Wow, just Wow, Wendell Potter.

[Kind of Blue]

Wendell Potter
CMD's Senior Fellow on Health Care
December 24, 2009

Why I'm Not Joining the Call to "Kill the Bill"

Like many people who hoped the stars had finally aligned for a fundamental overhaul of our health care system, I have been going through all of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross' stages of grief and loss -- denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance -- as I've watched what has been happening in the Senate. I moved toward acceptance this morning as I watched the Senate pass its bill, but -- being an incurable optimist -- I'm still hopeful that the legislation can be improved when Senate and House conferees meet to determine what the final bill will look like.

But even if all the problems of the Senate bill can't be fixed in conference, Congress must send the president a bill to sign...

*snip*

I understand their frustration, but I believe that when they stop and think about the real consequences of what they demanding, they will realize that for all its disappointing compromises and flaws, even the Senate-passed bill should be viewed as a foundation that can be built upon in years to come.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wendell-potter/why-im-not-joining-the-ca_b_403176.html

Well, I hope they'll ALL be out of mourning by the SOTU, though I won't hold my breath. But at least there are daily signs within DU and without and that's
To All A Good Night.

[Undercurrent]

1. WOW is right!

A BIG sign, and like you I'm hopeful there is a shift coming.

[Tarheel_Dem]

2. They've been whipped up into a frenetic rage now, and nothing or no one will...

deny them that. They've selectively (at times) thrown Gov. Dean, Hal Sparks, Randi Rhodes, Sen. Rockefeller, and anyone else who has taken a pragmatic look at the reforms in this bill, under the proverbial bus. They won't concede that we're finally laying the groundwork for what's to come. They wanted the whole enchilada, and Jane Hamsher is their new leader.

They're even worse than the teabaggers, because progressives are supposed to be able to detach from the emotion, and debate the issues intelligently. That's not what's happening here. It's kinda scary to think that I ever thought I was a part of "the big tent". A couple of independents that I phonebanked with last year, say they are equally scared of the teabaggers and the "leftbaggers" (don't know where that term comes from). It's pure unabashed, paranoid emotion that's driving the debate within these two groups, and it's kinda scary.

[HughMoran]

3. Well, that's a bit of a surprise

I hope this "foundation" is a good one and that Republicans can be prevented from destroying reform before it's fully implemented.

[still_one]

4. I think the odds are with us retaining a majority in both houses /nt

[cliffordu]

5. Yep - they are toast if they continue "NO!"

[dcsmart]

6. great post

[Cha]

7. I'd seen Wendell Potter's name before on

DU but I couldn't remember who he was..Center for Media and Democracy. Now, there's a Org worth having!