“We finally have a bipartisan health-care bill, the Baucus bill–both sides hate it equally.”
- Huckabee talking to Values Voters conference (via @thenote)
I think he meant it as a slight, but when neither side is getting what they want…that’s a pretty good sign to me that you’ve found something that both sides should be agreeing on.
We [...]

This is partially in response to Jason’s post over at Poligazette that the Baucus bill doesn’t represent bipartisan compromise and the lion’s share of blame shouldn’t fall on Republicans to accept it. In fact, he states that the tenor of this debate (which he claims liberals are equally responsible for) is the real reason why [...]

Here are the facts. Racism has been rising steadily over the last few months. In recent polls, President Obama’s job approval number has dropped from 70% to 50%. This means the percentage of racists in this country has risen from 30% to 50% – a 67% increase in only eight months! Even more alarming, close to one out of two Americans are now racist. We have reached a tipping point. If this trend continues, the racists will soon be in a majority. Now, more than ever, we need the pundits and sages of the mainstream media to speak out.

The bill that Baucus passed today didn’t have a public option in it. Let me repeat that…Baucus’ bill had NO PUBLIC OPTION in it.
Yes, there are decentralized not-for-profit co-ops, but that’s definitely not a public option as had been proposed.
Here’s more about what’s in the bill, from Politico:
The bill requires individuals to buy insurance, or [...]

The ballyhooed bi-partisan bill isn’t anymore and that could spell big political problems for Dems and the White House.
More at True/Slant…

There we were on vacation. [side note: I just got back from a week-long hiatus] Able, for once, to actually watch news as-it-happens. The Wife and I decided to take a break from reading various novels and making piña coladas to watch President Obama address a joint session of Congress — and the nation [...]

First off, my takeaways about the policy in the speech…

You can’t be dropped because of pre-existing conditions. No surprise there, but to me this is the most important reform. Also, no more yearly or lifetime caps. For catastrophic illness, this is a must.

Stressing that nobody will be forced to change doctors or insurance providers, he’s [...]

Just in case you haven’t seen it…

Would love to hear your thoughts, but please be civil.

In a post about excerpts of Obama’s health care speech released earlier today I predicted the following…
Republicans who don’t want health care reform to pass will be out in full force filling the airwaves with disinfo. That’s nothing new, but this time they’ll be desperate because this speech will be positioned as a game changer [...]

Just got this and thought I’d share. As advertised, the President’s plan focused on insurance reform first and foremost and then has a quasi-public option that leaves a lot open for interpretation about how we’ll get there.
But don’t take my word for it…

If you’re not familiar with the word rescission, this is the practice of canceling policies because people didn’t reveal a preexisting condition. And it’s one of the key reasons why the health insurance companies can claim that there’s $100 billion in health care fraud every year.
Here’s one example of what they consider fraud…
“They said I [...]

As many of you already know, Obama is set to give a speech next week that will either save or scuttle health care. I think we can all agree on that much.
The question is: what will he propose?
Well, at least one unlikely Republican health care reform advocate is already floating his trial balloon and it [...]

With the news that they’ve lost serious ground with independent voters, the damage control at the Obama White House is in full swing. And that could mean a distinct shift on health care.
Here’s more from Politico:
Obama is considering detailing his health-care demands in a major speech as soon as next week, when Congress returns from [...]

Placebos are getting stronger and more effective against a wide range of ailments.

Justin Gardner (Donk Quixote) and Mike Wallach (Phanto), endeavor to tilt at windmills (With apologies to Miguel de Cervantes). Justin is a registered Democrat, considers himself an independent but views the world from the left side of the political spectrum. Mike most recently registered as a Republican, but considers himself primarily a fiscal conservative, deficit hawk, and a libertarian leaning independent. They find common ground in the Health Care Reform debate.

Here’s what he had to say today about the prospects for getting this bill passed…
From Lakeland Times:
“Nobody is going to bring a bill before Christmas, and maybe not even then, if this ever happens,” Feingold said. “The divisions are so deep. I never seen anything like that.”
Feingold reiterated his appraisal a bit later.
“We’re headed in [...]

The Finance Committee keeps plugging away and the Maine senator talks to Andrea Mitchell about it…

Yes folks, it’s all about co-ops. That will allow the moderate Republicans and the Blue Dog Democrats enough cover to vote for this thing.
The only question now is will the left wing of the Democratic party accept this bill and [...]

f there is one lesson that any close political adviser to a sitting president should have learned by now, it is this: It is not necessarily actual conflict of interest or impropriety that bites you in the ass. It is the appearance of conflict of interest and impropriety that is political poison. Axelrod is a very smart guy. He knows how to cover his tracks. He knows how to walk the line. That is why it is so surprising that he still chooses to walk so very very close to the ethical edge.

I’m not a huge fan of Congressman Frank. However, I will say that in this video he is exhibiting the best retort to a nutter that I’ve seen. Anyone who compares the President of the United States (any POTUS) to Adolf effing Hitler deserves to be verbally abused in this manner. Period.
If you [...]

The following editorial from Steven Pearlstein is one of the more clear headed I’ve read on health reform, the public option and why co-ops could be better. So I’m going to excerpt a little more than I usually do.
First, on why health reform is needed and why the magic of the market isn’t helping contain [...]