With all the issues and sub-issues involved with the health care reform debate,

[Atticus]

maybe what's called for is some focus. There are plenty of well-informed Democrats in Congress to fine-tune the details of a robust public option bill. Let's let them do that. That's their job.

OUR job is to provide the support and motivation necessary to pass that robust public option. So let's concentrate our efforts on hammering home just two points:

1.) NOTHING should be added to or taken away from whatever version WE believe will best serve the long-term interests of the American people just to try to lure one or two Republicans to vote for it. Let them vote against health care and take that vote back to their constituents next election. We'd welcome their support, but we can do this without them.

2.) Failing to support the party on a cloture vote, should the Republicans really be stupid enough to filibuster, will be UNFORGIVABLE. We, the progressive base of this party, WILL NOT ABIDE such betrayal and will guarantee well-financed primary opponents for all who cross this line in the sand. Further, we will pressure all other Congressional Democrats to withhold all perks, seniority, and personal campaign support from the traitors.

Is this "do-able"?

[Neecy]

1. Probably not

You're assuming that anyone cares what we want. Look at the polling in states like Arkansas and Maine that show strong majority support for the public option, but their Senators have come out against it.

And we can never finance a primary opponent as well as the corporate whores who want to keep these puppets in office can.

I'm not entirely discouraged, but if Baucus can put out something so obviously written by industry lobbyists I fear we won't have a lot of influence here. Keep calling and writing anyway but damn, this whole process just stinks to high heaven.

[Atticus]

2. I agree that we are swimming in a cesspool, but I think we either keep paddling

or we sink.

Thanks for your response.