Health Reform Getting Better?

Markos makes my point far better (per norm) than I do.

Obama may very well be playing 11th dimension chess. But I can't count on that.

The squeaky wheel gets greased. It always does. So, Obama may be playing the base in order for us to become damn squeaky. Then again, he may not and he's just a massive failure at governance.

But, there is no final bill for HRC. Until there is, progressives need to continue to raise holy hell pushing the final product more to the left.

Those liberals who are appalled that we are taking on Obama and calling him out,need to move the fuck out of the way. They're causing far more harm than good. Learn to raise hell early and often or get the hell out of the way.

Never trust your president to do the right thing.

Daily Kos: Markos on Countdown: Don't stop fighting for change:

"Once we have a final bill, and things are set in stone, then we can re-examine that bill. But right now, things can still change. To stop fighting for that change, to me, is patently ridiculous.

Any positive change from here on out is going to be because we keep pushing from the left not because we say, 'Good enough. Let’s pass it.'"

Here's an article, hidden away, no mainstream coverage, but a smart maneuver. These little things make me think something is more afoot than meets the eye.

Obama seeks drug imports outside of health bill | Reuters

Also, some big wonky news coming from Sen. Sanders. There could be a back door, single payer plan in the works, but it is just the seed. Will take a while to flourish. But, still, movement in the right direction.

Daily Kos: This HCR Bill: 45,000,000 Get Single-Payer Vermont Health Care

Sanders Strengthens Senate Health Bill - Newsroom: U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont):

"Sanders urges progressives to continue fighting for House provisions--including the $14 billion for community health centers, progressive taxation as opposed to taxing healthcare benefits, and a strong public option.

But can we get a better bill and still get 60 votes?

'Well, that remains to be seen,' Sanders says. 'What is being increasingly discussed all over the country is this is extremely undemocratic. You've got a strong majority in the House who want to do something, and all of that effort is nullified by one or two people in the Senate. Does that make sense to you? I don't think it's fair. So I think we want to take a look at how we deal with a dysfunctional situation like we've seen on the Senate healthcare bill, and you know, maybe some good will come out of that.'"

The real sausage is being made behind closed doors:

(12 Angy Men was the very first bit of acting I ever did. I think I was #11)

Late night, closed-door deals will shape final health bill - Yahoo! News:

"The internal dynamics of a conference can sometimes be reminiscent of Reginald Rose's '12 Angry Men,' a play about tension in a deadlocked jury, where stamina, personality, ego and sometimes stubbornness can play major roles, said former Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska .

'People like myself who have run for office before, we have 25 percent more capacity for self-delusion than most people,' said Kerrey, now the president of the New School in New York . 'In conference, it comes down to, 'If they get to know me, they'll support me.'

Fatigue could also become a factor, Kerrey said, particularly among Senate conferees. The House adjourned last week for a lengthy holiday break, but the Senate has worked almost nonstop since Thanksgiving and is poised to work up to Christmas Eve .

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So, I find a little positive in the health care fight. I'm swinging a bit back towards Obama knowing what he's doing. Then.... this:

War Room - Salon.com:

"The idea has 'become a source of ideological contention between the left,' Obama said, adding, 'I didn't campaign on the public option.'

The president's claim that he 'didn't campaign on the public option' is at best on shaky ground, factually speaking. It's unmistakably true that during the campaign his plan for reform included a public option."

That's a goddamn lie on par with "We didn't go to war with Iraq over WMDs".

We aren't stupid, Obama:

Think Progress � FLASHBACK: Obama Repeatedly Touted Public Option Before Refusing To Push For It In The Final Hours

And it continues......

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