Twenty years ago today, the hated Wall of Berlin came thundering down under the hammers of a long-suffering people denied their freedom and their basic dignity by the communist tyranny of East Germany.

A year and some days ago, America astonished the world by drawing a bright blue line under the hateful Bush era, with the election of a new, young Democratic President, Barack Obama, and equipping him with almost unprecedented majorities in both chambers of the national legislature. Calls for change echoed around the nation, tearing down ancient prejudices and long-held assumptions in their wake. Everything was possible in the new, shining moment, the shining city on a hill restored to its full luster.

And as twenty years ago, the uprising in the United States was built on the will and the power of a people that had had enough.

Today the Congress is debating one of the great challenges facing the country, health care, and it's muck. Republicans and anti-choice Democrats will vote on a poison pill amendment to the main, must-pass bill that bars insurance for abortions, which is a complete tragedy.

From the left, netroots superstar Eric Massa declared that he could not support the main bill that is now making its way to the floor of the House. All other members of the New York Democratic delegation, including newcomer Bill Owens - who prevailed in NY-23, hahaha, despite Sarah Palin's orders to the contrary - are expected to vote for the healthcare bill see update and expect a roll call after the vote. Yes, we'll be keeping score.

The day before the much-anticipated vote on health care reform in the House of Representatives, Eric Massa, D-Corning, said that the Affordable Health Care for America Act gives too much to the insurance industry, doesn’t do enough to control costs, and he can’t support it.

“At the highest level this bill will enshrine in law the monopolistic powers of the private health insurance industry,” Massa said in a telephone news conference this morning. “There’s no other way to look at it.”

Massa said that the bill “fails to address the fundamental question before the American people, and that is, how do you control the costs of health care?”

Congressman Massa is correct when he argues that the current House bill creates a system that is glaringly inferior to the ideal solution, a single-payer approach that at a slice of the scalpel removes layers upon layers of bureaucracy, expenses, lobbyists, advertising budgets and what not other expenses that lard up U.S. health care spending with a cool $350 billion a year. But if that's your position, please, Sir, show us the votes in the House and the Senate, and how exactly you're going to get them.

And please don't expect a single netroots dollar for your next campaign.

Update: Spoke too soon. McMahon of Staten Island is voting against, Patrick Murphy of NY-20 is undecided.  read more »

This comes from someone I know from IND who has been tireless in working with Democrats in Pennsylvania first to get Obama elected, and then to get healthcare reform passed. I urge anyone who can to join in on this important road trip:

Please join me in canvassing Easton, Pennsylvania for health care reform on Saturday, October 17th. We’ll be showing our strength and urging fellow Democrats to support for President Obama’s principles of reform.

The next several weeks will find us at a critical crossroad for the future of health care in America, a crossroad for the economic future and stability of American families for generations to come. Last year we got on the bus to fight for the right to make it to this pivotal place. But our work is not done. Here’s how you can help.

Please join me in Easton, PA on October 17th. Please, Get BACK on the Bus for Health Care!  read more »

This comes from MoveOn.org:

We Can't Afford to Wait Vigil

Columbus Circle, Columbus Circle
New York, NY 10023
Wednesday, September 2nd, 7:00 PM

Let's keep the momentum going!

Residents of all five boroughs of New York City are gathering to share their own experiences with the current health care system, and to urge Congress to enact real reform this year, which includes a public option.

I am missing Yvette Clarke's town hall meeting because I am working from home to try and finish some analysis for a grant deadline tomorrow. But I will try to make this rally on Wednesday. We need a good turnout to show our support for Healthcare reform.

During last year's election, a friend of mine from IND organized an amazing number of bus trips to Pennsylvania to campaign for Obama. I have no doubt that his efforts made a difference.

But it takes a particularly amazing organizer to KEEP organizing even after you win an election. And he is continuing his organizing efforts, this time on behalf of healthcare reform. We all complain that we wish Obama and the Democrats were fighing harder for healthcare reform. Well, the same applies to us. We have to fight for healthcare reform as well because so far the right wing extremists and their media pals at Fox News are dominating the discussion. Here is your chance to help seize the initiative for healthcare reform. This comes from an email from Tom:

We’re going back to Pennsylvania to campaign for health care reform.

Last year we were called to turn back the reactionary forces that had gripped our country for too long, and to win an election. I often told people that it was a war fought house by house, block by block. We won that war. But now we must win the peace, and that’s the hardest part.  read more »

Awhile back I reported something from Daily Kos which suggested that Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez, someone I know and respect, was either uncommitted on or leaning against the Public Option for healthcare reform. In this she was being listed among many Blue Dog Democrats who are, in general, far more conservative than she is. By contrast Jerrold Nadler and Anthony Weiner have been leading the charge for healthcare reform. I wondered about this and wrote an appeal to her on Daily Gotham (with arguements quoted below). I also contacted Nydia's office to ask for clarification. I have gotten a response from a Velázquez spokesperson that suggests Congresswoman Velasquez has decided to side with Nadler and Weiner and not the Blue Dogs on the public option:

“Congresswoman Velázquez supports a public plan option. As the Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and a member of the Progressive Caucus, she has long advocated for reforms that will ensure all Americans have affordable health insurance coverage.”  read more »