On The Public Option...

Many of you may have opened up a local or national newspaper today to see that Obama is walking back on the public option. That does not appear to be the case. Let's take a look at what is happening and think this through, okay?

First of all, this situation totally exploded yesterday when HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that the president may not require a public option in health care reform. Believe me, that was like a declaration of war against most dems and most certainly against progressive and liberal dems.

For great coverage of what happened (including Sebelius commenting and commentary on her comment and other comments in contrast etc.) go here... it's a great piece and pretty well sums things up.

So let's look at today [what the newspaper DIDN'T print this morning and where things now seem to stand (this constantly changes)].

1. First of all, you have the infamous Dem Blue Dogs (you may be in one of their districts, so PLEASE check this list) many, but not all, of which are acting more like republicans than democrats. If YOU find your rep on that Blue Dog list, call them using the toll free number, 1-866-338-1015 and ASK them if they do or do not support the public option. Many of the Blue Dogs do NOT support the public option, but some do.

If they don't support the public option, straighten them out. Without a public option, there is NO way to control costs in the private industry (and for those of you WITH private insurance, this is a big, big issue).

2. Second, you have the progressive caucus. Look for your house member on this list. Then, using the toll free number above, call their offices and see what they think. IF they are NOT a signatory to the letter discussed here at FireDogLake, ask WHY. Let them know in no uncertain terms you want a public option to be included in health care reform.

Now, you saw, above some math done by Jane at FireDogLake on the numbers. THAT is the tale.

So, is the public option dead? NOPE! Not even in the ER. Not even at the doctor's office. But we need to get and keep support for it.

Here is a GREAT CNBC interview done this morning with (my hero) Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY9). Weiner is extremely bright, very articulate, and KNOWS this issue. Watch:



The bottom line is this, folks: YOU either fight for health care or everyone loses.

Losing means those of you WITH insurance will still have caps (lifetime and illness), your policies can and will continue to be rescinded, your premiums will continue to rise dramatically, your insurance will REMAIN forever tied to your job and you will have no back up if you lose your job and cannot afford escalating and temporary COBRA rates, you can be back-charged by the insurance companies for things they have already paid for if they decide they WANT you to and you made one teenie weenie error on your app (and geez, is there anyone that probably hasn't?) etc.

For those of you without insurance, or who cannot GET insurance, you will continue in limbo without health care just as you are now.

If we blow this chance it is blown for years. So if you are NOT actively working on this... please start now.

Elvis Lives! And Other Stuff

This photo is for Fred since I know he likes Sia- mese cats and I suspect he probably likes Elvis, too.

Meet Elvis. Elvis is our newest entry, a Siamese mix that is so affectionate, he is almost impossible to photograph! Every time you get near him, Elvis rubs on whatever is nearby... basket, cat, dog... Yesterday during attempts, he fell off the cat tree twice. I thought I shouldn't try a third time least he hurt himself. What a nice, nice cat. And is he absolutely gorgeous or WHAT!

*****

Well, the news of Sen. Arlen Specter's (PA) change of party to the dems is everywhere. But one of the comments I found most telling came from Maine Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe:

"I believe in the traditional tenets of the Republican Party: strong national defense, fiscal responsibility, individual opportunity. I haven't abandoned those principles that have been the essence of the Republican Party. I think the Republican Party has abandoned those principles." [emphasis mine, obviously]

And McCain's former campaign czar has some VERY interesting thoughts:



Yeah, I'd say, and here's a case in point.

For several months, the GOP has been blocking Kathleen Sebelius, President Obama's nominee to head Health and Human Services. The problem? Her stand on abortion. Sigh.

As though Sebelius was out there demanding every woman have one, the GOP in their typical "no" mantra just cannot get past the notion that religious belief trumps secular law.

Twice now, Team Sarah (the fans of She From the North) , has tried to lobby against the Sebelius nomination as well. In fact, they're still at it, failing at the first attempt. As well, other pro-fetus groups have fought the nomination.

Then of course, there is Fox's weepy Glen Beck who never saw anything Obama (probably including his skin color) that he likes, braying once again about climate change, anything green, and don't forget immigration in the context of Sabelius:

Gads, Glen. And the balance to this? I hear the sound of silence. Fox: Fair and Balanced. Right.

Nonetheless, Sebelius is expected to be approved today. Given we are perhaps on the front end of a pandemic, it would be good to have a Secretary of Health Services, doncha think?

H1N1 Flu and a Timeline

I don't really know much about this, nor am I either an epidemiologist or a virologist. But, thankfully, others are.

If you go here, you will find a timeline for the seeming origin of the flu in Mexico, though no one really knows that for sure.

Real interesting reading.

I have terrible upper respiratory problems normally, so this is really quite scary for me, personally.

I'm supposed to cook at a big community event on May 9. I think I will be skipping that. A little too risky for me.

And within all this... politics. At every turn, the GOP is delaying Obama nominee Kathleen Sebelius from taking her position as head of Health and Human Services (HHS).

So, now having a national emergency pandemic potentially at our door, who is running the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)? A Bushie who spent most of his time in HHS more or less as an accountant.

Read more about the political situation, here.