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On the heels of our recorded calls to the districts of five reactionary Democrats who refused to support the override of George Bush's veto of SCHIP, two of them have now flipped their votes -- last week Baron Hill, and today Mike McIntyre of North Carolina.
This is going to put incredible pressure on Bobby Etheridge, his fellow North Carolinian, to flip as well.
Bill Scher and Conn Caroll discuss our campaign on Blogginheads TV in a segment on "the new majority whips:"
Bill Scher: What's happening in the liberal blogophere now at least in these corners is not so much about winning for winning sake, having Democrats in charge whoever they are, there are actual policies that they would like to see implemented and they don't think it's helpful to the overall Democratic party to have a handful of people undercutting the party at key moments....I think the key for that to be as successful as possible is if it's just seen as a handful of blogs trying to extract demands from a handful of people that's probably not going to work as well long term. If they're successful elevating these votes into the spotlight to the point where their own constituents are aggrieved by what they're doing and they see that there's pressure in their own districts to act differently and to be a stronger voice for the party that's going to have the most impact. We see it had a little bit of an effect with Baron Hill this week and we'll see if it continues on before the vote on Thursday.
Conn Carroll: Yeah the Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting that one of the other Bush Dogs targeted here, Jim Marshall of Georgia, already has two people who are going to be challenging him in the Democratic primary.
That's exactly what we're trying to do -- motivate people in these districts to be aware of what's going on, get involved and take action. (When we were talking about doing this in the first place, Matt Stoller said "these guys don't care about people in their districts, all they care about their buddies they go hunting with. We might as well be robocalling Washington, D.C.")
Our ad against Jim Marshall in Georgia runs tomorrow in his hometown paper. We've raised $6100 of the $10,000 we need to pay for it. You can help out by contributing to the Blue America PAC here.
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true action !
Good news indeed.
Way to go!!!!
Zed
“Political Malpractice”…Perfect!!!
Fraid not
How many more need to switch to over-ride the veto?
Yay!
Go Jane Go!!!
Phenomenal!!!
just curious if blue america shares employment information?
I have held back donating before because of worry over this, but i bit the bullet and went ahead.
rwcole @ 7
Yes, has anyone got an up-to-date vote count?
“New Majority Whips.” Sounds good!
make ‘em quake in their boots in fear of the challenger!!
Great news!
triciawrites @ 11
We’ve never shared anything with anyone ever, nor will we. That information is confidential.
Ish @ 12
If Pelosi’s whip count the other day was accurate at 13, this moves us to 12 votes needed to override.
Although Pelosi is unwisely talking about compromise bills in the future, it could come down to who shows up for the vote.
Funny thing, I got an e-mail from Patrick Leahay with the following, bold mine;
I do know that we need some Repugs, but how about calling out the people who betray Democratic principals in our party.
triciawrites @ 11
If I get your question, no. Seems like the questions are the same as for any other place I’ve donated online. And, as I understand it, contributions less that $200 aren’t reported to FEC anyway. Short story, I trust BA and I trust Howie and Jane. Anyone else, please chime in with additional info.
Unfortunately, deadender Randy Kuhl (R-NY-29) is not flipping,
having decided to tie himself to the mast of the USS Bush.
pointing out what the media refuses to cover- people are begining to understand this. I think the move-on ad was successful because of that~and this as well-but watch how quickly the other side will try to paint the picture in its own particular belief system…just billed a project & am going to toss another 10 in the kitty for this baby.
You guys rock.
{{{gratitude}}}
Jane, valleygirl, thank you both for replying,
made me feel much better.
I will continue to chip in what I can.
Everyone, just make sure that your donations on this go to BA PAC- it’s one of several donations options on the page. And, of course if you want to donate to other candidates, e.g. Eric Massa, who is taking a second shot at Randy Kuhl (R-NY-29) please feel free to do so.
it’s nice to know a concerted good hearted effort can really make a difference. Makes keeping on calling on that much more rewarding!!
Millineryman @ 17
Yes, when I called Lantos’ office this a.m.the staffer was concerned about Boehner’s noise re schip.
An FYI..
(snip)
Additionally, an AP analysis suggests individual Republicans who side with Bush may have relatively little to fear politically. The 151 Republicans who voted against the bill when it passed last month averaged nearly 64 percent of the vote in their most recent election. Many had vote totals in the 70-percent range, making them all but invulnerable from attack.
(snip)AP
So…the big argument is that people making 80K per year might…”might”…give up their current health insurance plans…to insure their kids under SCHIP…well now…why might they do that? Well now…for instance, they could be caught up in mortgage and credit problems that are eating up every penny they take home…they could be worrying about feeding their kids, in order to keep up with health insurance payments…they could be worrying about feeding their kids, because the deductions from their paychecks for their health care, could better be used to buy them food, school clothes, books,and help them survive the economic problems this country faces. 80K is relative. If you used to make more money, before outsourcing stole your job, and you bought a house that, at the time, fit into your budget and are now one of 7 million facing foreclosure in the next year (Jim Cramer)…well…you are going to do whatever you can to not be thrown headfirst into the cauldron of sacrificial, financial stew this crew has prepared for its citizens. Parents are parents first. To insinuate that parents somehow want to conspire to rip-off the government is…quite simply astounding. It is quite the opposite. Anyone blocking healthcare for any American citizen is unAmerican, unfeeling, and quite frankly….callous, and should be driven back into their caves of ignorance.
triciawrites @ 21
tricia- I was typing, and didn’t see Jane’s comment, which ended up appearing before mine.
And, just as a side note, I have read all of the FEC reports of BA. BA PAC is, apparently, not your standard PAC. One of the more telling exchanges was a letter from the FEC saying “we note that you report no expenses for staff, etc. (paraphrased).”
Yes, BA is totally run by volunteer efforts, and pays out no expenses to anyone, as Howie made clear in his response.
Great night Jane.
1,628 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:
I am tapped out ’till payday (Blue America got my last loose change a week ago) but this is what democracy is all about…the heat is on. Tell me that Mrs. Clinton’s statement on the war is not also a reflection of some a that heat (and the breath of Al Gore on the back of her collar). This action you are leading is genuine grass roots democracy and once again you earn another nomination for the People’s Medal of Freedom.
KEEP THE FAITH AND WATCH THE BASTARDS TWIST SLOWLY IN THE WIND!!
Olbermann in our living room now.
BOOYAH!!!
We are totally making a difference.
Keep up the good fight pups.
Our sacrifices are not in vain.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 30
hope you’ll share the good bits!
Elliott @ 32
You’re not looking at Olbermann?
Bob Dylan has an online promo where you can replace the signs from an old video with messages of your own. See what he has to say on SCHIP. This can be modified for your own representatives!
Here’s mine.
egregious @ 31
egr! and you have done more than your share!
Some not-so-good news:
Julia Carson, (D-IN) won’t be able to make it for the vote…
http://www.indystar.com/apps/p...../710150423
Don’t shoot the messenger, please.
Steve-AR @ 25
Not Randy Kuhl or Tom Reynolds in western NY.
Each squeaked by in 2006 by a few thousand votes.
Their seats are definitely in play .
So the Bush idiots are saying, still, ‘if the troops leave Iraq, a civil war will erupt’?
OT..
Gary Trauner, a Wilson businessman who lost a squeaker of a race last year against Representative Barbara Cubin, R-Wyoming, announced Monday he was going to run again for Wyoming’s at-large seat in the House of Representatives.
Trauner lost last year’s race by a mere 1,012 votes. He distinguished himself through his approach to campaigning, going door-to-door across Wyoming to 15,000 homes—a style that was in marked contrast to Cubin’s campaign style. Cubin once famously said she’d “rather eat roadkill” than go door-to-door.
link
Oklahoma kiddo @ 33
no high cable channels!
Are there districts where progressives can mount primary challenges? Because I can personally assure you THIS is getting the attention of somnambulent Democratic Congressmen.
Howie? Jane?
Smgumby @ 34
I couldn’t see what you did…
Keith just said “anecdoticly”. That’s a new word.
Smgumby @ 34
That is cool!!
Gen. McCrystal is as bad as Petraeus? Is he helping to ramp up for Iran attack.
Elliott @ 40
gottcha
Hey now…
Santana…There’s a Monster Livin’ Under my Bed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....rch=naruto sakura sasuke narusaku sasusaku narusasu sasunaru narusasusaku sasunarusaku put your lights santana everlast
LS @ 47
WTF??? yeehaw.
LS @ 47
nice!
Paging Mr. Gore.
Drought tightens grip on Southeast
With little rain in forecast, towns weigh drastic conservation measures
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21312383/
Elliott @ 49
Except for the narakktukakukabukikutursakau…part…LOL
Elliott @ 42
Classic Dylan video standing in the alley holding signs. He tosses the signs down one by one as the song plays. Instead of Dylans’ messages, the signs read as follows:
1 DAY IN IRAQ =
300 MILLION
WOULD COVER
HEALTH CARE FOR
246,000 KIDS
1 MONTH IN IRAQ
COSTS 9 BIL.
WOULD COVER
7.4 MIL. KIDS
OVERRIDE SCHIP
(then a plug for Dylans greatest hits CD)
Sorry you can’t see it. Flash player I think..
Oklahoma kiddo @ 50
thanks for the link OKK- I saw an AJC headline earlier, and meant to read.
LS @ 51
curiouser and curiouser
So the 2/3 majority required to overide is 2/3 of those present and voting? (As opposed to elected representatives?)
I did not know that. /Johnny Carson voice
Smgumby @ 52
Wow, that is great! cool. thanks!
I’ll have to update my flashplayer, then maybe I can see it. fun!
Turley commenting on Olbermann about reports of people (immigrants) being given injections of pschotropic drugs by non medical law enforcement personnel.
I just got back from the hospital with a severely sprained wrist all bandaged up (slipped and fell in mud against my vehicle while on a fishing trip). Being in Canada this cost me nothing, nada, zip, bupkis. Show my provincial health card and good to go.
I am curious as to what other Pups in the U. S. of A would have to pay for a visit to Emerg and an Ace bandage for treatment.
I wonder what a family would have to pay for a child in the same circumstances without SCHIP.
I wonder what percentage of people seeks the truth compared to those who try to thwart it.
Congratulations Jane Hamsher.
foulis @ 58
me — nothing excepting for that pesky detail where I pay all that money for the insurance.
But how long did you wait until you were treated?
Bottomline. Children, (who have no control over their lives)….should be subject to the powers of nature (which doesn’t even exist according to the Bush regime)…they should just go away…sounds familiar. How convenient. How empathetic. How sympathetic. Watch them die off (not if you can control what is shown in the media)??? Less to have to pay for? Less to receive revenue from? What kind of thinking, thinks this way? WTFriggityfuck? How do these morons sleep at night? Oh…yeah…it has happened endless times before. Anyone who votes against this is complicit.
Smgumby @ 52
Subterranean Homesick BLues
Dylan was oddly prophetic against even his own will.
jane just rawks, plain and simple and she gives each and every one of us the chance to “win some victory for humanity;
and I for one will rest much easier when my time comes thanx fire, dogs, and the lake
thank you for enabling us jane
Elliott @ 56
“Subterranean Homesick Blues” Classic
“…the pump don’t work cause the vandals took the handle.”
The politicians make about $165,000 per year. And they and their family get the best medical care available.
Bush in Arkansas today.. No wonder it was dark and stormy all day.
On SCHIP
I would imagine the Israeli Government is pretty pleased with the American people.
The Frosts are on KO now!!!
I had an individual here late this afternoon to do some cabinet work. This guy noticed that I had CNN on. He said, “I see you’re watching Clinton News Network. I resent that.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 67
like sewers, roads and water to our houss, health care is supposed to be part of “the commons”
commons are services and goods that cannot be privatized because they are needed by everyone…industry counts on a healthy workforce to be profitable, just as they count on the roads to get their workforce moblized, just as they count on the sewer system and water
health care needs to be considerd the same type of service as our roads…something everyone needs and the government provides
just as schools are provided for everyone so too must health care
and as there are private schools for those that don’t think the public school is sufficient or convenient enough, there will be private health care for those that want it
that is why public health care is NOT s*cial*sm
it is a service that needs to be considered one of “the commons”
KO has the Frost family on.
allan_in_upstate @ 19
But again, this is the same guy who, rather than allow there to be any sort of back and forth conversation between the staff at this offices and anti-war protesters, ordered his staff to lock the doors.
could someone fix what’s wrong with my number 72 and release it please?
many thanx
Smgumby @ 72
Can you please update for those of us who do not have MSNBC
JPL @ 76
teh live blog?
George W. Bush has ice water in his veins. SCHIP veto.
The Frost story is making me cry.
Elliott @ 61
Hi Elliott,
I had to wait for 2 hours which is not that long a wait considering - there were others who were ahead of me in the treatment list ( chest pains, faces hit with a tire jack -don’t ask it was ugly). I got lucky as the doctor on call was already there. I will admit that if the doctor wasn’t there I don’t know how long I would have had to wait.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 77
Dry Ice even.
The Frosts on Countdown, “Thank You Keith for being a responsible journalist in reporting on this.”
Oklahoma kiddo @ 77
doesn’t having veins of any kind imply some kind of humanity?
JPL @ 75
Very nice couple. They showed photos of the children in the hospital after the accident. Tough to look at. Mother said that children were unable to walk, eat, hold head up. Needed (and still needs) therapy which they would never be able to afford.
Very soft-spoken. Showed no real anger.
JPL, the parents shared pictures of the kids immediately after the accident. They were both in intensive care for a month, and received physical therapy that they would never have been able to afford. The kids are still in therapy.
Beautiful piece, and beautiful case for SCHIP.
Jane, thank you so much.
LS @ 80
Edited for your convenience.
Hugh @ 85
Love it!
foulis @ 79
that’s not too bad, I have waited lots longer than that.
Smgumby @ 34
That’s sooooooooooo cool!
I put this Dylan song on the first CD-R I was ever able to burn. woohoo.
What kind of a monster is George W. Bush? He is responsible for thousands of childrens deaths in Iraq and he works against health care for kids in this country.
Thanks for the updates.
perris @ 65
Are you an Antiochean? My daughter just graduated - they all recited that at graduation - everyone was crying.
check out think progress right now;
Oklahoma kiddo @ 77
Fixed.
My experience is that my parents were covered under the “national health care” of a northern European country. When they became elderly, they were covered 100% for all of their ailments. My father had bladder cancer and was treated over a 15-year period via over 80 cystocopies!!! He had anesthesia for all of them. It was all covered. My mom, who had dementia, was covered completely by the coverage. It works.
Toby Wollin @ 92
actually, the first I heard that was on a twighlight zone as it first broadcast(yes, I am that old)
it was then and continues to be the most meaningful and significant thing I have ever seen on the tube
Oklahoma kiddo @ 89
Faulty thinking.
Malkin the Bronze for advising by email she was quitting teh Factor.
Lindsey Graham the Silver for trashing retired General Sanchez for coming out against the war.
Roger Ailes WPITW for claiming that “other networks have opinion people anchoring the news.”
LS @ 96
that’s putting it mildly
off 2 bed
g’night and c all L8tr
perris @ 96
And the reason you saw it on the Twilight Zone is that Rod Serling is an Antiochean (that is, went to Antioch College, Yellow Springs OH). Antioch was started by Horace Mann; that statement is the college motto and the college has always fostered that attitude; the kids have always had to do “co-ops” - my daughter did hers with the hospice unit at Mt. Sinai in NYC, the Women’s Domestic Violence unit in Glens Falls, NY, and the Prometheus Radio (build and install low power FM in third world countries like Peru…and Vermont.
Unfortunately, the college is going through some rough times right now, though the alumni seem, like us, to have awoken..
Toby Wollin @ 100
and I learn something new every day, thank you
Analysis: Ghouliani’s galactic threat with the kid’s question was staged. Using the “puppy sale” is marketing 101.
Concerning Alien races (from other planets in the galaxy) who attack us, that is Earth. Keith Olbermann says, ‘They are meaner than Republicans.” Interplanetary snark!
“Hi Mom, this is Todd Bemer…”.
Frank33 @ 103
But! is there really any creature meaner than a Republican, intragalactic or intergalactic?
Amazing work Jane, et al.
I wish I had more $ to throw towards the endeavor. You guys make me really proud.
New Phoenix Woman thread upstairs.
Rachel Maddow on with Dan Abrams…*sigh*!!! 8-)
Will make more phone calls tomorrow. Thanks for all that the FDLers do!
OK, I just kicked in for this. Let’s hope it works. Jane, you’re an angel!
Toby Wollin @ 92
I grew up just outside of Yellow Springs
Toby and Kathleen: went to Antioch myself (never mind when :-) ).
Toby Wollin @ 101