"The objection to the health care bill has become a proxy for other sentiments..." Part II

I have decided that in the coming 2010 Campaign Season, I'm not going to give money to the DSCC or the DCCC, because there are (frankly) certain Democrats (Blanche Lincoln, Bart Stupak) that I don't want to give money to. Frankly, I could care less if they won their jobs back. I will concentrate my money on local races and to select Democrats.

That being said, I'm going to add Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) (Kent State, Akron) to my list of people worth giving money to.



What he said wasn't that revolutionary or special. He's not going to be competing with the President in a contest of oratorical skills anytime soon. He just took the podium, and said what needed to be said. And the fact that it was said by a straight white guy should not go unnoticed. I think it would have been easier to dismiss if it was another Gay member of Congress or another African-American.

The only thing that would have been more effective was to see a Republican make this speech. I would have gladly posted it, but so far, all I hear is crickets.

A fair summary of what to expect once it passes (VIDEO)

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"I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true..." (VIDEO)

While the Washington Post is calling this a "Health Care Cliffhanger" (at least according to what was on the WaPo Homepage), I think it's really in the bag. Listen to the way the President talks. You don't run this kind of smack if they're any kind of a doubt about victory.

Oh, and according to Ezra Klein, the White House didn't release the text of this speech, because there was no prepared text. Obama spoke off the cuff start to finish.

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"The objection to the health care bill has become a proxy for other sentiments..."

Wherein the Teabaggers go there. The complete TPM Report.

Health Care: The Closing Argument (VIDEO)

From George Mason University:

President Obama’s Nowruz Message

In your choice of languages:

Persian:



Or Arabic:

The Fireside chat for March 20, 2010 (VIDEO)

As a key committee in the Senate takes up reforming the ways of Wall Street, the President lays down a marker: “I urge those in the Senate who support these reforms to remain strong, to resist the pressure from those who would preserve the status quo, to stand up for their constituents and our country. And I promise to use every tool at my disposal to see these reforms enacted: to ensure that the bill I sign into law reflects not the special interests of Wall Street, but the best interests of the American people.”

What this is really about...

TPM Reporter Brian Beutler witnessed a bunch of Tea-Party protesters calling Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) a "faggot".

And if that wasn't enough, I'm sure you can guess what they called Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)...not that he hasn't heard it before.

When logic and persuasion fails...

TPM is promising more on this as it comes.

Jon Stewart's (second) Finest Hour (VIDEO)

Has to be seen to be believed. To me, it was that good...

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Intro - Progressivism Is Cancer
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Reform

And...

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Conservative Libertarian
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Reform

All this has happened before...all this will happen again...

Yes, for those of you already in the know, that was a Battlestar Galactica/Caprica reference, but it also applies to our health care debate, as the graphic from 1955 below demonstrates:

The depths (VIDEO)

Teabaggers? This is why we hate you guys...

Nothing like breathless commentary on an otherwise meaningless story... (VIDEO)

Let's face facts. The image of Barack Obama picking his Presidential Bracket is meant as a fun, cute little story. The President is a B-Ball fan, he knows the Sport, so his expertise isn't coming from a staff member. Filling out a bracket is something he seems to genuinely enjoy. It's not without some political benefit, as "Mr. Arugala" is shown doing something that millions of Americans are doing themselves. More power to him.

Needless to say, that hasn't stopped folks in the press (this year and last year) from overanalyzing this sucker.

This is a story that belongs on the front page of ESPN...and that's about it.

Don't get me wrong, if an analyst wants to crush the President by saying something along the lines of "Picking Georgetown over Ohio State, he's lost his mind" is fine by me. That's the coverage I expect. But "Picking Georgetown over Ohio State, he's going to alienate Ohio votes" is the very reason why I hate reporters sometimes.

Update (March 18, 2010: 5:29pm) : Extended Cut:

Rachel Maddow's Interview with Timothy Geithner (VIDEO)

While I'm never the biggest Rachel fan, I am (believe it or not) a Geithner fan (blame Dad and all those Econ books I've been reading). This interview was particularly enlightening.

Part 1:

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Part 2:

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