Please come to the funeral. Single Payer Health Care died today in California no thanks to

[Cleita]

four recalcitrant Democrats. I talked to Senator Mark Leno's office, the sponsor of the bill, less than an hour ago and he pulled the bill SB 810 because he couldn't get the two votes from four Democrats that he needed to get the bill passed in the State senate. It has already passed twice and Ahnold vetoed it and when we finally got a Democratic Governor, who would let the bill pass, it was killed by Democrats in the Senate. They are Senator Alex Padilla (District 20 - Pacoima/LA area), Senator Michael Rubio (District 16 - Fresno/Bakersfield), Senator Juan Vargas (District 40 - San Diego) and Senator Rod Wright (District 25 - Inglewood/LA area).

I am stunned. It's bad enough to be kicked under the bus by Republicans but when Democrats do it, it goes beyond the pale.

[stockholmer]

1. recall the assholes, all 4

[Cleita]

6. It will be up to their constituents but maybe those who read this will get out the

petitions needed.

[white_wolf]

2. From what I've seen it looked like the Democrats had a simple majority of votes.

Does CA have some stupid rule super majority rule, I don't know about?

[Cleita]

4. Yes, it does have a super majority rule and it's

caused us to be ruled by the minority. It's why we are becoming a failed state, I believe.

[fascisthunter]

3. Our Political Party has been Compromised by Corruption

what's mind-numbing is how some will justify an act of corruption today. We have slid down a very slippery slope in the last 30 years. Heck, now even the SC calls corporations, people, and money speech. This government is corrupt. It can't work for the people, because it has been BOUGHT. Your vote, my vote are all the influence we have(besides activism)... yet billionaires and corporations are allowed to have unimaginable influence over something they are not supposed to.

[Cleita]

5. I told Senator Wrights office that this was why there was an Occupy movement and

the very rude person on the other end of the line accused me of threatening them and then hung up on me. I except this from my Repuke Senator but not from the Democrats.

[russspeakeasy]

7. O K California, let's see what you're made of.

[Cleita]

11. We've been fighting for this for twenty years.

I hope the nurse's unions will do something. I for one want to Occupy somewhere. I just don't know where right now, those Senators, Sacramento or the Health Insurance lobbyists?

[kctim]

8. Will this

help get progressives elected in those districts?

[Cleita]

12. Probably not. Two of those districts are in tight red districts. If we had a change of

Senators, they probably would be Republicans. I would rather those Senators were shown the error of their ways. We need to glut their mailboxes, emails and telephone lines with our displeasure. I've done my bit and I'm sure I will be disconnected in the future so it's up to everyone else.

[2ndAmForComputers]

15. Those four alleged Democrats' votes may help Republicans get elected in those districts.

I don't see the population celebrating and high-fiving their sliminess.

The correct course of action is work against them in the next primaries. That's what primaries are for, after all.

[Cleita]

18. I agree. Primary them out. n/t

[gopiscrap]

9. One word: FUCK

[Cleita]

13. I know.

[xchrom]

10. There I$ more to this$ $tory

And I would like to know what i$.

[Cleita]

16. Aetna, United Health Care, Blue Cross, Kaiser-Permanente.......eom

[limpyhobbler]

14. there oughta be a rule.

People shouldn't be able to run as democrats and get money and support from the party unless they agree to certain positions beforehand. And health care is one of those positions. No defectors. Better luck next time California.

[Cleita]

17. Unfortunately, this is done for this year.

They can't resubmit a new bill until next year.

[bvar22]

19. Isn't it peculiar ?

Seems like there are always "just enough" Judas Democrats to derail anything that is good for the 99%,
and make sure that the RICH get everything they want.

Whose turn was it in the barrel for THIS vote?



You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
[font size=5 color=green][center]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[Cleita]

20. It does seem to be a pattern, no? n/t

[limpyhobbler]

23. Villain Rotation

The primary tactic in this game is Villain Rotation. They always have a handful of Democratic Senators announce that they will be the ones to deviate this time from the ostensible party position and impede success, but the designated Villain constantly shifts, so the Party itself can claim it supports these measures while an always-changing handful of their members invariably prevent it.

http://www.salon.com/2010/02/23/democrats_34/

[Cleita]

25. This is making me feel sick.

There is no hope unless we have a revolution big time it seems.

[bvar22]

26. Thanks for that link.

I thought I was the only one who noticed,
but if one looks close enough,
the pattern is repeated over & over.

It also explains WHY when the Roll Calls are posted on DU,
there are always a few (just enough) that Stand Out
and provoke comments of "Gee. I can't understand THAT vote."
He/She is usually such a good Democrat!

This also exposes the fallacy of the Campaign claims that Congressman X is a GOOD Democrat with solid credentials
because they "voted with the Party over 90% of the time".

I used to believe that the Voting Record was the touchstone that put all the bullshit aside.
But it is not.
That is routinely gamed too, just like everything else,
and this Salon article does a good job of exposing this scam.

http://www.salon.com/2010/02/23/democrats_34/

[CrawlingChaos]

29. My GOD, that's it

That's how it's done.

This could not be more depressing. Or infuriating.

[Raine]

30. EXACTLY and that's the way it will ALWAYS be

we're being scammed by those who pretend to be on our side ... they all make me sick.

[fascisthunter]

31. This is what I already thought!

[RC]

21. This is why it is important to vote for Liberals and Progressives.

That (D) by their name does not mean much anymore. Know who you are voting for.

[rhett o rick]

22. It is easy for Democrats to vote progressively when there is a republicon gov or president

to kill the bill. But when push comes to shove, and there is a Democratic governor or president, then they have to get serious and there always seems a few willing to vote with the oligarchs. Corruption abounds.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

24. "Democrats"? Oh NO they're not!

Sh1tcan their a$$es. CA needs REAL Dems.

[katty]

27. fearful backward idiots!

[Cleita]

28. More like bought and paid for by the health insurance industry it seems.

All four Senators have received generous donations from said industry.