February 25, 2010 Open Letter to Mitch McConnell: Health Care Summit

This meeting is an exercise in futility, Sandy. Reconciliation is the only answer. Weiner was magnificent on the House Floor yesterday

I agree with both of you but respect President Obama for giving them this opportunity to either change or show their true colors one last time. I'll be surprised if McConnell doesn't stick with stupid and embarrass me once again, but hope they aren't all as bad as he is.

Wow, Weiner is my hero.

I called my own beloved Lieberman's office yesterday as part of the virtual march on DC re: healthcare reform. I got some young male aide who kept putting me on hold. He must have put me on hold 5 times during our 5 minute conversation. He seemed bored and disinterested. I almost told him that as Lieberman is retiring and moving to Israel, he really shouldn't be pinning his hopes on any kind of job continuity or career advancement by working there. Anyway, I'm sure my phonecall will have just about as much weight as your letter, Sandy. Unfortunately.

What can we do when they ignore our calls and letters? It's disgusting and frustrating, and the big reason I have decided to make my communications with McConnell public now. He hasn't responded to any of the letters I've sent this month.

Wasn't Weiner great? I hope it catches on.

I tried to call Dodd, but his line was continuously busy. I think he left the phone off the hook and went home.

Or, the ACORN-GONE-WRONG guy got to his phone lines?

Toooooooooo Funny!

Gotta use humor, Jerry. He ignored me when I was serious and I got frustrated. This is the only way I can deal with the man now.

Oh boy. There he went. First comment and he has already embarrassed me. Obviously, Mitch didn't read Sex, Third-grade Style. If he had, he would understand that polling people who believed his lies doesn't quite work.

Mitch, did you try to wrap up the meeting at noon? What did we miss? You weren't pointing at your watch or something, were you? Surely, you wouldn't be as disrespectful to your President as some of your partners-in-crime have been. Nah. Anybody know what happened there?

Sigh. Clue McCain: President never said HE would change in Washington, he said he would change Washington and he didn't mean by sticking the letter 'r' in the middle of the word Washington.

(I'm listening as much as I can here at work.)

I've heard Mitch bitch about who is getting more words spoken. Of course, he started off by passing his time to someone else.

Snap! I just heard McCain lose again.

If Mitch had any sensible words to offer, he might get more time. If his eyes could go all beady when he loses his temper like McCain, he might also get more media time later.

I missed McCain's bitching, but I caught the response.

The election is over. Slam!

Listening to the C-Span call in commentaries now. I'm going to have to find recaps. Had the misfortune of listening to Eric "Twitterboy" Can'tor. He's the nerd the other nerds want to beat up.

Watching the replay, Obama told Mitch the Bitch that the time was unbalanced because he didn't count his time because HE IS THE PRESIDENT.

Can't remind the Republitards and Teabaggers of that fact too often.

They're trying their best to pretend he is not their President - insisted he 'sit at the table' so they didn't feel lectured and someone complained that he called them by their first names but they had to say Mr. President.

They should be glad I wasn't the President today. I'd have called them a bunch of dumb crackers.

Dear Sandy
The Democrats won't let me steal as much from you as I want to. I do apologize, I know you have been waiting for me to kill your health care program so you can do without like any normal (not wealthy) citizen.
I will keep trying of course.
Your Senator,
Mitch

Did Mitch write that or did he defer the writing to the senator from Tennessee?

Finally. An honest response. Cena, I'm impressed. How did you get through to him?

Dear Sandy,
I know if we don't give up we can do as well for the Insurance Companies as we have done for the Pharmaceutical Companies.

I know you have been thrilled with the results of Prescription Plan D.
The pharmaceutical industry have laid of thousands of U. S. workers and is now using the non-negotiated drug price profits to invest in new
Research in China. They will be creating hundreds of jobe, in China.

Read about their plans here:

http://www.worldpharmanews.com/content/view/1032/30/

Your Senator
Mutch McMoney

Love the new name, Mutch. But I don't think we can afford to do for the Insurance Companies the same as we have the Pharmaceutical Companies. Shoot, I think if they'd just give up their exotic "meetings" they'd be fine without any welfare.

We will be looking forward to big things from Mitchell and his buddies today. Glad you briefed him.

Priscilla, I must have been too late. He didn't follow my advice.

Why not have a simple Medicare buy-in for all, sliding scale based on income, continue payroll tax but without a cut-off and at a lower rate to keep the buy-in cost low; those without means for any buy-in get government subsidy. Private insurers can give better service/coverage beyond Medicare or whatever they think the customers will buy from them with whatever conditions they choose.

http://www.healthcare-now.org/hr-676/
The United States National Health Care Act, H.R. 676


http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/02/23-3
Health Means Life; Health Means Freedom
by George Lakoff


http://www.pnhp.org/news/2010/february/grassroots-activists-hold-%E2%80%98sidewalk-health-summit%E2%80%99-call-for-medicare-for-all
Grassroots Activists Hold ‘Sidewalk Health Summit,’ Call for Medicare for All
From the National Single Payer Alliance

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Katie Robbins
Donna Smith
Dr. Margaret Flowers

The 20-million member strong grassroots alliance, the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care, supporting improved Medicare for all will hold its own summit on health reform outside the White House on Thursday, February 25. While politicians inside Blair House will be attempting to reach some bipartisan agreement to pass legislation that aims to make marginal improvement in health insurance markets, activists outside the formal venue will be answering President Obama’s call from his State of the Union address:

“But if anyone…has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors, and stop insurance company abuses, let me know.”

There is a better answer. The people’s summit will feature diverse speakers representing doctors, nurses, patients, labor, faith-based groups, and community political advocacy groups who continue to press the President and Congress to act responsibly and ethically to address the nation’s healthcare crisis by extending an improved Medicare for all model.

When: 9 – 10 a.m., Thursday, February 25; participants gather at 9 a.m. and summit begins at 9:30 a.m.

Where: NE Corner of Lafayette Park (H St and Vermont), Washington, D.C.

In other communities across the nation, other Medicare for all advocates will gather in solidarity summits and actions, including San Francisco, Cedar Falls, IA, Louisville, KY, New York City, Georgia and Colorado (a complete listing is available at http://www.healthcare-now.org/sidewalk/)

This action is not in support of the current reform bills – House, Senate or the plan offered up for consideration during the President’s Blair House summit. LCGHC members do not support the current legislation with or without a public option – robust or not.

Of note: Tea Party activists have signaled that they may also send a contingent to Washington to agitate for the status quo. This action is not in support of the status quo. LCGHC members support improving and expanding the successful Medicare program to all Americans, including the 46 million Americans who currently lack coverage and tens of millions more who are under-insured and at risk of bankruptcy in the event of illness.

Physicians for a National Health Program
29 E Madison Suite 602, Chicago, IL 60602 ¤ Find us on a map
Phone (312) 782-6006 | Fax: (312) 782-6007 | email: info@pnhp.org
© PNHP 2010


Feb 25: Sidewalk Summit for Medicare for All!

NEW LOCATION: H St NW and Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC

Thanks, Cena.

Libra, I'm sorry I called you Cena - not that being Cena is a bad thing, but my forgetting which of my great friends I was addressing is.

The nerve! The nerve of you to tell President Obama he can't ignore the voice of the people!? Are you kidding. You should stop worrying about a blank page and start worrying about your blank mind.

2700 pages? So, there are 300 more you've ignored, along with all of the letters and phone calls you obviously have ignored from people who know you don't have a clue?

Sounds like Charlie Rangel has been reading your letters. He noted that a guy from Kentucky doesn't speak for all Americans.

I think he might be a scalywag, but he gave a charming and amusing and sympathetic speech.

Mitch should take a lesson. . . ditto Boehner.

My daughter and I caught that, Em Jay. And I loved it when Biden pointed out that he can't speak for THE American People.

Were we all impressed with Boehner' stack of paper at his elbow. . .
And he covered all the Republicans have to say about health care.
Americans don't want it.
Start over with blank paper
It is unconstitutional
Tort reform
Buy insurance accross state lines . . yes that would really help (NOT)
You are killing old people and cutting Medicare
rada rada rada. I couldn't watch in the morning, and very hard with no television, no radio that will receive AM and a slow internet connection, but it was interesting.
I began listening to the internet stream about 12:30 PM CA time.

I watched a live feed here on the Internet, Cena. It was really cool. As each person spoke, a list of his top campaign contributors appeared beside the screen.

That would have been great I am trying to remember the name of that app.
I was lucky to see it period. there were stops my connection is slow,
McCain was as big an A**

All the Republicans did was repeat all their old talking points plus the silly new one. Start over.
Not impressive.

I was watching online off and on between phone calls and idiots, but I laughed out loud when McCain made a point and President Obama said it was valid. McCain almost choked on the snotty reply he all ready and didn't get to use.