It is interesting that Thom used a quote from Alice Walker, since Walker and her own daughter (from a white father) are estranged because the latter doesn't share Walker's intense antipathy toward black men, a common feature in her novels--which I see as promoting racism in its own way. However, I am glad that Thom took the time to address one of the basic foundations of right-wing "movements"--racism--since at least the time of the nativist Know-Nothing Party in the mid 19th century.

Considering that many people in Congress on both sides of the aisle have their PENSIONS and PERSONAL INVESTMENTS tied up in Health Care Companies or Big Pharma companies.... tell me why please;

WHY IS IT NOT CONSIDERED A CONFLICT OF INTEREST that these people will not give us PUBLIC HEALTH CARE which is my name for Public Option.

Why? Isn't it obvious they're protecting their own pockets? Why should they NOT BE MADE TO JETTISON THAT STOCK before sitting on such a decision?

Can we discuss this please?

I love Thom, but he's a typical Liberal who wears democracy on his sleeve, yet seemingly supports an anti-democratic system.

Today he was saying he was in favor of "democracy" in the Senate as if 51% of votes in the Senate was “democratic”. In reality because the Senate represents states not people, that 51% majority can represent as little as 18% of the US population.

Here are some other numbers. Depending on the stars line up the following is possible:

Senators representing a mere 11% of the population can block any legislation in the Senate using the filibuster.

Senators representing a mere 24% of the population can break any filibuster.

Senators representing about 30% of the population can ratify treaties.

If Thom TRULY believed in democracy he’d be calling for sweeping reforms of ALL anti-democratic features of our Constitution… the Senate, the EC, the amendment process, and judicial and treaty ratification.

Reforming the Senate is improbable given the reform-proof nature of our Constitution. But perhaps there’s a back door… using Senate rules to weight the vote of any senator to ½ of the population of their state. Read more here:
http://reinventing-america.blogspot.com/2010/02/reforming-anti-democrati...

Of course this would do nothing to bring other needed reforms to our system… such as proportional representation that could break up our dysfunctional if not braindead two-party system. As a Progressive I can vote FOREVER and never be represented for my beliefs in Washington.

Thom missed the point badly with Mark Williams, the tea party talk show host when they were arguing CEO compensation. The fact is, the investor class would agree with Mr. Williams when it comes to CEO compensation...they're getting rich also, and how many people are we talking about?...90 million? And what's so awful about bigotry, lies, and distortions if it's helping you get richer?
THOM ARE YOU AFRAID TO BRING THIS ANGLE INTO DISCUSSION(for fear of alienating your listeners who are stockholders?)

The Brown victory in MA is a blessing in disguise for the Democrats if they take a deep breath and make sure that a REAL public option is included in the 'health care' bill they pass through reconciliation. The individual mandate that requires ALL of us to purchase insurance will energize the right wing-nut opposition and without the public option the Democratic base will be disgusted and demoralized. Also, independent voters will have a hard time getting around the fact that the Democrats have forced them to pay into an out of control, vampiric system The Democrats will get shellacked in 2010 if they pass an individual mandate to purchase insurance without a public option so we can escape the current system that makes outlandish profits on peoples' suffering.

Nels,

LOL! You just know that Frank Luntz would be working feverishly to rewrite history, though (just like the Repugs. did with Reagan.)

@Mark K, I think we still have politicians symbolically castrating themselves for their paymasters.

We call them Senators.

Doctors' Group: Obama Plan Leaves Millions Uninsured, Boosts Private Insurers
by Physicians for National Health Program
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/02/24-5

[...]

"In short," Young said, "this proposal is an insurance company bonanza, not good, evidence-based health reform. The president would do better by abandoning the insurance and drug companies and instead taking up the single-payer approach." His group has estimated that such an approach could save hundreds of billions of dollars annually by simplifying health administration.

"By building on and improving the already popular Medicare program, we could put our patients' interests first," he said. "Were President Obama to do so, he would meet with strong public support, including from the medical community."

Although the physicians' group requested an invitation to Thursday's summit at Blair House, no reply from the White House has been forthcoming, Young said. Similarly, requests from Reps. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, Anthony Weiner of New York and Peter Welch of Vermont that single-payer advocates be included in the meeting have apparently gone unanswered.

Outside the Blair House on Thursday, a grassroots "Sidewalk Summit for Medicare for All" will underscore popular support for the measure.

******************************

A senate with 2 senators per state regardless of population will never lead to true democracy.

@Gerals thx, I shared on facebook with this caption: Exactly which Americans do we deny healthcare to in our Christian Country?

I am sooooo glad that the British Queen's pooch was not involved in the Royal's mascot story . . .

I haven't read the Bible lately, but eunuchs were often powerful individuals in antiquity, since rulers did not view them as potential threats to their throne, and employed them in important positions. Many men who sought powerful positions in government would accept castration for this purpose.