Seems odd to me that a leading Democrat would want to known as the guy that killed health care reform, especially going into an election cycle.

Does that mean Sen. Nelson will no longer accept money from "outside special interest groups" to finance his re-election campaign?

This is like Baucus saying he won't accept any comments from those outside Montana. Do these men not understand that EVERY American will be affected by their decision on health care and thus EVERY American has the right to express an opinion? We are all their "constituents" when it comes to this crucial issue.

Senator Nelson can kill healthcare all by himself? I must've missed that section of the Constitution that gives that power to the senior senator from Nebreska.

Ben Nelson has 2.2 million reasons to torpedo health care reform. Like all of our senators he is bought and paid for by special interest groups. Until we get campaign finance reform the needs of us regular people will take a back seat to the needs of the CEOs and their lobbyists.

As to this ad, keep it up. Nelson needs to realize there are real people out here and there are consequences for being a bought and paid for shill.

I want to defend Senator Nelson here, simply because he's the only Democrat we got.

First, he doesn't come up for reelection until 2012.

His statement was to innoculate himself from charges that he bowed to outside special interest pressure, because this *will* be used against him by the GOP. In 2000, the only thing the Republicans could criticize him for was having a "D" after his name.

I'm not saying he still won't side with the insurance companies -- Nelson got his start as Nebraska's insuranve commissioner -- but I think you're reading too much into the statement.

Nebraskans don't need outside special interest groups telling them what to think. Ben Nelson needs outside special interest groups telling him what to think. Get it straight.

Where is Pharma headquartered? or AHIP?

"Nebraskans don't need outside special interest groups telling them what to think.

Can we infer from this statement that Nelson doesn't need special interest insurance money in his election coffers telling him how to vote?

Other than the "D" in front of his name, the republicans couldn't criticize him during the election. I wonder why. Could it be, that he has too much in common with the Republicans. And if democrats criticize him too much, he'll switch parties.

nebraska is a neat and tidy state, even after a tornado.

nice state prison right there in lincoln near the football field.

and they grow a little corn.

i guess with all those blessings, having to stomach a 'democrat' like nelson is easy to take.

Right now life is good for Ben Nelson. Why would he want to become part of a shrinking minority, As long as he has seniority he won't switch parties.

Re paying for health care reform:
¨Senator Ben Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat, said he’s “not hearing a lot” of support for a surtax on wealthy Americans. People in his state don’t like the millionaire’s tax “because they are looking someday to get there themselves,” Nelson told reporters on July 13. “It’s the American way.” ¨
(http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aUVZeh_GVBYM)

Question for Husker Blue: Nelson may have a Democratic label, but given his above quoted statement about the American way, he does not sound D/democratic to me.

Also, Nelson has not studied the link between marginal tax rates on the very wealthy and financial booms/busts: that rate was dropped in the twenties, causing the roaring twenties, the 1929 crash, resulting in depression I. The rate was set at 90% in the 1930´s, and gradually decreased to 70%. The latest boom/busts started with Greedscam´s almost ZIRP and Bush/Cheney´s tax cuts for the very wealthiest: the extra money in their hands is not spent productively (they already have everything), but used to speculate.
Society -- also in Nebraska -- is way better off with decent health care insurance, than with rampant speculation (aided, of course, by Wall Street´s malfeasance and Congress´ closed eyes).

"Nebraskans don't need outside special interest groups telling them what to think."

Ben doesn't need ANYBODY telling him what to think unless it comes wrapped in hundred dollar bills from K St.

What a skank.

The eminent senator from Nebraska does not recognize that health insurance con artist lobbyists are outside special interest groups!

With a population of 1.8 million out of 304 million, Nebraska represents .6 percent of the US population. Me thinks this DINO's head's too big.

This Nebraska Democrat was outraged when the Nebraska Democratic Party sent out Ben Nelson's whining screed to us on OUR dime. Progressive Nebraska Democrats refer to him as "The Senator from Mutual of Omaha" and many of us send our money to progressive causes rather than to the state party. This Senator has not even decided if he will vote for confirming Sotomayor now that the NRA has made it one of the votes on which they rate Senators.

Maybe this worthless egomaniac legend-in-his-own-mind PoS can be expelled from the Democratic caucus next year after the elections.

Maybe somebody should remind Nebraska that, along with the parade of truly awful Senators they have elected -- Nelson is in the succession to Roman 'Don't mediocrities deserve representation' Hruska -- they once produced a George Norris. Somehow he reached what little sense there is in that state. Isn't there one politician of either party there who has chosen him, and not the Exons, Hruskas, Wherrys, and Butlers, as a model?

Ben Nelson looks pushy, but are there genuine arguments for not moving really fast with this stuff?

Baucus doesn't want any comments from outside Montana? That's odd, because I believe over 90% of his campaign donations come from outside Montana. Is he willing to give them up?

Neil B said: "but are there genuine arguments for not moving really fast with this stuff?"

really fast????
After more than 20 years??

That must have been tongue in cheek (even though the topic is very serious)

Perhaps this tetchy attitude is a sign that he's getting some pressure from colleagues in DC to be reasonable.

He's being hoisted on his own corrupt petard.

Neil B

This had been brought up by some when the Public Option was getting slammed. Regarding the Bipartisan effort. Less than 30% of the country now identifies as GOP. Plus the last two elections have shown all of us outside the beltway we are NOT a center right country. Since Baucus would never let a Single Payer expert into the discussion, it is not as obvious that we have ALREADY moved significantly center from what 70+% of the country, and 59% of physicians want. To abandon the public option is giving the conservatives far more input than the country wants.

Chairmen and members of powerful committees, like the six on the senate finance group trying to get the bipartisan bill done, should realize they are essentially representing all of America. This situation is especially out of whack. The combined population of all six states is 2.74% of total US pop. The only city that could be considered metropolitan is 850,000. WY, NE, MT, NM, IA and MW are more rural than other states.

Additionally, since that was brought up, the House has essentially completed two bills and the Senate HELP committee finished theirs. Baucus actually started working on this last fall. Others had also been working on a variety of bills so it isn't like they just started in January.

The really phenomenal news this week is one Rep Anthony Weiner (D-NY) who has been talking for the rest of us. The day Medicare turned 44, he but a bill into the house to let the GOP and other conservatives put a vote where their government run health care charges lead them. It was to cancel Medicare. They failed to vote for it. Weiner is good at making his points, funny and on target. Pelosi is going to let his single payer bill go to a floor vote separately. It will at least emphasize that this is a more 'radical left' position than Public Option.

Here's a link to the ad and a place for all you out-state interests to donate some support to continue that ad.

Which is giving Nelson's constituent a voice to be heard all over the state.

http://www.actblue.com/page/stayatwork?refcode=youtubed

.

Northern Pike, that was my thoughts exactly. The out of state contributions Nelson vacuums up are by definition "special interest groups telling [him] what to think".

Aside from being a handy excuse to do what he already wants to do, I don't see the risk here.

Nelson may not like being pressured by a $20k ad buy, but it's a taste the outside money that will flow in to defeat him in the election if he tries to kill health care reform. That's assuming he doesn't get stripped of his chairmanship.

Ben is playing with fire and I think after he is done blustering discretion will win out.

Nelson is incensed that outside groups have been paying television and radio stations to influence his vote. He prefers that the payments go directly to his campaign.

If these ads are going to kill healthcare for Nelson, then he's not very serious about it anyway and we'll just have to write him off.

What interests me is the following quote:
Those ads by other special interests prompted hundreds of Nebraskans to call our offices, with 9 to 1 urging Senator Nelson to do exactly the opposite of what the special interest group wanted. In short, the ads backfired."

I hope that Moveon or somebody like that takes this up and gets lots of Nebraskans telephoning his office in support of health care reform.

Just to make things clear.

That's assuming he doesn't get stripped of his chairmanship.

By whom? Reid? Pulleeeze!

I'll be a senator before that happens.

He can always face a primar challenge but he's right on taxing the health plans of the wealthy its a non-starter. Why not tax items that contribute so much to the Health care problem like ammunition and soft drinks to pay for the cost.

just to clarify my comment on 9:18

Senator Ben Nelson, a Nebraska "Democrat" (a Joe Lieberman redo?), said people in his state don’t like the millionaire’s tax “because they are looking someday to get there themselves, It’s the American way.”

Nelson is refusing an additional income tax of 5.4% for the part of yearly income above $ 1 million.

So while with the recent increase in federal minimum wage (part of an increase after a decade's stagnation!) to $7.25/hr, results in a yearly income of $12.000,-, "democratic" senator Nelson does not want an additional tax of 5.4% above $ 1 million. We are talking here about people (bonus bankers et al) who "earn" more than 80 times the minimum wage.

Sad but interesting times: the income inequality in the US today is larger than it was in France in 1789 (just before the French revolution).

Doesn't matter who did what to Nelson, I would guess. Just as long as someone did something for a guy who is looking for an excuse. Otherwise the guy is profoundly easy to manipulate by reverse psychology, like a toddler.

What interests me is the following quote:
Those ads by other special interests prompted hundreds of Nebraskans to call our offices, with 9 to 1 urging Senator Nelson to do exactly the opposite of what the special interest group wanted. In short, the ads backfired." -- Duncan Kinder, @14:42

And you believe that? Why?

"Nebraskans don't need outside special interest groups telling them what to think."

But they need them to scare the bejeebers out of people here about the "dangers" of same-sex marriage, immigrants from Mexico, and affirmative action.

Ben Nelson, the thirty pieces of silver you accepted are going to cost the people of this state dearly.

On a ligher note, I'm just giddy to see my hometown get mentioned on Washington Monthly.

GO RAMS!!!

Who does this guy think he is. He is a member of the democratic party which is in all states not just his and as a member he represents the party's platform which is to pass needed HC ins reform...nationwide.

His political 'blackmail' (if you criticize me or my actions I will go against the entire party nation wide and kill the democratic agenda) is extremely egocentric and petty. Out of state campaign donations from outside special interests don't bother him at all unless it's from interests critical of his performance.

This Bought and bribed senator isn't fooling anyone in his own state and I doubt seriously if he ever got such calls telling him to kill HC ins reform. He's a lying senatorial lobbyist pet. We got your number Baucus. Maybe we should poll your constituents...oh that's right...we heard from them at the town hall mtgs you refused to attend over single payer you would not allow on the table. Your handlers must be calling you...I just saw a stream of $50 dollar bills blowing toward your office.

btw...the only thing taking Baucus' committee from producing a bill is trying to figure how to keep priv. ins profiteering and still call it reform. Just look at all the threats and stalling coming from members of that committee. The best they could come up with is...co-ops???

Nelson is up for re-election next year, and it's not surprising that
AND
So, with so much on the line, and the health and hopes of millions in the balance, perhaps Nelson can drop the threats?

Hmmm HE needs to stop the threats ... but YOU and those like you get to threaten to spend money in a state not your own to get him voted out.

Nothing like hypocrisy huh.

To be non-threatening. Go get some polls done in his state. Find out of it IS 9-1 to do exact opposite.
If it IS then guess what, the PEOPLE of his state want to say F*** YOU to all the people in the other states.
And he is doing his contitutional ... CONSTITUTIONAL ... duty to speak as the voice of his CONSTITUENTS. Not you.

What he is saying is what alot of us are saying.
Congressmen and Senators are elected by their CONSTITUENTS.
They owe the consitituents of other districts and states NOTHING
They owe the president, the DNC, and congress NOTHING.

Only their constituents decide whether they can keep their job.

As an example. You may LOVE Pelosi. But if her constituents decide she doesnèt speak in their voice ... you, the president, the DNC, the whole damn world have no say in it.
Pelosi is no longer speaker of the house because she is no longer in congress.

this is the guy that came on morning MSNBC (after Joe in the Morning), saying, "We've got to protect the insurance companies in my state."

He had an argument with the host of the MSNBC show, because the host wanted to make sure Mr. Nelson was standing by his statement.

This guy can be counted out for support for health care reform. He made it clear he's on the side of insurance companies.

And people wonder why I don't donate to the congressional caucus fundraising committees?

LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY. (Thomas Paine)

We have the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed world. Conservative estimates are that over 120,000 of you dies each year in America from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don't die from. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Insured and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. This is what being 37th in quality of healthcare means.

I know that many of you are angry and frustrated that REPUBLICANS! In congress are dragging their feet and trying to block TRUE healthcare reform. What republicans want is just a taxpayer bailout of the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry, and the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry. A trillion dollar taxpayer funded private health insurance bailout is all you really get without a robust government-run public option available on day one. Co-OP's ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION. They are a fraud being pushed by the GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry that is KILLING YOU!

YOU CANT HAVE AN INSURANCE MANDATE WITHOUT A ROBUST PUBLIC OPTION. MANDATING PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTH INSURANCE AS YOUR ONLY CHOICE WOULD BE A DISASTER AND UNETHICAL, CORRUPT, AND MORALLY REPUGNANT. AND PROBABLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS WELL.

These industries have been slaughtering you and your loved ones like cattle for decades for profit. Including members of congress and their families. These REPUBLICANS are FOOLS!

Republicans and their traitorous allies have been trying to make it look like it's President Obama's fault for the delays, and foot dragging. But I think you all know better than that. President Obama inherited one of the worst government catastrophes in American history from these REPUBLICANS! And President Obama has done a brilliant job of turning things around, and working his heart out for all of us.

But Republicans think you are just a bunch of stupid, idiot, cash cows with short memories. Just like they did under the Bush administration when they helped Bush and Cheney rape America and the rest of the World.

But you don't have to put up with that. And this is what you can do. The Republicans below will be up for reelection on November 2, 2010. Just a little over 13 months from now. And many of you will be able to vote early. So pick some names and tell their voters that their representatives (by name) are obstructing TRUE healthcare reform. And are sellouts to the insurance and medical lobbyist.

Ask them to contact their representatives and tell them that they are going to work to throw them out of office on November 2, 2010, if not before by impeachment, or recall elections. Doing this will give you something more to do to make things better in America. And it will make you feel better too.

There are many resources on the internet that can help you find people to call and contact. For example, many social networking sites can be searched by state, city, or University. Be inventive and creative. I can think of many ways to do this. But be nice. These are your neighbors. And most will want to help.

I know there are a few democrats that have been trying to obstruct TRUE healthcare reform too. But the main problem is the Bush Republicans. Removing them is the best thing tactically to do. On the other hand. If you can easily replace a democrat obstructionist with a supportive democrat, DO IT!

You have been AMAZING!!! my people. Don't loose heart. You knew it wasn't going to be easy saving the World. :-)

God Bless You

jacksmith — Working Class

I REST MY CASE (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)

Republican Senators up for re-election in 2010.

* Richard Shelby of Alabama
* Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
* John McCain of Arizona
* Mel Martinez of Florida
* Johnny Isakson of Georgia
* Mike Crapo of Idaho
* Chuck Grassley of Iowa
* Sam Brownback of Kansas
* Jim Bunning of Kentucky
* David Vitter of Louisiana
* Kit Bond of Missouri
* Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
* Richard Burr of North Carolina
* George Voinovich of Ohio
* Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
* Jim DeMint of South Carolina
* John Thune of South Dakota
* Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas
* Bob Bennett of Utah

Maybe we should just play hardball with these guys and get up a petition to take away Congress' health insurance. No Medicare either for those over 65. Let them figure out what to do like most 55 year olds (and others including their helpless families/dependents) who find themselves unemployed. Only then will things change.

Would that 'millionaire's surtax' apply to the one-time inheritance of the child of a Nebraska farm owner? Yes

And the additional tax owed would further increase the likelihood of selling the farm, to pay the taxes, instead of it staying in a farm family.

The democrats had better wake up and understand the magnitude of the disaster they're about to perpetrate on the American people. Otherwise, it will turn into such a disaster that the word Democrat will be unheard in another decade or so because no one with that title will get elected ever again. Look at Massachusetts and the plan there. Look at the 'Cash for Clunkers'. Is that what you want for your health care? Out of money in the first week? Your government at its best. And you want these same people to decide what type of care you can get when you're sick? I want my doctor and me to decide on my treatments, not some bureaucrat in Washington. Our decisions will be based on what's best for me, the bureaucrat's will be based on what's the cheapest for the government. No doubt, he/she will also have a quota to follow, so there will be only so much money for any given group; once that's gone, so are your chances.
Government control (or single payer, as they call it) has been tried over and over and fails every time. Look at the long-term cancer survival rates in Canada and England; not even close to our's.
Think about what you're about to do. That's a long dark path leading to third-world rate healthcare. Go down it at your own peril.

Sometimes the conservative arguments get so insane I have to pause and wonder that anyone can make them.

First, "Cash for Clunkers" ran out of money because it worked! Hundreds of thousands of gas-guzzling monstrosities were turned in and junked and replaced by new cars that get 50-100% more miles per gallon. Even aside from the long-term environmental benefits of this, it means an immediate boost to struggling automakers.

As for your complaints about health care and government bureaucrats, better them than an insurance company bureaucrat second-guessing treatement decissions and looking for excuses to cancel my coverage.

Finally, England and Canada do better than the United States on almost every measure of health from infant mortality to overall life expectancy.

And while early detection can be import in cancer survival rates, it is nowhere near as big as it looks when based on % living for 5 years after detection. Obviously, if one person has a cancer detected when it is a few anomalous cells on a mammogram and the other finds it a year or two later when it is a visible lump, the first will live longer from detection even if early treatment has no effect at all.

See this link for more information:

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/02/the_early_detection_of_cancer_more_compl.php

If you really have faith in your position, your response to criticism really doesn't need to be, "Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!"

And if the attack was backfiring to his benefit, why would he be threatening the groups in order to make them stop?

By "Nebraskans" calling his office, he means wingnuts from all over the country who are on an email list to call him in response to an ad.

Senator, if you want to play chicken on this, go ahead. You will lose. You will not be re-elected. And you will go down in history, infamous for your blunder on this issue.

Go right ahead.

This probably will sound like a bit of a strange bit of help to ask for, but does anybody know what the rarest bird in The uk is thought to be? Cheers