From AARP Meetings to Town Hall Meetings Nationwide – American’s Tell Members – No To Health Care Plan – Basic Theme – “You Work For Us” – Analysis

Town Hall Meetings across the country the past week held by members of the U.S. Congress and supporters of President Obama’s Health Care Plan, all of which are being attended by the general public (members of specific congressional districts and/or organizations supporting the plan) – at first, these meetings were attracting small crowds, that were shockingly vocal in their opposition to the plan (Shockingly vocal as far as the President and the DNC are concerned). This resulted in backlash from members of Congress and the DNC directed at the public as well as a campaign from the President and his continuing Presidential Campaign urging members of the Democrat Party to support the bill, while demeaning those who do not as “special interest groups”. The White House went so far as to ask members of the public to report “fishy” people who were opposed to Health Care “reform” via email on the White House website. As a result, these meetings have since exploded – crowds are larger and even more vocal in their opposition to the program, asking that the specific representative listen to their concerns, which, for the most part, is not happening.

The President has had plenty of time to sell the program and allow American’s to make up their minds about what they want. In June the President spent an evening on ABC, explaining his program to the public,, and from that point forward, polling on the reform of America’s health care program suggested that a growing number of the public does not support the President’s plan. The latest poll released shows increased confidence in the current system with merely 25% strongly supporting the President’s plan. One would think that the President and members of Congress would now take the time and review the options, taking a clue from the growing number of constituents who are in opposition to the bill in its present form.

Therefore, it is time for the President and members of Congress to go back to the drawing board, and remember, as one gentleman at an AARP informational session put it, who they work for. The problem arises in that the public at large has access to a variety of news outlets, as well as the ability to read the actual bill on line - and they are not happy with what they have read. The suggestion by the DNC stating that individuals who oppose reform are “Republican operatives”, or “hired by insurance companies” is ludicrous in the extreme. Those who oppose the bill come from a variety of parties, including the President’s Party. The email received by this blog urging calls in support of the President’s plan (complete with instruction) to a U.S. Representative’s office did not come from a Republican Operative or Insurance Company – rather from the recipient of the email. It is not without some alarm, that individuals who are registered Republican’s, Independent Voters, Libertarians and Democrats are concerned with the tactics taken by the Democrat Party to push this legislation on the American people. Additionally, the emails contain a factual error – noting that the majority of American’s are in favor of the Presidents’ plan, while published polls have been telling the nation otherwise.

As to the Republican Party – it is this blogs opinion that Party members (or more pointedly – members of Congress – who have disagreed with the bill, and have been vocal about it – are merely doing their job – although two parties exist – the main point of our system of government is to allow a variety of types of representatives to work together, agree and disagree, based on what their constituents want. The RNC, while statements have been issued (as statements have been issued by their counterpart, the DNC), do not play a large role in this debate. They will, however, reap the benefits of the debate, should the President and those members of Congress who are failing to listen to their constituents politely and with respect to their employers, continue in this vein, they will surely suffer politically.

In fact, the point has been reached where those “insurance companies” or “Republican” or “Conservative” groups that allegedly are “hurting the president” (Barbara Boxer Comments) did not utter a peep, the steps taken by the DNC, the President and the Union working for the President (SEIU), have done enough damage to sway the court of public opinion and fuel the angst of the public.

It goes without saying, that members of groups that disagree with the President, are not affiliated with one party over another, rather they are politically mixed, a fact that escapes the DNC, or rather, a fact they choose to ignore while trying to invent a boogeyman to take the blame for “inciting the general public against the President and his plan”. The problem with that tactic, is those people within the groups know who they are, and so do their neighbors, their families, their friends, and they are, individually emailing, and calling and organizing trips to town hall meetings, without the aid of any “political machine”.

Therefore, the “Truth Squads”, should realize the truth, the public is not that stupid, they do know what’s best for them (see Andrea Mitchell), and the times has come for the President and members of Congress to do the job that they were sent to Washington to do in the first place – work for the good of the American people, at their behest. Should they fail to listen, and continue the current course of dismissal of the public, disinformation to constituents (who have the ability to form opinions based on what they read), and move forward on this legislation, they public will simply employ someone else in their position come 2010 and 2012. In the final analysis, the issue of health care reform, has come under a great deal of scrutiny, for the most part because it affects all American’s, but the more importantly, the people have had previews with other legislation, specifically eh Stimulus, and moving forward, one can anticipate that all legislation, regardless of which party suggests a bill, will be given the same scrutiny by the public.

A sample of the many video’s available of Meetings Held across the country are shown below

AARP Meeting Cancelled over Opposition

Indiana Health Care Protest

Denver Health Care Protest

Health Care Protests Michigan

Kathy Castor Town Hall Meeting

Stacking the Deck for Obama Care in the 5th District: Email to District Voters Urging them to Contact Rep. Tsongas to support Obama’s Health Care Plan

An email is being sent to voters in the Massachusetts 5th District urging them to contact their representative and support the Obama Health Care Plan. The Email, sent from Organizing for America (BarackObama.com) implies that those who oppose the plan (you, me, your brother, sister, neighbor) are members of special interest groups. This is beyond insulting. Expect the end result of these emails to show up in the local and national broadcasts any day now. Those who do call, buying into this hook, line and sinker, will be those “American’s who wholeheartedly support the President” – In a word, manufactured propaganda.

The entire text of the email below:

To those who feel a bit differently, you may want to contact that Representative and give a point of view - be sure to mention you are calling about the email received from
Organizing America. You may also urge Ms. Tsongas in Massachusetts 5th to keep her plans for her meeting tomorrow at the City Hall in Chelmsford (she has changed that location once already: prior to the Town Hall it was to be at the Market Basket).

From: Mitch Stewart, BarackObama.com

To:

Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 1:23 PM

Subject: Beating the scare tactics



Members of Congress have been home for just a few days, and they're already facing increased pressure from insurance companies, special interests, and partisan attack organizations that are spending millions to block health insurance reform.

These groups are using scare tactics and spreading smears about the President's plan for reform, trying to incite constituents into lashing out at their representatives and disrupting their events.

The goal of these disruptions is for a few people to get a lot of media attention and hijack the entire public discourse. If they succeed, all Americans -- Democrats, Republicans, and Independents -- will continue to struggle under the broken status quo.

It's up to us to show Congress that those loudly opposing reform are a tiny minority being stirred up by special interests, and that a huge majority strongly supports enacting real health insurance reform in 2009.

Your representative, Niki Tsongas, has been fighting hard for real health insurance reform. Can you call the local office in Acton? Let the person who answers know that you're a constituent. Then tell them: "Thanks for working to enact real health insurance reform this year. Voters like me support your efforts."

According to our records, you live in Massachusetts's 5th congressional district. Please call:

Rep. Niki Tsongas at 978-263-1951.

Once you've made your call, click here to report it.

(Not your representative? Click here to look yours up.)

Calling should only take a few minutes, but it's a huge help. These local offices serve as the main connection between a member of Congress and voters in the district. And with representatives home on recess, the staff there are in daily contact with your member, keeping them updated on how many calls they receive that are for or against reform.

Once you've called, please tell us. Knowing how many calls are coming in from all around the country will help us better plan our campaign -- and help us show that the American people overwhelmingly want health insurance reform this year. Let us know you called:

http://my.barackobama.com/districtcall1?district=MA5&postal_code=1720

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

Iran Update 07-07-09 – Protests Continue – 55th Day – Khamenei turns to Russia for Assistance in dealing with revolt. BBC Reports on New Opposition

The Iranian Protests continued yesterday – video’s and information here) in Farsi, (Google Translation Tool will aid in translation to English). There is an unconfirmed report out of Tehran that Khamenei has invited Russian Police to be Peacekeepers and observe and keep the peace. Apparently, the previously hired “Arabs” have had a change of heart, as they are insisting on being paid, with little result from the cash-strapped regime. A Conversation here (Farsi), between outside forces hired by the regime, gives an idea of the instability in the region.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister of Canada, has made it clear that he stands with the people of Iran, bolstering those who are in-country. Finally, the BBC has reported on “new opposition protests in Iran” which is well worth the read.

It is a long road to democracy, and those that would expect to see a Democratic Public of Iran in an instant would be disappointed, that said, the conviction of the Persian People to a change in government that would make Iran the only Democratic Republic to come to the world in over 300 years, have time on their side – and they should have the full support of every single person who enjoys the freedoms allowed under the United States Constitution. The American Revolution was long and bloody, taking decades to accomplish, given technology, and the sheer will of all the people against the current regime (there were far too many anti-colonists in the American Revolution which made it drag on a bit longer), may see this taking place within the year – to be admired – those that are asking for government change, also do not want “negotiators from outside sources.” – They are, in a word, inspiring.

Watch for continued protests, and should the regime continues to use extraordinarily cruel methods, it will inspire, not detract, from those who would be free.

White House Requests American’s Report on the Neighbors who disagree with Universal Health Care – Juvenile Actions May Lead to Political Suicide.

There’s been a growing dissent among the public for the past few weeks regarding the Obama administration’s proposed Universal Health Care Plan. In polling conducted by Rasmussen 53% of American’s are not in favor of this plan. The poll was released on July 22rd., prior to the Congressional Summer Break. Since then, two additional polls have taken place, with similar results.

It is a point in fact, therefore, that he majority of American’s do not support the President on this issue. Enter Matt Drudge, of the Drudge Report (where the news gets its news), On August 3rd, The Drudge Report carried a story about a video of the President – advocating the elimination of private health insurance. The White House responded that the allegations were false, implying that the ”Drudge” was misleading.

The full video, however, is available on YouTube (and shown below). In it the President clearly makes the statement, contrary to what is posted on the White House Website here.

Meanwhile, in an attempt to sell Universal Health Care, the Congress, while on vacation, are holding town hall meetings; these meetings are to inform the public, and get information from the public, a Q & A so to speak. The meetings are unusually well-attended, and there is opposition to statements being made by these members of Congress vis a vis the so-called “health care reform”. Although, this blog understand that those individuals taking part in the Q&A at meeting held in Massachusetts are from all political parties, (as do those in attendance, and those whose neighbors are in attendance, and so on), the DNC (Democrat National Committee) and the head of the DNC (the President – Barak Obama), ran an internet ad (shown below) calling those who are not in favor of “Health Care Reform” – a mob.

One would think that the schoolyard tactics regarding the debate (bullying comes to mind) would have ended there – that the White House would have some shred of dignity – not so.

Since the dissent has grown out of control (by leftists standards – apparently should the shoe be on the other foot (left foot) a protests is fine and dandy, however, anyone else exercising their constitutional rights, (or the right foot) are part of a “mob”. Therefore, the White House is asking that, should you, John Q. Public, know of a neighbor who is in disagreement with the “Government”, they want you to let them know. From: www.whitehouse.gov:

Opponents of health insurance reform may find the truth a little inconvenient, but as our second president famously said, "facts are stubborn things."

Scary chain emails and videos are starting to percolate on the internet, breathlessly claiming, for example, to "uncover" the truth about the President’s health insurance reform positions.
In this video, Linda Douglass, the communications director for the White House’s Health Reform Office, addresses one example that makes it look like the President intends to "eliminate" private coverage, when the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
For the record, the President has consistently said that if you like your insurance plan, your doctor, or both, you will be able to keep them. He has even proposed eight consumer protections relating specifically to the health insurance industry.

There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.

The first question that arises: “Is this some kind of a joke?”

The second: “How stupid do they think “we the people” are?”

First, the White House explains that the video’s (Drudge) do not show the President say anything negative regarding private insurance carries, yet, fail to show the entire video where he does. Secondly, the White House is busy tracking “scary emails and chain letters”, (instead of working to solve the current crop of problem, rather than trying to create new ones), and cannot possibly keep tract of them all – (over 53% of the populations, that is a lot of emails). Therefore, they are asking you – the public, to report on anyone that disagrees with Obama’s health care version – by sending an email directly to the White House.

If this wasn’t so ridiculously silly, it would sound similar to the ploy used by the Nazi’s in the late 1930’s, whereby they encouraged people to report on their neighbors, mothers, brothers, sisters, etc., and everyone knows how that ended. (Badly, just for the record).

Apparently, the emails are not coming in as expected, the White House has sent out the troops (Congress):

Barbara Boxer, on MSNBC noted that the “mob” participants are too well dressed, so therefore they must be part of a planned mob, in order to “hurt our President”.

Nancy Pelosi, took it a step forward, and stated that the protesters were carrying swastikas (Note to Nancy: if one were carrying a swastika it was not in support of the swastika, it was a symbol of the way the administration is handling the debate on health care – see paragraph on Nazi Germany).

In the final analysis, although there are those who find the methods being deployed by the White House as “insidious” in truth, they are juvenile, and frankly below the office. One has to then project how this campaign by the White House and those congressional members to stop the “misinformation”, looks to those all important unenrolled voters – (who are participating in large numbers – as part of the “mob”) –In a word - ridiculous. Does one vote or re-elect someone who is ridiculous? The answer is obvious. The numbers, for that is what this is really about, don’t add up. There are simply not enough enrolled Republicans or Democrats to sway an election – enter the independent voter – someone who does not think along partisan lines, watching a sitting president, as head of his political party, employ these types of tactics. It is childish - it is also political suicide.

Addendum: It would have been far better for the White House to issue a statement similar to: “This was said many years ago….it is not the Presidents intent now”, rather than to say “He did not say that!” – When – as shown below – “he clearly did”. The White House owes Matt Drudge and the rest of the “mob” an apology.

Barbara Boxer Video

Insulting DNC “Mob” Ad

Original Obama Video on Eliminating Single Payer Plans – posted to Drudge, via Breitbart, via YouTube

Obama Health Care Revolt Hits the Bay State - McGovern (D-MA) & Neal (D-MA) Shouted down in Attempt to sell Universal Health Care.

Neal(D) & McGovern (D) booed at Town Hall Obama Health Care Meeting in Worcester, MA - photo: Worcester Telegram Gazette

Yesterday, James McGovern, Representing the Massachusetts 3rd District and Richard Neal, (Hampden 2nd) attempted to sell the administration’s health care program to individuals attending a town hall meeting at the University of Massachusetts campus in Worcester – it did not go well. The Worcester Telegram and Gazette’sarticle (here) , describes a “packed town hall meeting” where Neal and McGovern were met by a hostile crowd.

Town hall meetings are being held across the nation in a last-ditch attempt to sell the government run health care program, and one would expect, that those held in a blue state such as Massachusetts would be an easier sell. What one has to understand is that Massachusetts already has a health care system in place, similar to the one proposed by the Obama administration. That system has run consistently over budget, and has almost bankrupted the state – This program and the beleaguered turnpike authority caused a significant (25%) rise in taxes and fees that went into effect August 1st. Massachusetts residents have “seen the future” and they aren’t buying.

Richard Neal is facing opposition in the Massachusetts 2nd district – Republican Dr. Jay Flietman of Northampton. Neal is normally considered “safe” by pundits during election years simply because he runs unopposed – 2010 may be the turning point. Neal was an early Obama supporter in the 2008 primaries, although his constituents overwhelmingly supported Hillary Clinton. Flietman is more than qualified to give Neal a run for his money in 2nd district, which includes Hampden, Hampshire and parts of Worcester country. To Learn more about Dr. Fleitman visit his website www.jayfleitman.com.

Neal, not necessarily grounded in reality – gave a recent interview to WWLP (below) insisting that the Stimulus was working and the economy had improved. These types of statements make it difficult to sell a program that the majority of American’s see as both government intrusion into private life as well as an additional tax burden.



Those who live in the 5th District will have an opportunity to attend a town hall meeting by Rep. Nicki Tsongas (D-MA) who will be holding an Obama Health Care forum on Saturday. Taking a page from John Kerry’s last campaign – Tsongas is holding “Congress in Your Corner” meetings (staff in attendance) in the following locations: Chelmsford, (August 8), Hudson (August 11) and Lawrence (August 18) – the full schedule is available at her website here. It is extremely likely that Ms. Tsongas will face stiff opposition at those meetings.

If Obama cannot sell his plan in Massachusetts, (to the residents), (One must discount those members of Congress in Massachusetts who are normally politically “safe” and feel “their constituents may not know what’s good for them” – a-la Andrea Mitchell (see video below) – and will, in all likelihood vote for any bill along partisan lines (proven records on all three mentioned here), how then, can he sell it nationwide, where Democrats do not always enjoy the “safety-net” provided by the Blue State (which, incidentally may change in 2010).

Congress Takes Heat for HealthCare as Constituents Revolt - Obama Joker Posters - A Point of No Return - Enter the Season of Political Discontent

Obama As the Joker - Poster in L.A. image: Fox News

As members of Congress go back to their districts to try and sell Health Care Reform (Universal Health Care) to the general public, they are being met with resistance. From Philadelphia to Texas, town hall meetings and appearances by Representatives are turning into demonstrations against the Democrats and Obama administrations plans for health care, and the tax and spend policies of the 111th Congress. In Nashville Blue Dog Democrat Jim Cooper, is struggling with the phone calls and emails urging him to vote against Universal Health Care. Blue Dog Democrats (moderates recruited by Rham Emanuel in order to win Republican districts and gain the house majority), are finding that they are stuck between a rock and a hard place, either vote like a conservative (or make good on campaign promises) or look for another job in 2011.

The situation has grown to the point where CBS News (You Tube video below) felt the need to report on the situation. The gist of the news report is that “Conservative Groups” are “partly” responsible for the massive email and phone campaigns both Republican and Democrat members of Congress – calling them “anti-reform forces”. The CBS Report fails to report that the crowd responded loudly when Specter mentioned the need to quickly “pass” the bill (original You Tube video below for comparison) Additionally, CBS also reported that it was the intent of Congress and the President to get this bill passed before the August recess, in order to avoid the public outcry that would ensure.

First, there is a problem with that thesis as the groups, The 9-12 project and Freedom Works.org are bi-partisan, attracting Republican, Moderate Democrats, Libertarians and specifically Independent (or unenrolled) voters – the biggest issue driving the general public perceptions against Democrats are the economy (taxes and specifically increased taxes due to the massive spending bills put through by this President and Congress in concert) and Socialism (Universal Health Care, government controlled industries such as banking and the auto industry). Secondly, had that bill passed in haste (see Stimulus), the political ramifications would have been damning. At the very least, those who are taking the “heat” from constituents now have the option of either voting the way the people who hired them want them to vote and keeping their jobs, or voting with their Party – which will result in a loss in 2010.

Apparently, the distaste for the present direction (socialism) that our nation is taking has reached Hollywood. KTLA is reporting that posters of President Obama depicted as the “Joker”, with the word “socialism” included are popping up around Los Angeles. The Posters are also showing up in Atlanta which left-of-center bloggers attribute to conservative groups who are against Universal Health Care.

The problem with that theory is that Cartoonish posters have been assigned to other Presidents, when public perception was shifting. Specifically, President Bush as Joker, during his last term.

It appears that the proverbial “shoe” is now on the “other foot” so to speak. Normally reserved moderates and Republican’s have taken a page from the liberal playbook – the louder you shout, the better the chance you’ll get what you want. A playbook written for Conservatives by Democrat’s on the blog Hill Buzz entitled “Why Persistence Matters When Facing Down Corporate America….” is a virtual outline of tactics employed by liberals - given to those who are otherwise – too Republican or Conservative to speak up and fight for their beliefs or a specific cause. No matter how normally reserved, regardless of party affiliation, a growing number of Americans are standing up for limited government and reminding their representatives in Congress and the Senate, as well as the man sitting in the Oval Office, that they work for the people. Regardless of the outcome, should the bill pass or no, the rift between the public’s perceptions of the Party in Power has dramatically shifted, and given history, change will come to Washington in 2010 and 2012. It was the Independent Vote that put the current administration and Congress in office, and they have clearly lost that segment of the voting public.

Original Video Specter and Sebilius Shoulted down in Philadephoia - on You Tube (a fragment shown on CBS below)

CBS News Video on Protests Against Universal Health Care

Update Iran – 08-03-09 – Khamenei Gives Stamp of Approval to Ahmadinejad’s Presidency – Protests Planned for Inauguration

Ayatollah Khameneihas given his endorsement of Ahmadinejad’s second term. The disputed election has sparked massive demonstrations across the country; with extreme brutality shown by the regime in an attempt to quell the protests. Khamenei, in endorsing Ahmadinejad, did so by kissing his shoulder, which is a uniquely Arabic custom, this has given fodder to protestors who are stressing the import of their Persian roots – Khomeini has hired Arab mercenaries in order to bolster his campaign against the protestors. The Inauguration will take place on August 5, 2009, at 9 A.M., and protests are being planned across the country for both August 3rd and August 5th. An article from Middle East Online questions if Ahmadinejad will be able to govern effectively, given the opposition from the public (protestors) and from clerics (see Quom, where Khamenei is said to have destroyed the educational aspects of the clerical monastery, replacing an emphasis on the military) – the article suggests a revolution similar to the 1979 revolution which brought the Ayatollah to power.

Although mass arrests and trials are taking place in what appears to be a “last-ditch” effort for the regime to bring the country under control, those that are seeking freedom from the theocracy in general, are undeterred. The opposition, some who support Hossein Mousavi, opposition candidate to Ahmadinejad, and the growing number who would see Iran as a Free Democratic Republic, vow continued protests until Khomeini and Ahmadinejad are no longer in power. The difference between how the protests are conducted, from the first very peaceful protests where the hired mercenaries of Khomeini attacked protestors who could not or would not defend themselves, has changed in the past few protests to a more proactive and vocal protests – a subtle change to be sure, but one which has yet to evolve into an armed conflict. One has to wonder how long 70,000,000 people will passively protest – given the sudden attention from news sources such as the BBC and NRP, sure that there will be more “unrest” over the inauguration, it cannot be long. The last “protests “of July 30, brought hundreds of video’s through channels such as You-Tube, Twitter, Face Book and Citizen Tube, in order to prove to the world the general lack of acceptance of the current regime and the will of the Persian people to remove him at all costs. It goes without saying that Pandora’s Box has been opened – it is only a matter of time.

HR3200 Universal Health Care - Barely Clears Committee – How Your Represented Voted - Analysis

The Obama administration’s health care bill narrowly passed the final committee and will not go to a vote on the House Floor after the summer break. The bill was approved along partisan lines – not voting in favor of the bill were the following Blue Dog Democrats:

• John Barrow (GA)
  
• Rich Boucher (VA)
  
• Jim Matheson (UT)
  
• Charlie Melancon (LA)
  
• Bart Stupak (MI)
  

While the following Democrats did vote for the Bill:

• Edward Markey, MA
  
• Henry Waxman, CA
  
• John Dingell, MI
  
• Frank Pallone, NJ
  
• Bart Gordon, TN
  
• Bobby L. Rush, IL
  
• Anna Eshoo, CA
  
• Eliot L. Engel, NY
  
• Gene Green, TX
  
• Diana DeGette, CO
  
• Lois Capps, CA
  
• Mike Doyle, PA
  
• Jane Harman, CA
  
• Jan Schakowsky, IL
  
• Charles A. Gonzalez, TX
  
• Jay Inslee, WA
  
• Tammy Baldwin, WI
  
• Mike Ross, AR
  
• Anthony D. Weiner, NY
  
• G.K. Butterfield, NC
  
• Baron P. Hill, IN
  
• Doris O. Matsui, CA
  
• Donna M. Christensen, VI
  
• Kathy Castor, FL
  
• John P. Sarbanes, MD
  
• Christopher S. Murphy, CT
  
• Zachary T. Space, OH
  
• Jerry McNerney, CA
  
• Betty Sutton, OH
  
• Bruce L. Braley, IA
  
• Peter Welch, VT

Changes or agreements to the original bill HR 3200 PDF contents here include:

• Granting 12 years of market protection to pharmaceutical companies marketing drugs to treat cancer and Parkinson’s. (The White House hoped to give generic versions the nod.)
  
  
  
• The government will not sell its insurance in competition with private industry, a big loss for the consumer.

Under the Bill’s current structure, insurance companies could not exclude pre-existing conditions, and the federal government will extend subsidies (taxpayer dollars) for those families that cannot afford insurance. Additionally, abortions providers must accept federally funded patients (taxpayer dollars), and there is an ongoing rift among the progressive wing of the Democrat Party under the leadership of House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and those Democrats who would prefer to hold onto their jobs and vote with those Republican’s who are in favor of a free-market approach to healthcare, which, as polls, show, a majority of American’s favor.

The entire program would not be available until 2013, which may (according to current swift changes in the political climate), see a change in the administration and both houses. With that in mind, should the House pass the bill (although out of committee, the bill, once on the floor, will continue to face resistance), it will still need to go to the Senate, where the measure could not make it out of committee before the summer break. Embattled Incumbent, Harry Reid, once again turned to blaming the Republican’s for the lack of progress – Reid and his counterpart in the House, Pelosi, prefer to rush bills through committees, push them to the floor for a vote, without giving time for members of both houses to even give a swift perusal of contents. The result: haste makes waste.

The dismal failure, fraud and pork attached to the First Stimulus as a result of a quick read or no read at all, allows one to understand why Incumbent Democrats, let alone Republicans, who face competition in 2010 may not be so inclined to rush through another one of Obama’s “sky is falling” “Acts”. It is simply the Court of Public Opinion that will weigh this bill and to that end, those who are not in favor of this particular encroachment on the rights of American’s, should contact each and every one of those who voted in Committee to pass this legislation. This can be done by simply googleing their name, which will bring up both a congressional contact, as well as campaign websites and, in some instances, home phone numbers. (An aspect of Google that alone is an invasion of privacy.) Those that stood on principle and were not intimidated by one Rham Emanuel, should receive the thanks of their constituents, while those who chose to goose-step along party lines, should receive a note reminding them exactly who they work for – It goes without saying that many of those Democrats currently holding office may end up paying the piper in 2010.