You have undoubtedly heard the highlights: Hundreds of 20- and 30-somethings show up for a Twitter fueled snowball fight at 14th and U streets NW in DC on Saturday. All was apparently fun and games until a snowball hit a Hummer driven by an off-duty DC policeman. He pulled his gun. Unsurprisingly, many in the geeky crowd had video cameras. Video was quickly posted to … [Read more...] about Don’t Pull A Gun At A Snowball Fight
4 Thoughts on Health Insurance Reform
Notice I never call it health care reform? That's because it isn't. Very little of what is being discussed will change what happens between you and your doctor beyond how (and how much) he* gets paid. As I see it, there are 4 points of view on the bill currently being rammed through the Senate: 1. It goes too far. This point of view has a problem with anything that might … [Read more...] about 4 Thoughts on Health Insurance Reform
Ending the Abuse of the Supermajority Rule
The difficulty of ending a filibuster because of the 60-vote rule, combined with the increasing abuse of the filibuster itself, has made the Senate a place where it is next to impossible to get anything done. … [Read more...] about Ending the Abuse of the Supermajority Rule
Back to the “War” on Christmas
The following is cross-posted from PoliBlog: The LAT has a good piece on seasonal complaining that is worth reading: Stop that Christmas griping: please spare me the gauzy romanticization of some pure, pre-commercial American Christmas past. Maybe it's because ours is the most untraditional and coldly utilitarian of cultures, but whether we're liberals or … [Read more...] about Back to the “War” on Christmas
Adapt, Or Become Irrelevant
Jonathan Chait has written a superb piece for The New Republic on the emergence of what he calls "Republican nihilism." … [Read more...] about Adapt, Or Become Irrelevant
My Quote Of The Day
"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
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
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
Praying for Misfortune in the Senate
I'm glad that Dana Milbank has front-and-centered this perversion of religious belief: … [Read more...] about Praying for Misfortune in the Senate
The Fed’s Financial Death Panels
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)
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
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
Senate Cloture Vote
In one of the least exciting (or at least least unexpected) news events of the year, the Senate has voted just as it was supposed to and invoked cloture on the health care bill. The vote was, not surprisingly, 60-40. … [Read more...] about Senate Cloture Vote
Progressives: Don’t Scream, Organize (Guest Voice) UPDATED
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
Christmas In Washington
Just watched the annual celebration. I do love this ending … [Read more...] about Christmas In Washington
Live Streaming Video of Senate Health Care Debate and Vote
Watch the debate and vote live below: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy … [Read more...] about Live Streaming Video of Senate Health Care Debate and Vote
Auschwitz Sign Recovered
Police have recovered the sign stolen from Auschwitz and taken suspects into custody. No word on the motive yet, I hope it is one of greed and not hate, but I suspect I will be wrong. … [Read more...] about Auschwitz Sign Recovered
Health Care Reform: Calling It A Win At Halftime ?
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
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
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