Per a breaking news email from Politico: Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) says he will join a Republican filibuster against the Senate Democrats' health care reform bill unless the public option is removed. More here. From CNN: Also Tuesday, conservative Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska warned that his vote remains uncertain for a bill with a public … [Read more...] about UPDATED: Lieberman Threatens; Nelson Undecided; Snow Disappointed
H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine
Aislin, The Montreal Gazette This cartoon is copyrighted and authorized to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine
Small Business And The Curb Tax
A lyric from an old Blues song goes, "Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die." There's a similar disconnect when it comes to the relationship of government to small business. Every government says it wants to help this critically important sector of the U.S. economy. But in countless ways, year by year, most governments continue to make it more difficult for … [Read more...] about Small Business And The Curb Tax
Health Care’s Heart Failure
As Congress stumbles toward a final deal, the process is a reminder of the disheartening political climate in which we live today. No one will really be happy with the final result. How could they be? In a world where human considerations are swamped by partisan posturing, the bottom line, if anyone can figure out what it is, will not be how much better or worse it makes our … [Read more...] about Health Care’s Heart Failure
Quote for the Day
"This idea that we're suddenly going to establish litmus tests and all across the country we're going to purge the party of anybody who doesn't agree with us 100 percent; that guarantees Obama's reelection, that guarantees Pelosi as Speaker-for-life." -- Newt Gingrich, defending his decision to back GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava in the NY-23 special election this year. … [Read more...] about Quote for the Day
A Snapshot of the Health Care Debate
Courtesy of Andrew Sullivan. At the very least, that chart illustrates the trajectory of this individual's journey through the swamp of the health care debate. That chart might also explain "the answer." No need to add to more information if confusion already reins. … [Read more...] about A Snapshot of the Health Care Debate
Why Is The Government Still Ashamed ?
Congress has passed and the President will sign a new hate crimes law named after Matthew Shepard. The law would broaden current laws to include attacks based on a victim's sexual orientation, gender identity or mental or physical disability. Current laws already allow federal jurisdiction over crimes based on race, color, religion or national origin. The bill would also … [Read more...] about Why Is The Government Still Ashamed ?
Google Voice With Your Existing Number
My partner and I use Google Voice as a single number that rings all our phones (home, both mobile and both offices) so that if a friend is trying to find us, one number does it. Because it's another number for friends to learn, it hasn't caught on. Now we can port our existing mobile numbers over to Google Voice. It's not a full port, Google says they're still working on … [Read more...] about Google Voice With Your Existing Number
Is the Smart Grid Coming at Last?
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Obama administration will today unveil something truly useful for us to do with the nation's tax dollars. The nation's power grid has long been in decrepit shape, representing inefficiency, a waste of resources and exposure to widespread brown-outs, power failures and potential terrorist threats. We may finally see some badly needed … [Read more...] about Is the Smart Grid Coming at Last?
James Arthur Ray Books Are Cancelled: The Empire Builder on Money and Spirituality
James Ray who has a mega-spirituality business that revolves around 'wealth getting,' held a retreat in Arizona two weeks ago. For reasons not clear, he allegedly built an ungodly large 20x20 "sweatlodge," and purported to be copying Native American sacred practices. He crammed 50 people into that skeletal structure covered by plastic tarps, and then, with the rocks smoking hot … [Read more...] about James Arthur Ray Books Are Cancelled: The Empire Builder on Money and Spirituality
Beware of Adorable, Homicidal Lamps
Sam Reich's “Pixar Intro Parody,” written by Sam and Dan, animated by effects superhero Mike Ritchie, scored by music supervillain Carl Sondrol. Pixar Tweets, "careful as it's not suitable for minors, and probably shouldn't be viewed at work." It's that happy ending that does it in. … [Read more...] about Beware of Adorable, Homicidal Lamps
The Samaritan of Iraq: A Short Story About Doppelgangers
The Samaritans were a despised and denigrated tribal group in ancient times. Yet, who was it who had the eyes to see, the heart to act when all others avoided the battered and ran away? It was a Samaritan. As the ancient story is told... a poor soul lay by the side of the road, beaten to a bloody pulp. Men of the priestly classes crossed to the other side of the road to … [Read more...] about The Samaritan of Iraq: A Short Story About Doppelgangers
Stop Dithering
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 Stop Dithering
A SIMPLE AND HONEST WAY TO PAY FOR HEALTHCARE REFORMS
Democrats and the Administration are test-flying all sorts of behind the scenes tax increases to pay for healthcare reforms. Or else they claim that proposed Medicare savings will pay for expanding coverage to uninsured people and increasing patient rights on existing health insurance policies. After 30 years of bipartisan tax cuts and bipartisan spending increases, I don’t … [Read more...] about A SIMPLE AND HONEST WAY TO PAY FOR HEALTHCARE REFORMS
“In America, People Like Choices”
That is part of a very interesting conversation that TPM's Brian Beutler had with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY): … [Read more...] about “In America, People Like Choices”
OTM On Girl Talk: They Say That I Stole This Song
On The Media devoted its entire show this week to The Future of the Music Industry. The occasion is the 10 year anniversary of the record industry confrontation of the peer-to-peer file-sharing service, Napster. The hour is guided by public radio and TV reporter Rick Karr. I encourage you to listen to the full program, but today I choose to quote from the piece that looks at … [Read more...] about OTM On Girl Talk: They Say That I Stole This Song
Does Harry Reid Have the Votes To Pass An Opt Out Public Option in Health Care Reform?
And now the key question is emerging -- so get ready to hear it often in coming days: does Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid have the votes to pass the opt-out public option in the health reform care battle? Or does his announcement portend an ugly mega-partisan battle that could end with the passage of something less with national partisan polarization lines more starkly … [Read more...] about Does Harry Reid Have the Votes To Pass An Opt Out Public Option in Health Care Reform?
The Death Toll From Baghdad Bombing Still Rising
The New York Times is reporting now that two day care centers were hit in the blast. At least 30 children are dead: … [Read more...] about The Death Toll From Baghdad Bombing Still Rising
Some Newsbits
Just a couple of stories that came across my desk that I thought were interesting. In Northern California near the town of Fort Bragg a dead blue whale has come ashore. Sadly it appears that the noble creature was struck by a ship that was mapping the ocean floor. It does not appear that the ship was to blame, the odds of such a collision happening are pretty small and it is … [Read more...] about Some Newsbits
Reid Makes It Official: It’s the Opt-Out Public Option
I really didn't think the old geezer had it in him: … [Read more...] about Reid Makes It Official: It’s the Opt-Out Public Option