Sunday promises to be a particularly historic day for the United States: it'll be the day when health care reform passes the House and goes onto for battles in the Senate or it goes down in flames. And it promises to be a turning point day -- one way or another -- for President Barack Obama, who has put his personal political capital on the line in an era where politics is … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Obama’s Final Pitch to Sway House Democrats on Health Care Reform
Some Sanity Around Sexting
While in DC we've got THE TEA PARTY & THE CIRCUS, in other news... The NYTimes reports on a real problem that needs to be addressed, not criminalized: In most states, teenagers who send or receive sexually explicit photographs by cellphone or computer — known as “sexting” — have risked felony child pornography charges and being listed on a sex offender registry for decades … [Read more...] about Some Sanity Around Sexting
Why Democrats are Fighting for a Republican Health Plan (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- Here is the ultimate paradox of the Great Health Care Showdown: Congress will divide along partisan lines to pass a Republican version of health care reform, and Republicans will vote against it. Yes, Democrats have rallied behind a bill that Republicans -- or at least large numbers of them -- should love. It is built on a series of principles that … [Read more...] about Why Democrats are Fighting for a Republican Health Plan (Guest Voice)
Extreme Politics, OH Senate Race Edition: Should State Parties Endorse Pre-Primary?
Extreme politics isn't being practiced just on Capitol Hill right now. In Columbus, Ohio, the Ohio Democratic Party has been placed in what at least some Ohio Democrats feel is an untenable, undesirable and improper although absolutely legal and rightful (in that a candidate can do this) position: they've received a request from Ohio Lt. Governor and U.S. Senate primary … [Read more...] about Extreme Politics, OH Senate Race Edition: Should State Parties Endorse Pre-Primary?
Time Out! America
Chill America. This healthcare reform debate has normal people acting as all the rest of us crazies. Passions are running so high the antis are emptying their arsenals and threatening to huff and puff and blow down the doors to the Supreme Court. The fors act as the sun won't rise if Congress votes down the legislation. It's time to act as good, responsible parents when … [Read more...] about Time Out! America
House Democrats to Take Separate Vote on Senate HCR Bill
The Washington Post reports that House Democratic leaders say they will take a separate vote on the Senate health care bill, rejecting an earlier, much-criticized strategy that would have permitted them to "deem" the measure passed without an explicit vote. For more details, click here. … [Read more...] about House Democrats to Take Separate Vote on Senate HCR Bill
What’s Up – And Down – With Credit Cards
Did anybody notice that the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (the CARD Act) took effect last month? Passed early in the Obama presidency, it gave credit card companies nine months to “adjust” before the legislation became law. And, boy did they adjust. Earlier this year the American Institute for Economic Research reviewed Federal … [Read more...] about What’s Up – And Down – With Credit Cards
John Barrow’s Mailbox Is Full: One Blue Dog’s Tale
I've been trying to call my Georgia Blue Dog representative, John Barrow, all morning. Busy. Busy. Busy. When, finally, I got through his voice mail apologized that there was no one there to take my call, but invited me to leave a message. When I got the beep, the invite was rescinded. His voice mailbox is full. I called back. Again. This time I got an answer. I told the … [Read more...] about John Barrow’s Mailbox Is Full: One Blue Dog’s Tale
Fox News Foaming-at-the-Mouth Weekend
Rep. Steve King calls Sunday's health care vote sacrilegious "to take away the liberty that we have right from God," and Glenn Beck agrees that it is the work of "a group of people that have so perverted our faith and our hope and our charity, that is a--this is an affront to God." Just the kickoff for a foaming-at-the-mouth festival in Murdochland as Peggy Noonan in the … [Read more...] about Fox News Foaming-at-the-Mouth Weekend
Romancing the Health Care Memo Hoax
If you were awake and even glancing at the news yesterday, you likely caught wind of a fast breaking kerfuffle in the ongoing health care reform debate. Republicans were excitedly talking up a supposed "leaked memo" which was - eventually - alleged to have originated from Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's office, instructing Democrats to avoid talking about planned increases in … [Read more...] about Romancing the Health Care Memo Hoax
VIDEO: Rahm Emanuel Talks With Katie Couric on Health Care Reform
Here's the video of an interview CBS' Katie Couric did with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel (clothed and not in the shower) about health care reform and other issues. In this interview, Emanuel says the GOP is now under the control of a "fringe group" and professes confidence health care reform is on track: Watch CBS News Videos Online … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Rahm Emanuel Talks With Katie Couric on Health Care Reform
And the Cotton Still Grows – A Native American Story of Heroism, Sorrow and Struggle
THE TRIBE Akimel Au-Authm, “river people” in their native tongue, lived in what is now the Phoenix Valley. Known more commonly now as the Pima Indians, in the early 1800’s they were a friendly, agrarian people who believed themselves to be the descendants of the Hohokam (“those who have gone”) who had lived in Arizona dating back to 300 B.C. Today the Akimel Au-Authm are … [Read more...] about And the Cotton Still Grows – A Native American Story of Heroism, Sorrow and Struggle
Quote of the Day: the “Freak Out Award” in the Health Care Reform Debate
Our political Quote of the Day is from Dick Polman, who, in a piece that needs to be read in full, provides us with the "Freak Out Award" in the health care reform debate. Polman gives several reasons why he believes it's now in the tea leaves cards that health care reform will pass. The first is the Congressional Budget Office's verdict. The second is "theanti-abortion … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: the “Freak Out Award” in the Health Care Reform Debate
Issues With The Bronze Plan Cost
I'm on record as being generally supportive of Health Care Reform and while I am still undecided on the current bill I do see many good aspects. I also support the concept of a mandate requiring everyone to have some basic health insurance coverage. However on Friday I was listening to a radio show while driving to the office and someone did raise an interesting point … [Read more...] about Issues With The Bronze Plan Cost
Obamas Health Care Reform
Patrick Chappatte, The International Herald Tribune This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Obamas Health Care Reform
Hamas Fans Flames of Islamic Anger Following “Day of Rage” (Guest Voice)
Hamas Fans Flames of Islamic Anger Following "Day of Rage" by Jonathan Spyer Hamas leaders are seeking to escalate Palestinian unrest over the supposed Israeli threat to Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem. In addition to reflecting the movement's ideological goals, this effort makes good political sense. Hamas seeks to supplant the West Bank Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud … [Read more...] about Hamas Fans Flames of Islamic Anger Following “Day of Rage” (Guest Voice)
Game-Winning Shot
RJ Matson, Roll Call This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Game-Winning Shot
Understanding Toyota Sudden Acceleration (Guest Voice)
Understanding Toyota Sudden Acceleration by Joel S. Hirschhorn As a materials and manufacturing engineer with decades of experience with failure analysis of manufactured products, and as an owner of a Toyota vehicle, I am saddened by the lack of expertise and insight shared with Congress and the public about the sudden acceleration problem. When products fail due to … [Read more...] about Understanding Toyota Sudden Acceleration (Guest Voice)
Fall On My Sword (Guest Cartoon)
This guest cartoon is by Sarjex, who describes herself as “a lonely little wingnut in the crazy liberal mecca of San Francisco.” … [Read more...] about Fall On My Sword (Guest Cartoon)
Mad Men & Creative Anti-Smoking Ads
We're watching the first season of Mad Men, having seen all the others. A cigarette in every shot. With that in mind, I happened upon 10Steps.SG's 50 Most Creative Anti-Smoking Advertisements: Many anti-smoking ads in the past are rather gruesome with rotten body parts that terrified people. Those messages are straight forward in showing the final consequences if continue to … [Read more...] about Mad Men & Creative Anti-Smoking Ads