Spineless Democrats and free-for-all corporate campaign spending

A Republican won the seat that Ted Kennedy held for many years. What does this tell us? 1. People in Massachusetts like a good-looking senator, 2. People in Massachssetts don't like someone who seems to be clueless, 3. Unlike the rest of the country, people in Massachusetts don't think that their senate seat is a national one, 4. People in Massachusetts already have a robust, consumer-oriented health care system and don't seem to think it matters who represents them in the Senate.

Harsh? Maybe. But the Democrats seemed to think that all they had to do was offer a candidate and they were done. Why Rahm Emmanuel wasn't personally overseeing who ran Coakley's campaign is beyond me. She is obviously a smart, hard-working woman; she just didn't know how to campaign to replace the most likeable man in the Senate.

And let's face it. The Democrats need to grow up and get a little backbone. It is not like the election of Scott Brown tipped the majority in the Senate to 51-49. The Democrats still have 59 votes. Change the rules of the Senate, and go ahead and pass legislation. Waiting for the Republicans to cooperate, after they have stated time and again that they have no intention to, is naive and gives them the power. Democrats have the majority: Use it.

Barack Obama cannot single-handedly solve all the problems facing this country. He needs a little help from House and Senate Democrats who are willing to put principal over their own re-election.

However, that is probably not going to happen. Now that the Supreme Court has somewhat inexplicably ruled that corporations, including foreign ones, can contribute without restriction to campains, we will see anyone who wants to be elected pander even more than they already do to their big-money donors.

Happy New Year.

Hurrah for Al Franken!

Today came the happy news that the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Al Franken is the winner of the 2008 Senate race in Minnesota, and should be certified. Governor Pawlenty signed the certificate, so all that is left to do is for Al to be sworn in when the Senate reconvenes. After six months, the Senate will finally have a full 100 senators, and the Democrats will have 58 senators -- with the two independents who generally vote with the Democrats, that will give them the 60 vote supermajority the Senate is currently requiring for passage of legislation, and without any Republicans.

I am thrilled that Al Franken will be in the Senate. It almost makes me want to move back to Minnesota. Al may not be liked or trusted by everyone, but he is a Paul Wellstone disciple. And Paul Wellstone believed in two things: grassroots organization to win, and being honest and respectful to his constituents. Paul Wellstone had the respect of Minnesotans because of that dedication. He always put the good of the state before the good of the party, and that's how it should be.

Al Franken will take that kind of sensibility into his office, and I think he will represent Minnesotans well.

Now I just hope, as many Democrats do, that the Democrats will stop being so milquetoast and will aggressively institute President Obama's agenda. To continue to do things the same way they've been done for years is foolish. The 2008 election sent what should be a clear message that the average American, outside the Beltway, wants things done differently. President Obama wants to create a leaner, more efficient government. The Republicans don't like it, because they are the ones who should have done that and didn't. They are in recovery, protective mode, and not thinking about what is best for the country and for the people. That has to be the Democrats' job now. the Republicans will complain about not having their say, but the reality is: the minority has never had unlimited ability to control the Congress, and that is one thing that shouldn't change.

So, hurrah for Al Franken! Now let's see some real change.

Go Away and Come Back When You Want to Help America

I have had it with the self-righteous indignation of the Republican minority over health care reform, and the weak whining of the Democrats in Congress.

I am fed up with hearing, "We don't want the government getting between the patient and the doctor, with a bureaucrat determining care, and telling you you can't see your family physician."

And that is different than right now how? Right now doctors look at insurance first before determining treatment. And even when they make their best decision, an insurance company will still deny payment of a claim because they don't think the doctor made the right decision. Which is exactly what the Republicans claim will happen if there is a public option for health coverage.

I have to find a doctor who is a "member" of my insurance company's plan in order to receive coverage; if I choose to see a doctor outside the system, or, God forbid, out of state, it is a crap shoot whether or not I will be reimbursed. More than one year we have paid out of pocket expenses for our children's care after a certain point a wellness check with mandatory booster shots has put us over the "limit" the insurance company set for the amount they will pay annually for a child's doctor visits. And we still are required to pay our co-pay. And we have what is considered a good health plan.

Congress is not concerned with the well being of the health care industry, they are concerned with the well being of the health insurance industry. It is ludicrous that we function within a payment system that measures its success on how much profit it makes. So it doesn't matter that 60 percent of bankruptcies are a result of health care bills; it matters that the CEOs and executives of health insurance companies continue to make millions of dollars a year. And where does that money come from? From the premiums paid by those people who filed for bankruptcy.

The Republicans sanctimoniously speak against a public health insurance option as being anti-free market. What a bunch of hypocrites! Their health insurance, which they have for life even after leaving the Congress, is public health insurance!

In light of this opposition to government health care, I have a proposal. Completely eliminate any government health care, and let the members of Congress use COBRA or purchase private health insurance. Let them get those denial letters for payment of a prostate exam, or be told which specialist to see or what kind of treatment they can receive for cancer. Let them make a choice between sending their children to college or providing them with health care. Then when they stand before their peers and speak out against a public health insurance option, they will not be hypocrites.

I am sick of this. The Democrats need to stop worrying about looking like bullies just because FOX News says they are. And the Republicans need to just go away until they are ready to face the fact that the American people elected a Democratic majority and the president they did because they wanted a change from the way things have been done for the past 25 years.

And through all of this, they have yet to present an alternate plan that will allow anyone in the country to get medical care without worrying about whether or not they can afford to pay the bills. And forget that tax credit; a tax credit doesn't help when you are facing a 100,000 hospital bill and you make $19,000 a year.

It is time to stop debating. We are hearing the same debate, the same arguments, we have heard since the beginning of the 20th century, especially for the last 20 years. We are long past due to provide basic health care to anyone in the country. We are America: when we do something right, we do it better than any other country. Congress needs to stop worrying about where they're going to get their campaign donations, and restore the dignity of the American people, by making sure everyone can get medical care without having to fight for it.