I called Durbin this morning, and asked why he sounds like he's backing away

[Critters2]

from a public option. The staff person said he thinks it will be in the final version of the house bill, but that the Blue Dogs :grr: won't let it stay in the Senate version. He still thinks it'll be in the bill after the conference. I'm skeptical. And unhappy. But I thought I'd let you all know how they explained it to me.

[graywarrior]

1. That's how I understood it when he explained it on CNN.

[Critters2]

4. I didn't see it on CNN, just kept hearing it secondhand.

So, I thought I'd call and get clarification...and remind him that I voted for him.

[graywarrior]

13. I may need to call him just so he knows.

[midnight]

2. I rec. this, and unfortunately it came up 0.

This is good info. and thanks for sharing.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

6. I'll give it another rec.

And I emailed Durbin on it this morning.

[Barack_America]

3. I wonder why Durbin and others are giving the Blue Dogs so much power?

Instead of fighting against their stupid little games.

ETA: I forgot to give you props for calling his office. Well done.

[Critters2]

5. Me, too. Gave the staffer an earful about that. nt

[Barack_America]

7. Excellent.

I had edited my post while you were responding.

So, props again.

:fistbump:

[vincna]

8. Probably because he doesn't have the votes without them

That is usually the reason why deals are made in politics

[Barack_America]

14. Then you twist arms. You don't submit.

You threaten their bills, their financing from the DNC and DCCC. You threaten with primary challengers.

You don't submit.

[vincna]

23. Sometimes that works if you need one or two votes...

But if you need a bunch of votes, then you usually have to deal. It does not appear to me that any approach is close to having the votes needed to pass. I think this is going to take some time to play out.

Personally, I like the public option.

[dgibby]

29. Their patron saint, Rahm, won't let anybody touch them. n/t

[bain_sidhe]

19. because a bill has to get out of that committee

in order for the final "merging" to begin. They can't do anything with the HELP bill until the finance committee reports.

Get the bill out of that committee, THEN they can start shaping the final bill. And even then, there will be further shaping after the House passes their version (which will also represent the merging of the bills reported out of three committees) and both bills move to the reconcilliaton process.

[Lex]

9. If there is no public option in the final bill, Obama should veto it.

Because it's meaningless.

[stray cat]

15. Caps on out of pocket expenses, no one denied coverage or paying extra

those things sound like an improvement over not being able to get insurance or not being able to pay it due to pre-existing conditions. There is a lot of good in the bill - do we reject the good because we can't get the best or even the perfect?

[Lex]

16. Yes, Obama should push back and not cave on this point.

nt

[peace frog]

10. "Skeptical and unhappy"

Count me in.

[City Lights]

11. Thanks for the info. nt

[Cha]

12. Thank you for doing that, critters!

I have a blue dog for a congressman and it didn't seem like he was for it when he was bragging what a blue dog he was on his TELE Town Hall Meet.

[madmax]

17. Thanks for calling n/t

[bvar22]

18. There will be something the call a "Public Option",

...but it won't be very public, and it won't be much of an option.

[Lorien]

31. That's what worries me. I already have crap health insurance

I don't want to be forced to buy more of the same if my situation gets even worse and I can't afford to keep the lights on and a roof over my head.

[Zen Democrat]

20. That's exactly what he said yesterday. Don't know why panties got all wadded up.

[Critters2]

22. I work Sunday mornings, so didn't hear him. Just kept hearing secondhand.

So, I called for clarification. I get the logic, but I'm still not happy. Damn blue dogs!

[mopinko]

21. i think that has been the plan all along. conference

we learned that from ronald reagan. what happens on the floor don't mean doodly squat. it's the conference committee that matters.

[felinetta]

24. Perhaps Durbin is hoping to get deluged with calls for the public

option to use as more ammo.  Just a thought.

[Faryn Balyncd]

25. Maybe we need to "help him out":

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6265922&mesg_id=6265922

[LaPera]

26. What bullshit. He "thinks it'll be in the bill" He should be demanding that it be in the bill.

I sent an emailed & called the weak-kneed, spineless, paid off Durbin, caving for the money
masters, the heat is too hot for the asshole, giving into the minority republicans, the greedy insurance corporations and the slimy money he receives, that's so fucking important, more important to these pricks that we the voters put into office with their lying "promises" for change, the same ones who get their paychecks and health care for their family & staff from our taxes....double-crossing, duplicit, pontificating assholes!

[d_b]

27. blue dogs are the new 911

everything changed after blue dogs, folks. no health care reform, no tackling climate change, etc. etc. and on and on.


bet on it.

[LiberalAndProud]

28. I hope he's right.

Sounds like the bludogs have really been trying to kill health care/insurance reform in committee. They should truly be ashamed of themselves. I am ashamed for them.

[Faryn Balyncd]

30. Ask Durbin if he's willing to make a PUBLIC PLEDGE to not support FINAL PASSAGE of a bill that lacks

.....a viable, strong Public Option.


Or if he's just stringing us along.


In the final analysis, Durbin is either with us (and Howard Dean), or he's with the Blue Dogs.


"If you're not going to have a public option, don't pretend you're doing health reform"

- - - Howard Dean




Durbin needs to COMMIT.