Matt Stoller tells us that George Soros gave $500 to Kevin Powell who is running in a primary against Ed Towns in New York’s 10th Congressional District (scroll down for map).

Not only is Towns a cosponsor of HR 676, he sits on the critical House Health subcommittee, so his support is crucial for getting this out of committee.  Read more 

Hat tip to shawnod at the Great Orange Satan. Webb kept his promise. Legislation he introduced on his first day in the Senate was signed into law today:

The following is a statement from Senator Webb: “This is a great day for our veterans. This bill properly provides a modern and fair educational benefit to address the needs of those who answered the call of duty to our country—those who moved toward the sound of the guns—often at great sacrifice.  Read more 

John Cornyn’s self-aggrandizing commercial, set to a bowdlerized version of a Jimmy Dean classic ballad from the 1960s, has become the comedy hit of the season. Rick Noriega, who’s running against Cornyn this fall, has created a reply:

 Read more 

The Personal Democracy Forum just concluded it’s yearly conference on technology and politics in New York. You can find it here. I happened to attend two or three years ago (thanks to my sister footing the entry fee) but was slightly humiliated because I was obviously the only person there without a cell phone. And almost the only one without a laptop. I was unable to communicate with anyone. The highlight for me then was the appearance of Elizabeth Edwards. She, as much as anything else, made me an Edwards supporter.

I haven’t been back since. The entry fee for the event is more than double what it was leading me to wonder how much democracy there is in it when it costs almost $700.00.  Read more 

After starring in “Sicko,” Hartland woman jumps on political stage

Now married and a dedicated public speaker, Adrian Campbell Montgomery, 26, is cancer-free and ready to make her first longshot foray into politics.

She is running as a Democrat for Livingston County commissioner, challenging a Republican who has held the seat for 14 of the last 16 years. The area is considered heavily Republican.

Montgomery, a Hartland High School graduate, says her “Sicko” experience charged her to take action in her hometown. The district covers Hartland and Tyrone townships in northern Livingston County.  Read more 

Rasoul offers health care reform

FISHERSVILLE — A health care plan in Congress is the right elixir for soaring costs that are stifling business growth and keeping the elderly and uninsured from getting proper care, Sixth District congressional candidate Sam Rasoul said Wednesday.
The Democrat backs HR 676, a proposed single-payer health insurance plan that covers all Americans.

Chris Graham  Read more 

Today is an interesting and important day to remember, especially this season:

On June 12, 1967, the United States Supreme Court overturned the conviction of a married couple named Loving – he was white, she was black. They lived in Virginia and had violated the southern state’s law against inter-racial marriage. The high court’s decision made interracial marriage legal in all 50 states. Today, the Loving decision is celebrated as an important victory for multi-culturalism and democracy.

With temperatures topping 35 degrees centigrade, it wasn’t just the music that was hot at the 5th annual New York City Loving Day Celebration, one of several such events around the country.

Kathleen and David and their two cocoa-colored children were among the estimated 1000 people gathered under a big tent along New York’s East River. The group included many interracial couples like them.

Kathleen and Dave Graham, and their children Max and Miles are a healthy interracial family. Kathleen says she is grateful that the Lovings helped pave the way for their freedom
“There are a lot of people who had to fight really hard so we can be legally married,” says Kathleen. “We can own property, we can have the kids and we don’t get hassled about it. We’re normal now.”  Read more 

So, I have to confess: I can’t find my Muse. Yes, I’m sick and tired over some RL crap that won’t go away, but it’s deeper than that. And I’m not sure exactly why. I keep driving back the little voice, that is so loud and obnoxious sometimes when I’m doing the standard political surfing. She says, “you know you just don’t care about this shit anymore.”

It may come from the horrible primary bullshit that won’t die. It may come from my inability to find affordable health care. It may come from the crushing burden of caring for those for whom no one else will care for, and which my moral values demand that I do. I guess I’m just not sure. Old Timers: is this normal? In the midst of a “hot” political season like we’re having now? All I seem to want to think about is sex with Jewish grrls and my flowers. I feel guilty, lazy, untalented, stoopid, etc.

I think most of you here grok it, even if you express it differently. HRC wasn’t my choice, but I can share with all of you my many fears about what a BHO admin will really mean, bring, create, destroy, etc. Just as I have disdain for his supporters who can’t call- no, I won’t go there. So where should the energy go, or rather, where is it to be found so I can get it back? I crapped out of supporting Harry and Nancy shortly after our Glorious Victory of 06, and I haven’t been sorry about that, those lying fuckwads. These days, my answer to ennui over national politics is “local, local, local.” It’s working, but at the same time, not as satisfying. Anyway, I’m rambling as I’m on the verge of a major migraine and about to go to sleep to fight it off. But I’m wondering, am I alone? So much of what I read on today’s intertubes seems so transient, so fake, so much not of the moment that matters to people who eat food and breathe air. Or, it could just be summer. What do you think?

Thanks for repeating, today, that you’re not running for VP.
I hope to see you in the AG seat in 2009, but I’ll understand if you’d rather be doing real work against poverty.

It’s late for me. I’m really tired, and sick. Still, I’m kicking myself. Bigtime. “Snow,” a crack den regular, ran for the Dem primary Senate seat tonight in SC, and is within 2K votes of victory, as of this moment. I’m too tired and lazy to give you links, but he’s the “Mike Cone” in the race. Look him up. Short Verision: one of Our Own can win, if only we would join in trying and help in a meaningful way. I suck, because in his case, I didn’t, not enough. I’m so sorry about that, Snow. Seriously. I’ve always loved your stuff and I am so hating on myself right now for wasting so much time on races that didn’t matter, and/or in which voices like mine made no difference. That could’ve been another story in your case/race, and I salute you for not expecting people like me to do more for you. You showed such Class. You were smart, and I’m a hypocrite. Good show, win or place, however it works out by the morn.

Seriously, peeps. We’re all closer than we think. Snow won’t win (or goddess bless us, he will) but he came damn close. Think about what that actually means.

You read of the non-Boyz blogs and you realize that nothing has changed. Everyone is in denial. Unless hell freezes over, Obama sadly enough is the Democratic party nominee.

The vast majority of posters, commenters and readers of the non-Boyz blogs believe that Obama is a risk to the country. He is not much of a risk to the Party; the Party is in ruins already.

Are we organizing a write-in campaign? Are we staying at home on election day? What are we going to do with Pelosi, Read and others who whored for Obama? Are we going to try and topple them too?  Read more 

[Thanks to Iphie for more first-hand reporting. — lambert]

If the race is over someone forgot to tell the people who stood in a line that wrapped itself around an entire Manhattan city block for 2+ hours this evening.

I was one of them. I arrived shortly before 7:00 (the tickets said 7:00), but thinking that like so many other election night events it wouldn’t start anywhere near that time I was under the false impression that I would be there early. Nope. When I got there, the line already stretched around two sides of the block.  Read more 

Hillary asked us to go to hillaryclinton.com and tell her what we thought we should do.

This thread is intended for people who go there and tell her to come back here and paste their letters….

mine is below the break  Read more 

Challenger Howard Shanker specifically endorses a single payer system.

Chris Gramazio says we need to take the profit motive out of healthcare, but he does not specifically endorse single payer or HR 676. If you live in Arizona’s 6th CD, you might ask him.

Rep Grijalva co-sponsor of HR 676 has some nice clips of himself, including the congressional debate against the troop “surge.”

Challenger Dr. Ludwig Otto endorses universal healthcare, but does not specifically endorse HR 676 or single payer. If you live in Texas’ sixth CD, you might ask him.

Al Green is committed to fighting for affordable, comprehensive coverage for all Americans.

Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee regards health care as one of the most pressing issues facing this country and the world.  Read more 

Paulette Garin is a challenger for the first congressional district. I don’t know when the primary is, or if it has even been held all ready; but Garin specifically endorses a single payer system.

In addition to co-sponsoring HR 676, Tammy Baldwin has sponsored legislation to protect cranes.

Gwen Moore is a co-sponsor of HR 676, sponsor of legislation to address health disparities of minority populations, supported the creation of creation of SeniorCare, a prescription drug benefit for Wisconsin seniors.

[Slightly updated below]

Kidz, I’m here to give you some harsh news. I was part of this blog before the horserace, I expect to be part of it long afterwards. Lambert is my Brother, and no matter what he says or does, he has my love, and knows that. Same with the rest of the MCB Sr. Fellows, past or present. But I’ve been on the phone, a lot, lately with higher ups and people in the know, and it’s no more or less than I’ve been saying: it’s not up to “us” anymore, and the people in whose hands it is…well, they won’t “let her win.” As the Princess, the ahead of the curve evil bitch, the sad, sick Edwards supporter of old, and Deaniac before that, I’m telling you. Nah. Gunna. Happen. It’s time to deal.

This is the best blog you’ll ever read, and not because of me. But because even as I expect some to jump all over my ass for this post, I’m fairly sure that my “different” opinion will be welcomed, and stimulate some minds. Because you all are the best, all of you, even those I think are wrong and clouded and uncritical and the rest. Unlike the rabble, I know you Listen.

At this point, for a long time now, I haven’t cared which one is picked. I still don’t. And: I could be wrong, very, very and publically wrong. I’ve tried, for all these long months, to “believe” something different could happen. I no longer believe it can. I won’t bore you with why, except to say that smarter and more in the know people in my life are telling me so. I’m going out on a small limb and trusting them, and as much as I don’t like it for feminist reasons (you will never convince me she got a fair shake, even as I know for a fact how she fucked it up herself in some ways too), I’m asking you all to Sober Up, Let Go, and Be Real. It’s time.

Go Ahead with the remaining WWTSBQ posts and the like. I’m not offended. I’m annoyed; some of you posting here lately are way below Correntish standards and we’ve tolerated that, for various reasons. But I’d really like to bring things back up to snuff, which is to say, in and up to Reality World. Even my Divine friends who’ve been behind her for a long time, have let go. So I ask you, as one who has long argued that a “Black” man will never win the prez race (heh) in this country, what are you going to do when the HrC party is over? It’s coming to an end. I know this as one who’s thrown many successful parties and knows when it’s time to kick out the stumblers. Don’t let that be you.

I’d like my balanced blog back, I’m tired of reading about the horserace. Soon, none of what you’ve put so much effort into will matter. I tried to say this in a “nice” way, months ago, and got ignored. Well, you won’t be ignoring me soon. It’s over. The moderate, UChicago econ advisor-having, throw the progressive under the bus, guy is going to win. It’s not your fault. Don’t feel guilty, or sad. As a Deaniac, I’m telling you: I’ve been there and you can get over it. But, more importantly: you and I both know why it’s going to be very rough this fall for BHO. So. It will soon be time to put your $ where your mouth is, and stand up for Kerry, I mean BHO and make a difference. Are you ready? It’s time for you to get ready. I’m tellin ya true. In love, and with compassion. Trust me, we’ve been here before, and this time, I’m really Hoping (heh) we can do better.

But without you, we won’t. Are you willing? Or is being Bitter and Right more important to you? Flame away, I can hack it.  Read more 

Sharon Renier is one of two Democratic candidates for Congress from Michigan’s 7th district. I don’t know when the primary takes place. Renier supports a single payer system:  Read more 

Luis Gutierrez wants to pass HR 676 and impeach Dick Cheney.

Jesse Jackson, Jr. has a long section on health care; but his website is set up in such a way that you can’t link directly to it.

Bobby Rush has an official blog  Read more 

I asked Regina Thomas, candidate for Congress in Georgia, if she supported HR 676, Medicare for All, her response:  Read more 

Mike Carroll is the only Ohio challenger who has specifically endorsed HR 676.

Stephanie Tubbs Jones says that we must make health care affordable by offering a guaranteed benefit.

Marcy Kaptur says that by reforming health care so that it serves people instead of special interests, every American can have access to affordable, high-quality health care.  Read more 

Michael Capuano considers preserving and expanding access to quality health care a top priority.

William Delahunt is leading the fight against torture and the Iraq war as well as co-sponsoring HR 676.

The wit and wisdom of Barney Frank.

Stephen Lynch has been holding a series of forums to inform seniors on Medicare, maybe a year from now he can be holding forums on HR 676.  Read more 

So yesterday, I committed the Worst Crime Possible in my moral universe. I lied to someone I love. I’m so eaten up by it I can hardly stand it, even though I’ve confessed and begged forgiveness already. We’ll see if I get it. But anyway, it’s got me thinking: Edwards is right about “two Americas,” but he’s wrong about the nature of that difference. It’s not wealth, power or ideology separating us, it’s a simple matter of decency. We are mostly decent people here in the librul blogosphere, and when we fight, it has to do with a matter of degree, most of the time. We want our leaders and politicians and fellow travelers to be “this much” progressive or we want them to be “even more so.” We get huffy and call each other names, but at the end of the day we can for the most part agree to disagree, sing kumbaya, and have a beer together. The reason we can be this way is because we’re not Big Fakers. Fakery, falsehood, lies: just not acceptable in most of our circles, and I’m coming to understand that the real problem in the Village is that it’s fucking SOP for them, 24/7. Indeed, they have awards and money flows in great quantity to the ones who are the best Liars. The saddest thing to me is that these morally crippled cumsucking parasites have managed to infect American culture with their ’values.’ I see it more and more, and esp in the young: Lying is becoming not just “ok,” but expected, lauded and preferred. This is a Very Bad thing and we need to do more to stop/correct this trend.

There’s that saying, and gawddayum I know it to be true today: Don’t lie to yourself. Some even add, “lie to anyone else, just not yourself,” and I understand that perspective even as I can’t quite agree. But the motivation is of course that truth and reality don’t “go away” just because one chooses not to perceive/embrace/deal with them. Isn’t that really what our whole beef with Bush Republicans is? La La La, they can’t hear us, they can’t hear anyone, because all they can hear is the lies they tell each other. And look where that’s taken us all…obviously, crisis after crisis, disaster after disaster, failure after failure. The 28% may be able to pretend, but even some Republicans are starting to admit: a government built on lies can’t govern, and worse, it can really fuck things up for everyone.

Anyway, I suppose it’s trite and dull as an insight, and it’s mostly what we’ve been doing these last few years in the blogosphere, but today I’m recommitting to Truth. Truth is the shining sword in our battle against the darkness, it is the Bane of Evil and the foundation of all that is Good. I encourage everyone: tell the Truth today. Do so in front of people who don’t want to, or don’t often, hear it. Do so proudly, and be unafraid of the consequences. Take it from me, as I wallow in a suicidal sort of bitter self hatred, it’s the better way. Dear Goddess, do I know this now.  Read more 

Bruce Slater is the only Democratic challenger in Pennsylvania who is specifically committed to a single payer system.

Three of Pennsylvania’s Representatives are cosponsors of HR 676:

Robert Brady has been working against the war, for affordable housing, and for expanding access to health care.

Michael Doyle  Read more 

Start spreading the news, be a part of it! NYNY!

Yvette Clarke thinks that health care is the right of every American.

Eliot Engel has a solid record on consumer protection and health care.

Maurice Hinchey comes from FDR’s district.

In addition to supporting HR 676 Carolyn Maloney wants to something about predatory lending.  Read more