If this comment in a thread at Atrios is a correct assessment of what happened with the Medicare bill in the House, goddess help the Democrats, because it sure sounds like they don't know how to help themselves:

I listened to NPR this morning. The House Republicans held the vote open for three hours and whipped their members until they had enough votes. When the Democrats realized that enough Republicans had changed their votes several of them started to try to change their vote, but the Republicans quickly gaveled to a close.

Ok, so here's my question. If there were a bunch of Democrats that had voted for this for political cover, but were willing to change their vote to prevent it from actually passing, what the f*** was the Democratic leadership doing for 3 hours and how is it possible they were not able to whip them in that time?

I too got the email from the DNC which subject header blared, "Stop the GOP from privatizing Medicare." My response is the same as Atrios': "No, you nimwits! You stop them!!" Sweet Christ. Note that on their webpage about it, they tell you to contact the Republicans, but don't say anything about the Democratic Minority Leader who has apparently refused to filibuster it even though there are several Republicans opposed to it. Bah. And Dems wonder why I'm still an independent.