Civilization as we know it is over. Those who doubt that can cling to a faint hope offered by Barack Obama’s favorite physician/writer. During the health care debate in 2009, the President made his staff read a New Yorker article by Dr. Atul Gawande dramatizing the borderline thievery sanctioned by America’s fee-for-service system: about two communities in Texas, one with … [Read more...] about The World Ends Today: Obamacare Begins
NH GOP State Rep. William O’Brien Says Obamacare as Bad as Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
The Tea Party continues to destroy the Republican Party as New Hampshire state Rep. William O’Brien claims Obamacare is every bit as bad as the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Wow, the Fugitive Slave Act? The extremists in the Republican Party can't get any lower than this. Wait. They did. The government shutdown that will see 800,000 workers furloughed is as low as you can go. … [Read more...] about NH GOP State Rep. William O’Brien Says Obamacare as Bad as Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
Who is more American?
WASHINGTON -- Are Germans now more American than we are? As we face several more weeks of ludicrously irresponsible hostage-taking politics driven by tea-party radicalism, we'd do well to study how postwar Germany -- yes, encouraged by the United States -- has embraced the sort of consensual, problem-solving politics for which we were once famous. On Sept. 22, … [Read more...] about Who is more American?
Cannabis for Kreuzberg: A new Berlin Wall made of pot?
Cannabis for Kreuzberg: A new Berlin Wall made of pot? (via GlobalPost) Enlarge BERLIN, Germany — Young parents push strollers through the sprawling green oasis of Goerlitzer Park in Berlin’s hip Kreuzberg district on a sunny afternoon. Yuppies in colorful windbreakers treat their pampered pets to a taste of freedom… … [Read more...] about Cannabis for Kreuzberg: A new Berlin Wall made of pot?
Shutdown Takes Effect. GOP Lamprey Eels causes misery for millions
While elected GOP wine and dine and drive fine cars, send their kids to private schools, have more expensive leather on their feet than many a person's monthly salary, and never a worry about paying the bills. The GOP engineered this by allowing the crazy uncle in the basement to take charge, to tie two unrelated ideas to each other, to torch the people's will, the … [Read more...] about Shutdown Takes Effect. GOP Lamprey Eels causes misery for millions
APOLOGIZE Rep. Culberson: You’re NO Todd Beamer, Sir.
That did it. Rep [r.Texas] callously and gleefully and without respect or regard for the dead... misused the truly heroic and desperate and heartbreaking cri de couer of Todd Beamer's "Let's roll" as Beamer and others attempted to physically overcome the terrorists who had hijacked their passenger plane on 9-11. Beamer and the other heroes, true heroes, not fat cats … [Read more...] about APOLOGIZE Rep. Culberson: You’re NO Todd Beamer, Sir.
Rep- Culberson [R} from Texas will not be re-elected: A good guess
On CNN just a few minutes ago, Rep John Abney Culberson [r. Texas] asserted three times he is 'standing on principle' instead of allowing the poor people in his district to not have a shut down of government. Absurdist language from Culberson about 'loving liberty' and voting to allow govt to shut down so that his people in Texas can "be left alone" -- Culberson is … [Read more...] about Rep- Culberson [R} from Texas will not be re-elected: A good guess
When You’re Doing Something Really Unpopular, Lie to Make Yourself Look Better
James Fallows exposes some of the flaws in how the current government crisis is being covered by some as well as the argument being made by the GOP that only they are expressing the will of the American voters. In case you hadn't read this somewhere else, while the Republicans still have a clear majority of the seats in the House, they still didn't win the popular vote in … [Read more...] about When You’re Doing Something Really Unpopular, Lie to Make Yourself Look Better
Shutdown expected as House Republicans respond to Senate with new D.O.A. anti-Obamacare bill
Shutdown looms, House tries new anti-Obamacare bill (via AFP) US House Speaker John Boehner said lawmakers will vote Monday on another budget measure delaying part of the health care law, virtually assuring Congress misses a deadline to avoid a government shutdown. The move would be the third straight effort by… … [Read more...] about Shutdown expected as House Republicans respond to Senate with new D.O.A. anti-Obamacare bill
Hey Kids, Let’s Shut Down The Government
Got an issue that really bugs you? A policy that you strongly disagree with? Tired of seeing your own views not getting exactly the results you know in your heart they deserve? Fret no more! Just elect a few right thinking representatives (i.e. folks who think like you) to congress, and have them shut down the government to get your way. And if that doesn't work, destroy … [Read more...] about Hey Kids, Let’s Shut Down The Government
STILL TIME FOR GOP TO ACT AS HEROES: How?
Take 'shut down of government' unequivocally off the table. Crying wolf this time, is not like the crying wolf the other two times. Constituents are ANGRY now. They are angry at the attention to bs, rather than attention to their struggles. In any reasoned family, logic alone says if there are two large issues, deal with each effectively. Dont use one to attempt to … [Read more...] about STILL TIME FOR GOP TO ACT AS HEROES: How?
The Hostage-Takers and John Boehner
The minority of the majority of the Republican caucus in the House of Representatives is holding John Boehner and the entire nation hostage to their ideology. Unwilling to pass a budget or raise the debt ceiling to pay the bills for money they have already spent, a government shutdown and a default on U.S. debt are on the line if this group is unwilling to compromise. And it … [Read more...] about The Hostage-Takers and John Boehner
US Senate Rejects House Spending Bill That Calls for One-Year Obamacare Delay
House Republicans in a box: The US Senate votes 54-46 to reject House bill that funds government and delays Obamacare. The bill now goes back to House as a government shutdown looms. This comes as Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., discouraged GOP leadership 'from launching another volley back over to the Senate' in funding bill debate - @CNN. Sen. Dick Durbin slammed House Speaker … [Read more...] about US Senate Rejects House Spending Bill That Calls for One-Year Obamacare Delay
Book Review: Wisdom from the Oval Office: Words from George Washington to the Present
Good news. There's FINALLY a book of quote by American Presidents that isn't the usual, extremely fat, ponderous and boiler-plate collection of quotes that seem mostly culled from old history books. There is FINALLY a complete but reasonable-length, unpadded book that is a must-own for students at all levels, journalists, political scientists, political junkies -- anyone who … [Read more...] about Book Review: Wisdom from the Oval Office: Words from George Washington to the Present
Shutdown (Guest Cartoonist Columnist Cartoon)
OF RELATED INTEREST: --More would blame Republicans for government shutdown: poll --MUST READ: John Avlon in the Daily Beast: The Suicidal Shutdown --Unfit to Govern --GOP tries to counter narrative Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation's most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding work as both a political and comic strip cartoonist. His favorite … [Read more...] about Shutdown (Guest Cartoonist Columnist Cartoon)
As the clock ticks toward a government shutdown, who’s driving the debate?
As the clock ticks toward a government shutdown, who's driving the debate? (+video) (via The Christian Science Monitor) Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., on "Face the Nation" Sunday. The US braced for a partial government shutdown Tuesday after the White House and congressional Democrats declared they would reject a bill approved by the Republican-led House to delay … [Read more...] about As the clock ticks toward a government shutdown, who’s driving the debate?
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) Slams House GOP on Obamacare Strategy
One prominent Republican senator is speaking out against the looming government shutdown engineered by Tea Party darling Sen. Ted Cruz. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) spoke out Sunday against House Republicans for threatening a government shutdown over defunding or delaying Obamacare. Collins, who had repeatedly voted against Obamacare in the past, issued a statement signalling … [Read more...] about Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) Slams House GOP on Obamacare Strategy
Will They? Wake Me When It’s Over
While tired Americans hide under the covers, Congress goes to work every day to haggle over going to work. Why bother? Wouldn’t the country be better off if lawmakers stayed in bed too? Capitol Hill’s Sleeping Beauty, Michele Bachmann, arises from a two-year stupor to proclaim, "This isn't load limits on turnip trucks that we're talking about. This is...a consequential … [Read more...] about Will They? Wake Me When It’s Over
Best Review of the finale of Breaking Bad
Yours truly is on the road until late Wednesday night and posting and writing will be limited due to driving and non-writing projects. I' ve been a HUGE fan of Breaking Bad and missed the finale. But I couldn't wait, so when I got into my hotel I read an hour of summaries on the internet. Here is the BEST SUMMARY of the finale (which I will watch tomorrow or Tuesday night on … [Read more...] about Best Review of the finale of Breaking Bad
GOP tied up in a knot (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on The Moderate Voice. Unauthorized reproduction without licensing from Cagle Cartoons is strictly prohibited. … [Read more...] about GOP tied up in a knot (Cartoon)