219, got there, at almost midnight. It has been an insane year. I am happy and fearful and optimistic and depressed all at once. Thing is, this is not the bill I wanted- no public option (yet) But I do believe this is a start.

Now we need to get the 11 changes voted on and get this to the oval and move forward.

A few good things in this bill, that start right away;

1. banning yearly and lifetime caps on coverage
2. seniors coverage for preventative care starts now
3. expanded coverage for kids starts now

There are still fights to be fought on this bill and certainly on more health care legislation that will be built on top of this one. In the short term, make sure you send a message to the senate esp. Sen. Bennett to include a public option in the next votes in the senate. We can still put it in there in reconciliation which will come next.

Things to note
Not 1 republican voted for this bill even though concessions were made and gop ideas were incorporated.

Racist and homophobic teabaggers showed more of their colors on the steps of the capital this weekend. We should show that footage and write about and talk about it whenever they start yammering on about how they love america and they speak for the people.

It's not over, it is just beginning. But getting something passed was very important. Now we need to get out there and work on next steps.

It has been an age since I have written here or anywhere about politics. The why? I could say it was because I am busy, but the truth is I have always been too busy, even back when I was writing more than a post a day.

I am actually disheartened. The anti everything movement is so ugly and hateful. And our own progressive movement is fighting so much amongst ourselves that I just feel overwhelmed. Today I woke up to read that tea baggers called John Lewis a nigger today, and that members of congress were spat upon. Is that what we have come to? How can any of this be resolved in any sensible way? What will become of our country if the haters manage to stop us from fixing what is killing us.

I had dinner the other night at a wine event. One of the attendees after getting fairly buzzed started going on about healthcare in the usa/ He said that Health care is a commodity and those who can afford it deserve it and forget about the others. He really believed that. I asked about people who were going bankrupt or losing their homes because of medical expenses and he said that it was just the way it is and not his problem. What can you say to people like that? how can we move forward if we can't agree that stopping suffering is an obligation we owe to our fellow humans? What can we do if that is the frame we are working within?

Anyway, I am still engaged in the battle, and I am going to get back on the horse I hope and start writing again. Hope there are still some readers out there who will stop by. I miss you guys.

I have not given up hope yet, and this is not a good bye cruel world post. BUT I am struggling to see where we go from here? thoughts?