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Open Thread: History Made….Again

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So tonight (technically “last night” now?) was the long-awaited health care vote, and as I’m sure you all know, it must be a monumental event indeed to bring Kysen not only into the open, but into writing a diary… however disjointed and meandering it may be.  😉  The past few days have been the stuff anxiety attacks are made of for those of us who have invested our time, money, hopes, and passions in health care reform. The uncertainties seemed endless… would we have the votes, would something go wrong at the last minute? But much to the relief of all those holding their breath…

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It passed.

This will be an open thread (surprised?). Follow me below the fold for more.  

I’d like to take a moment to steal a page from Markos’ book and share the best hate mail (actually, believe it or not, the ONLY hate mail) the Moose has received. Is it strange to wish we got more of it? As it is, I am feeling pretty left out….I have not ONCE been invited to a Moose Parade. Hmph.

So, the Moose has made it to the big leagues….we have Hate Mail! See for yourself:

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Subject: ha ha ha

Body:

All you guys are total extremists. If you want to go parading around playing army than that fine with me, but I have a friend that is joining and told me all about what you guys are up to. Pretty bad when your organization is so secretive but obviously you have a leak. Sorry I won’t reveal my friends call sign because I don’t want any repercussion on him. Have fun running around like fools, because when the shit really hits the fan my sniper skills will keep me and my family safe. If they aren’t blood then they don’t matter to me. I did my job to protect and serve the small community I lived in but now it’s all about family. FUCK everyone else!!!!!!!

Well, well, well….seems we have a traitor in our midst. Our ‘Secretive Organization’ has been infiltrated by the enemy! Had the turncoat not been labeled a ‘him’, I’d be leaning towards sricki….she has been conspicuously absent of late (hmmm…so have I..and I AM a ‘him’!).

Oy.

I prolly ought not add this to a diary I plan on FP’ing but….it is just too funny not to.

Here is the Official Tea Party Logo:

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And here is a spot on observation about it and the ensuing commentary: Hmmmm…that looks like a…

Guess this could be seen as a continuation of the Ron Jeremy thread from Blask’s Victory Open Thread.  😉

Now, to be fair, it looks as though they have wised up and redrawn their logo (though, now it reminds me of the Red State Strike Force one….which just makes me laugh anew).

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Going with the meandering path my mind is on….did ya’ll see that CNN has hired Erik Erikson as a regular commentator? WTF??

Losing Amanpour and adding Erikson = EPIC FAIL….or….more precisely:

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I will swing from that semi-low note back to the high note of our victory on HCR. I am truly giddy…and that is not just the Makers Mark’s doing. Not since election night have I been so glued to the television…nor so ecstatic over the results. My Congressman is one of the weasels who voted No (Nye said Nay)…so that is a bummer, and my displeasure will be shared loudly and frequently. Thankfully, though, the Democratic branch of the Democratic Party voted to pass the historic bill. I will be riding this high for a good while. Yes, there are many things yet to be done…but, gonna bask for a bit. And, nice or no, part of that will be spent gleefully watching/listening to the Freepers explode/implode over the next few weeks. Each and every sputter, gnashed tooth, and torn hair will make me grin. Broadly.

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One last thing…I have been no fan of Stupak…and still am no great fan….HOWEVER…credit where credit is due…the man killed it tonight when he spoke out against the Republicans playing games with the bill that bore his name. I hope they figure out the hayseed that yelled “Baby Killer” as he spoke…and I hope that man is shamed as soundly as (and gets fewer subsequent donations than) Joe “You Lie” Wilson. So, hat tip to Stupak for his words tonight (though, still think he deserves a nuclear wedgie for his behavior throughout the process).

We did it.

Yes. We. Did.

Again.


Categories: Uncategorized.

/ 144 Comments

144 comments

  2. Shaun Appleby

    They’re going to wake up this morning to a world beyond their imaginations.  And it is going to take them a while to even realise it.  Prediction here, in 2016 the Republican nominee will be the one who worked most closely with Obama to remake the landscape of US politics while retaining his conservative identity.

  5. Peter Jukes

    In the words of Nathan Empsall on MYDD

    How’s this for history? The first black President and the first female Speaker of the House just brought America’s health insurance system from the 19th century to the 21st century, doing what no politician before them was able to achieve.

    And our first hate mail! How is every swivel eyed right wing looney has to always refer to brownings, or in this case – sniper rifles? Is this just a legacy of too many computer games, cowboy films, or – given the 200 million arms in circulation – somewhat more real?

    Back in the day Obama supporters were supposed to placidly drinking the Koolaid in the Jim Jones’ compound. I suspect a lot of these teabaggers are building up a mental bunker: welcome to Waco kids.  

  6. Shaun Appleby

    The view clears:


    We followed the most radical voices in the party and the movement, and they led us to abject and irreversible defeat.

    There were leaders who knew better, who would have liked to deal. But they were trapped. Conservative talkers on Fox and talk radio had whipped the Republican voting base into such a frenzy that deal-making was rendered impossible. How do you negotiate with somebody who wants to murder your grandmother? Or – more exactly – with somebody whom your voters have been persuaded to believe wants to murder their grandmother?

    I’ve been on a soapbox for months now about the harm that our overheated talk is doing to us. Yes it mobilizes supporters – but by mobilizing them with hysterical accusations and pseudo-information, overheated talk has made it impossible for representatives to represent and elected leaders to lead. The real leaders are on TV and radio, and they have very different imperatives from people in government. Talk radio thrives on confrontation and recrimination. When Rush Limbaugh said that he wanted President Obama to fail, he was intelligently explaining his own interests. What he omitted to say – but what is equally true – is that he also wants Republicans to fail.

    David Frum – Waterloo Frum Forum 21 Mar 10

    Right idea, wrong battle.  The arranged marriage between Fox and the Republicans is over and we can thank them for their assistance so far.  Now the Republicans must press the reset button.  I’m guessing Frum’s piece is making the rounds of Republican email inboxes as we speak.  It is a compelling argument which is now impossible to ignore.

    And it isn’t like some of us haven’t seen it coming.  I’m guessing it will take the Republicans three months to regroup and they will be busy wrangling among themselves the whole while.  And Roger Ailes better be looking for some new ‘strategic’ alliances because he just took the Republicans to Stalingrad and has left them isolated in the bitter winter of defeat.

  7. spacemanspiff

    This is a test.  If this were a real Spacey, you would be provided with emergency instructions.  Your real Spacey will return to you momentarily.

  8. DTOzone

    are Jerome Armstrong and bruh.

    I read Jerome’s post today at MyDD and you can tell he was really hurting. He did his very best to not give Obama any credit, and trashed the mandates he favored during the primary.

    bruh has gone silent.  

  9. mostly

    But in the David Frum piece, someone posted a quote from a 2004 Peggy Noonan article:

    “I do not know what the Democratic Party spent, in toto, on the 2004 election, but what they seem to have gotten for it is Barack Obama. Let us savor.”

  10. DTOzone

    Republican Senator John McCain said Monday morning that Democrats have not heard the last of the health care debate, and said he was repulsed by “all this euphoria going on.”

    It’s apparently “repulsive” to celebrate expanding healthcare to millions of people and saving lives.

    He’s become such a tragedy.  

  12. fogiv

    I wonder how long it will take the county that my husband works for to drop health insurance in favor of Obama care. UGH.

    This is a comment from a person I went to high school with, now lives in arizona.  

  13. GMFORD

    I had a really good argument I was planning to use against those who say this bill is a big disappointment, not what we wanted, a corporate giveaway, etc.  After reading the comments, I see I didn’t need it.  But, not to waste the brainpower thinking it up, I’ll provide it anyway.

    People like Jane Hamsher who take an ALL or NOTHING stance on well, pretty much anything are doomed to be disappointed.  The odds between ALL and NOTHING are not 50:50 because the odds of getting ALL of what we want (ever) are 0.  Therefore the chances of getting NOTHING are 100%.

    Those who prefer the SOMETHING vs. NOTHING approach will live happy fulfilled lives as the chances of getting SOMETHING (assuming we try) are nearly 100% making the odds of getting NOTHING nearly 0.

    Pretty good, eh?  I thunk it up all on mah own.

    — G

  14. spacemanspiff

    All you guys are total extremists. If you want to go parading around playing army than that fine with me, but I have a friend that is joining and told me all about what you guys are up to. Pretty bad when your organization is so secretive but obviously you have a leak. Sorry I won’t reveal my friends call sign because I don’t want any repercussion on him. Have fun running around like fools, because when the shit really hits the fan my sniper skills will keep me and my family safe. If they aren’t blood then they don’t matter to me. I did my job to protect and serve the small community I lived in but now it’s all about family. FUCK everyone else!!!!!!!

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  15. Chris Blask

    Politico:

    Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) has acknowledged that he was the one who shouted “baby killer” as Rep. Bart Stupak was speaking on the House floor Sunday night. He said he was referring to the reconciliation bill, not to Stupak.

  16. John Allen

    from MarketWatch. That is part of the Wall Street Journal Digital network, so wingers will be more apt to believe what they say.

    http://www.marketwatch.com/sto…

    A few key excerpts:

    SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) – No more worrying about lifetime limits on health coverage, about whether your insurer will dump you when you get sick, or about whether your adult child will be booted off your plan when he turns 18.

    Kids will be able to stay on their parents’ plans until they’re 26 if they want and new insurance policies will have to cover certain preventive-care measures with no out-of-pocket cost to the consumer. These are some of the changes that will kick in this year as part of the landmark health-overhaul legislation the U.S. Congress passed on Sunday.

    Insurers also will be barred from denying coverage based on people’s preexisting health conditions for the first time, but children receive this benefit before adults.

    The ban on excluding kids because of illness takes effect six months after passage, but the full adult measure doesn’t kick in until 2014. In the meantime, adults with preexisting conditions who’ve been uninsured for at least six months can enroll in a temporary high-risk pool and receive subsidized premiums, starting three months after the bill’s passage.

       *

         If you have employer-sponsored coverage: Any lifetime caps on how much your health plan will cover, often set between $1 million and $5 million, will be eliminated in both group and individual health plans starting later this year. Employers will have to disclose the cost of workers’ health coverage on their W-2 tax forms starting in 2011.

       *

         If you have a small business: Small firms starting this year may be eligible for new tax credits that would cover up to 35% of health-insurance premiums for businesses that have fewer than 25 employees. Workers at small businesses eventually will be able to buy policies on new health-insurance exchanges, where health benefits will have to meet a new minimum standard.

       *

         If you’re uninsured: Over the next 10 years, the bill will extend coverage to an estimated 32 million people who would otherwise lack coverage. It does this by expanding the government safety net and providing subsidies for low- and moderate-income people without employer health benefits to buy private plans on health-insurance exchanges, which are due to start in 2014. For the first time, all citizens and legal residents will have to buy health insurance — with financial aid from the government if they can’t afford it, on a sliding scale up to 400% of the poverty line — or face a penalty starting in 2014, with some exceptions for low-income people. The amounts are set to rise annually, beginning with a fine of $95 or 1% of income, whichever is greater, and growing to as much as $695 or 2.5% of taxable income by 2016.

       *

         If you’re low-income: The law significantly expands Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor, making it available to an estimated 16 million more people with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level. Adults without dependent children will qualify for the first time. In addition, community health centers, on which many of the working poor rely, will receive enhanced funding.

       *

         If you’re a young adult: Starting six months after enactment, kids can stay on their parents’ policies until age 26. Individuals younger than 30 who don’t have insurance also will have the option of buying catastrophic coverage on the exchanges, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

  17. DTOzone

    I’m following my twitter today and was interested to see Newsie8200 of Dkos tweet this;

    Why doesn’t @jaketapper & the media ask if the GOP has an obligation to reach out to POTUS to bridge partisan divide?

    To his credit, Tapper responded.

    @Newsie8200 bc he’s the president, and he campaigned on bridging the partisan divide

    Another words, it’s all on him, because he promised it. If I keep a promise to give a charity 10,000 oranges and there’s a famine in Florida, is that my fault they’re not getting 10,000 oranges?

    Tapper did admit though that he covers the President and not the Republicans, so one should ask whoever is interviewing Boehner or McConnell that question.  

  18. Chris Blask

    My Friend,

    Late last night, the Democrats in the House of Representatives passed their massive government takeover of our health care system. This bill is terribly wrong for America and I call on you to join with me to challenge this bill in every way we can.

    The fact remains that by a two-to-one margin, Americans do not want this bill to become law. On Saturday, I held town hall meetings in Arizona and we could not find one person who liked this bill. It’s shameful that the Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats have chosen to ignore the citizens of America.

    I believe the will of the people will be reflected sooner or later. The Democrats will learn in November, that when you go against the wishes of the American people, you pay a steep and heavy price. Americans will not be silenced on this matter and I will continue to lead this fight each and every day.

    I assure you I am not quitting our fight. I believe we must repeal this bill immediately.

    I am currently working in every way possible on your behalf to accomplish this. However, I am facing a tough reelection campaign. If I am not reelected this year, I cannot fight for our shared values in the Senate. That’s why your immediate donation of any amount is so critical.

    Your urgent support will enable me to continue our fight against this terrible bill.

    Through tax increases and expensive burdens on small businesses, this bill will bankrupt our great nation. And while the inside-the-beltway Democrats are celebrating with champagne at the White House, anger is building outside the beltway.

    I need your immediate help to send a message to these Washington Democrats. I ask that you take a moment today to make a generous contribution of $25, $50, $100, $250 or more to ensure I may continue fighting on your behalf.

    I assure you that I will continue to challenge this bill in every way I can and will work to repeal it as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued support.

    Sincerely,

    John McCain

    P.S. For the first time in American history, a major piece of legislation has been passed without bipartisan support. The fact remains, the American public does not want this massive government-run health care takeover. I am working to repeal the bill but I need your support to continue my service in the U.S. Senate. I am facing a tough reelection campaign and your immediate donation of $25 or more will enable me to continue fighting. Please follow this link to make your urgent donation. Thank you

  19. fogiv

    fogiv —

    President Barack Obama will soon sign comprehensive health care reform into law. A century-long fight will finally be won.

    As the President wrote last night, it was you who made this improbable victory possible. It was volunteers knocking on doors, talking to neighbors, and proving once again that Americans, standing together, can change the course of a nation.

    Supporters like us now have a chance to add our names as “Co-signers” of this historic legislation — adding our names next to President Obama’s to show our pride in helping to bring about this great achievement.

    Organizing for America will establish a permanent archive with all the signatures, so that generations to come will have a record of those who stood together in this moment and won this fight for our future. And I will personally present all the names we collect to the President. Will you add your name?

    This is the most significant domestic achievement in decades. And this movement of Americans, committed to improving their country, made it possible.

    We turned out for that first cold morning in Springfield, for the canvasses in New Hampshire, for the phone banks in Iowa. We kept fighting when no one gave us a chance and the cynics told us we were clinging to a false hope.

    We organized for health reform. We spread the facts on doorsteps, in town halls, and through millions of conversations. Your voice rang through the halls of Congress and filled the pages of local newspapers.

    It took many months and tremendous resolve, but we built a national network of support so strong that when the deceptive attack ads choked the airwaves and the pundits declared our effort defeated — we had what it took to fight our way back.

    And we won: the toughest insurance regulations in history, affordable coverage for 32 million without it, relief from skyrocketing costs for small business owners and from rising deficits for our children.

    That’s the story of how change really happens. And now, hundreds of millions will have better lives because of it.

    It’s rare to be part of something so meaningful that will help change the course of history. But you are.

    Please consider adding your name as co-signer today to commemorate your efforts:

    http://my.barackobama.com/Cosign

    Thank you,

    David Plouffe

    Nice.  Of course, Beckians will claim this is just Obama’s way of collecting names so the gubmint can plant chips in our butts, making it easy to track us as we hug our way, tree by tree, through the forest enroute to our secret maxist orgy around a bonfire of welfare checks.

  20. HappyinVT

    So this is how Soviet America begins. The Dems are the REDS — the real Americans are the WHITES. Tomorrow, we reenact 1918! #tcot #hcr

    h/t to Da Bomb at Balloon Juice

    Do you or your dumbass staff members who think of these things stop before you press the send button?

  23. DTOzone

    Friend of mine tweeted;

    I’m so glad kids can stay on their parents’ coverage until they’re 26. Gives them less of an incentive to be productive members of society.

    I flipped a shit…you see, since I graduated college in 2001, I have never had healthcare until now…because none of my past jobs offered any and I had that whole knee surgery thingy when I was 19 that qualifies as a “preexisting condition”

    But that’s only because as a producer and director for PBS, a writer for the Daily News, a producer for ABC and a contributing writer for about a half dozen magazines, I wasn’t a productive member of society.

    Friend got mad me for “personalizing everything” and said he “didn’t mean me” because I’m apparently the exception or something.

    I’m shocked at how many friends the Obama Presidency has cost me.  

  25. Shaun Appleby

    Foreign policy perspective from Sully on the health care reform victory and Obama’s presidency, with a bit of an enconium thrown in:


    Obama has bet that this is his destiny. He is extremely cautious from day to day, staggeringly flexible on tactics, but not at all modest when you look at the big picture. He still wants to rebuild the American economy from the ground up, re-regulate Wall Street, withdraw from Iraq, win in Afghanistan, get universal health insurance and achieve a two-state solution in Israel/Palestine in his first term. That’s all. And although you can see many small failures on the way, and agonising slowness as well, you can also see he hasn’t dropped his determination to achieve it all.

    This is what we’ve learnt this year: Obama does not mind defeats if they are procedural or about others saving face. He’s happy to admit error; to give his opponents a chance to lunge at his jugular; to let opponents enjoy a day in the sun; to shave off any small stuff as long as the big stuff remains. He seems oddly impervious to personal insult: he doesn’t mind being affronted by the Chinese or humiliated by Netanyahu as long as it’s a matter of symbolism. On substance, he wants what he wants; and, on the big stuff, he has given up on nothing yet.

    Andrew Sullivan – Win on health and Barack Obama wins around the world The Times 21 Mar 10

    “That’s all.”  Heh.

  26. Cheryl Kopec

    First, how do you do that thing with the series of successive pics in your diary?

    Second, I was saddened to know that our own WA state AG is joining the 10th amendment challenge. Anybody have any heartening insight into why this wouldn’t hold water?

    Thanks,

    ~~Cheryl

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