While there is nothing to celebrate until job numbers turn around, the President cites the recent dramatic turnaround in gross domestic product as a sign of better things to come. He also applauds the fact that the Recovery Act has now created or saved more than a million jobs.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Who ya gonna trust?
On Health Care Reform, we have to look at reality.
The current draft of the House Health Care Reform Bill is over 1900 pages long.
The Senate HELP Committee Bill was shorter (600 pages), but about as complicated.
There are going to be Lawyers (and Lawyers who I know personally) who are going to have a hard time slogging through this sucker, much less understanding all the bells and whistles associated with it.
I would put your chances of understanding the bill on your own, without aid of a summary or breakdown, as not very good.
I'm not saying you're stoopid, but hell...there are Senators who are going to be voting on the actual bill who don't have a clue as to what's its all about.
Yes, I'm talking to you Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut...
These people I would call stoopid, and do it to their face.
If you are a Single Payer advocate (like I am), and are generally in favor of Liberal Health Care Reform (like I am), and of course, a Public Option (which is a big HELL YES), watch three people:
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (WV)
Sen. Tom Harkin (IA)
Rep. John Dingle (MI)
If these three guys say the bill is okay, then the bill is okay. Period.
John Dingle was interviewed by Ezra Klein this afternoon. When asked about the House bill's shortcomings, he put it like this:
That's about how it breaks down.
The current draft of the House Health Care Reform Bill is over 1900 pages long.
The Senate HELP Committee Bill was shorter (600 pages), but about as complicated.
There are going to be Lawyers (and Lawyers who I know personally) who are going to have a hard time slogging through this sucker, much less understanding all the bells and whistles associated with it.
I would put your chances of understanding the bill on your own, without aid of a summary or breakdown, as not very good.
I'm not saying you're stoopid, but hell...there are Senators who are going to be voting on the actual bill who don't have a clue as to what's its all about.
Yes, I'm talking to you Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut...
These people I would call stoopid, and do it to their face.
If you are a Single Payer advocate (like I am), and are generally in favor of Liberal Health Care Reform (like I am), and of course, a Public Option (which is a big HELL YES), watch three people:
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (WV)
Sen. Tom Harkin (IA)
Rep. John Dingle (MI)
If these three guys say the bill is okay, then the bill is okay. Period.
John Dingle was interviewed by Ezra Klein this afternoon. When asked about the House bill's shortcomings, he put it like this:
Look my friend, I'm too smart to criticize a bill that has taken this much time, effort, and suffering to get to where it is. I will only say this: You know me, and you know I have always stood for a single-payer plan. In the process of compromise and legislating, I believe this is as good as can be done now. This is a plan that gives choice to our people and is peculiarly suited to the United States and the system of medicine we now have.
That's about how it breaks down.
Harry? Harry Reid?? The one in the Senate? (VIDEO)
Harry Reid...that Harry Reid...asking for the people to push the Senate.
Okay. Push!!
Okay. Push!!
Monday, October 26, 2009
TPM: Pawlenty no longer a "serious" candidate for President
If you're turning your back on your own party (in this case, what's left of the GOP), and supporting a "Conservative Party" whackadoodle for Congress, if you're going to align yourself with the Palins, the Birthers, the Tenthers and the like, I can safely assume should you be the nominee, Obama can start measuring the curtains for Years 4 through 8.
If the GOP is even halfway serious about unseating President Obama in 2012, the only person left on the radar is Mitt Romney (and even he's a stretch).
If the GOP is even halfway serious about unseating President Obama in 2012, the only person left on the radar is Mitt Romney (and even he's a stretch).
Saturday, October 24, 2009
The Fireside chat for October 24, 2009
The President restates his commitment to small business as key to economic recovery -- from the Recovery Act to Financial Stability to Health Reform -- and pledges more to come.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Kos: Whipping The Trigger...
Daily Kos's McJoan has a version of the article I put up a while ago. I think hers is just a bit better than mine.
Here's the Deal on the Public Option, as far as the White House goes...
I'm going to try to explain the White House's rationale...even though I think their rationale is mistaken.
Basically, there are reports that the White House is trying to water down the Public Option to keep Senator Snowe on board. These reports are mistaken, in that, it makes it sound like the White House is trying to destroy the Public Option. They ain't.
To them, the safest path to passage is to make sure that at least one GOPer is on board, because God forbid on the day of the vote, Robert Byrd is sick (as he has been for the last couple of months. I mean, crickey...the man is 96!) and makes it impossible to break a filibuster.
It's a real concern, but it's not worth passing shit legislation because of it.
Meanwhile, Harry Reid thinks he has an angle on getting an "Opt-Out" Public Option through the Senate...with 60 votes...all of them Democratic. Snowe says she's out if its a Opt-Out...which basically means she's only interested in a trigger that never fires. That makes her a worthless snake in the grass, whom I hope the voters of Maine take care of in 2010 (and if she helps scuttle reform, she won't be back).
Erza summarizes:
Basically, there are reports that the White House is trying to water down the Public Option to keep Senator Snowe on board. These reports are mistaken, in that, it makes it sound like the White House is trying to destroy the Public Option. They ain't.
To them, the safest path to passage is to make sure that at least one GOPer is on board, because God forbid on the day of the vote, Robert Byrd is sick (as he has been for the last couple of months. I mean, crickey...the man is 96!) and makes it impossible to break a filibuster.
It's a real concern, but it's not worth passing shit legislation because of it.
Meanwhile, Harry Reid thinks he has an angle on getting an "Opt-Out" Public Option through the Senate...with 60 votes...all of them Democratic. Snowe says she's out if its a Opt-Out...which basically means she's only interested in a trigger that never fires. That makes her a worthless snake in the grass, whom I hope the voters of Maine take care of in 2010 (and if she helps scuttle reform, she won't be back).
Erza summarizes:
On Thursday night, Reid went over to the White House for a talk with the president. The conversation centered on Reid's desire to put Schumer's national opt-out plan into the base bill. White House officials were not necessarily pleased, and they made that known. Everyone agrees that they didn't embrace Reid's new strategy. Everyone agrees that the White House wants Snowe on the bill, feels the trigger offers a safer endgame, and isn't convinced by Reid's math. But whether officials expressed a clear preference for the trigger, or were just worried about the potential for 60 votes, is less clear. One staffer briefed on the conversation says "the White House basically told us, 'We hope you guys know what you're doing.'"
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Obama refocuses Bailout on Small Business (VIDEO)
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
The Telegraph of London is !@#$!%@
On October 14th, 2009, the Telegraph of London published the following:
You might have noticed that didn't happen.
Now, the Telegraph follows up with this headline:
Who's upset, exactly? Could it be the Telegraph's source who seems hell bent to leather to push a President who won't be pushed???
Seems to me its a Conservative Newspaper with an axe to grind, who might be made that their earlier bullshit prediction didn't come up aces.
United States to send 'up to 45,000 more troops to Afghanistan'
The US is expected to announce a significant surge of up to 45,000 extra troops for Afghanistan after Gordon Brown said that 500 more British troops would be sent to the country.
You might have noticed that didn't happen.
Now, the Telegraph follows up with this headline:
Barack Obama's Afghan troop decision delay provokes anger at Pentagon
President Barack Obama's decision to postpone responding to the military request for 40,000 more troops in Afghanistan the after next month's run-off election is heightening tensions between the White House and Pentagon.
Who's upset, exactly? Could it be the Telegraph's source who seems hell bent to leather to push a President who won't be pushed???
Seems to me its a Conservative Newspaper with an axe to grind, who might be made that their earlier bullshit prediction didn't come up aces.
David Vitter...racist (VIDEO)
Courtesy of Wonkette. Senator David "Diaper" Vitter refuses to condemn the Louisiana Justice of the Peace who refused to marry a interracial couple. In fact, he goes out of his way not to do so, when every other Politician in Louisiana (Republican and Democrat alike) has done so.
...and...
Maybe a guy who gets caught canoodling with D.C. Hookers shouldn't be telling other people how to be happy, or who to love.
...and...
Maybe a guy who gets caught canoodling with D.C. Hookers shouldn't be telling other people how to be happy, or who to love.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The President's Speech in New Orleans (VIDEO)
Wish I could've gotten the whole Town Hall, but we do what we can.
Incidentally, a 4th Grader asked the President why does everyone hate him. I'll post video as soon as I can get it. Until then, it's at TPM.
UPDATE: 4:42pm Pacific. Here's the video.
Incidentally, a 4th Grader asked the President why does everyone hate him. I'll post video as soon as I can get it. Until then, it's at TPM.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
UPDATE: 4:42pm Pacific. Here's the video.
When my fellow Liberals lose their minds...
From Huffington Post. Actual headline:
Is Obama Uncomfortable Around Women?Amy Siskind, 10.15.2009President and Co-Founder of The New Agenda
Despite much talk of hope and change, President Obama seems largely tone-deaf to women and women's issues. Post-racial country -- yes. Post gender inequality -- not so much.
First act signed...Lilly Ledbetter Act. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. First Supreme Court Nominee, Sonia Sotamayor. His head of the Domestic Policy Council, head of his Communications Office, his head of Homeland Security (HOMELAND SECURITY!!!), all women...yet he's uncomfortable.
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