Great post, Blue Texan. Unveil these suckers and let them walk around naked for awhile, see how they fare.

I hope this winds up on late night comedy.

Whatever it takes to rein in this rabid “blue dog” needs to be done. Perhaps the good folks in Arkansas need to be treated to the knowledge of who his real Masters are, and it ain’t them. JoFish’s Captain Obvious moment: Anyone who takes hundreds of thousands from an industry they are being paid to protect is hardly an objective party to any legislation they dislike.

Perhaps we should Constitutionally mandate lobbying to the first three days of every fiscal quarter… Maybe then regular folks could be heard the other 87 days. No “first amendment issues” there, they still get to speak, we just restrict their verbal and monetary excess and give the rest of us a level playing field and time to leave our real lives and go to Beltway FantasyLand to make our voices heard occasionally.

OK, I know you guys already know this, but I am astonished at the baldfaced corruption of our system of govt. I mean, why doesn’t his business card just say Health Insurance Sales Representative on it?

They truly are employees of the for-profit health care industry. And we are just fighting another claims battle.

Yeah!!!

just a note: you might have meant “access” but “excess” seems right too. :] And I like your idea very much.

For fans of writing letters to editors, the biggest town in Ross’ 4th District appears to be Pine Bluff. The Pine Bluff newspaper, Pine Bluff Commercial has a Web facility for accepting LTE submissions. Just in case anyone is interested.

There must be a special place in hell reserved for Blue Dogs. They stand for nothing – just want to stop everything that even looks like progress. They really should call themselves The Know-Nothings. We truly need that party to come back – so many fit there.

I tried getting through on the 800 number and it was busy all the time. I was able to reach Mike Ross’ office by dialing 202 225-3772.

Umm, I’m confused by another factoid in the post – Ross and wife “sold” the business ….but “still own 100% of the stock”????That sounds like ownership of the business to me.
Maybe they sold the business name, converted from sole proprietorship to corporation or something, but these people still “own” that company.

And, yes, thanks for exposing his “principled” reasons for opposing health care reform.

I don’t think Mike Ross is a Democrat, no matter how he ran. I think he’s a Republican who had to call himself a Dem because that’s how it still works in his southern district. Not all of them have switched to Repub, it’s still in the blood to vote for a “Democrat.” So, this guy at best is part of the old southern Dems, like they were in LBJ’s time. That’s where the racists and the wealthy and the keep-everybody-in-their-place politicos fit then, and that’s where REp. Ross belongs now.
DINO to the max.

You are exactly right. Candidates decide which party will probably get the most votes and join that party. It’s a mess but about 99% of them are Republican to the core. The south is politically crazy.

Thanks. It’s amazing what crawls out when you turn over damp rocks and lay what lies beneath open to the sun.

I hope this ends up in the Arkansas newspapers and on Arkansas news shows and even on the desk of Fox News, where (whether or not they speak of it), it will cause apoplexy.

My Conservative Democrat is voting against any public option and I’m proud of him.

LTEs good, along with news leads to the editors. Probably better not to copy FDL post verbatim, but essence is good. And actually, a little research leads to some of the newspaper’s writers, some of whom are hungry for stories (if allowed to write them, of course). Don’t know how to flood the teevee stations with stuff like this, but that needs to happen, too. And radio stations. Beyond Air America!

What did they say?

Openly criminal and profiting by it. And this is a representative?

There is a timing issue here, of course. But if media work quickly (and good luck with that), people like Ross can be outed before we flood him with protests. Hopefully catches him/them off balance.

firedogs -

it is so very important to hammer this guy – He Is Blew Dog Leader on this issue

#1 call his office – ask them to reconcile his call for fiscal responsibilty in the face of his calls for very costly “rural health equity,” which would dramatically increase federal reimbursements for Medicare and Medicaid in rural areas, then the sugar daddies, then the $100K a year off his sold business

#2 please follow up with Letters to the Editor

#3 then please go over to his facebook page, become a fan (you can un-fan later) and hammer him (politely of course) on all of these issues

You say you hate the Blue Dogs ?!?!? – well this is their Alpha on Healthcare – I don’t care if you haven’t made a call, wrote a letter, whatever – go after this guy – it is Our Time to bring the pain like you’ve never brought it before – make ‘em feel it

Another Clinton dlc democrat

personal o/t to you -

your links the other day have already helped 3 other families – including one currently battling cancer- thanks again

Mike Ross Facebook link

From over at Steve Benen’s place, a statement from Olympia Snowe:

“I believe that the reforms we are creating will result in more competitive, affordable and innovative options for Mainers, yet we can all agree that we must not leave universal access to chance. That is why I support a public plan which is available from day one — in any state where private plans fail to ensure guaranteed affordable coverage.” [emphasis added]

Snowe Falls on Health Care Reform

Arkansas newspaper links.

Just talked to the office of Blue Dog Rep Micheau from ME

He wants more time ..not surprising.

He is for the public option.

I relayed my thoughts that anything but Universal Health Care is anti business. This was one of the reasons given for NAFTA. High health care and strict environmental laws in the US.

Anything less will relegate US to third world status.

Arkansas radio stations (cover eyes after accessing site–zowie!)

Arkansas TV stations

The reason I’m pushing so hard on the “contact others beyond the rep himself” strategy is my firm belief that we’re not going to sway him. The only major power play is to rile the rabble. Rabble riling rabble. Yeah, that’s the ticket.

Just e-mailed Ross. Among other things I said that I would donate to any Democrat who would run against him.

And as I continue with this little monologue, please know I’m not advocating for discontinuing pushing Ross hard via his contact spots. No. But multi-faceted, full-frontal assault time has come. Is anyone still here? Should I shut up now? *g*

I think you are correct. It will also serve as a warning to other Democrats with similar conflicts of interest.

Still here. Still angry and still fighting. :)

Citizen Blue Texan:

Rachel Maddow has gotta lead with this info and have the good Representative Ross on to ’splain himself…Ross is just one drone in the great Congressional Borg. What needs ta happen is that talkin heads turn these bastards over on national TV and begin to expose the depth of corruption in BOTH parties. I’m convinced that a whole bunch of Blue Dogs could lose in 2010 and it would make the Democratic Majority STRONGER…addition thru subtraction.

The South has been politically crazy for decades. Yet, it has had effective veto power over Presidential candidates for decades. It makes me wonder which side really won the Civil War.

Citizen barbara:

No Sister barbara, we need to keep the visable pressure on Ross and those like ‘im because he CAN be forced to vote for the public option by takin cover behind whatever “cost savings” are pushed thru whatever bill comes out. No, Ross and all other Blue Dogs are toast in 2010 if healthcare reform doesn’t pass.

Citizen Badwater:

“It makes me wonder which side won the Civil War.”

This next two years will prove to be the last great battle in our 149 year old civil war…and as for who won, well the answer is that the Northern banks won and used the South as an economic colony to maintain control over “free labor”.

THIS IS SCREAMING TO BE MADE INTO A COMMERCIAL

I agree, I agree! Just suggesting a multi-faceted attack. Storm the freaking Bastille from all sides!

The lessons of Reconstruction were not lost on the former slaveowners; it’s called seniority.

Well guess what? Conyers has it; Rangel has it; Waxman has it; Miller has it; Kennedy has it.

It’s time to use it.

Unfortunately, Baucus also has it.

And here’s the problem . . . mine, at least. I have dorked around here too long this thread. I needed to be following my own lead (conjures up weird picture). So, I’m gonna. Toodles.

Blue Texan, do you have easily accessible links about this for me? Us?

just called this jagoff. when I finally got thru, I told the aide that answered that I was uninsured, had gall bladder surgery and the bill came to northwards of 60k. Then I read verbatim this:

A pharmacist, Ross founded Ross Pharmacy Inc. He sold the business in 2007, but according to his 2008 financial disclosure form, he and wife Holly still “own 100% of stock” in the company, which pays dividends over $100,000 a year. Holly Ross is also listed as employed by Super D Drug Acquisition Co.

His response? “have a good day………. (click)”

Fuck these people.

. The committee’s markup sessions for Tuesday and Wednesday have been canceled in the face of opposition to the bill from the panel’s conservative “Blue Dog” Democrats.

So Monday’s markup may have lasted past midnight, but on Tuesday evening the committee’s Blue Dogs were free to party, and party they did! Reps. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) and Jim Matheson (D-Utah) feted fellow Blue Dog Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.) at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Northwest Washington from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Ross is the lead Blue Dog on health care reform.

According to an invitation to the event obtained by the Sunlight Foundation and posted on its website, http://www.politicalpartytime.org, the price of admission was a $2,500 contribution to Barrow’s campaign committee. Blue Dog Reps. John Tanner (D-Tenn.) and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) were also on the invite.

To be fair, the invitation went out as early as July 10th, long before committee members were told to expect to work late on both Monday and Tuesday. Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) made his announcement that Tuesday’s markup would be canceled after Monday’s markup ended.

His response? “have a good day………. (click)”

Fuck these people.

drive-by (sorry):

ditto, and…

*spit*.

thanks for calling !

please, please, please follow up with letters to the editor using links above at Bilbo’s # 6 and/or my #18

imagine thousands in his district hearing what you have to say and imagine the schmuck with the “click” reading it :D

His response? “have a good day………. (click)

Clearly it’s because you didn’t spend that northwards of $60K on helping CongressCriminal Ross maintain his Beltway Lifestyle and Public Plan Healthcare. Had you done that, and forgone your absolutely trivial Gall Bladder Surgery, why you could have had not only a conversation with BlueDog Ross, but an autographed picture and your own American Flag flown over the Capital building for 45 seconds!

It’s all priorities, and sadly you selfishly chose your own over those of a treasured Blue Dog “DINO”… silly citizen, access is for $$, not you!

Party from 6 to 7:30 doesn’t sound like much of a party!

These Blue Dogs are trying to act as if they are for reform but just want to make sure that it pays for itself- or some other crappola. They come from districts which would be gooper if it weren’t for an accident of nature so they’re scared shitless of being labeled “socialist”-but they don’t want to be labeled as against health care reform either- as a lot of their constituents are dyin of somethin or other without a pot to pee in..

Obama has to force em to choose- either they are fer us or they’re agin us…no fuckin middle ground. Let em hide in the bushes and they will.

Thanks for the talking points and the email address.

Arkansas online. I was directed to this site to submit an online letter re: MiKe Ross.You can try it too.

http://www2.arkansasonline.com/contact/voicesform/

I emailed Ross. Pointed out how unseemly it is for him to have his bread buttered on both sides. Mentioned I’d back an opponent in the primary.

I had a ’slight’ heart attack over the weekend. The pharma bill near
gave me another. Interesting factoid: the attack is called “A broken heart” or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

They should call it Bush-Cheney syndrome.

Ed Schulz is leading the radio airwaves charge against Ross. I got in my car about 11:00 PST and he was en fuego about Ross. Telling everyone to call Ross’s office and give him a piece of his mind about attending fundraisers this week instead of the markup meeting.

I’m sure Ed will nail him on his TV show too.

What’s the reason your rep won’t vote for a plan with a public option?

Well, right now that’s ALL states and territories. But, I’m assuming she has in mind something else – some timetable to give the private insurers time to lower costs. I don’t know how much longer she would want her children to wait for health care if she couldn’t afford to have insurance NOW.

THAT’S SICK!

REFORM NOW!