Bloggers: Take A $300,000 Victory Lap

[Joanne98]

We just crossed the $300,000 mark in our effort to thank the progressive members of Congress who signed the August 19 letter, pledging to vote against any health care bill that does not have a public plan.

I just want to take a moment to thank those who have been so supportive of the public plan whip effort all along, which culminated in this amazing achievement. The network of blogs and bloggers carrying the message into their districts weren't A-list bloggers for the most part, but their ability to reach into the back yards of their progressive representatives has been absolutely vital. They did it when it was hard, when it wasn't popular, when it didn't have a lot of heat behind it, just because it was the right thing to do. And we couldn't have done it without them.

Those who helped create a climate of consistent pressure that led directly to the August 19 letter include blogs like Burnt Orange Report, Dirigo Blue, Left Wing Cracker, Southern Beale, Fired Up Missouri, Rikyrah, Left In the West, Delaware Liberal, Square State Project (Zappatero -- you're the bomb), Hillbilly Report, Texas Kaos, DownWithTyranny, AmericaBlog, Talk Left, Glenn Greenwald, Loaded Orygun, Pennsylvania for Change, Delaware Way, Boztopia, Griper News, Pinko Magazine, Progress Illinois, Bob Fertik, David Swanson, Cedwyn, Pronin2 (Mr. Rapid Response), McJoan, Chris Bowers, Kagro X, NotLarrySabato, Green Mountain Daily, Buckeye State Blog, Michigan Liberal, Blue Hampshire, Blue Jersey, MN Progressive Project, D-Day, Gort42, the always wonderful MyLeftNutmeg, and of course Slink, NYCeve & Mike Stark. These are just a few of the blogs and bloggers that deserve thanks, and we'll be putting up a more permanent repository of names & thank-yous in the next few days.

Continued>>>
http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/08/20/bloggers-take-a-300000-victory-lap/

[KittyWampus]

1. Can't recommend this highly enough. Rewarding with carrots :-)

[Laelth]

2. Yes, but remember. If the Progressive Caucus folds in the end, we will feel very betrayed.

They have insisted on a "robust" public option. I define that to mean a plan that is projected to cover 50+ million Americans within five years (enough to actually "keep the insurance companies honest" and drive down costs). They have also pledged to not support the plan unless the public option pays doctors and hospitals at Medicare +5% rates.

If they abandon either of these two, essential promises, they will feel the wrath of their constituents, and the Democratic Party will risk losing its liberal base. We want single-payer. Absent that, we will accept the public option, but only if it is "robust," as described above.

Ignore this warning at your own peril.

:dem:

-Laelth

[nostalgicaboutmyfutr]

3. Sorry but they are playing you all like idiots...

Hey look! Let's raise money and buy the liberal support from liberal congresspeople....... that was already promised when we helped get them elected!!!!??

Then the republicans will use this activity to push for more conservative donations ("We can't let the Liberals win!!").

Then there will be another push from the liberal side, saying ".....we need to raise money if we expect to pass this health care!!!"

Back and forth, back and forth....and the elected offcials sit in the middle and collect the money that keeps them in office...continuing the process....

It all is such a scam and 'protection' racket! Wake UP!!

You know it would be easy enough just to collect money and "outbuy" a couple republican votes, and flip them to healthcare supporters....they are all political whores, and will do what we pay them to do...