The Health Care Industry decided when they were smoozing with Obama in the White House that they were going to torpedo Public Option, this is everybody, HMO's, Insurance Companies, Hospitals, etc. They knew that they had enough Congress people already on payroll to stop it, but they were curious to see if the threat from the Obama White House was significant so they went to Obama's conference to evaluate. Obama scared the hell out of them.

So, they threw Obama a bone, offering a plan to reduce the overall cost of health care by billions over a period of some 10 years. When Barack made the joyful announcement, he unfortunately mistook their proposal for pokitical support, and therefore thought that now health care reform was a slam dunk.
But the Health Care Industry leaders were actually shocked by the proposed Public Option and immediately upscaled the lobby effort to the well publicized $1.2 million a day.

SUMMARY: Regardless of what Obama does or says a GUTTED ineffective mish-mash ephemeral Health Care Reform COMPROMISE bill will be presented to the president for his signature, and after some political spin he will sign it. And before the ink is dry, Limbaugh will be crowing that this marks the first of many Obama failures, you can count on it.

The the 17th Amendment to the Constitution passed in 1913 which called for Senators to be elected by popular vote rather than appointed by State legislatures was supposed to make the Senate more responsive to the American public. However, with the deep entrenchment of the lobby industry into the Senate chamber, it appears that a terrible political transmografication has instead taken place. The two most powerful lobbys, Health Care/Big Pharama and the Gun lobby, effectively control the composition of legislation crafted and issued by the American congress. Until the strangle hold of lobbyists are removed from the hearts and minds of the U.S. Congress, America cannot have a government of the people, by the people, and for the prople.

If you want healthcare legislation that includes the public option to be written and voted for to pass on to President Obama to sign, please contact any of the following Democratic senators:

Members of the Democratic Caucus

Akaka, Daniel – (D – HI)
141 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6361
E-mail: senator@akaka.senate.gov

Baucus, Max – (D – MT)
511 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2651
Web Form: baucus.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Bayh, Evan – (D – IN)
463 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5623
Web Form: bayh.senate.gov/WebMail1.htm

Begich, Mark (D – AK)
825 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202)224-3004
Web Form: begich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=EmailSenator

Bennet, Michael – (D – CO)
702 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5852
Web Form: bennet.senate.gov/contact/

Bingaman, Jeff – (D – NM)
703 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5521
E-mail: senator_bingaman@bingaman.senate.gov

Boxer, Barbara – (D – CA)
112 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3553
Web Form: boxer.senate.gov/contact/

Brown, Sherrod – (D – OH)
455 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2315
Web Form: brown.senate.gov/contact/

Burris, Roland – (D – IL)
523 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2854
Web Form: burris.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm

Byrd, Robert – (D – WV)
311 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3954
Web Form: byrd.senate.gov/byrd_email.html

Cantwell, Maria – (D – WA)
717 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3441
Web Form: cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html

Cardin, Ben – (D – MD)
509 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4524
Web Form: cardin.senate.gov/contact/

Carper, Thomas – (D – DE)
513 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2441
Web Form: carper.senate.gov/contact/

Casey, Robert P., Jr. – (D – PA)
383 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6324
Web Form: casey.senate.gov/contact/

Conrad, Kent – (D – ND)
530 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2043
Web Form: conrad.senate.gov/webform.html

Dodd, Christopher – (D – CT)
448 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2823
Web Form: dodd.senate.gov/webmail/

Dorgan, Byron – (D – ND)
713 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2551
E-mail: senator@dorgan.senate.gov

Durbin, Richard – (D – IL)
332 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2152
Web Form: durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Feingold, Russell – (D – WI)
506 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5323
E-mail: russell_feingold@feingold.senate.gov

Feinstein, Dianne – (D – CA)
331 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3841
Web Form: feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.Home

Gillibrand, Kirsten – (D – NY)
531 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4451
Web Form: gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/

Hagan, Kay – (D – NC)
B 40A DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202)224-6432
Web Form: hagan.senate.gov/?p=contact

Harkin, Tom – (D – IA)
731 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3254
Web Form: harkin.senate.gov/c/index.cfm

Inouye, Daniel – (D – HI)
722 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3934
Web Form: inouye.senate.gov/abtform.html

Johnson, Tim – (D – SD)
136 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5842
Web Form: johnson.senate.gov/contact/

Kaufman, Ted – (D – DE)
G11 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5042
Web Form: kaufman.senate.gov/services/contact/

Kennedy, Edward – (D – MA)
317 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4543
Web Form: kennedy.senate.gov/senator/contact.cfm

Kerry, John – (D – MA)
304 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2742
Web Form: kerry.senate.gov/contact/office.cfml

Kohl, Herb – (D – WI)
330 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5653
Web Form: kohl.senate.gov/gen_contact.html

Klobuchar, Amy – (D – MN)
302 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3244
E-mail: senator@klobuchar.senate.gov

Landrieu, Mary – (D – LA)
724 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5824
Web Form: landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Lautenberg, Frank – (D – NJ)
324 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3224
Web Form: lautenberg.senate.gov/contact/

Leahy, Patrick – (D – VT)
433 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4242
E-mail: senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov

Levin, Carl – (D – MI)
269 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6221
Web Form: levin.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Lieberman, Joseph – (I – CT)
706 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4041
Web Form: lieberman.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm?regarding=issue

Lincoln, Blanche – (D – AR)
355 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4843
Web Form: lincoln.senate.gov/webform.html

McCaskill, Claire – (D – MO)
717 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6154
Web Form: mccaskill.senate.gov/contact/

Menendez, Robert – (D – NJ)
502 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4744
Web Form: menendez.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm

Merkley, Jeff – (D – OR)
B 40B DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202)224-3753
Web Form: merkley.senate.gov/contact/

Mikulski, Barbara – (D – MD)
709 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4654
Web Form: mikulski.senate.gov/mailform.html

Murray, Patty – (D – WA)
173 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2621
Web Form: murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm

Nelson, Bill – (D – FL)
716 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5274
Web Form: billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Nelson, Ben – (D – NE)
720 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6551
Web Form: bennelson.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Pryor, Mark – (D – AR)
217 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2353
Web Form: pryor.senate.gov/contact/

Reed, Jack – (D – RI)
728 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4642
Web Form: reed.senate.gov/contact/

Reid, Harry – (D – NV)
528 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3542
Web Form: reid.senate.gov/contact/

Rockefeller, John – (D – WV)
531 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6472
E-mail: senator@rockefeller.senate.gov

Sanders, Bernie – (I – VT)
332 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5141
Web Form: sanders.senate.gov/comments/

Schumer, Charles – (D – NY)
313 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6542
Web Form: schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/contact/contact.html

Shaheen, Jeanne – (D – NH)
G 53 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202)224-2841
Web Form: shaheen.senate.gov/contact/

Specter, Arlen – (D – PA)
711 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202)224-4254
Web Form: specter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm

Stabenow, Debbie – (D – MI)
702 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4822
Web Form: stabenow.senate.gov/email.htm

Tester, Jon – (D – MT)
204 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2644
Web Form: tester.senate.gov/Contact/

Udall, Mark – (D – CO)
B 40E DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202)224-5941
Web Form: markudall.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm

Udall, Tom – (D – NM)
B 40D DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202)224-6621
Web Form: tomudall.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm

Warner, Mark – (D – VA)
B 40C DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202)224-2023
Web Form: warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Contact

Webb, Jim – (D – VA)
144 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4024
Web Form: webb.senate.gov/contact/

Whitehouse, Sheldon – (D – RI)
502 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202)224-2921
Web Form: whitehouse.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Wyden, Ron – (D – OR)
516 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5244
Web Form: wyden.senate.gov/contact/

Don't have Senator Franken's info yet, but the list will be updated. You know the drill folks. Call, email, and write letters.

haven't I been publishing the names and numbers of folks in Congress that need to be hounded?

The White House is only going to “cave” as you and others describe it if he can't get the votes. Shouldn't our efforts be focused on resistant Dems rather than the White House?

Although, the 'richest nation on earth' comment I have to quibble with.

Nothing in America is achieved without debt, when business does it it is called leveraging, when we send money to foreign countries it is called aide…and as long as we have funds for the military industrial complex…then I do not want to hear shyt about deficits as it pertains to healthcare…anytime we have money to pillage, plunder, maim and killed in other countries…then we need to find whatEVER credit we need to build, develop, nurture and provide QUALITY healthcare RIGHT here!!

If the ability to expand the militarycomplex is not destroyed, if we can pursue policy objectives to build roads, hospitals and schools in foreign lands, then we DEFINITELY have the ability to EXPAND healthcare.

All it requires is the political will and we are responsible to make that a reality in this Congress!!

If we do not get a health care public option, that is all about the political will of Americans!!

It is our job to make certain that any one in Congress not supporting the public option pays politically!! We may not have the financial power of the lobbyists, but if we collectively put our minds to it, we can politically shut those folks out AND raise enough money to counter the lobbyists strangelhold over those politicians who are being squeezed by the powerful healtcare lobbyists.

I am sick and tired of folks blaming Obama for their own lack of political will.

Obama is not any friggin superman, he is one person, willing to use his bully pulpit to create the demand and encourage the political will of Americans to get healthcare.

But make no mistake it is OUR job to push through a bill that Obama WILL sign!

“We shouldn't be focusing resources on each other,” Obama opined in the call, according to three sources who participated in or listened to the conversation. “We ought to be focused on winning this debate.”

I'm gonna need more than this one oft-repeated, unsourced quote before I conclude Obama wants progressive groups to stop putting pressure on Democratic leaders to support the public option. For all we know those “three sources who participated or listened in” could be the same people who are hoping MoveOn gets out of their grill.

We need to stop letting unreliable rags like the AP and Washington Post stir up shit after they've already proven in the past to have questionable motives in their reporting.