Congress resumes on September 8th. That gives us about 33 days to whip recalcitrant Democrats like Jared Polis into taking the whip count pledge.
Jared Polis is a particularly confusing case. Mr. Polis ran in 2008 as a progressive.
While he was running for Congress in 2008, he wrote about the virtues of single payer right here on Daily Kos.
Then, he proudly blasted his progressive bona fides on the Op Ed page of the Rocky Mountain News.
So what's up Jared Polis? We need you to take the Whip Count Pledge--today, we also need you to stop mucking up on healthcare. You were sent to Washington to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the President and fight for the most important domestic policy legislation in six decades.
Now Polis is close to becoming the darling of the Teabagger extremists.
The backstory here which is being reported by sources on the Hill is that Progressive Caucus met last week to figure out their strategy on dealing with the Blue Dogs, thirty or so members showed up for the meeting, they were unanimous in opposing the Waxman/Bluedog Compromise Energy and Commerce Bill. Everyone at the meeting was on board in their opposition--everyone that is but Jared Polis. Polis also notably didn't sign the famous 57 signature letter to Speaker Pelosi.
Polis is saying he's worried that modest new taxes on the wealthy could "cost jobs in the recession". The problem for Polis is, this is a straight up Republican talking point--just ask John Boehner.The other issue with this nonsensical argument is that skyrocketing healthcare costs are destroying small business across the county.
Polis can run around during his campaign and talk about how much he supports single payer but if he doesn't approve of the way to fund President Obama's reform plan, then he's opposed to reform. These are his words, "I strongly support this bill, especially the inclusion of a public option, except how we plan to pay for it," said Polis.
Polis talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk. And Congresman Polis, after the recess, when these bills move to the floor for debate, are you going to be a champion or an obstructionist?
Polis is on the Education and Labor Committee, he's tried to explain his vote, but as a member of Congress you have to set priorites, and Polis is demonstrating in word and deed that his priorities are not healthcare and are seriously defective. He's taking considerable heat at home from the people who know him best, as well he should, given his destructive and obstructive behavior on the most important legislation in the last fifty years.
That's what happens when you are one of the wealthiest members of Congress whose reputation is largely as someone who "bought" his seat, and then you go and publicly attack a funding mechanism that would tax the richest Americans. Polis looks like a dunce over this one, and if his opposition ends up crippling the health care reform legislation, he won't be living this one down for a long time.
http://coloradopols.com/...
HERE'S THE BRAND NEW VACATION TRACKER TOOL. PLEASE USE IT.
We need to spend this month whipping progressive members of Congress and reminding people like Jared Polis that there will be an election in 2010.
ACTIONS ITEMS:
1. ACTION ON JARED POLIS:
- You should call one or all of Polis' offices, tweet him, and message him on facebook demand that as a progressive he take the Whip Count Pledge and that he stop messing with our healthcare!
The Boulder office number is: 303.484.959
Washington, DC Office
501 Cannon House O. B.
Washington, DC 20515
p. 202.225.2161
f. 202.226.7840
Frisco Office
West Main Professional Building
101 West Main Street, Suite #101D
P.O. Box 1453
Frisco, CO 80443
p. 970.668.3240
f. 970.668.9830
Boulder Office
4770 Baseline Rd, #220
Boulder, CO 80303
p. 303.484.9596
f. 303.568.9007
Thornton Office
1200 East 78th Avenue, Suite #105
Thornton, CO 80229
p.303.287.4159
f. 303.287.4385
- Jared Polis on Twitter
- Jared Polis on Facebook
2.URGENT ANTI-TEABAGGER ACTIONS
Teabaggers supported by the insurance industry, are in full fight mode. Their plan is to disrupt town hall meetings. Of course the corporate media will go wild when this happens.
Please use the VACATION TRACKER like your life depends on it, because it does.
HERE'S THE BRAND NEW VACATION TRACKER TOOL. PLEASE USE IT LET US KNOW WHERE JARED POLIS AND OTHERS WILL BE DURING THE AUGUST RECESS.
WE NEED HUGE TURNOUT AT DEMOCRATIC TOWNHALL MEETINGS. WE NEED YOU THERE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE TEABAGGERS WHO ARE SURE TO SHOW UP.
TEABAGGERS ARE ORGANIZED AND EXTREMELY WILL FINANCED BY WEALTHY REPUBLICAN DONORS AND THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.
TEABAGGERS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS WILL BUS IN GOON SQUADS, WE NEED YOU THERE TO STAND UP FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AGAINST THESE ORGANIZED BANDS OF RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS.
We need you to attend these events to support your Democratic lawmaker's push for health care reform and urge him or her to support the public option in health care reform. The teabaggers are going to out-work us, out-spend us and try to out-shout us on this issue if we don't step up now!
HERE'S THE BRAND NEW VACATION TRACKER TOOL. PLEASE USE IT LET US KNOW WHERE JARED POLIS AND OTHERS WILL BE DURING THE AUGUST RECESS.
AND HERE AGAIN IS THE WHIP COUNT TOOL. PLEASE USE IT!
Two important diaries which need you attention:
- How many tens of thousands of American expats are medically exiled health care refugees?
- slinkerwink - with tons of action
http://www.dailykos.com/...
PLEASE DONATE:
And please help us continue this for the American people and against the Teabaggers, the insurance industry lobby and its August campaign of fear.
Lobbyists and wealthy Republican donors are spending $1.4 million a day to insure that healthcare reform dies. We rely on your generosity.
And then take a look at this!
https://secure.firedoglake.com/...