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The Moderate Voice

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My Quote Of The Day

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"What the American people ought to pray is that somebody can't make the vote tonight.That's what they ought to pray." The person was Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma, speaking on the Senate floor Sunday afternoon before this morning's 60-40 vote cutting off a filibuster on the health reform bill. The quote, courtesy of MSNBC's First Read, prompted Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin … [Read more...] about My Quote Of The Day

Reform: A Triumph of Process Over Prudence

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I suppose it is too much to expect that either party could deal effectively with the health care crisis. In fact, I would argue that our system was not set up to make such massive changes in American life so quickly, that the very nature of the legislative process prevents prudent lawmakers from overreaching and trying to do too much, too soon. Part of that is the dance that … [Read more...] about Reform: A Triumph of Process Over Prudence

The Franken – Lieberman Smackdown

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Was it really that bad when Al Franken, holding the temporary gavel for the health care debate, told Joe Lieberman, "I object?" As with most things in the political arena, it seems to depend on who you ask. Today I have a new column up at Pajamas Media where I look at some of the history of U.S. Senate floor fights and what this one might mean for Franken's future efforts in … [Read more...] about The Franken – Lieberman Smackdown

The Fed’s Financial Death Panels

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As Ben Bernanke, Time's Person of the Year, heads toward his second term as Chairman, there is no sign of relief for the most hapless victims of the bank bailouts--millions of retired Americans whose fixed incomes have plunged as a result of the Fed's near-zero interest rates. In his cover interview, Bernanke explains that "convalescent" banks, which have been taking … [Read more...] about The Fed’s Financial Death Panels

The Fruitcake Chronicles: A Rebellious Trash Can (Part 3 of 6 installments)

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As Steve walked toward the kitchen garbage, the fruitcake weighed particularly heavy in his hand and on his conscience.  Unable to resist a gracious gift from a persuasive widow, Steve had been forced to break his first Christmas resolution.  Weeks before he had determined not to allow Christmas to intrude upon his November.  Sadly, he found himself a week before Thanksgiving, … [Read more...] about The Fruitcake Chronicles: A Rebellious Trash Can (Part 3 of 6 installments)

On Obama’s Afghan Plan: Iraqi News Agency, Iraq

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Army cadets during the invocation before President Obama addressed them on his decision to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, at West Point, December 1. So what do Iraqis have to say about President Obama's newest surge -- in Afghanistan? Writing for the Iraqi News Agency, Mahmoud Ibrahim Al Hoyan has penned a reaction reminiscent of the kind of content we … [Read more...] about On Obama’s Afghan Plan: Iraqi News Agency, Iraq

Progressives: Don’t Scream, Organize (Guest Voice) UPDATED

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WASHINGTON -- For progressives, the question on the health care battle going forward is not whether they have a right to be angry but whether they can direct their fury toward constructive ends. The alternative is to pursue a temporarily satisfying and ultimately self-defeating politics of protest. Of course what has happened on the health care bill is enraging. It's … [Read more...] about Progressives: Don’t Scream, Organize (Guest Voice) UPDATED

Health Care Reform: Calling It A Win At Halftime ?

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While certainly getting the 60th vote in the Senate is a success for the supporters of health care reform it seems to me that the celebratory articles and statements are a bit like calling a victory at halftime as there is still quite a lot of work to be done. Taking the sports analogy further, the passage of the bill through the House was the winning the 1st Quarter and the … [Read more...] about Health Care Reform: Calling It A Win At Halftime ?

A Memo To Mr. Krugman From The Center

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Paul Krugman, always the tolerant one, has a post up today in which he attacks the center for failing to rally behind the health care bill. Speaking as a moderate who has been open minded to the proposals I am quite offended by his tone and thought I'd give him my own view. I do think we need health care reform and as TMV readers may recall I was favorable towards the Baucus … [Read more...] about A Memo To Mr. Krugman From The Center

The ‘Madness’ of Copenhagen: El Watan, Algeria

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The narrative on the Copenhagen climate summit coming out of the developing world might be summarized this way: on the one hand you have the destiny of the planet as a whole, and on the other, the capitalist financial system. Which is more important to save? The vast majority of comment in the third world finds the sum spent on Western bankers to be obscene when compared to the … [Read more...] about The ‘Madness’ of Copenhagen: El Watan, Algeria

Global Cooperation: Gone Like a ‘Mirage’ – Liberation, France

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French disappointment over the Copenhagen Climate Talks is palpable today, judging by this pair of articles from the country. According to Liberation's Laurent Joffrin, the talks put paid to the idea that real global governance was imminent: "One must make the bitter observation: when it came to rescuing the banking system, cooperation was determined and effective. … [Read more...] about Global Cooperation: Gone Like a ‘Mirage’ – Liberation, France