every American is personally effected by something, they will roar like a lion to get it taken care of. The problem with change in America has always been our "what's in it for me" attitude. Rising unemployment rates for even the most stable jobs have had an impact on people's views on healthcare.

Oh I agree, I think its precisely because they spend so much time isolated in Bizzaro World in D.C. and they see gotcha headlines on the news and interperate that as what people think.

I think being a good legislator requires a balance between adhering to constituents' demands and leading a policy that will improve the lives of Americans but may not be overwhelmingly popular currently.

A pubic option for health care falls into the latter category.

Tim -

I don't know what polls you are looking at, but the ones I've seen recently had public support for a single payer health care system at around 60%.

The health insurance industry is generating outright propaganda that says what you just said. I'm not accusing you of propaganda but I do accuse you of repeating it.

Our health care system will not be fixed until for profit insurance companies are removed from the health care picture.

Slow down, I was not repeating any health care industry propaganda. I said that a public option for health care falls into the category that will improve lives for Americans but is not overwhelmingly popular.

60% is pretty popular but not overwhelmingly so. Remember, that's a national poll but Senators represent states that may not mirror that 60%. For some Senators in more conservative states, this isn't such a no-brainer, politically speaking. Thus, they might need to lead their constituents on this.

In any event, I do agree that for-profit insurance companies need to be removed. The physical well-being of people should not be a business decision.