WASHINGTON -- This is the paradox of the moment: President Obama's speech on Afghanistan and his subsequent jobs summit underscored why it's essential to get a health care bill done quickly. The calendar of politics has an urgency that the dilatory pace of the U.S. Senate doesn't match. Here's the deal. If Obama gets to sign a health care bill before he gives his State … [Read more...] about The Health Care Race to Christmas
Tim Gets Adept At Washington Speak
Here's how public officials speak in Washington. They raise their voices loudly in defense of the little guy on Main Street. They scold, threaten, bang the table and roundly condemn predatory and greedy groups that are waxing fat at the little guy's expense. Then they turn around and do the bidding of these same predatory and greedy groups. This game, practiced endless by both … [Read more...] about Tim Gets Adept At Washington Speak
The Non-Public Public Option
Fascinating: One quasi-hybrid insurance plan, however, has long tantalized policy makers as a potential model for expanding insurance coverage, and in recent days Democratic negotiators have returned to it as perhaps the last best hope of a deal: the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, or F.E.H.B.P., which provides insurance coverage to more than eight million federal … [Read more...] about The Non-Public Public Option
Here Come the Medicare Cuts
This became something of a standard talking point during both the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections. As the story went, Democrats cared about seniors and their particular needs. Republicans wanted to cut Medicare and were plotting to kill your grandparents. My, what a difference one election makes, eh? Check out one of the health care amendments which passed in the Senate … [Read more...] about Here Come the Medicare Cuts
Bringing Up the Afghan Baby
The image comes from Tom Friedman describing the Obama decision last week as like "an unemployed couple who just went out and decided to adopt a special-needs baby," to which he might have added "from a family that deals drugs and rear it in a neighborhood where the kids steal each others' lunch money." All the President's Men (and Hillary Clinton) are on the TV circuit to … [Read more...] about Bringing Up the Afghan Baby
“You destroy ours, we destroy yours!”
Cross-posted to The Debate Link As tensions rise over Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu's announced settlement freeze, settler leaders have launched a wave of massive protests trying to block the move. Now, they've progressed to threatening violence against the state as well as their Palestinian neighbors: Rabbi Yosef Elitzur, one of the heads of the "Od Yosef Hai" yeshiva in … [Read more...] about “You destroy ours, we destroy yours!”
Obama Pep Talk To Senate Democrats Avoids Divisive Issues: To Public Option or Not to Public Option?
To public option or not to public option? That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of the progressive blogosphere and liberal talk show hosts, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? To upset your party's base: to anger Nancy Pelosi; No more; and by avoiding bringing up the subject in a pep talk to … [Read more...] about Obama Pep Talk To Senate Democrats Avoids Divisive Issues: To Public Option or Not to Public Option?
Hasidic Rabbi Helps Montana Police Officer Speak Hebrew to His Dog
This is absolutely the most totally charming, delightful, heart-warming story I have read in ages. Here is the first paragraph: … [Read more...] about Hasidic Rabbi Helps Montana Police Officer Speak Hebrew to His Dog
Obama’s Hope is All Afghanistan Has Left: Berliner Zeitung, Germany
What's a country to do? According to Germany's Berliner Zeitung, eight years into what by most accounts has been a badly-run invasion, Afghanistan is such a mess that it has no choice but to trust NATO - most importantly President Obama - to do the right thing. For the Berliner Zeitung, columnist Damir Fras criticizes Germany for its woeful training of the Afghanistan … [Read more...] about Obama’s Hope is All Afghanistan Has Left: Berliner Zeitung, Germany
Seven Months, Seven Excuses
That would be one excuse a month, each one different, given by Sen. Joe Lieberman for opposing the public option. Steve Benen has been keeping a record: … [Read more...] about Seven Months, Seven Excuses
Cost Containment and the Public Option
It's worth pointing out again -- for the millionth time -- the disconnect between Republicans' and conservative Democrats' constant yammering about deficits and budget-busters and spending us into bankruptcy, and those same lawmakers' opposition to the public option -- and their crusade to compromise it into nothing. … [Read more...] about Cost Containment and the Public Option
South Africa Conveys a Message Back to Bongani Masuku
Last winter, Bongani Masuku, International Relations Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), part of the "tripartite alliance" that currently governs South Africa and a leading proponent of a boycott campaign against Israel, decided he had something to say to his country's Jews: We want to convey a message to the Jews in SA that our 1.9-million workers … [Read more...] about South Africa Conveys a Message Back to Bongani Masuku
NATO Still ‘Clueless’ About What to Do Next: Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Russia
As always, with just a smattering of what Germans call schadenfreude, this article by Vladislav Vorobyev of Russia's Rossiyskaya Gazeta lays out what, from Moscow's point of view, NATO still doesn't understand. First - that it isn't Russia that NATO needs to worry about. And second - that the battle for Afghanistan hinges in no small measure on whether Washington can get it's … [Read more...] about NATO Still ‘Clueless’ About What to Do Next: Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Russia
Democrats Seek to Adjust Nominating Process
Political scientist Steven Taylor offers analysis. … [Read more...] about Democrats Seek to Adjust Nominating Process
World Cartoonists Skewer Tiger Woods Alleged Affairs
Cartoonists all over the world are having a lot fun skewering golfer Tiger Wood's alleged affairs -- which by the latest count include allegations involving six women. Here's a cross section of the sometimes acid cartoons: Paul Zanetti, Australia RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch Aislin, The Montreal Gazette Manny Francisco, Manila, The … [Read more...] about World Cartoonists Skewer Tiger Woods Alleged Affairs
Sarah Palin Wowed ‘Em at the Gridiron Dinner
Sarah Palin wowed 'em at the Gridiron dinner, the place where journalistic and political big wigs meet for dinner for an evening where politicians say things that are intentionally hilarious. The Christian Science Monitor gives some details on Palin's 11 1/2 minute talk. Usually the comments are off the record and not to be reported but -- in a sign of both changing times … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Wowed ‘Em at the Gridiron Dinner
Mad Mrs. Tiger Woods
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Mad Mrs. Tiger Woods
The Afghan Ambush (Guest Voice)
The Afghan Ambush by Michael Winship The decision has been made. The months of meetings and briefings are over. Tuesday night, the President made it official: 30,000 more American troops to Afghanistan. Along with Friday's announcement of an additional 7,000 from our NATO allies, after all those weeks of debate and consultation, the result's pretty much exactly what our … [Read more...] about The Afghan Ambush (Guest Voice)
Martha’s Big Adventure – ‘Tis the Season
Martha’s Big Adventure – ‘Tis the Season By Martha Randolph Carr The holiday season is the time of year when we are all reminded to treat each other with a bit more respect and a lot more love. We take the time to give to those who do their best to make our lives a little easier like the mailman or the doorman and we volunteer to wrap presents or feed the hungry. All … [Read more...] about Martha’s Big Adventure – ‘Tis the Season
The Gray Lady’s Non-Defense of their Climategate Coverage
The New York Times' Public Editor, Clark Hoyt, has published a much needed, but strangely unsatisfying and contradictory explanation of his newspaper's coverage (or lack thereof) of the hacked climategate e-mails from the University of East Anglia. Much of his response focuses on answering charges that Times reporter Andrew Revkin was "too cozy" with some of the climate … [Read more...] about The Gray Lady’s Non-Defense of their Climategate Coverage