Obama eases Dems' doubts

If President Barack Obama’s main goal Wednesday was to stitch his party back together on health care reform, there were tentative signs Thursday that his speech to Congress was doing just that.

If he also hoped to sway a few Republicans, there were no converts in sight.

But for one day at least, the sprawling and fractious Democratic coalition — from Rep. Lynn Woolsey of California, co-chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, to conservative Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana — was lining up behind the president and sounding for the first time in months like a health care deal was a realistic possibility.

“He clearly had an impact on our side of the aisle,” Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) said, adding that Obama “righted a ship that had been listing.”

The sharpest change came among liberal Democrats, who just the day before the speech were still issuing grim threats about voting no on any bill that didn’t include a public health insurance option. But that antagonistic tone all but disappeared in the aftermath of Obama’s address.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27017.html#ixzz0Qqhheoax


Not a big fan of Politico, but I think it's pretty cool how when you copy a section of text, the URL magically gets copied too.

Not so much success for those of us who want to see REAL REFORM occur.

sorry.

big fan of Politico, are you?

You're a wedge.

I was the FIRST indie reporter to cover the lack of integrity re: the electronic voting machines. I worked tirelessly on this issue, to the point that I "missed" the election of Nov 2004 (I was sequestered inside the bowels of Marin County's election night processes the night of 2004 election. - though I did have a dinner break. During that break, everyone at the restaurant was celebrating the fact that Kerry was gonna win and that he had nailed it. (7PM Calif. time)

I went back to work inside the Marin County building, and when I came out at 11 PM Calif. time, Bush had "Won.")

Now some five yrs later, I see that it is irrelevant that our votes may not be counted. The reason for this irrelevancy, just as Jefferson has feared, is that the major political parties have become aligned ONLY with the powers that be. (Except on the local issues, wherein the citizens still might have a shot at reforming things. But that shot at reform is greatly lessened by the fact that the Bailout monies come from Washington, so even many local issues are now Federalized.)

It is best explained in this video (And no I was not a Mike Gavel supporter, but This Video is extemely well done, and shows us WHY Kucinich is not in the WH today.)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK7DRPyNAHA

If you don't have time to watch the video, I'll give you the short version

MONEY! MONEY MONEY!

And MONEY's POWER OVER THE MEDIA.

And MONEY'S POWER OVER THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
End of story. <sigh>

“The progressives are prepared to work with our leadership to ensure that the final bill includes a robust public option that accomplishes all of the president’s goals,” Woolsey told POLITICO afterward.



Sounds to me like Woolsey threw the speech right back in Obama's face....

Democratic party member and not voting for the onerous IWR. She sets up her schedule so that no matter who you are, if you live in her district, you can meet with her during her breaks back home.