First of all the charge that Kucinich is playing politics is nonsense.  Anyone who knows the man’s character knows that is a baseless statement. 

He has fought for single payer for years.

We would be a blessed nation indeed if he were ever to find himself to be our president. 

It’s tiresome reading people who like what he says nevertheless jump on the bandwagon of scorn because he doesn’t self identify as a ‘green’ or ‘socialist’ or independent. 

I do not see anything wrong with a Democrat remaining a democrat and standing up for what is right.  He could never be a serious contender for president with any of those labels, and even if enough Americans voted for a ‘socialist’ (doesn anyone really think that is possible?), he would be ineffective as neither party in Congress would work with him. 

I say it’s just fine to have a true progressive within the party. 

And he is about the most honorable man in politics today.  It’s disheartening to see some of you attack him.  But then, it seems that going negative is the dominate trait some of you always seem to have..

I think the salient point here is that the bill is
not progressive, is corporation-friendly, and is
going to further bankrupt an already failing system
while it further lines the bulging pockets of the
oligarchs. Kucinich is so classic. He attempted to
impeach Bush. He grilled wall street over their
bailout debacles like no other. Yet he is so clearly
trans-partisan. He is not fooled by the soothing
teleprompted left-cover of the corporatist deep-agent
Obama. Instead he ruthlessly burns that cover down. I
really love this website and am so grateful that the
comments of those from the illusionary right and the
illusionary left are allowed to remain unmolested.
But most gratifying of all is that I observe a
burgeoning, almost viral awakening of the public to
the fact that the left vs. right false-duality is a
long-exploited illusion. Our only hope as a nation
lies in realizing that there is not a snowball’s
chance in hell that either party can or will
represent us meaningfully. People like Kucinich and
Paul, love them or hate them, vote their consciences
and, most crucially, that of their constituents
irrespective of which ring of the two-party circus
this APPEARS to land them in. They are like a couple
of gentle lions braving the screeches and fecal
volleys of two cages of venal and demented monkeys.

Regardless of the rhetoric about the current health care reform legislation passed
in the House of Representatives or the anticipated battle in the Senate, the only
real solution to the runaway health care costs and the failure to deliver health care
to all Americans is Medicare for all legislation offered in HR 676.  The ONLY thing
that will really work is a single payer system that takes the profit motive out of
health care.  Decisions about health care must be based on medical analysis by
doctors.

Congress, under the influence of enormous health insurance industry campaign
contributions, does not represent “we the people”.  They defend the health
insurance industry like it’s their natural constituency.

I admire Kucinich who has advocated single payer for a very long time as a solution to Americas issue of healthcare for its citizens, anything less is a retreat from what U.S. citizens deserve from their government in return for their tax dollars.

While this country spends trillions maintaining fixed and floating military bases both at home and abroad, it allows the free enterprise system to kill our less fortunate citizens here at home.

There will always be a place for the insurance companies to make money (private room, private doctor, TV, wifi) in healthcare but the making of life and death decisions is better left in the doctors conference room, not an administrators board room.

While I admire Kucinichs’ stand I can only think this legislation is a step in the right direction, flawed as it is.  Soon, the shortcommings will be evident and the next congress can make the necessary corrections, we will evolve our health system away from profit but reward innovation in treating our citizens better for less.

If the bill is so bad and does nothing to disadvantage the health insurance companies why didn’t the Republicans embrace it with enthusiasm? The truth is Obama actually wants to get something done and the Republicans are just playing politics

This statement by Diamond illustrates only that starting with a conclusion and then manufacturing to make that conclusion seemingly accurate seems a failure.

The Republicans understand, even if you do not, that Obama’s health care legislation is the lynch pin of his first term in office. If they defeat that they can presumably defeat him in 2012.

As to Obama’s motivations to get things done; he seems rather poor at doing such. Rather than being the motivator he left the field to the Congress, instead of insisting upon single payer he gave it up without a struggle.

Instead of taking his case to the people of this nation who seem to want ,and definitely need, real health care reform he accepted the poison pill from big Pharma, let Congress gut anything meaningful from the bill, allowed reactionaries in his own party to further hamstring abortion access and we have a House bill that would fail to resolve our most pressing needs. Once this lack of leadership allows the Senate to further castrate this pending legislation we the people will have lost.

Jim Yell,

Ron Paul and other Austrians (school of economics) do not stand for chaos. They stand for economic freedom and liberty. As long as the government controls the money supply, we will all just be servants of the government and the institutions that they choose to support, such as: Goldman Sacks, Exxon/Mobile, GE, GM, ADM, JP Morgan Chase etc, etc, etc.

Night-Gaunt you need to learn a very valuable lesson which the Republicans take in with their mother’s milk: those who don’t hang together will hang separately. The Republicans always hang together which is why Cheney and Bush and Rumsfeld haven’t been thrown in jail - yet. You obviously don’t understand the art of the political wedge; a tactic in which the opposition uses an issue to divide the government hoping they’ll be seen as weak and in disarray. Kucinich is clueless enough to play into this tactic, thereby weakening his own party and his own leader. Therefore Kucinich is, politically speaking, a dickhead. His no vote does nothing to alter the reality Obama has to deal with and plays into the hands of the Republicans. Not wise and not useful. You may have noticed that only one Republican voted for this bill. I can’t remember who said it but it’s so true: the evil always support each other, it’s their great strength. If the bill is so bad and does nothing to disadvantage the health insurance companies why didn’t the Republicans embrace it with enthusiasm? The truth is Obama actually wants to get something done and the Republicans are just playing politics. So is Kucinich and shame on him for doing so.

So says the man that should have been president of the USA. Except that the PTB would never have someone allowed to run and get the nomination and get “elected” in this country at this time. Never.

Diamond, can you read? Comprehend? The bill is a shill and a give away to the health insurance companies and won’t really help much of anyone. So it is bad and needs to be killed. The only “dick head” here is you.

How can you be effectual if you are an island surrounded by others inimical to you and your values? Should he then just give up and let the juggernaut move that much faster? What is your point here InheritTheWind? Blaming him for being nearly alone defending us? Such an ingrate you are.

I agree with you hold heartily on Ron Paul and his son Rand Paul—look out for him.

“Once again, Kucinich wins some kudos, but not my vote. Push comes to shove, he is still a Democrat, not an Independent, Green, or Socialist. “-Xntrk

If Mazie voted “yes” and Kucinich “no” how does that add up for you? He is more of a Liberal and Progressive than Obama ever was, if ever.

Also stop being so sexist as if male genitalia is the only way to be courageous and a spine works much better to represent both men and women in this, okay?

I must admit InheritTheWind you do have some gall attacking one of the few real Democrats fighting for us. The only thing he might occasionally obstruct is the fascists move to defund us while funding themselves to the tune of billions every year. Ron Paul would accelerate it and Dennis Kucinich would do what he could to obliterate it. Yes damn the few who fight and claim they are the enemy. Quite a usable tactic on the ignorant. Just won’t wash here. Better find Little Green Footballs which is more your style of forum.

The hypocrisy of Congress no longer surprises me.  The very same people that already have socialized medicine deny it to the rest of us.  I was very impressed with Kucinich’s pledge during his Presidential campaign that if elected, he would demand that Congress enact legislation that would provide to every American the same publically-funded health care Congress now enjoys within 6 months of his election, or the Congress would lose theirs.  I am equally impressed with his stand against this monument to corporate welfare.  American citizens, in poll after poll, and by very wide margins, want universal, single-payer, publically-funded health care, and know that there is plenty of money already in the budget for this and so much more.  But the trillions spent on war and killing, the billions spent protecting the largest corporations from the “free market”, enriches the very few, and has the desirable side-effect of keeping policy decisions in the hands of the corporate oligarchy and removed from the people who actually are paying the bills.  God forbid that the people should get any benefit from their own money.  No, after the corporate Congress and our corporate President get done with this bait-and-switch (from universal, single-payer to “affordable”), we will be required to go through insurance companies who never saw a policy they weren’t eager to deny in the name of profit, and we will be forced to buy what we already pay far too much for.  Again, costs are to be socialized, while profits are privatized. Whether the government takes over the corporations, or the corporations take over the government, the effect is the same.  Maybe if they spoke German, marched in goose-step, and wore swastikas we would recognize them for what they are. But just because they speak English, claim to be Christian, and wave the American flag doesn’t mean they aren’t fascists. 

As William O. Douglas, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice put it, “Those in power are blind devotees to private enterprise. They accept that degree of socialism implicit in the vast subsidies to the military-industrial-complex, but not that type of socialism which maintains public projects for the disemployed and the unemployed alike.” “Our upside down welfare state is ‘socialism for the rich, free enterprise for the poor.’ The great welfare scandal of the age concerns the dole we give rich people.”

Article quote: “America continues to stand out among all industrialized nations for its privatized health care system. As a result, we are less competitive in steel, automotive, aerospace and shipping while other countries subsidize their exports in these areas through socializing the cost of health care.”

Rep. Kucinich is absolutely correct.  The majority of Americans AGREE and understand that single payer would be THE BEST choice.  We also understand the current level of corruption in congress, I’m sure that if single-payer could have garnered enough votes that it would have been the bill that was brought forth.  We did have a sizeable number of Democrats in the House co-sign HR676, but not enough.

My conjecture is this…... if the Dems would have been short on votes to pass H.R. 3962, Kucinich would have voted the other way.  Kucinich is a person of integrity, this he has shown but he is also a person of compassion and empathy so it seems unrealistic, at least to me, that he would have furthered the current despicable heathcare situation for ideological reasons.

Re: Fat Freddy

Your comment:  “My question is, why did he wait until after the vote to go public with his concerns?”

Hopefully my last paragraph above will give you food for thought, that’d be my take.

Re: Purplegirl

Your comment: “There is no shame in being a pragmantic progressive.  In fact the definition of the Term “Progressive"otherwise might as well call yourselves the ‘Magicians’.”

Absolutely, I agree.  Good point.

Thank you, Dennis.
A voice of sanity on a sinking ship…..

Good point, Freddy.

In Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, the protagonists meet up
with an old, seemingly disoriented, man. Then the guy
let’s fly with the best observation in the book:

“People were always getting ready for tomorrow. I didnt
believe in that. Tomorrow wasnt getting ready for them.
It didnt even know they were there.”

Looks like a lot of our Congress members are concerned
about getting ready for tomorrow.

Dennis Kucinich is the BEST we have in Congress (along with a few others, Kaptur, Waters, B.Lee…)

He was on DemocracyNow this morning http://www.democracynow.org  with Jane Hamsher of http://www.firedoglake.com  Jane Hamsher asked some good questions at the end of the discussion, of Kucinich about “what happened to the other cosigners of HR676”?
She spoke about the horrendous amendment to prevent choice of abortion in health plans that the gov’t pays into in some way (she puts it better and Kucinich was a bit “off” on what the bill does in re that).  Hamsher recently wrote on her blog FDL about restrictions to women with breast cancer in re lack of drug coverage in the plan.

  I am calling the legislations, so far, as a Potemkin Village: fake facade.  Kucinich does a great job on topic from “inside” the mess.

  http://www.blackagendareport.com has been doing good analysis ongoing: Bruce A. Dixon and Glen Ford.  New material goes up on Wednesdays.

There is no shame in being a pragmantic progressive.
In fact the definition of the Term “Progressive"otherwise might as well call yourselves the ‘Magicians’.
Love ya Dennis but your ‘No” counts exactly like the party of “So"s votes. It will be irrlevent to the 45,000 American who will die needlessly next year what your reasons were. and will probably not give a rats ass about your sense of moral conviction. They will be denied care or lose care, regardless.
Universal healthcare coverage is a dead soldier, as is Doing Nothing. It’s a step forward, one that is worth taking to begin the Process towards healthcare for All.
“No” is “No” and gets US nowhere.

I have never found a satisfactory answer to the question:  Why is Kucinich still with the Democratic party where he’s never found any support for his decent political position? Is he another well-meaning but delusional figure who believes he can change or influence the party (including Democratic voters) in a significant way?  I really don’t know.  I’d like to hear some views on the subject from those who post here. Thanks.

Mr Kucinich makes some valid points, unlike the Republican opposition. I don’t necessarily agree with all of them, but they are coherent and intelligent and are not the “red-meat” rantings of a John Boner or Michelle Bachmann or the logical fallacies presented by Lindsay Graham. Refreshing.  My question is, why did he wait until after the vote to go public with his concerns? I guess that “D” next to his name has something to do with it.

You know damn well I am NOT in favor of “Israeli oppression” but AM in favor of Israeli existence.

I ,for one, see no such criticisms of “Israel Oppression” ( why the quotes ITW?) in your words. I do see an unyielding and illogical defense of the holocaust Israel perpetrates upon the people of Palestine.

It becomes quite tiresome that if someone presents an accurate analysis (as in this case, Mr, Kucinich’s examination of the so-called Affordable Health Act) those who have no way to dispute the facts that are presented, instead choose to resort to crude name calling and petty vitriol of the silliest sort. What is true, as Representative Kucinich points out, that legislation such as this, is designed to create a never ending bureaucratic labyrinth in which monies can be legally stolen while responsible obligations are not-so-conveniently avoided. Examine the text, if you do not believe this to be true.
In a rather perverse way, this affordable health legislation is a stimulus package, designed to boost an industry that searches out loopholes for companies to drive the proverbial truck through… legally of course.
Another point that Dennis Kucinich points out, is why does the government find the need to create incentives to a multi-billion dollar profitable industry? The late Senator Kennedy’s efforts to tweak the patent timing on so-called biologic drugs is a prime example of that vision that seeks to accommodate predatory capitalism by providing a comfortable window for massive profit taking.
It is simply the nature of the beast, as Rep. Kucinich points out, and that falls completely in line with that line of thought that assumes that to make money is the only reason to do anything.

Inherit-the-Wind are you a Democratic Congressperson who knows what is going on in the Democratic caucus or are you just sucking this out of your thumb?

Inherit is easy to understand because he is for Israeli oppression and anyone that supports it gets his approval.  And anyone who opposes it is a liar or anti-semite.
*************************************

You must have studied in the Joseph Goebbels School of Propaganda:  Keep repeating the Big Lie until it is accepted as the “truth”.

You know damn well I am NOT in favor of “Israeli oppression” but AM in favor of Israeli existence.

I guess is your narrow view anyone who doesn’t want Israel destroyed must be in favor of “Israeli oppression”.

You are genetically incapable of posting the truth about me.  Maybe you should step away from the keyboard.

paul bass, November 8 at 11:13 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

but you just lost every drop of respect i had for you
**********************************************

Who are you and why should your opinion be meaningful to me?

It’s self-serving politicians like Kucinich in the Democratic caucus who CONSTANTLY prevent the Dems from getting ANYTHING done in Congress and set themselves up to lose control yet again.  The Re-Thuglicans, got THEIR agendas through, vile as they are, because they know how to STICK TOGETHER!

Dennis Kucinich is always part of the problem, not part of the solution.  Let him go independent and caucus with himself and the few independents in the House.

honesty and integrity are not huge in the democratic party.
Muscle Might

Rep. Kucinich, is a thoughtful and effectual legislator, if given half a chance by the leadership of the Democratic Party, he could become a great legislator.
Yet, the leadership hampers him on every turn, they table his bills, because of his progressive and thoughtful legislation, which does not include the large ‘tax-exempt’ companies. Who by the way foot the bill for most of the re-election campaigns of the House and Senate members.
The people meanwhile, are not represented and hampered from their needs being met, by the very same legislators which have been bought and paid for by the military-industrial complex. This includes pharmaceuticals, insurance companies and most of all,
the companies such as Haliburton, which pay out millions of dollars each year to those whose election campaigns are in need of money and who will vote the ‘right’ way.
Dennis Kucinich has been and always will be a voice for the people, yet he is stifled from helping to enact legislation which would do just that.

randolf_urts, November 8 at 7:50 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

I didn’t quite catch the reasoning on this. Kucinich says we need single-payer. This bill would be a step in that direction.

Might I suggest that you reread the article and note the reasons Rep.Kucinich gives for his no vote. Apparently you failed to do so initially.

diamond, November 8 at 7:04 pm #

Kucinich is a dickhead and a lousy politician. Can yo imagine any other nation on earth where the President would be attacked for trying to being in a decent and humane health care system which will benefit most of the citizens and their children and grandchildren?

I failed to note where Kucinich attacked the President. He did, however, pointedly note his valid criticisms of this proposed bill. I find your characterization of Rep. Kucinich not much help and not very thoughtful.

Inherit The Wind, November 8 at 7:54 pm #

I rarely agreed with Diamond at all, but this is one time where I do, completely.  Dennis Kucinich continues to show why he is a TOTALLY ineffectual legislator, defended by unrealistic truthdiggers for not even having a CLUE to understanding the issues or what is at stake.

Let’s see; Rep.Kucinich details why he is against the proposed legislation, and quite eruditely in fact. ITW babbles from a strictly partisan position, mentions nothing concrete about that bill and simply engages in character assassination of any and all who fail to see the “wisdom” of his own position.

I think I would enjoy reading some specifics from ITW regarding his (blind?) support for this House bill..

You hit the nail on the head, Xntrk, what this bill is doing is PREVENTING the an effective medical care program.  The house bill is the PROGRESSIVE version which will be further degraded in favor of the medical industry in the Senate.  Making the passage of an effective program, of the kind held by every other Western nation, much more difficult.

What Ameriaans need is socialized medicine.  But Amerians have been taught to be afraid of words and the idea of a socialist program that other countries have is simply un-american.  They rather die. liberally.  and Obama will take credit for a botched bill and campaign on it in 2012, which is why the bill doens’t begin until 2013.  So people will hear the rhetoric and media bullshit and not experience the reality.  and your reason for not voting of Kucinich is the same reason that I only gave him two cheers.

I don’t understand people like Diamand.  Inherit is easy to understand because he is for Israeli oppression and anyone that supports it gets his approval.  And anyone who opposes it is a liar or anti-semite.  But Diamand seems to identify with the Dem leadership for some reason, and I’ll be dammed if I can figure out why.  He is intelligent and knowledgable. 

And this is the reason that the American people are sold out again and again, they identify continually with the leadership of the major parties.  Emotionally.  and it is this emotional identification that must be transformed before Americans can unite against the plutocracy.

My Congresswoman, Mazie Hriono is a member of the Progressive Caucus. She has backed this bill all the way, to my disgust. When it became obvious that it would do nothing for the people, and not even begin until 2013, I urged her to vote NO - My reasoning is that no bill is better than a poorly constructed pay off to the Insurance Companies. I also have been around long enough to be aware that if this thing passes, it will be another 20 years before there’s another effort to provide Universal Single Payer health care in America.

The kicker for Mazie is that Hawaii is excluded anyway, because we already have a similar State system that covers more people. Its been in effect for over 20 years. There is even a clause in this bill, and the Senate version, that allows Hawaii to opt out.

So, it is politics as usual. The coffers of the Pols are full to overflowing, and the Public gets screwed - again!

Once again, Kucinich wins some kudos, but not my vote. Push comes to shove, he is still a Democrat, not an Independent, Green, or Socialist.

The Great Unspoken that underlies this entire “Health Care Debate” (or would it better be described as a “Debacle?”), is that the United States can no longer pretend to be a civilized country or care about human rights unless and until it provides health care to all of its citizens. The rest of the world just can’t believe the cruelty, inhumanity and avarice of the American ruling crass (not a typo).

So, it looks like this is as good as it gets. Once the House bill is through being even further watered down in conference committee with the Senate, there will be nothing left but benefits, subsidies and “incentives” for the voracious parasites in the Health Industrial Complex.

Where the leaders lack any vision (beyond the bottom line); the people perish (literally). The United States is not falling behind in the great Civilization Sweepstakes; it’s not even in the race.

What the lavish Wall Street bailout demonstrated, is that this country has deep, deep markets and incredible wealth available to it. It can do just about anything it has a will to. As usual, it’s the ole’ one finger salute to the American people, and a generous helping hand to the undeserving, parasitic rich.

This is a sick, sick society; but it’s not the kind of sickness that can be treated by our health care providers. It’s a sickness of the soul.

IS THERE A PHILOSOPHER IN THE HOUSE?

Amen, inherit. The world is watching this debacle the way you watch relatives tearing each other apart at a Christmas barbeque or a really bad birthday party. On this issue Kucinich is as bad as Liebermann: he’s certainly no help. I’m sick of grandstanding politicians who care more about their own egos than they do about the voters. 

The only politician I’ve ever truly admired used to often change his mind on issues the voters didn’t support and when the snarling dogs of the media confronted him and tried to say he was weak he used to shrug and say ‘The voters are the boss’. He retired undefeated. 70% of Americans want health care reform. Gee, what do to? What a dilemma! The health insurance companies know damn well that the public option will provide competition and bring health care costs down and they’d rather stick pins in their eyes. They’ll fight it to their last breath but for a Democrat to vote against Obama’s health care bill, knowing the forces ranged against him, is outrageous.

I wish he was the current president…..

I’ve given lots of money to Kucinich over the years, because he proves himself
again and again. He’s great.

And Truthdig, as far as I’ve noticed, doesn’t seem to have paid any attention to
Kucinich’s other recent vote that was tremendously courageous, principled, and
important: Kucinich voted against our AIPAC-owned Congress’s bipartisan
condemnation of the Goldstone Report on Israel’s murderous crimes in Gaza.

Truthdiggers, give your support to Kucinich: he’s just about the only politician
that deserves it.

Isn’t amazing that the smallest guy has the biggest balls!  Thank God there are at least a few representatives who are representing the people not the Corporations!  It’s a pity that so many people are brainwashed by Corporate media into believing the BS that we are constantly feed. (Diamond & Inherit.. (full of wind) Prime examples of people who can not think for them selves but have lots to condemn other for.
  Dennis has always worked for the common mans interest and any one that doubts his ethics or dedication to the common good, needs to look into what he has accomplished. Unlike our well spoken President who has pissed away any chance of real health care reform in order to satisfy his Corporate Masters and accomplished nothing for the average citizen. 
  Wake up America our government has been taken over by the Ultra Rich. For the most part neither party represents you! Kucinich is one of the few exceptions!

I would be happy if our President was Deniss Kucinich a man of true integrity . Heck I might even be happy with Ron Paul who votes his conscience even though hes not liberal .. These 2 men are a rarity on capitol schill…

Dennis Kucinich is one of the of the few democrats that actually tries to represents the people rather than simply always caving to big business wishes.  Granted in historic terms he is far from “liberal” as he is well aware, but since 1980 the term liberal gets applied to anyone with either a brain or conscious..  The term moderate is used to describe dems that are far to the right of Hoover.

So for those that are critical of Kucinich please pull your heads out of your ##@ before it is too late, or if you are a repuke simply keep it there no one will notice.

I rarely agreed with Diamond at all, but this is one time where I do, completely.  Dennis Kucinich continues to show why he is a TOTALLY ineffectual legislator, defended by unrealistic truthdiggers for not even having a CLUE to understanding the issues or what is at stake.  Dennis the Menace yet again shows why he is the Democrats’ answer to the GOP’s pet lunatic, Michelle Bachmann.

Congressman,

Thank you for voting your conscience and your duty to work on behalf of your constituents. This is a terrible bill that can only get worse; it will be rammed down our collective throats; and many will proclaim it a great victory.

Diamond,

You’re a fool. The few positive aspects of this bill will be destroyed in the Senate. The administration is not working to help us “voters” in any way, shape or form. Tell me how you figure forcing us to buy over-priced private policies that will leave us under-covered is going to help anything but send more people to the poor house because they happened to get sick?

Your president is working for his corporate sponsors: he, apparently, cares not one whit for you, me or anyone else.

For the last year or so, our so called political leaders have engaged in a deep and far reaching obfuscation, of health care reform.

One in which millions of dollars were paid to influence not only their decision but their vote.

Rather than liberating Americans from the predatory practices of the health care corporations, they have added yet another burden on to all of us. This bill is not health care reform, it is instead a big pay day, with the tax payer picking up the tab.

As such it will speed the day when this government will no longer be solvent.

The American government is missing in action, and there is no one to fill in for them. Certainly the corporations won’t do it.

Yes Dennis, I agree, without a strong public option, doing nothing was a better idea.

Unfortunately, that’s all congress seems to do lately, bow and scrape to wall street, sell out the public and make the tax payer responsible for their weaknesses. This can’t go on forever, and it won’t.

We are already on the brink, and sending 34,000 more soldiers to Afghanistan, under cover of the health care reform vote announcement, was just the sort of thing that W., used to do.

Are we making any progess?

I don’t understand either of the comments above by diamond and Folktruther, but I certainly do understand Kucinich’s vote.  The House healthcare bill is a sham that will not reduce the high costs of U.S. healthcare.  I would say the bill is pretty much designed to make the insurance companies even richer and to impose the bill on middle class taxpayers. 
We will never improve the system until we accept a single payer system or a tightly regulated non-profit system.  It is Obama who should be condemned for the failure of the process; he never supporting real reform but dealt with the corporate interests behind closed doors. 
In any case, the House bill will not match the Senate’s bill, if there even is a Senate bill.  We may yet end up with an even worse bill covering fewer people at even higher costs!  These guys are not yet done doing damage.
At least Kucinich is honest and accurate. He is a refreshing change from business as usual in Washington.

Kucinich is a dickhead and a lousy politician. Can you imagine any other nation on earth where the President would be attacked for trying to being in a decent and humane health care system which will benefit most of the citizens and their children and grandchildren? The Democrats who voted against this bill are a disgrace and it’s a pity they can’t be sacked and replaced with people who actually care about the voters who pay their salaries.

Kucinich is a dickhead and a lousy politician. Can yo imagine any other nation on earth where the President would be attacked for trying to being in a decent and humane health care system which will benefit most of the citizens and their children and grandchildren? The Democrats who voted against this bill are a disgrace and it’s a pity they can’t be sacked and replaced with people who actually care about the voters who pay their salaries.

Let’s hear it for truthdig.  they published an honest and corageous critique of this bill midst all the other truth pimps they publish.  Kucinich does the best he can, given that he is a Dem.  Truthdig has a long way to go.  but a journey of a thousand miles….