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Polis' Attempt at Leadership Damages Health Care Bill

by: Colorado Pols

Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 10:26:10 AM MDT


We were critical on Friday of Rep. Jared Polis' self-serving attempt to inject himself into the discussion on health care reform for a couple of reasons.

We thought that his criticism (in leading 20 freshman Democrats to sign a letter against some of the funding mechanisms) of the House legislation would only give footing to those who oppose reform, and it also gives credence to those who worried last year that Polis would not actually represent his district, but would largely represent himself. After all, there are surely very few Democrats in CD-2 who are going to be happy with Polis, who campaigned in a tough three-way primary that in large part dealt with the urgent need for health care reform.

We're not sure what Polis thought he was accomplishing with his letter last week, other than trying to act like he had some sage advice on an issue that he is not an expert on, but we wonder how much he thought (if at all) about what his "leadership" might do for the public and private debate over reform. As The New York Times Caucus Blog writes today:

Congress charges ahead with thee separate health care reform bills this week, but under slightly reduced pressure from the White House. The administration does not seem to be driving quite as hard at the August deadline, perhaps under the weight of wary lawmakers, particularly Democrats...

...The Wall Street Journal adds that a group of Democrats elected in some of the nation's wealthiest congressional districts may stand between President Obama and his efforts to pay for the reform with increased taxes. The article points out two Democrats who broke with the party line when the legislation came up in their House Education and Labor Committee last week - Representative Dina Titus, of suburban Las Vegas, and Jared Polis, who represents Boulder, Vail and some wealthy Denver suburbs. [Pols emphasis]

That's what happens when you are one of the wealthiest members of Congress whose reputation is largely as someone who "bought" his seat, and then you go and publicly attack a funding mechanism that would tax the richest Americans. Polis looks like a dunce over this one, and if his opposition ends up crippling the health care reform legislation, he won't be living this one down for a long time.

Polis can say whatever he wants in defense, but the bottom line is that his criticism of this bill and leading the way on the letter from 20 other freshman looks to cause real harm to the health care reform efforts. This was a boneheaded move for a Congressman representing a Democratic district.
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Polis' Attempt at Leadership Damages Health Care Bill | 70 comments
The greatest insult in Polis's position on this is the old "I have mine, good luck with yours" approach.
At the core of the health care access debate is that millions of people cannot afford private health insurance and cannot afford access to regular (and preventive) health care.  Even if Polis personally believes that there was a problem with the proposed funding mechanism, you would think he (and/or his staff) would be a little more sensitive to the realities of living in the middle class or below in these times.  I was with a group of Democrats over the weekend and there is a lot of anger over this.
in CD-02, he has that seat for as long as he wants it.
.
after how he trounced the former State Senate Prez, NOBODY is going to challenge him.

Find a way to get his ear.  Tell HIM how you feel, not me.
.  

[ Parent ]
He reads the site cuz that's what the hip kids do
but doesn't actually give a shit what people think. I have never once seen him take criticism seriously or ask for real input. He decides what he's going to do without asking anyone, and if he says anything at all afterwards it's just to defend himself.

Bring back S[redacted]e H[redacted]y!
[ Parent ]
touche

[ Parent ]
Jared listens
That doesn't mean he will agree with the person critisizing him.

Tom Tancredo Interview
[ Parent ]
Of course I don't expect him to
but I've never seen him modify an opinion or position even slightly in response to criticism. Which of course is how all politicians are, but wasn't Polis' main selling point that he was different?

Bring back S[redacted]e H[redacted]y!
[ Parent ]
not if health care dies
If health care is sunk, and JP's letter is partly to blame, he will face a very nasty primary.  From my conversations, nothing is higher on Boulderite's list of priorities than health care.
[ Parent ]
Oh the humanity
Criticism of a Democrat?  But from what I read on this site, that's impossible!  Kudos for telling it like it is.

As a non-Boulder Democrat, I have to say that this confirms some old prejudices.  Much like hard-line conservatives who work for the government (Colorado Springs, anyone?), Boulder Dems can often seem out of touch with most people's reality.

The problem is that Polis is out of touch with Boulder Dems
although to be fair, a lot of them were dumb enough to vote for him in the primary.

"Jared Polis' immense fortune means he can't be corrupted by anyone!"

Except himself.

Bring back S[redacted]e H[redacted]y!

[ Parent ]
It is a prejudice after all
I didn't say it was based on anything, it's just the chip that many of us outside Boulder walk around with on our (collective) shoulder.
[ Parent ]
what about me ?
.
you left out us hard-line conservatives in Colorado Springs who work on fat government contracts.
.  
[ Parent ]
probably federal or state, isn't it?
I assume you don't have a contract with the local governments.  That would make me very nervous right now.  But congratulations!  It's not a 'fat' contract, though.  It's a 'big-boned' contract.
[ Parent ]
Government contracts in Colorado Springs
have, statistically speaking, about a 100% chance of being with the military.  Makes it pretty hard pacifists to find work.

"... politics has been divided between two types of people: those who want more people to vote, and those who want fewer people to vote."
- Sen. Kerry
[ Parent ]
Anyone who thought Polis wasn't in this for
self-aggrandizement and personal gain just wasn't paying attention to his political career.

Every single time he's taken any kind of leadership role (and here I'm not counting his many press releases where he claims to have led something that was already happening without him), he fucks it up, because ultimately all he really cares about is himself.

Look at Amendment 41, which every rational person agrees was a poorly-done disaster.

Look at his auto bailout plan, which was the last time he got cozy with the WSJ.

He's a saboteur when it actually counts.

Bring back S[redacted]e H[redacted]y!

what sxp said
I mean, really - duh! This is Polis' MO, he's into self-aggrandizement not public policy. Progressives who backed him were warned that they could expect just this type of behavior. He doesn't understand politics and his main concern is making sure everyone knows his name.

On the bright side he'll surely get bored with politics soon enough and we can get someone in that seat who's interested in policy and legislating.

[ Parent ]
I told you so!
I did and you all know it and I did.  This guy is the same self-absorbed arrogant childish nothing that I have always said.  The evidence keeps adding up.  I was right, and I told you all so.
[ Parent ]
Be fair
You weren't the only one who said that.

Bring back S[redacted]e H[redacted]y!
[ Parent ]
Or maybe he believes that imposing massive tax hikes on jobs creators and small businessmen and women is the wrong thing to do!
If so, amen to Jared.
Your support for Polis here
Kind of affirms our point, Karate Kid. You are a hardcore conservative and are applauding Polis.
[ Parent ]
Is that disingenuous or something?
I think Jared kicks ass on this one, too.  Anything that scuttles this turd of a bill is a plus in my book.

Reform is needed.  This isn't reform, it's a huge step backward and a monumental entitlement expansion that won't ever be able to be unwound.

"Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."

P.J. O'Rourke

[ Parent ]
OK
Polis now has the support of KK, LB and  Barron X.  Sxp is 100% correct on this one.  Numerous early warning signs should not have been ignored.
[ Parent ]
It's unanimous
Polis is a Blue Dog.  Good for him.

Proudly being investigated by Nancy Pelosi!
[ Parent ]
Afraid not
At least if he believed that, we could call him a conservative or something. At least that would be something.

But no, he supports the large government programs as long as 33-year-old internet greeting card company executives don't have to pay for them.

Bring back S[redacted]e H[redacted]y!

[ Parent ]
your support
It's been duly noted along with that of Ross Kaminsky. Thanks for proving our point.

I guess when Polis said he liked "Atlas Shrugged" folks should have paid attention? http://www.squarestate.net/dia...

Nobody could have predicted!

[ Parent ]
Now you know why...
We R's have such an unflinching fondness for Arlen Specter.

"Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."

P.J. O'Rourke

[ Parent ]
Sorry Steve
I predicted right after he announced and all during the primary.  I've continued to predict.  This behavior is absolutely no surprise to anyone who ever worked with or had to deal with this guy. No surprise whatsoever.
[ Parent ]
While I agree on with Pols' criticism of Polis on this issue
I still think he's done a better job representing CD-2 so far than some are giving him credit for. If health care ends up getting scuttled because of his letter, or whatever consequences his letter might have, then it will be all anyone remembers about his first term. However, he has done more good than harm so far IMO:

  • Polis voted against authorizing funds for the President to continue Bush administration policies in Iraq and Afghanistan. He's the only member of the Colorado delegation to do that, and it kept a major campaign promise from him.
  • He sponsored the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.
  • He was a co-sponsor of the now card check-less EFCA before the compromise.
  • The strongest advocate for GLBT rights among the delegation, he was one of the key voices in getting the Matthew Sheppard Hate Crimes Act passed.
  • He supported the president on Cap and Trade.
  • In this very bill, he helped push an amendment authored by Dennis Kucinich that would help states institute their own single-payer systems. He's a constant supporter of single-payer, despite it being taken off the table in this bill.

Is he helping to screw over the most important bill of 2009, and possibly Obama's 1st term? Time will tell. I still expect him to vote for the joint bill whenever it ends up coming up for a vote, and I still think he's done a good job representing CD-2 for the reasons listed above.  

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)

All of those were easy votes
  • Was a safe vote since it had the votes to pass anyway.
  • No, he was a cosponsor, one of many many cosponsors. It's true he did claim that he invented both the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and Lilly Ledbetter herself, but he didn't have anything to do with it.
  • The rest are things that virtually every Democrat in the House did, except...
  • Since Polis is clearly trying to kill the only actual health care bill we have or ever will, I have to wonder if his support of the Kucinich amendment isn't meant to be a poison pill.


Bring back S[redacted]e H[redacted]y!
[ Parent ]
Polis has long been a supporter of single-payer
I think you need to take off your tin foil hat on that one sxp.

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)
[ Parent ]
Tin foil hat?
That seems a bit much. I don't think I would have accused you of anything similar if I disagreed with you about something.

Bring back S[redacted]e H[redacted]y!
[ Parent ]
I didn't mean it to be mean
I was just trying to say that you're being paranoid calling the Kucinich amendment--or, rather, Polis' support of the amendment--a "poison pill".

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)
[ Parent ]
I agree with redstateblues
I have given Jared a thumbs up when he has supported good policy and good bills this year. So Jared, I need to express my dissapointment with the position you have taken on this one.

But, to be fair, it is unrealistic to agree 100% of the time with every elected leader on every issue. Jared believes Health Care reform is important. Seems like he disagrees abit with some on the details on how to pay for it.

We will get there. Jared we need your help.

   

[ Parent ]
Excuse me for holding off for a less partisan take
The last time this came up, I was being swept along until suddenly it came up that this thing about paying for health care by taxing the "wealthy" might (or might not... someone could clarify) apply to me!  I'm barely making the mortgage payments on my very inexpensive ($100K) house, and though I am managing to make payroll for my two employees, it's a month to month deal.

So I asked, and got no answer.  Does my reality-based question just get in the way of the outrage machine?  I'm starting to think that may be a possibility.

I'm about the most progressive person you can come up with on health care reform; but I also think the legislative process needs to be open for people to raise real concerns, without being pegged into the "pro-bill" or "sabateur" pegholes.  This is partisan politics at its worst.

"... politics has been divided between two types of people: those who want more people to vote, and those who want fewer people to vote."
- Sen. Kerry

wow

While coloradopols might have some insights into our state legislative process, they are missing the mark completely on DC.

I am working hard to pass healthcare reform, and trying to get the support of more Freshman Democrats for the sweeping reforms. By taking a leadership role in my class I not only further the cause of healthcare reform, but strengthen my relationship with my fellow Democrats and leadership.

We are working on a funding mechanism that will garner majority support from the House, and I'm confident we'll get there as long as we can get the bill out of Energy and Commerce.

I've taken a very active role in working with leadership through the legislative process to pass this bill, and the analysis above is simply strange.

Jared Polis

simply strange
that if what you say is true, you're receiving the above criticism.

People who read this site and post on this site aren't dumb, so apparently your message got lost between DC and CO.

[ Parent ]
Um, we weren't the only ones noting this
It's been written about all across the country, including the Wall Street Journal and the NY Times.
[ Parent ]
wow???
You turn your back on the middle and low income people of your district and all you can say is wow???? That Congressman is NOT good enough!

Are you going to tell all of us that are not millionaires that we

"are missing the mark completely"
?

Are you going to tell all the small businesses in Colorado, including the very small one my husband owns, that they

"are missing the mark completely"
? Their small business could no longer afford health care premiums and lost it. What happens to my  husband, who has asthma and extremely high blood pressure that is hard to get under control and who is in otherwise good physical shape, the next time he has an asthma attack or god forbid a stroke or heart attack?

What about my son and his family including four children? He has been out of work for over 2 months and has not been able to find anything, not even in a burger joint. He had to pawn some of his carpenter tools to pay rent because they pay over $500 a month for insurance and his wife only makes $14 a hour as a licensed medical assistant. Her employer is one of Boulders biggest Medical Centers and they do not pay one penny towards their employees health care.

What are you going to say to them when they have to choose again between paying rent, buying gas and groceries and paying for health care, go pawn the rest of your tools so you can never work as a carpenter again?!

I am working hard to pass healthcare reform, and trying to get the support of more Freshman Democrats for the sweeping reforms. By taking a leadership role in my class I not only further the cause of healthcare reform, but strengthen my relationship with my fellow Democrats and leadership.

We don't need the kind of support that you and other Freshman Dems want, it does nothing for anyone but the rich. Stop worrying about being a leader among the Dems and start worrying about the people you are supposed to be representing.  

[ Parent ]
I like that!
Stop worrying about being a leader among the Dems and start worrying about the people you are supposed to be representing.  

[ Parent ]
You mean those very same Freshman Democrats
who owe their offices to Barack Obama?

He was there for you.  You'd better be there for him.

You want to help small business?

Fix the health care mess.  Because it's getting to be harder and harder to afford being a small business, and health care costs are the primary reason.

You need to quit being an obstructionist and get this done.


Best to kill them early instead of letting them possibly need food stamps.
--marilou, 2010

[ Parent ]
Oh baloney
Jared Polis represents the second most Democratic district in the state, and Betsy Markey won in a district where Obama overwhelmingly lost, as is the case with many of the Dems on that letter. They don't owe Barack Obama a goddamned thing.

That being said, he does need to communicate this issue a hell of a lot better because right now it does look like the rich guy complaining about how his own taxes might go up.

Non impediti ratione cogitationis.

"Some of the people that wanted to engage me in conversation appeared to have been the losers in the 'Are you smarter than Michele Bachmann contest?'." --Rep. Barney Frank

[ Parent ]
Markey won in a district where Obama overwhelmingly lost
Not exactly. McCain won by 1 point in the 4th CD. John Salazar, by the way, won in a district Obama lost by 3 points. The other districts were much more lopsided in the directions you'd expect.
[ Parent ]
That's terribly inaccurate.
I live in CD4 and Obama damn near took our district. I know for a fact that he won in Larimer County and I also know that a large contingent turned out, larger than normal, to vote for him in smaller areas such as where I live, which helped immensely down ticket and in particular, helped Markey.  

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie
[ Parent ]
McCain won by 1 point
Markey won by 12. Obviously the historic nature of the election brought out turnout for people who wanted to vote for Obama, but Markey still won by double digits.

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)
[ Parent ]
Yes.
And having an enthused and inspired voting public certainly helped her, no?  

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie
[ Parent ]
More Musgrave than Obama IMHO
Barack Obama's name on the ticket helped out all Democrats, and Markey was certainly no exception.

But I think that Republicans and independents who had previously voted for Musgrave when she ran against Angie Paccione and Stan Matsunaka (who both came close, especially Angie in 2006--in fact you could probably give a lot of credit to her, because she came closer than any other Dem there until Markey) gave the edge to Marley in 2008. They were so fed up with Musgrave's general musgraveness that they probably would have given the extra push necessary to any Democratic candidate who was on the ticket. It's a testament to Betsy Markey's skill as a campaigner that she won by a the kind of margin that Hank Brown and Wayne Allard used to get.

So I think it's flawed to say that Markey owes any more to Obama than any other Democratic representative in congress. She earned a big mandate from CD-4 through her hard work and excellent campaigning and political skills.

Don't take that to mean I don't think she should support the President. I do, and I believe she has to the extent that she's been able to.

Anyway, I don't want to get totally off-topic, so I'll leave it there.

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)

[ Parent ]
Oh, I agree regarding Musgrave.
And I don't believe I said that Markey owes more to Obama than other Democratic representatives in Congress. Did I? I don't think I did.

I did say that I agree with Ralphie in that Obama's incredible grassroots organization assisted her campaign in ways that cannot be discounted or underestimated. And let me just say, clearly, right now, that I very much would appreciate it if she would show her appreciation for that, and Polis also, by doing everything they can to get healthcare passed, not derailed.  

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie

[ Parent ]
um, well
Someone has certainly missed the mark completely.  It could be everyone here, since we are all a bunch of local hicks.  Or it could be you.
[ Parent ]
Simple question...
If it comes out of committee with the current funding mechanism, will you vote to support it on the floor?

"I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausages-the less you know about the process the more you respect the result."  -- Anonymous IL State Rep. circa 1878
[ Parent ]
I'd like to know his answer to that as well PR


"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)
[ Parent ]
you need to clean up your message, Mr. Polis
It's OK (even, wonderful) for a nobody like me to make fun of people and talk down to them.  It's always deserved and sometimes funny!  HOWEVER, you are not me.  It's not a good idea to strike such a patronizing tone in a public statement:

While coloradopols might have some insights into our state legislative process, they are missing the mark completely on DC.

The problems with this statement are many, especially coming from someone who's been in big, bad DC for less than 1 year.  Especially from someone who's not hit 40 years old yet.  Especially from someone who claims to want to represent the lil'people (didn't you claim that?).  Especially when people other than CO bumpkins are making similar observations.

Work on it!

[ Parent ]
I call bullshit
We are working on a funding mechanism that will garner majority support from the House, and I'm confident we'll get there as long as we can get the bill out of Energy and Commerce.

You did not propose a funding mechanism. You proposed eliminating the funding required to make this work - with no proposed alternative. You didn't even say "don't tax me - tax that group." You just said "don't tax me."

Speaking as someone who's taxes would go up under the proposed funding - do it. Someone's got to pay for this and if my taxes go up a bit in good years to pay for it - I'm ok with that.

Tom Tancredo Interview

[ Parent ]
That's not quite accurate
In Jared's letter to Pelosi, he does indirectly present an alternative by continually referencing the much lower corporate tax rate. If you're Jared's friend you can comfort yourself with that, there's not much else.

I think we should be clear about the nature of this problem. It's not Jared's commitment to health care reform, I believe he will vote for the final bill even if the funding mechanism doesn't change - he should do this, and try to influence it in or at least in reconciliation with the Senate.

The problem is that by breaking with the initiative to pass the bill so publicly instead of trying to amend and negotiate, he's given cover for the Blue Dogs and moderate Republicans to oppose the bill. It's not about the details, it's how it plays in a 30 second news clip. That's why Jared, if he is smart, will take the lead passing the bill now! Figure out a way to get Cranberg off his back. I don't know if his future now depends on it, but it might. He does not want to be the man who killed health care.

Repeat after me: "I have never supported Dan Maes.  I have always supported [Dick Wadhams to fill in the blank]." --ClubTwitty

[ Parent ]
As I hope you'll observe
Polis doesn't take genuine criticism seriously for a second.

Observe how not just the site but every commenter (except the extreme right-wingers) is utterly clueless about the process of being rich and awesome and in DC.

Observe how nothing gets in the way of his ego. He doesn't merely disagree with commenters, he ignores anyone who questions his assumptions or tactics. Since that's everyone in this case, he won't respond to a single actual point.

He's an egomaniac. And ultimately, a coward.

Bring back S[redacted]e H[redacted]y!

[ Parent ]
Has Governor Ritter been supportive of the Obama Health Plan
Where does Governor Ritter  stand on the Obama Health Care plan. I have heard nothing from him.

Is the Governor standing behind the President on this one or ducking for cover?

I think you are in the wrong thread.
But thanks for playing.  

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie
[ Parent ]
I hope Ritter gets at least 2 or 3 votes in Congress...
..given that he represents ALL of Colorado as the lone governor.
[ Parent ]
Hehehehe. :)
I just love this new, kinder, gentler you. :)

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie
[ Parent ]
The Lone Governor

[ Parent ]
But now I'm thinking Zorro!

[ Parent ]
brilliant observations
Let me see Governor Ritter recommended to the Legislature that they take  no action on health care because he said we should wait for the Congress to take up health care reform

Many Governors have come out in support of the President's Health care plan. Other Governors have opposed it. The Health care plan will effect the State of Colorado, its citizens and its budget.

I am sure the President would welcome Ritter's support as he did that of Governor Rendell.

Glad that Jamba and MOTHR who spend so much of their time on line are so poorly informed. Kinder gentler and uninformed. HeHeHe

Now has Ritter taken a stand one way or the other on the Obama Health Care Plan?  Does anyone know?

[ Parent ]
Again, wrong thread.
But really, nice try, you one tune Tommy.

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie
[ Parent ]
Ritter raises concerns
"There's a concern about whether they have fully figured out a revenue stream that would cover the costs, and that if they don't have all the dollars accounted for it will fall on the states ..."  (Kevin Sack And Robert Pear, "Governors Fear Medicaid Costs In Health Plan," The New York Times, 7/20/09)
[ Parent ]
Liberals who never studied economics
Excuse me, my liberal friends, but just what is it about the FACTS of what Polis said that you disagree with?

You may be all for socialism, but Polis simply lays out the numbers and explains why he thinks there's a better chance that the original Dem bill will cost you your job than will improve your health insurance situation.

My take on Polis' letter is here, if you're interested:
http://rossputin.com/blog/inde...

While I'm absolutely opposed to single-payer socialized medicine, I have a very hard time understanding liberals who are so blinded by their desire to socialize everything that they can't listen to a sensible economic argument by one of their own.

While CD-2 is almost certainly a safe re-election for Polis, lots of other districts around the nation aren't so safe for their Democratic incumbents.  It's people like you who are bashing Polis because you don't accept deviation from leftist dogmatic perfection even though the alternative (in other districts) might be a Republican that will cause Democrats to do very poorly in 2010.  I just hope the Dems don't destroy the country before then.

I think Jared Polis is wrong about many things, including his support for so-called health care "reform".  But his point about a huge jump in tax rates which apply to many thousands of small businesses and his points about competitiveness seem so fact-based and non-partisan that your criticism of them seems very poorly thought-out.  Not that I'm surprised that the Colorado Pols crowd would be guilty of muddled thinking.

I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice!

if you really interested in an answer to your question
...(which, I suspect, you are not) you could read the comments in the earlier thread to which Pols linked above.
[ Parent ]
Because we don't support the analysis?
We've got a number of posters here who file Schedule Cs and S-Corp filings for their small businesses...   It's not terribly difficult to look beyond Rep. Polis's analysis to the larger picture - small businesses would be much more able to afford health care under the new system, and could hire better workers as a result.

I don't disagree with Jared on the problem - that C corporations aren't going to be putting in under the current plan, and that, as a result, rich individuals - some operating as S-Corp or sole proprietorships - are affected more deeply than perhaps necessary.

But I disagree on his apparent conclusion: that no health reform is better than imperfect health reform.  (And yes, Jared's 'No' vote in committee is IMHO his definitive word until he answers the question I posted above...)

"I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausages-the less you know about the process the more you respect the result."  -- Anonymous IL State Rep. circa 1878

[ Parent ]
Thanks for stopping by
We really don't get enough of your "analysis" in the Post.

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)
[ Parent ]
Do you understand the subtle point
that taxes are on profit? How on earth can a slight increase in taxes impact anyone's existing job? Speaking as the owner of an S corp I think your argument is bogus.

Tom Tancredo Interview
[ Parent ]
The biggest problem with Polis' letter
is that he's on the goddamn committee. There are three committees working on health care bills, he's on one of them. If he thought his idea was in any way constructive, he would have convinced his fellow committee Democrats. Like he claims to have done to pass the Kucinich amendment.

Instead he's going outside the process, and the only reasonable conclusion to make is because he wants to help kill the bill on a technicality.

Is it to appeal to conservative Democrats and Republicans? No, they hate him anyway.

The only logical conclusion is that he doesn't want to pay a single cent for something that won't help him get higher office.

Bring back S[redacted]e H[redacted]y!

Can we just stipulate
That Polis is no fucking help?

He's a rich guy who doesn't understand the problems that the rest of us have getting insurance.  Or that medical bills are the #1 cause of bankruptcy in the US.

He's got his, he could give a shit less about mine.

I don't care if Polis' district is "safe" or not.  If health care doesn't get done, how long does he think the American people are going to sit still for broken promises by Democrats?

I hope he's gonna have fun being in the minority party.

Best to kill them early instead of letting them possibly need food stamps.
--marilou, 2010

[ Parent ]
Maybe he'll pull a Ben Nighthorse Campbell...
Boulder's first Republican of the 21st century.
[ Parent ]
Polis' Attempt at Leadership Damages Health Care Bill | 70 comments
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The Big Media Blog

Blog It Right

Blog For Growth

Blogometer

Colorado Capitol Journal

Colorado Center on Law and Policy

Colorado Democratic Party

Colorado Ethics Watch

Colorado Independent

Colorado Labor Blog

Colorado Veterans for America

Colorado Legislature

Colorado Lib

Colorado Libertarian Blog

Colorado Media Matters

Colorado Progressive Coalition

Colorado Republican Party

Colorado Secretary of State

Colorado Senate

Colorado Young Democrats

Commentary Today

Coyote Gulch

CU Democrats

Curious Stranger

Daily Kos

Dan Willis-Rumors

Dem Notes

Democracy for Colorado

Denver Politics

East Boulder County Politics

Ed Stein Ink

Election Neutrality Now

George in Denver

Great Education Colorado

Head First Colorado

The Hotline Political Network

Junction Daily Blog

Left in the West

Liberal and Loving It

Maintain Educational Standards in Colorado

Mount Virtus

MyDD

National Journal

On Call

Peak Dems

Political State Report

Progress Now

Prometheus

Project Vote Smart

Radio Free Denver

Senate Guru

Slapstick Politics

Steam Powered Opinions

Square State

Stygius

TalkLeft

The Thicket

The Bell Policy Center

The Hypothetical Wren

ThomasMC.com

Toilet Paper Online

TRACER Campaign Finance

View From a Height

Walter in Denver

Wash Park Prophet

Western Democrat



 
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