Frankly, I fear that you're right.

However, it would not hurt at all if concerned liberals/progressives were to call, email, fax, and write their Senators.

Tell them we don't want Teddy to have died in vain. Tell them they need to pass REAL health care reform, not a big give-away to the medical insurance companies and pharma. Tell them the time has come to go with the House plan, roll back the worthless Republican concessions, provide a robust, viable public option. Tell them what we really would prefer is single payer, like the civilized countries, but a public option will be adequate for now, if that's the best they can do.

They haven't even looked into single payer, according to Sen Bingaman, because they think it's impossible. Keep reminding the Senators that yes, there is strong support for this option. The town hall meeting in Albuquerque emphasized this to Bingaman several times.

And remind them that Kennedy would have wanted them to do something, something worthwhile. That they don't have leave to give it all up just because he died on them.

All they need is 50 votes, plus Joe Biden. All they need is for all Democrats to oppose the Republican filibuster - plus one (1) honest Republican.

... Okay, now I feel depressed again.

Tell them not to permit Teddy to have died in vain.

Pull back the concessions to obstructionist Republicans, none of whom will be voting for the bill, anyway. Go with the House bill, better yet. Inform the remaining members of the Democratic caucus that, regardless of their opinion of the Health Care bill, they must not sustain the Republican filibuster - they need to vote for cloture. And arm-twist a Republican, perhaps Sen. Snowe, into doing it, too.

Like the man sez, all the Democrats need is 50 votes plus Joe Biden.

The most important legislation of the previous century was passed that way: Social Security, Civil Rights, Medicare, the Clinton Tax Increase. Super-majorities are for suckers (like those poor deluded folks in California.)

When you're right, you're right.

When Teddy Kennedy comes before God, what do you think will count the most: one night of carelessness and extremely bad judgment, or the following 40 years of helping all Americans?

Urge your Senators to drop the putrid bill they've been working so hard to eviscerate, and pass HR4200: "Teddycare".

You have my sympathies. Similar things have happened to me about every third or fourth flight.

However, when I voice objections, the dudes with machine guns come over and stand there threateningly. I can only assume it's because I look so unlikely to be dangerous that they feel it's safe for them to move into intimidation mode.

Right, and my guess is that they just tossed the tiny jar into an overflowing trash bin right beside them. If they had really believed it was anything dangerous, that marmalade would have been put into an explosive resistant container and whisked outside, to be inspected or simply blown up by a highly trained bomb squad.

The fact that the TSA staff saw fit to treat it as nothing to be concerned about says it all. It's just pure, mindless harassment and an opportunity to keep the American populace intimidated. Just what you would expect from George W. Bush and his cronies.

'The new rule does not cover "politicians, banks, telephone carriers, and most charitable organizations,"'

In other words, no change for the most of us.

Ted Kennedy had to live with Chappaquiddick being used against him by his Republican enemies every day of his life, and they're STILL throwing it at him. Did Teddy let this keep him in the barn? No!

Republicans have done worse - and a big reason they get away with it is because the media doesn't dare (and/or doesn't care) to remind us of it.

Mr. Spitzer, a well-known fighter and smart besides, should at least consider getting back into public life and working to overthrow the so-called Librul Media that has just about sunk our democracy.

jim (Whack the Geezers!) hougan, who identifies himself as 66 YoA, suggests that "we just put these deadbeats down when they turn 65".

An unselfish, possibly even patriotic thought, but we'd miss ya, Jim!

Oh, so NOW he's "sorry" - but at least he's got his little sound byte and video which the wingnuts will be playing until the day President Obama leaves office, and beyond. He's "sorry" - but he's the new hero of hate radio and hate cable. He's "sorry" - but he'll dominate the news more than the whole sorry health care - excuse me, INSURANCE company giveaway - bill for at least the next week.

He did exactly what the mighty wurlitzer required and will reap the benefits, while the President gets the requisite smears - yeah, he can afford to say he's "sorry" at this point.

... to what? Feudalism?