On Memeorandum right now, there is an avalanche of commentary about the White House’s signaling that it’s ready to cave on the public option. Because there is so much progblog analysis, and because there are so many distinct issues involved with this legislation, I’ve decided to organize the progblog analysis by the talking points. … [Read more...] about Holding Firm on the Public Option
Tom DeLay Dancing With the Stars
ABC News announced today: “Indicted Former Republican Congressman Cast on 'Dancing With the Stars,’” and, referring to Tom DeLay, asks, “Does He Know the 'Perp Walk?” ABC News continues: To the amazement of many in Washington, Tom DeLay, the former Republican Congressional leader who became a poster boy for cronyism and ethical lapses, was named one of the 16 … [Read more...] about Tom DeLay Dancing With the Stars
Self Care, Preventative Care, Pre-Existing Conditions: How Some Are Coping
In the past, we literally had to sell our house to pay a huge hospital bill. The hospital sent the bloodhounds. My husband had just lost his job. I was near death. Afterward, anything related to that crisis was big red lettered 'pre-existing condition," by any and every insurer we'd ever had... and although undertaking scrupulous selfcare (dont drink dont smoke, dont do … [Read more...] about Self Care, Preventative Care, Pre-Existing Conditions: How Some Are Coping
Undertow Of Today’s News
I feel connected with Michael Corleone in Godfather III when he was on the brink of ridding himself from Mafia past, they pull him right back. Take today's news. Please. Item: One of candidate Barack Obama's agent of change messages was to improve the professionalism of our diplomatic corps. So far, 38 of his first 65 ambassadorial appointments have been political. Among … [Read more...] about Undertow Of Today’s News
American Decline Not Fault of Obama: de Volkskrant, The Netherlands
Is there some benefit for President Obama to inheriting from George W. Bush the governance of a weakened nation? According to the Thomas von der Dunk of Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant, this has given Obama the opportunity to slaughter some sacred cows that had to go: "This is the interesting paradox: the fact that America is in visibly worse shape than before forces Obama to … [Read more...] about American Decline Not Fault of Obama: de Volkskrant, The Netherlands
C’EST LA VIE
President Obama may or may not be a lame-duck after the 2010 Midterm elections and be swept from office in 2012, but such prognostications are really a waste of time because greater forces will dictate what happens to the U.S. both politically and economically. The reasons behind his moving so fast on so many fronts may be that he senses the ephemeral nature of political power … [Read more...] about C’EST LA VIE
Health Care Woodstock
Forty years ago, Baby Boomers were out rocking and rolling in the mud to, as one put it, "terrify our parents in a deeply satisfying way." Now, facing Medicare, they are acting out in public again, this time over death panels that might finally put those aged begetters out of their misery. "It’s a vivid reminder," Frank Rich observes, "that what most endures from America, … [Read more...] about Health Care Woodstock
Hundreds of Gay Men Executed In Iraq
That according to a new Human Rights Watch report, "They Want Us Exterminated": Murder, Torture, Sexual Orientation and Gender in Iraq. The report was released today. WaPo: Although the scope of the problem remains unclear, hundreds of gay men may have been killed this year in predominantly Shiite Muslim areas, the report's authors said, basing their conclusion on interviews … [Read more...] about Hundreds of Gay Men Executed In Iraq
Whole Fools
I rarely shop at Whole Foods, which has two locations in the Twin Cities. If I am looking for organic foods, I tend to look for them at the regular grocery store I shop at or go to Trader Joe's, which one person described as the "poor man's Whole Foods." But I might consider shopping at the grocery chain more in the near future because of the insane and asinine boycott going … [Read more...] about Whole Fools
Sen. Specter Hosts a Yellow Ribbon Town Hall Meeting
After a couple of weeks of "interesting" town hall meetings on health care reform, during some of which Senator Arlen Specter faced some very tough, loud and rowdy questioning, the Senator from Pennsylvania held a town hall meeting this morning that was quite different. Joined by the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, retired four-star General Eric Shinseki, Specter spoke … [Read more...] about Sen. Specter Hosts a Yellow Ribbon Town Hall Meeting
Not all rockets have to be huge to do engineering work
The Image of the Day from NASA today is the launch of a rocket that carries a payload to test an inflatable re-entry system. Note the light pole and picnic table on the lower right of the picture, showing the scale of the rocket. Looks like it could have been launched from a freeway rest area. Not every space-related engineering test has to involve rockets tens of … [Read more...] about Not all rockets have to be huge to do engineering work
SCOTUS Rules Troy Anthony Davis Should Get Hearing On Innocence Claim
AJC: The high court ordered a federal judge to “receive testimony and findings of fact as to whether evidence that could not have been obtained at the time of trial clearly establishes [Davis’s] innocence.” Justice Antonin Scalia, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, issued a dissent, saying the federal judge assigned to hear the case will not be able to grant Davis relief. … [Read more...] about SCOTUS Rules Troy Anthony Davis Should Get Hearing On Innocence Claim
Simplicity Is Beautiful
My prior post centered on an article in The Atlantic that talked about how upwards of 300,000 people a year die from simple and entirely preventable hospital induced infections or blood clots. This has been tackled by one Dr. Peter Pronovost who established that basic checklists help dramatically. The author of the health reform article was disgusted that his reforms haven't … [Read more...] about Simplicity Is Beautiful
America Now 57% Less Stupid than Previously Thought
This just in from one more group of pollsters. A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll found 57% of adults say the stimulus package is having no impact on the economy or making it worse. Even more —60% — doubt that the stimulus plan will help the economy in the years ahead, and only 18% say it has done anything to help improve their personal situation. That skepticism underscores the … [Read more...] about America Now 57% Less Stupid than Previously Thought
Quote of the Day: Hitler and Healthcare #2
Our second political quote of the day comes from Republican David Frum: Contra Rush Limbaugh, history’s actual fascists were not primarily known for their anti-smoking policies or generous social welfare programs. Fascism celebrated violence, anti-rationalism and hysterical devotion to an authoritarian leader. To date, the Obama administration has fallen rather short in … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Hitler and Healthcare #2
Credit Card Reform: The Law of Unintended Consequences
This is a (very) lightly modified version of a letter composed at my house this weekend. The only changes are the removal of my personal information and the name of the company. FWIW -- I thought very hard about going Galt with the whole credit card industry. Still thinking about it, in fact... ***** August 15, 2009 To: My (former) Credit Card Services Company Re: Your … [Read more...] about Credit Card Reform: The Law of Unintended Consequences
The Death of the “Public Option”: What’s Really Going On?
So. Is the "public option" dead or not? One of the Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee, Kent Conrad, says it is. (And I responded yesterday.) Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says is it as well... or not. Therein lies some confusion, and she may very well herself be confused. She seemed to back it on This Week (ABC) yesterday, only to pull back on … [Read more...] about The Death of the “Public Option”: What’s Really Going On?
Death, Taxes and Tiger
There are a couple of near certainties in the world - paying taxes, dying, and that Tiger Woods closes out major championships when he is leading after 54 holes. For the record, I am a huge Tiger Woods fan. He is the reason why I watched most of the final round of the PGA Championship yesterday. However, I am happy that Y.E. Yang beat Tiger to become the first Asian golfer … [Read more...] about Death, Taxes and Tiger
Killing Competition? Yes, Really.
One member of our talented stable of writers here at TMV, Marc Pascal, published a long, detailed column on the health care debate yesterday which raises many questions currently being debated around the nation. Having taken such time and care to do so, I feel it only appropriate that a few of these points receive a full response. Unfortunately, Marc falls into the all too … [Read more...] about Killing Competition? Yes, Really.
A Modest Proposal, 2009 Edition (Guest Voice)
Guest Voice posts do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of TMV or its many writers. A Modest Proposal, 2009 Edition by Ed Morrissey I have discovered an unfair disparity in access to a vital resource based on the economic condition of the consumer. This disparity is not just egregious, but it threatens the very core of our American way of life. People routinely … [Read more...] about A Modest Proposal, 2009 Edition (Guest Voice)