How about everyone make a pledge that they will not vote for a Democrat unless we have real health care reform by 2012?

Wow.  A couple a thousand names on those pledges will scare them into submission, I bet.

btw, I haven't written any letters to Pelosi or Reid -- ever.

But I have contacted my own Congressman several times about healthcare even though he is on none of the three House committees responsible for the bill

And I participated in a campaign that successfully whipped Kay Hagan to get behind a strong public option in the Senate HELP bill.

And I told Kent Conrad's staff that I read Conrad's statement that the votes for a public option are not there as an admission that Conrad will filibuster a bill with a public option

And I reminded a Congressman, whose district I used to live in that his vote on taxing the upper 2% to finance the public option was important.

And I reminded a netroots candidate who I donated to and who has gotten a little shaky that my contribution was based on him doing what he pledged to do.

And when they voted the way that I advocated, I called back and thanked them--even if I was not their direct constituent.

And about the pledge you suggested, I think that most Democrats know full well that if there is not real healthcare reform by 2012, they have problems.  That gives them a bill this year, taking it into the 2010 elections that they got done the pre-existing conditions issue and other things that are very popular.  A bill next year to move some stuff along.  A bill in 2011 to fix some of the issues in the 2009 bill.  And a bill in 2012 before the election to put Republicans on the spot.  But that presupposes getting something done this year.  If nothing gets done this year, there will have to be a new party to get it done before another generation has passed.

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