
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/04/pelosi.getty.art.jpg caption="Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Democratic leaders said they are sending members home with written guidance on health care reform legislation, which they hope to pass after their summer recess."]
House Minority Leader John Boehner has predicted a “very, very hot summer.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is bracing for what she calls “the fight of our lives.”
Sleepy, sweltering August, typically a month for congressional beach getaways and temperature-taking back in the district, is shaping up to be the critical month for health care reform, with major battles brewing in the Capitol and on the streets in front of members’ hometown offices.
If ever there was a time for a curtain raiser on an intermission, this is it. So here are five things to watch over the most consequential August recess in recent history:
1. Your move, Karen Ignagni
When your product is hard to sell — and health care reform has proven to be the Edsel in the White House showroom — it’s not a bad idea to single out a bad guy, and fast.
Pelosi did so last week with unusual bluntness, declaring outright war on the health insurance industry as her caucus splintered over the controversial public option. The speaker called insurers “villains” and charged them with “immoral” billing and coverage practices.
The question now: Will the insurance industry, which has tried to keep a low profile while maintaining the proverbial seat at the table, commence a big, mean anti-reform counterattack — à la 1994’s “Harry and Louise” ads?


WHY on earth do we even need politicians ???????????
They were needed yesteryear to represent people to vote on things when the only means of transportation was by horse and communication by paper and later by telegraph.
With the Internet and security software WE can make our own decisions rather than boneheaded greedy politicians that only care about themselves.
Just think of the savings in salaries, benefits, and retirements of the politicians and their support staff. Not to mention savings on
transportation, their many offices, AND no more lobbyists, no more sucking up to Unions, no more bailouts, etc.
That would certainly help the deficit more than anything.
I say kick them all out before they destroy us all !!!
Pelosi, along with this whole administration, needs to recieve the "Royal Boot". Americans deserve much better than everything that these people stand for!
By the time Peios is done she will have the whole country in the same shape california is in broke
OK, What has the gov. done right lately ??? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
They have put us in such debt in just 6 month's that it'll take at least 3 generations to fix IF IF IF no more money was spent.
And now they want Communist Health Care ???
PLUS you know if it's passed it'll also HAVE to include the 20 Million Illegals. There's NO WAY around it no matter what Palosi and Reed say.
Sooooo, everyone grab your ankles because the Dems are gonna try to stick it to you again.
Nancy Pelosi...Democrat from California...that just speaks for itself!!!!
Nancy Pelosi is a powerhungry idiot who cares nothing about anything but her own but. The polls even reflect that people are happy with their coverage. Who the hell is the government to take away your insurance that you are happy with, make you change, fine you if you don't etc. etc. Oh, thats right – Obama is a socialist. Da!
"It’s not like the insurance industry has been inert. But the insurers have played the inside game, spending about $40 million on an army of lobbyists and lavishing campaign contributions on Democrats and Republicans to kill the public option. In all, the health industry spent $133 million in the second quarter alone, more than a million bucks a day."
At least Nancy Pelosi is representing the people, not the lobbyists. Good for her for speaking out.