Monday, August 31, 2009
Jenna Bush gets a job
ThereOn Today. Glenn Greenwald:
They should convene a panel for the next “Meet the Press” with Jenna Bush Hager, Luke Russert, Liz Cheney, Megan McCain and Jonah Goldberg, and they should have Chris Wallace moderate it. They can all bash affirmative action and talk about how vitally important it is that the U.S. remain a Great Meritocracy because it’s really unfair for anything other than merit to determine position and employment. They can interview Lisa Murkowski, Evan Bayh, Jeb Bush, Bob Casey, Mark Pryor, Jay Rockefeller, Dan Lipinksi, and Harold Ford, Jr. about personal responsibility and the virtues of self-sufficiency. Bill Kristol, Tucker Carlson and John Podhoretz can provide moving commentary on how America is so special because all that matters is merit, not who you know or where you come from. There’s a virtually endless list of politically well-placed guests equally qualified to talk on such matters. . . .
All of the above-listed people are examples of America’s Great Meritocracy, having achieved what they have solely on the basis of their talent, skill and hard work — The American Way. By contrast, Sonia Sotomayor — who grew up in a Puerto Rican family in Bronx housing projects; whose father had a third-grade education, did not speak English and died when she was 9; whose mother worked as a telephone operator and a nurse; and who then became valedictorian of her high school, summa cum laude at Princeton, a graduate of Yale Law School, and ultimately a Supreme Court Justice — is someone who had a whole litany of unfair advantages handed to her and is the poster child for un-American, merit-less advancement.
They should convene a panel for the next “Meet the Press” with Jenna Bush Hager, Luke Russert, Liz Cheney, Megan McCain and Jonah Goldberg, and they should have Chris Wallace moderate it. They can all bash affirmative action and talk about how vitally important it is that the U.S. remain a Great Meritocracy because it’s really unfair for anything other than merit to determine position and employment. They can interview Lisa Murkowski, Evan Bayh, Jeb Bush, Bob Casey, Mark Pryor, Jay Rockefeller, Dan Lipinksi, and Harold Ford, Jr. about personal responsibility and the virtues of self-sufficiency. Bill Kristol, Tucker Carlson and John Podhoretz can provide moving commentary on how America is so special because all that matters is merit, not who you know or where you come from. There’s a virtually endless list of politically well-placed guests equally qualified to talk on such matters. . . .
All of the above-listed people are examples of America’s Great Meritocracy, having achieved what they have solely on the basis of their talent, skill and hard work — The American Way. By contrast, Sonia Sotomayor — who grew up in a Puerto Rican family in Bronx housing projects; whose father had a third-grade education, did not speak English and died when she was 9; whose mother worked as a telephone operator and a nurse; and who then became valedictorian of her high school, summa cum laude at Princeton, a graduate of Yale Law School, and ultimately a Supreme Court Justice — is someone who had a whole litany of unfair advantages handed to her and is the poster child for un-American, merit-less advancement.
John Corzine's first attack ad
It's a stinger. And I don't know if it's even possible to make opponent Chris Christie look less attractive. This one may come down to turnout, but Democrats have the edge here, and if Christie's unfavorables get pushed down enough, independents won't even turn out.
Who gets the highest TV ratings in tennis today?
Not Roger. Not Rafa. Not Sharapova. It's Serena Williams.
Bob Dole
The man who killed health care in 1994 pretends to try to be helpful to Obama. There are at least three sections of piece that deserve guffaws. But they will instead get nothing but admiration, for splitting the difference between utter lunacy and public policy is exactly what passes for moderation in the mainstream media.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Alas...
Berlusconi's party is trying to mend fences with the Vatican. It shouldn't be hard. Criticize abortion and homosexuality a few times. Use the 80% of TV channels now controlled by Berlusconi to run a few documentaries on Escrivá and John Paul II, leaving out the scandalous portions. Affirm the Church's pre-eminence on matter of morality. And never, ever, ever mention gay priests again.
"No amount of wealth can make him young or handsome"
An excellent summary of Berlusconi's latest:
This time Silvio Berlusconi seems to have gone too far; last week he unleashed his pitbull courtiers in an attempt to gag the few remaining opposition media. But the autumn offensive got off to a bad start as the hounds and their master bit off more than they could chew. The Roman Catholic Church and a coalition of Italian and foreign papers are too much even for Mr Berlusconi’s overblown ego.
We are now being given an insight into the Italian Prime Minister’s personal and political weaknesses. The attack began when the parliamentary committee for broadcasting sought to change some of the senior managers of the public broadcaster RAI. It happens that they all work for programmes that are critical of Mr Berlusconi. This came a month after the Prime Minister had laid into a RAI journalist, saying that it was “intolerable that a public service broadcaster, paid for by the taxpayer, should criticise the Government”. This was said through clenched teeth and tensed jaw. The real and visible anger betrayed his lack of control.
The second salvo came when Niccolò Ghedini, Mr Berlusconi’s lawyer and first pitbull, said that they would be suing La Repubblica for libel. The newspaper has listed ten questions for Mr Berlusconi since June. Mr Ghedini argues that asking those questions is libellous and claims a million euros in damages. He has also said that they will sue foreign papers. This brought a shower of criticism from all quarters. Abroad, the reaction was between laughter and indignation; aren’t papers supposed to ask questions?
The other pack is led by Vittorio Feltri, editor of one of the Berlusconi family papers, Il Giornale. His strategy is to go for the man, not the ball. Mr Feltri got into serious hot water when he went for Dino Boffo, the editor of Avvenire, the paper of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. For some weeks Avvenire has been criticising Mr Berlusconi’s lifestyle. Mr Feltri claimed that Mr Boffo had plea-bargained his way out of a harassment charge and had had a gay relationship, so should not be preaching about Mr Berlusconi’s sex life.
The effects were not what the Prime Minister wanted; after more than a month of patient diplomacy, his staff had negotiated a dinner with Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State, to be held after a ceremony of forgiveness. Mr Berlusconi was to have been pardoned by the Church but the cardinal cancelled the dinner and the rift between the Government and the Church has become an abyss. [...]
Since returning to power last year, Mr Berlusconi has given himself immunity from criminal prosecution while in office and countered President Napolitano’s powers to check the constitutionality of Bills. The institutional opposition, like the courts and President, have been trussed like oven-ready capons and most of the media is directly or indirectly controlled by the Prime Minister. If anyone dares to squeak, they are threatened directly. [...]
The minors and the prostitutes have cracked the image but, if he falls, it will be because no amount of spin can disguise his economic mismanagement. The unemployment and hardship that Italians are likely to face this autumn, for which he is largely responsible, will be the reality check that counts.
This time Silvio Berlusconi seems to have gone too far; last week he unleashed his pitbull courtiers in an attempt to gag the few remaining opposition media. But the autumn offensive got off to a bad start as the hounds and their master bit off more than they could chew. The Roman Catholic Church and a coalition of Italian and foreign papers are too much even for Mr Berlusconi’s overblown ego.
We are now being given an insight into the Italian Prime Minister’s personal and political weaknesses. The attack began when the parliamentary committee for broadcasting sought to change some of the senior managers of the public broadcaster RAI. It happens that they all work for programmes that are critical of Mr Berlusconi. This came a month after the Prime Minister had laid into a RAI journalist, saying that it was “intolerable that a public service broadcaster, paid for by the taxpayer, should criticise the Government”. This was said through clenched teeth and tensed jaw. The real and visible anger betrayed his lack of control.
The second salvo came when Niccolò Ghedini, Mr Berlusconi’s lawyer and first pitbull, said that they would be suing La Repubblica for libel. The newspaper has listed ten questions for Mr Berlusconi since June. Mr Ghedini argues that asking those questions is libellous and claims a million euros in damages. He has also said that they will sue foreign papers. This brought a shower of criticism from all quarters. Abroad, the reaction was between laughter and indignation; aren’t papers supposed to ask questions?
The other pack is led by Vittorio Feltri, editor of one of the Berlusconi family papers, Il Giornale. His strategy is to go for the man, not the ball. Mr Feltri got into serious hot water when he went for Dino Boffo, the editor of Avvenire, the paper of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. For some weeks Avvenire has been criticising Mr Berlusconi’s lifestyle. Mr Feltri claimed that Mr Boffo had plea-bargained his way out of a harassment charge and had had a gay relationship, so should not be preaching about Mr Berlusconi’s sex life.
The effects were not what the Prime Minister wanted; after more than a month of patient diplomacy, his staff had negotiated a dinner with Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State, to be held after a ceremony of forgiveness. Mr Berlusconi was to have been pardoned by the Church but the cardinal cancelled the dinner and the rift between the Government and the Church has become an abyss. [...]
Since returning to power last year, Mr Berlusconi has given himself immunity from criminal prosecution while in office and countered President Napolitano’s powers to check the constitutionality of Bills. The institutional opposition, like the courts and President, have been trussed like oven-ready capons and most of the media is directly or indirectly controlled by the Prime Minister. If anyone dares to squeak, they are threatened directly. [...]
The minors and the prostitutes have cracked the image but, if he falls, it will be because no amount of spin can disguise his economic mismanagement. The unemployment and hardship that Italians are likely to face this autumn, for which he is largely responsible, will be the reality check that counts.
Well, now
This is kind of fun. The Vatican is stung by the proto-fascist, Mafia-linked billionaire it helped put into office.
A war of words between the Roman Catholic Church and Silvio Berlusconi's clan heated up Saturday as reports said the row had led to the Vatican cancelling a meeting between its number two official and the Italian prime minister.
The reports said the Vatican had called off the talks scheduled for late Friday after the newspaper headed by Berlusconi's brother Paolo attacked the boss of the Italian Catholic bishops' daily, Avvenire, a persistent critic of the prime minister's sexual peccadillos.
Il Giornale had earlier Friday accused Avvenire head Dino Boffo of hypocrisy, referring to a case in which he had allegedly pestered a woman in 2001-2002 to leave her husband, with whom he was in a gay relationship.
A war of words between the Roman Catholic Church and Silvio Berlusconi's clan heated up Saturday as reports said the row had led to the Vatican cancelling a meeting between its number two official and the Italian prime minister.
The reports said the Vatican had called off the talks scheduled for late Friday after the newspaper headed by Berlusconi's brother Paolo attacked the boss of the Italian Catholic bishops' daily, Avvenire, a persistent critic of the prime minister's sexual peccadillos.
Il Giornale had earlier Friday accused Avvenire head Dino Boffo of hypocrisy, referring to a case in which he had allegedly pestered a woman in 2001-2002 to leave her husband, with whom he was in a gay relationship.
The Democratic Party wins in Japan
Good for them. And, maybe, good for us:
The Democratic Party has also pushed for greater independence for Japan from the United States, which is treaty-bound to defend the country from attack and which has about 50,000 military personnel stationed here.
"Until now, Japan has acted to suit U.S. convenience," Hatoyama said in a TV appearance last week. "But rather than doing so, Japan-U.S. relations should be on an equal footing so that our side can strongly assert Japan's will."
Japan now helps pay for the cost of stationing U.S. forces on its territory, a policy the Democratic Party has questioned. It says it wants to rethink the entire agreement that keeps U.S. soldiers here.
Perhaps it's time to get our troops out and let Japan arm and defend itself. That would force them to spend hundreds of billions on defense contracts: tanks, planes, rifles, you name it... many of which Japan would need to buy from the United States. The best thing the US can do for itself in Asia is get out and let India, Russia, China and Japan fight among themselves. Their mutual mistrust could create a lot of American jobs, cost Asian powers a lot of money... and reduce our military expenses tremendously. Weakened by cold wars fought against each other, they will find it much harder to fight against the U.S., or see the U.S. as an enemy.
The Democratic Party has also pushed for greater independence for Japan from the United States, which is treaty-bound to defend the country from attack and which has about 50,000 military personnel stationed here.
"Until now, Japan has acted to suit U.S. convenience," Hatoyama said in a TV appearance last week. "But rather than doing so, Japan-U.S. relations should be on an equal footing so that our side can strongly assert Japan's will."
Japan now helps pay for the cost of stationing U.S. forces on its territory, a policy the Democratic Party has questioned. It says it wants to rethink the entire agreement that keeps U.S. soldiers here.
Perhaps it's time to get our troops out and let Japan arm and defend itself. That would force them to spend hundreds of billions on defense contracts: tanks, planes, rifles, you name it... many of which Japan would need to buy from the United States. The best thing the US can do for itself in Asia is get out and let India, Russia, China and Japan fight among themselves. Their mutual mistrust could create a lot of American jobs, cost Asian powers a lot of money... and reduce our military expenses tremendously. Weakened by cold wars fought against each other, they will find it much harder to fight against the U.S., or see the U.S. as an enemy.
"I have prayed for Obama to die"
The Secret Service interviews the assassination-promoting pastor, only to have him confirm every detail.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Who doesn't want you to have health care?
One guess:
Q: Would you support or oppose having the government create a new health insurance plan to compete with private health insurance plans?
Seniors: 33% Support, 62% Oppose
Age 18-29: 61% Support, 38% Oppose
The silver lining: once seniors realize that their Medicare isn't under attack, their opinions on Obama (now outright negative) may come back to normal. And their realization that they were duped by Republicans (some work will have to be done here) might make them just a bit angry.
Q: Would you support or oppose having the government create a new health insurance plan to compete with private health insurance plans?
Seniors: 33% Support, 62% Oppose
Age 18-29: 61% Support, 38% Oppose
The silver lining: once seniors realize that their Medicare isn't under attack, their opinions on Obama (now outright negative) may come back to normal. And their realization that they were duped by Republicans (some work will have to be done here) might make them just a bit angry.
OMG
I don't know what to think of this: General Honoré, one of the few government servants who came out of Katrina looking good, is interested in challenging Diapers in the Republican primary. This shakes out in all kinds of weird ways and may end up depending on just how much Honoré is willing to toe the line on the sexual matters that define Christianist politics.
Movie titles that make pans easy
"I wish I could travel back to a time when I hadn't seen this movie." Dana Stevens of Slate on The Time Traveler's Wife.
And it doesn't end there.
Physicist Dave Goldberg has a fascinating Slate piece this week on how The Time Traveler's Wife stacks up against other movies with a time-travel theme. In a survey of physicists' speculations on the possibility of time travel, he mentions one theory involving "gargantuan cosmic strings […] of matter of almost unimaginable density and length." That about sums up The Time Traveler's Wife, adapted from Audrey Niffenegger's best-selling novel by Bruce Joel Rubin (who also wrote Ghost, another metaphysically inflected love story). I'll take Goldberg's word that the movie obeys the laws of Einsteinian physics (no alternate universes, you can't change history, etc.), but it's in flagrant violation of the rules of narrative logic, character development, or the most basic audience satisfaction. [...]
Henry has no control over when he travels, where he goes, or how long he stays there; he simply evaporates, leaving a pile of empty clothes behind.... Even the ever-renewed opportunity to see Eric Bana naked isn't enough to keep these repeated disembodiments from getting old fast.
And it doesn't end there.
Physicist Dave Goldberg has a fascinating Slate piece this week on how The Time Traveler's Wife stacks up against other movies with a time-travel theme. In a survey of physicists' speculations on the possibility of time travel, he mentions one theory involving "gargantuan cosmic strings […] of matter of almost unimaginable density and length." That about sums up The Time Traveler's Wife, adapted from Audrey Niffenegger's best-selling novel by Bruce Joel Rubin (who also wrote Ghost, another metaphysically inflected love story). I'll take Goldberg's word that the movie obeys the laws of Einsteinian physics (no alternate universes, you can't change history, etc.), but it's in flagrant violation of the rules of narrative logic, character development, or the most basic audience satisfaction. [...]
Henry has no control over when he travels, where he goes, or how long he stays there; he simply evaporates, leaving a pile of empty clothes behind.... Even the ever-renewed opportunity to see Eric Bana naked isn't enough to keep these repeated disembodiments from getting old fast.
Most powerful speech of the day
Ted Kennedy, Jr. Too bad he doesn't live in Massachusetts. He'd be a worthy senator. Part two is here.
Friday, August 28, 2009
The Romneys
A clan that would be willing to wear even less in 2012 if it helped Mitt win the nomination.
Feel bad about your credit score?
The early line on this year's two big races
Republican McDonnell will win in Virginia but Democrat Corzine will hold on in New Jersey.
"the radical concept of a software update that’s smaller, faster and better"
A rave from the New York Times for Snow Leopard. The long awaited update to Apple's system software comes out tomorrow.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
"F*** it was just like in the movies."
A fun, totally unverified Ted Kennedy-related story that has no particular significance. And that is a very good thing.
Pastor prayed for Obama's death
His follower proceeded to an Obama rally. With a gun.
No coverage, of course, in the media. They'd prefer to wait until an actual attempt. You know, ratings and such.
No coverage, of course, in the media. They'd prefer to wait until an actual attempt. You know, ratings and such.
Seniors strike again
Polling already indicates their disinformation-driven disinclination to extend health care to the Americans under 35 who comprise half the uninsured.
While this is hardly news, they are also the primary obstacle to gay rights. And get this tidbit, which comes via Mark Silk's blog:
If people over 65 in each state made the laws, 0 states would have gay marriage; if people under 30 made the laws, 38 states would have gay marriage.
While this is hardly news, they are also the primary obstacle to gay rights. And get this tidbit, which comes via Mark Silk's blog:
If people over 65 in each state made the laws, 0 states would have gay marriage; if people under 30 made the laws, 38 states would have gay marriage.
US Catholic Bishops: No health care, we're Republican
Like their current boss and their previous one, their obsession with sex continues to trump the well-being of the living.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has been lobbying for three decades for the federal government to provide universal health insurance, especially for the poor. Now, as President Obama tries to rally Roman Catholics and other religious voters around his proposals to do just that, a growing number of bishops are speaking out against it.
Hispanics are 31% of the uninsured. Sixty-eight percent of Hispanics are Catholics. One third of the Catholics in the US are Hispanic. Maybe it's time for Hispanics in the Church to stand up against a white, Republican Catholic hierarchy which is willing to stab them in the back over and over again.
Maybe it's also time for non-Catholic denominations to recognize a business opportunity and stand up for a Latino community that is being abandoned by its church.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has been lobbying for three decades for the federal government to provide universal health insurance, especially for the poor. Now, as President Obama tries to rally Roman Catholics and other religious voters around his proposals to do just that, a growing number of bishops are speaking out against it.
Hispanics are 31% of the uninsured. Sixty-eight percent of Hispanics are Catholics. One third of the Catholics in the US are Hispanic. Maybe it's time for Hispanics in the Church to stand up against a white, Republican Catholic hierarchy which is willing to stab them in the back over and over again.
Maybe it's also time for non-Catholic denominations to recognize a business opportunity and stand up for a Latino community that is being abandoned by its church.
Karl Rove is being protected
By prosecutors still on the case who were Bush appointees. It's time for them to go. Sign the petition.
Eddie Kaye Thomas
Saves Jason Biggs from a wild monkey . And that's only his second greatest achievement.
Taiwan's sellout President
Bizarrely agrees to a visit from the Dalai Lama? The explanation is convoluted:
Ma couldn't possibly approve Dalai Lama's visit without the approval of the central government in his mind - the communist China government that is.
Considering this: China has always portrayed Dalai Lama as a separatist. Whichever country approves for Dalai Lama's visit is heavily condemned by the Chinese government. Allowing [Taiwan President] Ma to welcome Dalai Lama will jeopardize this non-negotiable stand. So it's almost impossible for China to approve this.
However, Ma's credit and approval rate in Taiwan are in their historical low. If Ma denies Dalai Lama's visit again (Ma denied his visit openly last November, even that Dalai Lama never expressed his intention of visiting), it will drag him much deeper into the abyss and make his recovery much more difficult. It might even push Ma to the point of no return when Ma is currently on the brim of losing his political grip. That will result in either Ma being replaced, or his policy of annexing Taiwan being seriously challenged by his colleague. Either way is certainly not in Ma's nor China's best interest.
So China will have to approve Dalai Lama's visit to Taiwan, if they still want to take advantage of what's left of Ma's value.
Ma couldn't possibly approve Dalai Lama's visit without the approval of the central government in his mind - the communist China government that is.
Considering this: China has always portrayed Dalai Lama as a separatist. Whichever country approves for Dalai Lama's visit is heavily condemned by the Chinese government. Allowing [Taiwan President] Ma to welcome Dalai Lama will jeopardize this non-negotiable stand. So it's almost impossible for China to approve this.
However, Ma's credit and approval rate in Taiwan are in their historical low. If Ma denies Dalai Lama's visit again (Ma denied his visit openly last November, even that Dalai Lama never expressed his intention of visiting), it will drag him much deeper into the abyss and make his recovery much more difficult. It might even push Ma to the point of no return when Ma is currently on the brim of losing his political grip. That will result in either Ma being replaced, or his policy of annexing Taiwan being seriously challenged by his colleague. Either way is certainly not in Ma's nor China's best interest.
So China will have to approve Dalai Lama's visit to Taiwan, if they still want to take advantage of what's left of Ma's value.
"Senator Kennedy taught me that government can function for the common man "
By the time this video ended on that extraordinary evening in Denver, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. And Senator Kennedy hadn't even stepped on the stage yet.
The entire presentation is here.
The entire presentation is here.
Lived to the fullest
"He was the only one of the Kennedy boys who had a semi-knowledge that his end was near." A chronicle of Senator Kennedy's final months.
Whole Food boycott near 30,000
With activities planned all over the country. The best one:
NYC Sunday, August 30, 2009 11am-2pm Whole Foods and environs, Columbus Circle (Broadway/59th), NYC
Dickensian Nightmare with Marie Antoinette to Follow
What the world would be like of Mackey's immodest proposals became reality
(Scrooges and urchins and beggars needed)
Possible rehearsal Sat for musical number(s)
Performers, musicians, audience shills and leafleteers (like mousketeers but with leaflets with the WSJ op-ed on 'em) needed.
NYC Sunday, August 30, 2009 11am-2pm Whole Foods and environs, Columbus Circle (Broadway/59th), NYC
Dickensian Nightmare with Marie Antoinette to Follow
What the world would be like of Mackey's immodest proposals became reality
(Scrooges and urchins and beggars needed)
Possible rehearsal Sat for musical number(s)
Performers, musicians, audience shills and leafleteers (like mousketeers but with leaflets with the WSJ op-ed on 'em) needed.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
JUSIPER is brought to you by the letter U
And an American legend who will be 70 next year. It takes time. Things you rush will never last.
Florida
If you were a moderate Republican of unknown sexual orientation and wanted to win a U.S. Senate primary against an archconservative, this wouldn't be a bad play at all:
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has raised some interesting and troubling questions by suggesting publicly that prayer notes he placed in Jerusalem's Western Wall each of the past three years might have something to do with the fact that hurricanes have avoided his state since he was elected in 2006.
And fortunately for the crafty governor, New Englanders like Washington Post reader Sacomment don't vote in Florida Republican primaries:
The storm missed Florida, which has experience in preparing for and responding to hurricanes, and hit Maine where it killed 5 people.
Those people died as a direct result of Governor Crist's prayer.
Meanwhile, reader Bendan2000 has a prayer request.
Could you ask the governor if he could pray that I stop farting so much? It would be much appreciated.
Amen.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has raised some interesting and troubling questions by suggesting publicly that prayer notes he placed in Jerusalem's Western Wall each of the past three years might have something to do with the fact that hurricanes have avoided his state since he was elected in 2006.
And fortunately for the crafty governor, New Englanders like Washington Post reader Sacomment don't vote in Florida Republican primaries:
The storm missed Florida, which has experience in preparing for and responding to hurricanes, and hit Maine where it killed 5 people.
Those people died as a direct result of Governor Crist's prayer.
Meanwhile, reader Bendan2000 has a prayer request.
Could you ask the governor if he could pray that I stop farting so much? It would be much appreciated.
Amen.
Whither health care reform?
With just 59 votes, it may now be best to just write a bill forcing health insurance companies to accept anyone regardless of pre-existing conditions and not permitting them to drop customers after an illness. No universal mandate. Republicans will not dare oppose the bill.
Ted Kennedy has died
Let us pause and pay tribute to the greatest among his brothers, the finest U.S. senator of the 20th century.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
"I like the professionalism of it"
The best mayor in the country is paying for the best campaign in the country. One he doesn't even need.
The campaign does not give up easily. When a Queens resident, reached by phone, told a campaign worker by phone that the mayor was “racist” for not giving schoolchildren Islamic holidays off, the field director, Maura Keaney, sitting nearby, suggested: “We’ll have one of our Muslim volunteers follow up with him.”
The campaign has created literature for what seems like every niche group and ethnic bloc in the city, recruiting speakers of Yiddish, Farsi, Guyanese, Haitian and Tagalog, to name a few.
And it has created software that shows when every volunteer is available, and can instantly generate e-mail reminders to, say, show up at an event in Brooklyn at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The gee-whiz technology has left even veteran operatives grasping for superlatives.
“You’d think they are running a presidential campaign — it’s unbelievable,” said Phil Ragusa, the chairman of the Queens Republican Party.
The campaign does not give up easily. When a Queens resident, reached by phone, told a campaign worker by phone that the mayor was “racist” for not giving schoolchildren Islamic holidays off, the field director, Maura Keaney, sitting nearby, suggested: “We’ll have one of our Muslim volunteers follow up with him.”
The campaign has created literature for what seems like every niche group and ethnic bloc in the city, recruiting speakers of Yiddish, Farsi, Guyanese, Haitian and Tagalog, to name a few.
And it has created software that shows when every volunteer is available, and can instantly generate e-mail reminders to, say, show up at an event in Brooklyn at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The gee-whiz technology has left even veteran operatives grasping for superlatives.
“You’d think they are running a presidential campaign — it’s unbelievable,” said Phil Ragusa, the chairman of the Queens Republican Party.
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Anita Hill years
Sonia Sotomayor was her classmate at Yale Law School.
Vice President Biden's chief of staff Ron Klain was Chief Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee during the Anita Hill hearings.
Anita Hill's lawyer at the Senate Judiciary Committee is Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.
Vice President Biden's chief of staff Ron Klain was Chief Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee during the Anita Hill hearings.
Anita Hill's lawyer at the Senate Judiciary Committee is Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.
Want to know the state of healthcare reform?
This article in the Los Angeles Times sums it up: the insurance companies have won. And it's even worse than we thought:
In May, the Senate Finance Committee discussed requiring that insurers reimburse at least 76% of policyholders' medical costs under their most affordable plans. Now the committee is considering setting that rate as low as 65%, meaning insurers would be required to cover just about two-thirds of patients' healthcare bills. According to a committee aide, the change was being considered so that companies could hold down premiums for the policies.
Most group health plans cover 80% to 90% or more of a policyholder's medical bills, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service. Industry officials urged that the government set the floor lower so insurers could provide flexible, more affordable plans. [...]
"These are a bad deal for consumers," said J. Robert Hunter, a former Texas insurance commissioner who works with the Consumer Federation of America.
Meanwhile, companies would probably see a benefit by providing less insurance "per premium dollar," Hunter said.
"It would be quite a windfall," said Wendell Potter, a former executive at Cigna insurance company who has become an industry whistle-blower.
In May, the Senate Finance Committee discussed requiring that insurers reimburse at least 76% of policyholders' medical costs under their most affordable plans. Now the committee is considering setting that rate as low as 65%, meaning insurers would be required to cover just about two-thirds of patients' healthcare bills. According to a committee aide, the change was being considered so that companies could hold down premiums for the policies.
Most group health plans cover 80% to 90% or more of a policyholder's medical bills, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service. Industry officials urged that the government set the floor lower so insurers could provide flexible, more affordable plans. [...]
"These are a bad deal for consumers," said J. Robert Hunter, a former Texas insurance commissioner who works with the Consumer Federation of America.
Meanwhile, companies would probably see a benefit by providing less insurance "per premium dollar," Hunter said.
"It would be quite a windfall," said Wendell Potter, a former executive at Cigna insurance company who has become an industry whistle-blower.
Hooray for UPS
It has dropped advertising, not just on Glenn Beck but on all Fox News Channel programs! Do consider them for your future shipping needs. Note, however, that the move is still "temporary."
If you haven't yet, please sign Color of Change's anti-Fox petition now.
If you haven't yet, please sign Color of Change's anti-Fox petition now.
"Has everyone gone to the Hamptons?"
Allison Gaudet Yarrow of the Jewish Forward asks, "Why aren’t Jews everywhere loudly outraged that health care reform is being compared to the extermination of six million people?"
No one’s quite sure how exactly Hitler reemerged in the health care debate. [The Washington Independent [(http://washingtonindependent.com/55566/was-barney-franks-nazi-questioner-a-larouchie) reports that the pixie who tested Frank’s temper is a “LaRouche cultist,” meaning she supports the fringe organizer whose campaign imagined the mustachioed Obama photos that read, “I’ve changed.”
When Rush Limbaugh likened President Obama’s health care logo to Nazi symbolism, the ADL condemned his blabber as usual. The American Jewish Congress also vehemently opposed Limbaugh’s rhetoric, and urged all Americans to “make plain their disgust at the comparisons … by a prompt use of the off button.” There is where the problem lies. Mr. Limbaugh’s musings are typically of the ridiculous variety. Americans without talk radio platforms are showing up to town hall meetings with swastikas, doctored photos of a mustached Obama, and even one man with a gun (a local police chief deemed it legal) strapped to his leg. Why are Jewish groups like ADL and AJCommittee only going after Limbaugh, a veritably easy target? Where are the Jewish senators, representatives and local leaders on this issue? Barney Frank has come forward. Let’s hope he won’t stand alone.
No one’s quite sure how exactly Hitler reemerged in the health care debate. [The Washington Independent [(http://washingtonindependent.com/55566/was-barney-franks-nazi-questioner-a-larouchie) reports that the pixie who tested Frank’s temper is a “LaRouche cultist,” meaning she supports the fringe organizer whose campaign imagined the mustachioed Obama photos that read, “I’ve changed.”
When Rush Limbaugh likened President Obama’s health care logo to Nazi symbolism, the ADL condemned his blabber as usual. The American Jewish Congress also vehemently opposed Limbaugh’s rhetoric, and urged all Americans to “make plain their disgust at the comparisons … by a prompt use of the off button.” There is where the problem lies. Mr. Limbaugh’s musings are typically of the ridiculous variety. Americans without talk radio platforms are showing up to town hall meetings with swastikas, doctored photos of a mustached Obama, and even one man with a gun (a local police chief deemed it legal) strapped to his leg. Why are Jewish groups like ADL and AJCommittee only going after Limbaugh, a veritably easy target? Where are the Jewish senators, representatives and local leaders on this issue? Barney Frank has come forward. Let’s hope he won’t stand alone.
Bubbling under
First electoral test for gay marriage in Iowa: a special election for state representative. The Republican candidate wisely steers clear of the subject, knowing that national right wing groups are "independently" buying that airtime to fight the battle for him.
Iranians mullah idiots
The corrupt parliament appropriates $20 million to "expose" American human rights abuses... which are documented for free, every day, in thousands of blogs all over this country. Their ignorance of freedom of speech, however, is no surprise at all.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
DeLong: Fire John Yoo
But, in fairness, isn't advocacy part of the whole legal enterprise? The first document DeLong uses to make his point is a law article. The second (I assume) was written for Yoo's boss, who (again, presumably) had requested a brief supporting his preferred position. John Yoo may be a hypocrite, but there are plenty of those in the revolving door between academia and the policy world--particularly in Republican administrations, where governance is increasingly policy-free. While I would have been all in favor of not hiring John Yoo in the first place, I am not yet comfortable with the idea of revoking his tenure.
“I know why all of the greatest generation has died of heart attacks"
Let us salute Julia Child, who returns to #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
It's possible to recall Max Baucus!
Montana is one of just 18 states that permit the process.
This is important because Baucus is otherwise untouchable. He is not up for re-election until 2014. By then, no one will know what his position on health care was. After having saved billions in profits for private insurance companies, you can safely assume they will provide him millions more in contributions over the next years.
Right now the threat of a recall may be the only way to keep his feet to the fire.
Finally, let's back up for a moment: Baucus is not up for re-election until 2014. That means his sabotage of health care reform may actually come out of some kind of misplaced loyalty to private insurers and not even some kind of pragmatic strategic calculation regarding his own re-election. Disgusting.
This is important because Baucus is otherwise untouchable. He is not up for re-election until 2014. By then, no one will know what his position on health care was. After having saved billions in profits for private insurance companies, you can safely assume they will provide him millions more in contributions over the next years.
Right now the threat of a recall may be the only way to keep his feet to the fire.
Finally, let's back up for a moment: Baucus is not up for re-election until 2014. That means his sabotage of health care reform may actually come out of some kind of misplaced loyalty to private insurers and not even some kind of pragmatic strategic calculation regarding his own re-election. Disgusting.
Swiss banks
The government should confiscate any amount kept in one in its entirety. And send the perp to jail for a decade, along with any bankers who aided and abetted. If it helps to grease the wheels of justice, let UBS keep 5% of the total, at least until the whole system is cracked open. We should also provide rewards for information leading to the arrest of US tax evaders, so that we can get more snitches like Tarantula.
Why have DeLay and Dick resurfaced?
And why are they fanning the wingnut birther flames? Maybe it's because they are about to be indicted and want the GOP to have their back.
You would be forgiven for thinking, "Republican congressmen in a scandal? Where's the gay sex?" But no congressional pages seem to be involved this time. Rather, it's the more banal cash for favors plus conspiracy, going all the way back to Jack Abramoff. Don't remember Abramoff? Well, this joke won't help much, but at least it's George Clooney making it.
You would be forgiven for thinking, "Republican congressmen in a scandal? Where's the gay sex?" But no congressional pages seem to be involved this time. Rather, it's the more banal cash for favors plus conspiracy, going all the way back to Jack Abramoff. Don't remember Abramoff? Well, this joke won't help much, but at least it's George Clooney making it.
An idea for the 2010 Census
Start a rumor that the government is going to use census files to collect data on gun owners. That should create an undercount in red states that might shift a couple of electoral votes our way.
An incredible discovery
Charlene's "I've Never Been to Me," ranked #3 in a book on the worst records of all time, had a Spanish version. The language was spared the misery of a translation of the followup single (#4 in that book, incidentally), a truly wretched duet with Stevie Wonder entitled "Used to Be."
Saturday, August 22, 2009
What? Uninsured white folks?
A subtext of the health care discourse, such as it is, among teabaggers and people of their general educational background (either none or four years of community college), is the notion that Democrats want to send their tax dollars to poor black and brown people.
But Medicaid already exists. President Johnson covered the American citizens most detested by Republicans and most feared by Blue Dogs back in 1965. 47% of today's uninsured are white, according to the study June and Dave O'Neill of CUNY prepared for the Employment Policies Institute. If you remove undocumented citizens who will not be covered under the President's plan, a clear majority of the uninsured are white.
Furthermore, 50.4% of uninsured non-seniors are between 18-34, hardly a population that's likely to break the bank when it comes to health care. Democrats would do well to present the image of 25 year old white college graduates as the face of the uninsured.
Note to Telemundo and Univision: 31% of the uninsured in America are Hispanic. Teabaggers and talk radio are already trotting out the lie that undocumented immigrants will be covered. The least you can do is tell voters the truth, so that they can mobilize for this plan.
But Medicaid already exists. President Johnson covered the American citizens most detested by Republicans and most feared by Blue Dogs back in 1965. 47% of today's uninsured are white, according to the study June and Dave O'Neill of CUNY prepared for the Employment Policies Institute. If you remove undocumented citizens who will not be covered under the President's plan, a clear majority of the uninsured are white.
Furthermore, 50.4% of uninsured non-seniors are between 18-34, hardly a population that's likely to break the bank when it comes to health care. Democrats would do well to present the image of 25 year old white college graduates as the face of the uninsured.
Note to Telemundo and Univision: 31% of the uninsured in America are Hispanic. Teabaggers and talk radio are already trotting out the lie that undocumented immigrants will be covered. The least you can do is tell voters the truth, so that they can mobilize for this plan.
I've written about getting Michelle Obama out there
But it really points to another question. Where are the surrogates? Why is the President, who seems constitutionally incapable of using emotion to bash his opponents on health care argument, out there alone? Is Joe Biden really so gaffe prone that he has to be put in mothballs at a time that the President's approval rating is tanking among seniors in Florida?
Get Bill Clinton out there. Get Joe Biden out there. Get every articulate and politically smart Administration politician out there bashing insurance companies and making the case for why this matters. Times like this make you miss Ann Richards all the more.
Get Bill Clinton out there. Get Joe Biden out there. Get every articulate and politically smart Administration politician out there bashing insurance companies and making the case for why this matters. Times like this make you miss Ann Richards all the more.
The political father of the co-op
Tom Daschle, who gets his paycheck from an insurance company, continues to be the Administration's eminence grise on health care.
Iranian prison rape
Their only frame of reference: Abu Ghraib.
The bubble-wrapped generation learned from television shows that Jesus-looking young men and Mary-like young women serve as the country’s security and civil officers, foiling one enemy plot after the other, convincing offenders and terrorists with their charismatic charm to confess to their crimes, and shaming the bad guys with their aura of piety into guilt and repentance.
The bubble-wrapped generation was then offered alternative images with Western movies reeking of decadence, in which cops and secret agents never hesitated to beat the suspect to a pulp to extract a confession.
Horror stories about Abu Ghraib and Gitmo made everyone shiver to the bone and feel blessed that there to protect us were the unnamed soldiers of the Hidden Imam — God-fearing individuals who have chosen to remain anonymous lest their deeds, which are all an act of worship, be carried out with insincerity.
Alas, the bubble was burst and Iranians realized that there is an Abu Ghraib close to the Iranian capital in Kahrizak.
Any chance we can just send our Republicans to Tehran? They'd feel much more at home there, except for the universal health care.
The bubble-wrapped generation learned from television shows that Jesus-looking young men and Mary-like young women serve as the country’s security and civil officers, foiling one enemy plot after the other, convincing offenders and terrorists with their charismatic charm to confess to their crimes, and shaming the bad guys with their aura of piety into guilt and repentance.
The bubble-wrapped generation was then offered alternative images with Western movies reeking of decadence, in which cops and secret agents never hesitated to beat the suspect to a pulp to extract a confession.
Horror stories about Abu Ghraib and Gitmo made everyone shiver to the bone and feel blessed that there to protect us were the unnamed soldiers of the Hidden Imam — God-fearing individuals who have chosen to remain anonymous lest their deeds, which are all an act of worship, be carried out with insincerity.
Alas, the bubble was burst and Iranians realized that there is an Abu Ghraib close to the Iranian capital in Kahrizak.
Any chance we can just send our Republicans to Tehran? They'd feel much more at home there, except for the universal health care.
Kent Conrad: Small state whore
The joys of walking K Street with Max Baucus:
Despite being from
a state where campaigns cost a relative pittance, Conrad has found
himself the recipient of largess from a host of private actors with
interests in the health care debate. Over the course of his career he
has received more than $828,000 from insurance companies, $610,000 from
health professionals, and $255,000 from Pharmaceutical and health
product companies, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
In 2009 alone, Conrad has watched industry cash pour in at a high rate,
according to a review of FEC filings. His Political Action Committee,
DAKPAC, received a $2,500 donation from the American Medical
Association; $2,000 donations from the pharmaceutical companies Merck &
Company and Eli Lilly; as well as $1,000 donations from Johnson &
Johnson, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, American Hospital Association,
AstroZeneca, Abbott Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim, and the
Federation of American Hospitals. [...]
While Conrad hasn't given up his deficit hawkishness, not all spending
has been equal. Conrad quickly spiked Obama's plan to trim nearly $10
billion from the federal budget by cutting farm subsidies. The subsidies
are given to wealthy farmers regardless of market conditions and help
prop up the North Dakota economy.
The stance on farm subsidies neatly illustrates the paradox that is the
conservative Democrat. Typified by House Blue Dogs, the faction claims
the mantle of principled, fiscal responsibility. But, in practice, the
position is often defined by fealty to the business interests that fund
their campaigns or dominate their states.
Despite being from
a state where campaigns cost a relative pittance, Conrad has found
himself the recipient of largess from a host of private actors with
interests in the health care debate. Over the course of his career he
has received more than $828,000 from insurance companies, $610,000 from
health professionals, and $255,000 from Pharmaceutical and health
product companies, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
In 2009 alone, Conrad has watched industry cash pour in at a high rate,
according to a review of FEC filings. His Political Action Committee,
DAKPAC, received a $2,500 donation from the American Medical
Association; $2,000 donations from the pharmaceutical companies Merck &
Company and Eli Lilly; as well as $1,000 donations from Johnson &
Johnson, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, American Hospital Association,
AstroZeneca, Abbott Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim, and the
Federation of American Hospitals. [...]
While Conrad hasn't given up his deficit hawkishness, not all spending
has been equal. Conrad quickly spiked Obama's plan to trim nearly $10
billion from the federal budget by cutting farm subsidies. The subsidies
are given to wealthy farmers regardless of market conditions and help
prop up the North Dakota economy.
The stance on farm subsidies neatly illustrates the paradox that is the
conservative Democrat. Typified by House Blue Dogs, the faction claims
the mantle of principled, fiscal responsibility. But, in practice, the
position is often defined by fealty to the business interests that fund
their campaigns or dominate their states.
Baucus: $3 million in bribes
Huge surprise. 90% of his insurance and health contributions come from outside Montana. It's just chump change for them, given the billions they will reap if health care reform fails.
Many of these contributions have been focused on Baucus, Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and other senators in the moderate camps of their respective parties, whose votes could prove crucial in a final health-care reform deal, as well as the leaders of five key committees leading the debate. Grassley, the Senate Finance Committee's ranking Republican, received more than $2 million from the health and insurance sectors since 2003.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., took in $1.6 million from the health sector and its employees over the past two years; ranking Republican Dave Camp of Michigan received nearly $1 million.
But Baucus, a senator from a sparsely populated and conservative Western state who is serving his sixth term, stands out for the rising tide of health-care contributions to his campaign committee, Friends of Max Baucus, and his political-action committee, Glacier PAC. Baucus collected $3 million from the health and insurance sectors from 2003 to 2008, about 20 percent of the total, data show. Less than 10 percent of the money came from Montana. Top out-of-state corporate contributors included Schering-Plough, New York Life Insurance, Amgen Inc. and Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Individual executives such as Richard Clark, CEO and president of drugmaker Merck, have also made regular donations.
Most of these companies, particularly major insurers, are strongly opposed to a public insurance option, which is favored by President Barack Obama and top House Democrats but has failed to get support so far from Baucus's committee. As a longtime centrist within the Democratic caucus, Baucus's committee chairmanship has made him a key broker in the health-reform debate. Many former Baucus staffers, including two former chiefs of staff, lobby on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry and other health-care players and have been closely involved in negotiations over the legislation.
Many of these contributions have been focused on Baucus, Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and other senators in the moderate camps of their respective parties, whose votes could prove crucial in a final health-care reform deal, as well as the leaders of five key committees leading the debate. Grassley, the Senate Finance Committee's ranking Republican, received more than $2 million from the health and insurance sectors since 2003.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., took in $1.6 million from the health sector and its employees over the past two years; ranking Republican Dave Camp of Michigan received nearly $1 million.
But Baucus, a senator from a sparsely populated and conservative Western state who is serving his sixth term, stands out for the rising tide of health-care contributions to his campaign committee, Friends of Max Baucus, and his political-action committee, Glacier PAC. Baucus collected $3 million from the health and insurance sectors from 2003 to 2008, about 20 percent of the total, data show. Less than 10 percent of the money came from Montana. Top out-of-state corporate contributors included Schering-Plough, New York Life Insurance, Amgen Inc. and Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Individual executives such as Richard Clark, CEO and president of drugmaker Merck, have also made regular donations.
Most of these companies, particularly major insurers, are strongly opposed to a public insurance option, which is favored by President Barack Obama and top House Democrats but has failed to get support so far from Baucus's committee. As a longtime centrist within the Democratic caucus, Baucus's committee chairmanship has made him a key broker in the health-reform debate. Many former Baucus staffers, including two former chiefs of staff, lobby on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry and other health-care players and have been closely involved in negotiations over the legislation.
The kid is my son!
John Edwards about to come clean. Not that it matters anymore.
Elizabeth's book is about to come out, although one expects that unfortunately named former aide Andrew Young's book will be a much more titillating read.
Elizabeth's book is about to come out, although one expects that unfortunately named former aide Andrew Young's book will be a much more titillating read.
Friday, August 21, 2009
ActBlue raises more money for Dems
Than the Blue Cross raised for the Blue Dogs. That means we are in for a big war in the House over the public option. And the insurance companies will have to pony up a whole lot more in order to buy off their Democratic whores. That said, these particular whores are pretty cheap. A few crumbs is all it takes.
So if you have the cash, make a donation here. And if you have friends who do, have an email sent to them.
So if you have the cash, make a donation here. And if you have friends who do, have an email sent to them.
Primary opponent needed in Montana
44% of Montana Democrats would oppose Max Baucus if he killed health care reform. Unfortunately for all of us, he was just re-elected.
2008
This masterwork by Ted Rall was the year's best political cartoon. Thanks to reader G. for sending it to me at the time.
Same as it ever was
Uneducated Southerners and Mountain Westerners, perpetually screwing themselves and the rest of us.
According to Gallup, of the 25 states with the greatest percentage of the uninsured, all but three are based in the South or the Midwest.
LIST OF STATES WITH MOST UNINSURED
Texas - 27 percent of the population is uninsured New Mexico --- 25.6 percent Mississippi - 24 percent Louisiana - 22.4 percent Nevada - 22.2 percent Oklahoma - 22.2 percent
According to Gallup, of the 25 states with the greatest percentage of the uninsured, all but three are based in the South or the Midwest.
LIST OF STATES WITH MOST UNINSURED
Texas - 27 percent of the population is uninsured New Mexico --- 25.6 percent Mississippi - 24 percent Louisiana - 22.4 percent Nevada - 22.2 percent Oklahoma - 22.2 percent
Repeated suggestion: Bring back the closer
Park Michelle Obama as a guest host on Today and or The View for a week. And watch those health care numbers change.
More praise for Novak
From a once great political analyst who, of late, is increasingly turning into the contrarian, substanceless, TV-era version of Novak.
I also highly recommend the 1967 volume co-authored by Bob and his longtime partner Rowland Evans, Lyndon B. Johnson, The Exercise of Power: A Political Biography. It is based in large part on the superb reporting that Novak, then in his early 30s, did as the Wall Street Journal’s Senate correspondent when Johnson was Senate Majority Leader. I once asked Robert Caro, author of the monumental multi-volume biography of Johnson, what he considered the best book on Johnson. He answered, without hesitation, Evans and Novak. Writing in 1966 and 1967, they anticipated the problems ahead for Johnson’s Great Society and Vietnam war policies.
I also highly recommend the 1967 volume co-authored by Bob and his longtime partner Rowland Evans, Lyndon B. Johnson, The Exercise of Power: A Political Biography. It is based in large part on the superb reporting that Novak, then in his early 30s, did as the Wall Street Journal’s Senate correspondent when Johnson was Senate Majority Leader. I once asked Robert Caro, author of the monumental multi-volume biography of Johnson, what he considered the best book on Johnson. He answered, without hesitation, Evans and Novak. Writing in 1966 and 1967, they anticipated the problems ahead for Johnson’s Great Society and Vietnam war policies.
The usefulness of early presidential polling
June, 2006. "What's a Barack?"
Yesterday, the Des Moines Register released the first public poll asking likely participants about how they might vote in the 2008 Iowa Democratic Caucuses. Thirty percent (30%) of their sample expressed an early preference for John Edwards, 26% for Hillary Clinton, 12% for John Kerry and 10% for Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack. The other five potential candidates received support in the low single digits.
Yesterday, the Des Moines Register released the first public poll asking likely participants about how they might vote in the 2008 Iowa Democratic Caucuses. Thirty percent (30%) of their sample expressed an early preference for John Edwards, 26% for Hillary Clinton, 12% for John Kerry and 10% for Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack. The other five potential candidates received support in the low single digits.
When does the Economist back social spending?
When Americans attack merry old England:
This focus on the NHS is unfortunate in a couple of serious ways. First, by painting an inaccurate picture of the British system, it helps blind Americans to weaknesses in their own one that need to be corrected if it is not to collapse under the weight of its costly inefficiencies.
The reality which these calumnies obscure is that the NHS costs half as much per person as the American system costs. Yet it delivers results which are on some plausible measures (see article) actually superior, for instance in terms of health in middle-age or life expectancy at birth (America’s record at treating cancers is much better, though). And it does this while avoiding the disgrace that so shames America, of leaving around 46m people, some 15% of its population, without any form of health insurance and therefore reliant on emergency-room care, which is costly and inefficient. Many millions more are covered by only bare-bones policies, which can leave them destitute in the event of prolonged illness. But if American politicians peddle falsehoods about what goes on in other countries, Americans are correspondingly less likely to appreciate the extent to which they are being let down.
This focus on the NHS is unfortunate in a couple of serious ways. First, by painting an inaccurate picture of the British system, it helps blind Americans to weaknesses in their own one that need to be corrected if it is not to collapse under the weight of its costly inefficiencies.
The reality which these calumnies obscure is that the NHS costs half as much per person as the American system costs. Yet it delivers results which are on some plausible measures (see article) actually superior, for instance in terms of health in middle-age or life expectancy at birth (America’s record at treating cancers is much better, though). And it does this while avoiding the disgrace that so shames America, of leaving around 46m people, some 15% of its population, without any form of health insurance and therefore reliant on emergency-room care, which is costly and inefficient. Many millions more are covered by only bare-bones policies, which can leave them destitute in the event of prolonged illness. But if American politicians peddle falsehoods about what goes on in other countries, Americans are correspondingly less likely to appreciate the extent to which they are being let down.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Charlie Cook: 20 seat Dem loss in 2010
Maybe, but a victory on health care could change that dramatically. In any case, it is way too early to know for sure what will happen. Not that this blog is in a position to talk after posting early numbers on 2012.
In any case, people may be reasoning by analogy a bit too much in Washington. 2010 will not be 1994. It could be worse, will almost certainly be better (a Clintonian loss of 50 seats seems all but impossible), but it will almost certainly be very, very different.
In any case, people may be reasoning by analogy a bit too much in Washington. 2010 will not be 1994. It could be worse, will almost certainly be better (a Clintonian loss of 50 seats seems all but impossible), but it will almost certainly be very, very different.
Temporary victory?
Glenn Beck on forced hiatus after Color of Change campaign. If you signed the petition, you deserve a bit of the credit.
Bad times coming to Harvard?
Looks like the Harvard's new President is preparing for even rougher times:
Katherine N. Lapp, who was the top employee at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority from 2002 through 2006, will join Harvard University as its executive vice president and chief administrative officer, the university announced on Thursday.
Ms. Lapp, 52, a lawyer who served in the administrations of Mayor David N. Dinkins, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Gov. George E. Pataki, left the authority at the end of 2006, as Mr. Pataki left office. As executive director and chief executive of the M.T.A., she and its chairman, Peter S. Kalikow, led the authority during the subway and bus strike of 2005. [...]
At Harvard, Ms. Lapp will oversee the finances, human resources and capital planning functions of the central administration...
On the brighter side, US News says you can still be the top college in the country even if you're broke. At least for now. Forbes' rankings, on the other hand, drop Harvard to fifth, behind Army, Princeton, Caltech and Williams.
Katherine N. Lapp, who was the top employee at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority from 2002 through 2006, will join Harvard University as its executive vice president and chief administrative officer, the university announced on Thursday.
Ms. Lapp, 52, a lawyer who served in the administrations of Mayor David N. Dinkins, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Gov. George E. Pataki, left the authority at the end of 2006, as Mr. Pataki left office. As executive director and chief executive of the M.T.A., she and its chairman, Peter S. Kalikow, led the authority during the subway and bus strike of 2005. [...]
At Harvard, Ms. Lapp will oversee the finances, human resources and capital planning functions of the central administration...
On the brighter side, US News says you can still be the top college in the country even if you're broke. At least for now. Forbes' rankings, on the other hand, drop Harvard to fifth, behind Army, Princeton, Caltech and Williams.
Everyone wants to know
Why does Ted Olson support gay marriage?
Hypothesis 1: He's actually hoping to get a case to the Supreme Court so that the justices rule against gay marriage.
Hypothesis 2: He wants to get a case to the Court so the justices rule for gay marriage, sparking a grass roots conservative revolt along the lines of Roe v. Wade.
Hypothesis 3: He discovered that some gay people are also white.
Only Olson mentor Meathead knows the truth.
Hypothesis 1: He's actually hoping to get a case to the Supreme Court so that the justices rule against gay marriage.
Hypothesis 2: He wants to get a case to the Court so the justices rule for gay marriage, sparking a grass roots conservative revolt along the lines of Roe v. Wade.
Hypothesis 3: He discovered that some gay people are also white.
Only Olson mentor Meathead knows the truth.
Editorial From the National Undertaker
Sorry, I mean, the National Underwriter, another insurance industry publication. This is how the first sentence begins: "Now that the public option is pretty much dead and buried..."
One of the commenters asks, regarding the insurance industry's helpful suggestions: "Does anyone have a connection in Washington?" Sure you do! You've got 42 senators representing the insurance industry as it is: every single Republican, plus Max Baucus and Kent Conrad.
One of the commenters asks, regarding the insurance industry's helpful suggestions: "Does anyone have a connection in Washington?" Sure you do! You've got 42 senators representing the insurance industry as it is: every single Republican, plus Max Baucus and Kent Conrad.
Insurance brokers outraged
"We're the guys who try to fleece individual consumers by lying to them about their coverage . How could Congress even think of asking other people to advise consumers about their insurance options?" Fun editorials from insurance industry publications.
The very early line on 2012
The election could, of course, be a blowout for either side, depending on what the economy looks like in the quarters preceding Election Day.
In a relatively close race, Obama can be fairly confident of 233 electoral votes, more or less (redistricting will probably decrease that total a bit). That leaves about 40 to go. Right now the easiest places to pick those up, if Pawlenty is not the nominee, are in MN, WI and IA, which together have 27. That still leaves 13, and right now, Colorado and Nevada's 14 don't look good at all.
In a relatively close race, Obama can be fairly confident of 233 electoral votes, more or less (redistricting will probably decrease that total a bit). That leaves about 40 to go. Right now the easiest places to pick those up, if Pawlenty is not the nominee, are in MN, WI and IA, which together have 27. That still leaves 13, and right now, Colorado and Nevada's 14 don't look good at all.
The single best analysis of the health care debacle
George Lakoff's analysis of the Obama Administration's mistakes is devastating. The Berkeley professor's advice comes almost too late for the Obama Administration, which messaged health care reform so unbelievably poorly. Sadly, I suspect the President's people will be too arrogant to take Lakoff seriously.
Obama might not want to underestimate
The blogosphere's rage right now. Without his base/ATM of white liberals, he will be in big trouble down the road.
The original Glenn Greenwald piece is here.
The original Glenn Greenwald piece is here.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
"What he's trying to say is, 'You're dead.'"
More ads like this, please, perhaps a bit less cutesy and a bit more hard hitting.
Black milita member found
At the Arizona rally. You may ask why.
That question, it turns out, was answered a few years ago on the very first episode of Chappelle's Show. Clarence Thomas was not available to guest star.
Part II is here.
That question, it turns out, was answered a few years ago on the very first episode of Chappelle's Show. Clarence Thomas was not available to guest star.
Part II is here.
The two bill solution
Sounds good.
Most legislation in the Senate requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, but certain budget-related measures can pass with 51 votes through a piece of parliamentary sleight-of-hand called reconciliation.
In recent days, Democratic leaders have concluded they can pack more of their health overhaul plans under this procedure, congressional aides said. They might even be able to include a public insurance plan to compete with private insurers, a key demand of the party's liberal wing, but that remains uncertain.
Other parts of the Democratic plan would be put to a separate vote in the Senate, including the requirement that Americans have health insurance. It also would set new rules for insurers, such as requiring they accept anyone, regardless of pre-existing medical conditions. This portion of the health-care overhaul has already drawn some Republican support and wouldn't involve new spending, leading Democratic leaders to believe they could clear the 60-vote hurdle.
However, I would not put the individual mandate into the 60-vote bill. I would leave that out and make it a third, separate bill. That way the insurance industry starts out in a hole. That would force them to be mighty cooperative with Democrats on the portions of the bill scheduled to go into reconciliation. If not, no third bill with forcing individuals to buy insurance.
Why should we make it easy for Republicans to be able to say they voted for the first portion of the bill, the popular part? No, let them vote against it. We have the 60 votes for dropping pre-existing conditions anyway. Let's not sweeten it for the insurance companies until they come begging.
Most legislation in the Senate requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, but certain budget-related measures can pass with 51 votes through a piece of parliamentary sleight-of-hand called reconciliation.
In recent days, Democratic leaders have concluded they can pack more of their health overhaul plans under this procedure, congressional aides said. They might even be able to include a public insurance plan to compete with private insurers, a key demand of the party's liberal wing, but that remains uncertain.
Other parts of the Democratic plan would be put to a separate vote in the Senate, including the requirement that Americans have health insurance. It also would set new rules for insurers, such as requiring they accept anyone, regardless of pre-existing medical conditions. This portion of the health-care overhaul has already drawn some Republican support and wouldn't involve new spending, leading Democratic leaders to believe they could clear the 60-vote hurdle.
However, I would not put the individual mandate into the 60-vote bill. I would leave that out and make it a third, separate bill. That way the insurance industry starts out in a hole. That would force them to be mighty cooperative with Democrats on the portions of the bill scheduled to go into reconciliation. If not, no third bill with forcing individuals to buy insurance.
Why should we make it easy for Republicans to be able to say they voted for the first portion of the bill, the popular part? No, let them vote against it. We have the 60 votes for dropping pre-existing conditions anyway. Let's not sweeten it for the insurance companies until they come begging.
Ambinder
You really, really have to hope that Obama's team isn't so clueless as to believe that progressives want the right to be forced into the "right" to buy private insurance without a public option, cost containment, or antitrust regulation.
Taking the gloves off
House Democrats demand the demand insurance companies' executive compensation records.
Red Lobster and Vonage
Are two advertisers who continue to broadcast ads on Glenn Beck even after being confronted by Color of Change. If you have a moment, you can give them a call.
Mariah's next big single
Is a Foreigner cover. Weird. And of their worst hit, too. Why not "Waiting for a Girl like You," or "Urgent?" Or "Cold As Ice?"
The price for Michael Jackson's children
$25 million. Maybe Debbie Rowe should have had them after all.
Want the public option?
And have some cash to spare? Send some money to ActBlue, which will distribute it to congressional candidates with the courage to back health care for all.
"It's been twenty-one years since I had a secret"
Barney Frank vs. the crazy teabaggers.
At one point, confronted by an audience member holding a picture of President Obama defaced to make Obama look like Hitler who asked how he could support Nazi policies, Frank asked "on what planet do you spend most of your time?" When asked if he would respond to the question, he said "trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining room table."
At one point, confronted by an audience member holding a picture of President Obama defaced to make Obama look like Hitler who asked how he could support Nazi policies, Frank asked "on what planet do you spend most of your time?" When asked if he would respond to the question, he said "trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining room table."
Celine Dion
If you didn't develop a grudging affection for her after Katrina, you I'm not sure this delicious anecdote will help.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
A dozen men with guns outside Obama's event
In Arizona. Now Talking Points Memo's Justin Elliot tells us who they are: acolytes of the Arizona Viper Militia, an organization whose leaders went to jail in the 1990's for plans to bomb federal buildings. "Tim McVeigh also-rans" as Josh Marshall puts it.
This is what the Republican agenda has come to.
This is what the Republican agenda has come to.
Bob Novak, listener
A protege remembers.
An alternative view. I don't subscribe to it, because I always saw TV Novak as a nod to the age of infotainment--something he saw no reason not to get rich off. But he had a commitment, almost until he died, to top-shelf political reporting, which he deserves a huge amount of credit for, regardless of his politics.
An alternative view. I don't subscribe to it, because I always saw TV Novak as a nod to the age of infotainment--something he saw no reason not to get rich off. But he had a commitment, almost until he died, to top-shelf political reporting, which he deserves a huge amount of credit for, regardless of his politics.
Sotomayor: The only Catholic justice
Just one of the six Catholics on the Supreme Court agree with the Church's teaching on the death penalty.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor cast her first vote in a Supreme Court death penalty case late Monday, dissenting from a decision that allowed the execution of a death row inmate to proceed. The inmate, Jason Getsy, was executed Tuesday morning by lethal injection in Lucasville, Ohio.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor cast her first vote in a Supreme Court death penalty case late Monday, dissenting from a decision that allowed the execution of a death row inmate to proceed. The inmate, Jason Getsy, was executed Tuesday morning by lethal injection in Lucasville, Ohio.
Dean Baker
Intriguing proposal:
Obama got in this mess by making deals with the special interests (e.g. drug companies, insurance companies, hospitals) that he was elected to fight. Following the worst practices of President Clinton, he took his base for granted, relying on the fact that they have nowhere else to go. He is now stuck with a health care plan that will be a windfall for the pharmaceutical and health insurance industries and threaten to use the power of the government to force people to buy insurance from United Health, Cigna and the rest.
The best way out is to double-cross the special interests instead of his base. Drop the mandates and leave the insurance reform. Specifically, leave the provisions requiring that insurers take all comers and prohibit discrimination based on pre-existing conditions. If the insurers have a problem with this, let them and their congressional backers say that they want the government to force people to buy health insurance. It will be great entertainment to see how the Fox-2nd amendment crowd spins that one -- "defend the right of insurers to force people to buy coverage."
Obama got in this mess by making deals with the special interests (e.g. drug companies, insurance companies, hospitals) that he was elected to fight. Following the worst practices of President Clinton, he took his base for granted, relying on the fact that they have nowhere else to go. He is now stuck with a health care plan that will be a windfall for the pharmaceutical and health insurance industries and threaten to use the power of the government to force people to buy insurance from United Health, Cigna and the rest.
The best way out is to double-cross the special interests instead of his base. Drop the mandates and leave the insurance reform. Specifically, leave the provisions requiring that insurers take all comers and prohibit discrimination based on pre-existing conditions. If the insurers have a problem with this, let them and their congressional backers say that they want the government to force people to buy health insurance. It will be great entertainment to see how the Fox-2nd amendment crowd spins that one -- "defend the right of insurers to force people to buy coverage."
Prince's shocking overture to Salma Hayek
And Penelope Cruz. On an album which you've never even seen unless you shop at the one retail outlet that sells it. Even better news: Salma can return her 3 CD's at any Target location.
JUSIPER mourns Robert Novak
His column was the go to for anyone who wanted to know about the inner workings of the GOP, Ideological leanings aside, he was one of the greatest political reporters of our time.
This was his last column.
This was his last column.
Finally, some good health care ads
From unions, hitting senators where it hurts. Too bad the ads are only on radio.
ANCR: This is a Public Forum. Our topic today is the health care crisis.
(phone rings)
What luck! Our first caller is a lobbyist for health insurers! You’re on the air.
CALLER: (bombastic voice) What health care crisis? We have the most profitable health care industry in the world. At a time GM is bankrupt and millions of people are losing their jobs, our profits are up 400 percent! (wheeze, snort).
We can’t hire enough clerks to weed out sick people or deny claims! (laugh, snort). Just the other night we had a big party honoring a true healthcare visionary--the guy who came up with...pre-existing conditions!
Sure, Obama won the election. He has the people, but we have the Congress. So long as we have Republicans and corporate Democrats, nothing is gonna change. (laugh, snort)
Is this some wonderful country or not?
ANNCR: In his next town hall meeting,
we need to ask Senator Kent Conrad to explain why he has quality health care and YOU don’t!
What your constituents want to know, Senator Conrad, is...which side are you on?
Stay tuned.
A message from the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association and over 2 million working families throughout the United States.
ANCR: This is a Public Forum. Our topic today is the health care crisis.
(phone rings)
What luck! Our first caller is a lobbyist for health insurers! You’re on the air.
CALLER: (bombastic voice) What health care crisis? We have the most profitable health care industry in the world. At a time GM is bankrupt and millions of people are losing their jobs, our profits are up 400 percent! (wheeze, snort).
We can’t hire enough clerks to weed out sick people or deny claims! (laugh, snort). Just the other night we had a big party honoring a true healthcare visionary--the guy who came up with...pre-existing conditions!
Sure, Obama won the election. He has the people, but we have the Congress. So long as we have Republicans and corporate Democrats, nothing is gonna change. (laugh, snort)
Is this some wonderful country or not?
ANNCR: In his next town hall meeting,
we need to ask Senator Kent Conrad to explain why he has quality health care and YOU don’t!
What your constituents want to know, Senator Conrad, is...which side are you on?
Stay tuned.
A message from the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association and over 2 million working families throughout the United States.
I don't really want to think about health care right now
I'll think instead of the lateMarion Williams. At the Kennedy Center she was surrounded by the phoniness and condescension of lesser lights. And yet, just months from death, her face that evening was the very picture of authenticity, generosity and grace.
More Marion Williams here, here, and here.
More Marion Williams here, here, and here.
Why are conservative Republicans
Carrying guns near presidential venues? Some reflections over at TPM.
The results of the American occupation in Iraq
More like Pat Robertsonland than Saddamland for gay Iraqis.
And in a report released Monday, the New York-based Human Rights Watch says the number of Iraqis killed in the last few years because they were gay or suspected of being gay could run into "hundreds." It says the government isn't doing enough to protect the rights of gays in Iraq.
"Murders are committed with impunity . . . with corpses dumped in garbage or hung as warnings on the street," the Human Rights Watch report on Iraqi gays says. "The killers invade the privacy of homes, abducting sons or brothers, leaving their mutilated bodies in the neighborhood the next day." [...]
A man who gave his name as Hamid told Human Rights Watch how his partner was seized at his parents' home in April by four masked, armed men dressed in black.
"He was found in the neighborhood the day after," the report quotes him as saying. "They had thrown his corpse in the garbage. His genitals were cut off and a piece of his throat was ripped out." [...]
Although homosexuality was frowned upon during Saddam Hussein's rule, there were gay bars and parties and those who did get stopped by police "could pay a few dinars and it would be all right," said another gay Iraqi interviewed in Baghdad.
Scalia and Ashcroft would have loved to claim the credit for this, but the honors go to Kristol and Cheney.
And in a report released Monday, the New York-based Human Rights Watch says the number of Iraqis killed in the last few years because they were gay or suspected of being gay could run into "hundreds." It says the government isn't doing enough to protect the rights of gays in Iraq.
"Murders are committed with impunity . . . with corpses dumped in garbage or hung as warnings on the street," the Human Rights Watch report on Iraqi gays says. "The killers invade the privacy of homes, abducting sons or brothers, leaving their mutilated bodies in the neighborhood the next day." [...]
A man who gave his name as Hamid told Human Rights Watch how his partner was seized at his parents' home in April by four masked, armed men dressed in black.
"He was found in the neighborhood the day after," the report quotes him as saying. "They had thrown his corpse in the garbage. His genitals were cut off and a piece of his throat was ripped out." [...]
Although homosexuality was frowned upon during Saddam Hussein's rule, there were gay bars and parties and those who did get stopped by police "could pay a few dinars and it would be all right," said another gay Iraqi interviewed in Baghdad.
Scalia and Ashcroft would have loved to claim the credit for this, but the honors go to Kristol and Cheney.
Roger Ebert
On the United States' #1 movie:
“District 9” does a lot of things right, including giving us aliens to remind us not everyone who comes in a spaceship need be angelic, octopod or stainless steel. They are certainly alien, all right. It is also a seamless merger of the mockumentary and special effects (the aliens are CGI). And there’s a harsh parable here about the alienation and treatment of refugees. [...]
I’ll be interested to see if general audiences go for these aliens. I said they’re loathsome and disgusting, and I don’t think that’s just me. The movie mentions Nigerian prostitutes servicing the aliens, but wisely refrains from entertaining us with this spectacle.
“District 9” does a lot of things right, including giving us aliens to remind us not everyone who comes in a spaceship need be angelic, octopod or stainless steel. They are certainly alien, all right. It is also a seamless merger of the mockumentary and special effects (the aliens are CGI). And there’s a harsh parable here about the alienation and treatment of refugees. [...]
I’ll be interested to see if general audiences go for these aliens. I said they’re loathsome and disgusting, and I don’t think that’s just me. The movie mentions Nigerian prostitutes servicing the aliens, but wisely refrains from entertaining us with this spectacle.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Abraham Lincoln
From his 1855 letter to Joshua Speed.
You say if Kansas fairly votes herself a free state, as a Christian you will rather rejoice at it. All decent slaveholders talk that way; and I do not doubt their candor. But they never vote that way. Although in a private letter, or conversation, you will express your preference that Kansas shall be free, you would vote for no man for Congress who would say the same thing publicly. No such man could be elected from any district in a slave-state. You think Stringfellow & Co. ought to be hung; and yet, at the next presidential election you will vote for the exact type and representative of Stringfellow. The slave-breeders and slave-traders, are a small, odious and detested class, among you; and yet in politics, they dictate the course of all of you, and are as completely your masters, as you are the master of your own negroes. You inquire where I now stand. That is a disputed point -- I think I am a whig; but others say there are no whigs, and that I am an abolitionist. When I was in Washington I voted for the Wilmot Proviso as good as forty times, and I never heard of any one attempting to unwhig me for that. I now do no more than oppose the extension of slavery.
I am not a Know-Nothing. That is certain. How could I be? How can any one who abhors the oppression of negroes, be in favor or degrading classes of white people? Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we began by declaring that "all men are created equal." We now practically read it "all men are created equal, except negroes" When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read "all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics." When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty -- to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocracy [sic].
You say if Kansas fairly votes herself a free state, as a Christian you will rather rejoice at it. All decent slaveholders talk that way; and I do not doubt their candor. But they never vote that way. Although in a private letter, or conversation, you will express your preference that Kansas shall be free, you would vote for no man for Congress who would say the same thing publicly. No such man could be elected from any district in a slave-state. You think Stringfellow & Co. ought to be hung; and yet, at the next presidential election you will vote for the exact type and representative of Stringfellow. The slave-breeders and slave-traders, are a small, odious and detested class, among you; and yet in politics, they dictate the course of all of you, and are as completely your masters, as you are the master of your own negroes. You inquire where I now stand. That is a disputed point -- I think I am a whig; but others say there are no whigs, and that I am an abolitionist. When I was in Washington I voted for the Wilmot Proviso as good as forty times, and I never heard of any one attempting to unwhig me for that. I now do no more than oppose the extension of slavery.
I am not a Know-Nothing. That is certain. How could I be? How can any one who abhors the oppression of negroes, be in favor or degrading classes of white people? Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we began by declaring that "all men are created equal." We now practically read it "all men are created equal, except negroes" When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read "all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics." When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty -- to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocracy [sic].
In Defense of Britain's Health System - washingtonpost.com
Killer. Closing lines:
Standing in defense of Britain's health service does not mean that we believe it is the right prescription for the United States. It is not for us to propose the solution for America, but we hope that correcting the record on some of the facts about our NHS will help Americans evaluate the real strengths and challenges of our system, instead of focusing on the misinformation spread by fear-mongers. Indeed, none of the proposals for reform -- from President Obama or anyone else -- would create a system that resembles that in Britain. What we share across the Atlantic are a set of common values: a belief that health care transcends the narrow confines of consumerism and is a moral right to be secured for all; and fidelity to the principle that a good society brings its citizens together in common purpose, where hope can overcome fear.
Fear is the weapon of choice for opponents of reform who have no substantive alternative to offer. America spends five times the share of its national wealth on health as Singapore, and yet life expectancy in each country is roughly the same. Even allowing for other factors, it is undeniable that the way a health system is organized and operated makes a difference. Americans fear that countries such as Britain and Canada ration care -- and that such rationing could and should never be tolerated in the United States. Yet 47 million uninsured is quite an extreme form of rationing. So at this moment, the burden of proof falls upon those who oppose change -- for they stand in defense of fear.
Standing in defense of Britain's health service does not mean that we believe it is the right prescription for the United States. It is not for us to propose the solution for America, but we hope that correcting the record on some of the facts about our NHS will help Americans evaluate the real strengths and challenges of our system, instead of focusing on the misinformation spread by fear-mongers. Indeed, none of the proposals for reform -- from President Obama or anyone else -- would create a system that resembles that in Britain. What we share across the Atlantic are a set of common values: a belief that health care transcends the narrow confines of consumerism and is a moral right to be secured for all; and fidelity to the principle that a good society brings its citizens together in common purpose, where hope can overcome fear.
Fear is the weapon of choice for opponents of reform who have no substantive alternative to offer. America spends five times the share of its national wealth on health as Singapore, and yet life expectancy in each country is roughly the same. Even allowing for other factors, it is undeniable that the way a health system is organized and operated makes a difference. Americans fear that countries such as Britain and Canada ration care -- and that such rationing could and should never be tolerated in the United States. Yet 47 million uninsured is quite an extreme form of rationing. So at this moment, the burden of proof falls upon those who oppose change -- for they stand in defense of fear.
GOP finally shows its true colors
Dick Armey calls Medicare "tyranny." They want to kill health care so that they can regain a majority... and then go after granny's Medicare. Some things never change.
In case you missed it
Don't miss the 2009 Medal of Freedom ceremony, honoring 13 blessings to the nation and Sandra Day O'Connor.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
The 9.58 second man
Usain Bolt strikes again.
All those curious to know just how fast Usain Bolt might have gone if he had not stopped sprinting near the end of last year’s world-record run at the Olympics now have their answer.
Bolt pushed himself from start to finish on Sunday night, and the result was a stunning time of 9.58 seconds in the men’s 100-meter final at the track and field world championships. His time was eleven-hundredths of a second better than his already phenomenal world-record run of 9.69 in Beijing.
Tyson Gay, the understated American who was considered Bolt’s biggest threat here, ran the race of his life, setting a personal best and national record of 9.71. But it was not enough as Bolt got off to a fine start by his standards in Lane 4, kept a slight edge on Gay through 70 meters and then built on it through the finish line with his eyes darting right toward Gay’s lane and then left toward the trackside clock as his long legs kept pumping. [...]
When Bolt broke the 9.7-second barrier in Beijing, his time was only three-hundredths of a second faster than the record he had established earlier in 2008.
UPDATE: Neun, acht und fünfzig! Video is up.
All those curious to know just how fast Usain Bolt might have gone if he had not stopped sprinting near the end of last year’s world-record run at the Olympics now have their answer.
Bolt pushed himself from start to finish on Sunday night, and the result was a stunning time of 9.58 seconds in the men’s 100-meter final at the track and field world championships. His time was eleven-hundredths of a second better than his already phenomenal world-record run of 9.69 in Beijing.
Tyson Gay, the understated American who was considered Bolt’s biggest threat here, ran the race of his life, setting a personal best and national record of 9.71. But it was not enough as Bolt got off to a fine start by his standards in Lane 4, kept a slight edge on Gay through 70 meters and then built on it through the finish line with his eyes darting right toward Gay’s lane and then left toward the trackside clock as his long legs kept pumping. [...]
When Bolt broke the 9.7-second barrier in Beijing, his time was only three-hundredths of a second faster than the record he had established earlier in 2008.
UPDATE: Neun, acht und fünfzig! Video is up.
And the biggest story in India right now?
Bollywood superduperstar Shah Rukh Khan's detention by US Customs and Border Protection agents at JFK. No analogy is appropriate because of the power asymmetry, but imagine someone with the same box office but a higher cool quotient than Tom Cruise being detained by immigration in Mexico City.
Driving straight to the venue of a function at the luxury Trump Taj Mahal hotel in Atlantic City in tattered jeans, a white T-shirt, a brownish coat and a muffler since his baggage was yet to arrive, Khan told the audience that "I was treated shabbily just because I happened to have Khan as my last name." [...]
"It was very unprofessional of the airport security staff of not allowing me to use my cell phone to contact my local organisers," he told the audience, who were literally taken aback by what they heard from their superstar.
A visibly shattered Khan said that "I have travelled throughout the world for my shooting and also as brand ambassador for all major products but I have never been treated like this before."
"At times I do not feel like stepping on American soil any more but I have millions of fans here who would want to see me so I will keep coming," 'King' Khan told his fans.
Shocking proof that there actually are officials who work at the Indian Consulate in New York:
Soon after the incident which sparked angry reactions back home, the actor had yesterday said he was detained and questioned at Newark airport by US immigration officials after his name matched with some of those on a common checklist. He was let off at the intervention of Indian Consulate officials.
Fortuitously enough for Khan, his detention happens to dovetail with the subjet of his upcoming film. Maybe a little too fortuitously.
Driving straight to the venue of a function at the luxury Trump Taj Mahal hotel in Atlantic City in tattered jeans, a white T-shirt, a brownish coat and a muffler since his baggage was yet to arrive, Khan told the audience that "I was treated shabbily just because I happened to have Khan as my last name." [...]
"It was very unprofessional of the airport security staff of not allowing me to use my cell phone to contact my local organisers," he told the audience, who were literally taken aback by what they heard from their superstar.
A visibly shattered Khan said that "I have travelled throughout the world for my shooting and also as brand ambassador for all major products but I have never been treated like this before."
"At times I do not feel like stepping on American soil any more but I have millions of fans here who would want to see me so I will keep coming," 'King' Khan told his fans.
Shocking proof that there actually are officials who work at the Indian Consulate in New York:
Soon after the incident which sparked angry reactions back home, the actor had yesterday said he was detained and questioned at Newark airport by US immigration officials after his name matched with some of those on a common checklist. He was let off at the intervention of Indian Consulate officials.
Fortuitously enough for Khan, his detention happens to dovetail with the subjet of his upcoming film. Maybe a little too fortuitously.
Pawlenty and Romney
Right now I'd say both of them are the frontrunners for the Republican nomination in 2012. And both could be formidable.
Guess who's endorsed Whole Foods?
The ultra-right wing National Review. The problem? There are very few right wingers who are actually literate enough to read National Review. Like most right wing think tanks, media and institutes, it's heavily subsidized and has never turned a profit (go free market!). And there aren't any Whole Foods near their unlettered, teabagging sheep.
Ah, luck shines on us again
The public may not be decided on Obama's health care proposals. But it is certain of one thing: it hates the Republican Party. The last Research 2000 poll had the party's approval/disapproval at 17/74.
So we should thank our lucky stars that Minnesota's Republican governor (and likely 2012 candidate) Tim Pawlenty has given everyone a reminder of what this debate is about: a resurgence of the one thing that unites the American people in utter disgust.
Minnesota GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty took an aggressive line against President Barack Obama’s proposed health care overhaul Friday and insisted that a rejection of the Democratic plan could usher in a Republican resurgence.
People need to be reminded over and over again, that the GOP is bought and paid for by insurance companies, the ones that deny Grandma coverage. Republicans, after all, have tried to get rid of Grandma's Social Security and Medicare for decades. If health care reform fails, they may come after those two benefits next.
And quotes like this can help further a meme: it's just a game for the GOP, a party that hopes health care fails so it can enjoy power again, so that insurance companies can forever drop you if you get sick, or deny you coverage because of on pre-existing conditions.
So we should thank our lucky stars that Minnesota's Republican governor (and likely 2012 candidate) Tim Pawlenty has given everyone a reminder of what this debate is about: a resurgence of the one thing that unites the American people in utter disgust.
Minnesota GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty took an aggressive line against President Barack Obama’s proposed health care overhaul Friday and insisted that a rejection of the Democratic plan could usher in a Republican resurgence.
People need to be reminded over and over again, that the GOP is bought and paid for by insurance companies, the ones that deny Grandma coverage. Republicans, after all, have tried to get rid of Grandma's Social Security and Medicare for decades. If health care reform fails, they may come after those two benefits next.
And quotes like this can help further a meme: it's just a game for the GOP, a party that hopes health care fails so it can enjoy power again, so that insurance companies can forever drop you if you get sick, or deny you coverage because of on pre-existing conditions.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Online Republicans: Child rape is OK if you're Mexican
You've got to wonder about the 15% of Hispanics who who still support the GOP.
The prosperity gospel
There's got to be a special hell reserved for the purveyors of this unholy religion.
The Weinsteins, Act III
Nice profile. And for those of you who missed it, here's the showbiz legend playing himself on Entourage.
Ann Laurie at Balloon Juice
On the upcoming Cheney memoir:
Apparently omerta has its limits. I know a lot of us DFHs feared that the horrors of the Cheney Regency would never receive a public airing, if only for fear of the War Crimes Tribunal, but perhaps vanity will achieve what mere human decency and the rule of law never could.
Of course allowance must be made for an agent tasked to sell a hard-Right neoconservative apologia in a down market, and Cheney has no reputation for honesty. But the urge to settle scores burns in many a heart pacemaker long after all other human emotions have expired, and much of the worst we know about Cheney’s first and foremost mentor was inadvertently revealed over Nixon’s twenty-year crusade to rehabilitate his own reputation as a statesman and great leader. I look forward to further revelations with interest, and popcorn.
Apparently omerta has its limits. I know a lot of us DFHs feared that the horrors of the Cheney Regency would never receive a public airing, if only for fear of the War Crimes Tribunal, but perhaps vanity will achieve what mere human decency and the rule of law never could.
Of course allowance must be made for an agent tasked to sell a hard-Right neoconservative apologia in a down market, and Cheney has no reputation for honesty. But the urge to settle scores burns in many a heart pacemaker long after all other human emotions have expired, and much of the worst we know about Cheney’s first and foremost mentor was inadvertently revealed over Nixon’s twenty-year crusade to rehabilitate his own reputation as a statesman and great leader. I look forward to further revelations with interest, and popcorn.
GOP hero not allowed to speak
Lynndie England, hero to the right after committing human rights abuses at Abu Ghraib, cancelled a scheduled book promotion lecture in Washington DC. The Moonie Washington Times mourns the loss. You may remember her better from the pictures that made her a neocon icon.
By honoring Lynndie, conservatives render their truest homage to Raphael Patai, father of the bizarre psychological theory that led to the psychosexual abuse of Arab prisoners.
By honoring Lynndie, conservatives render their truest homage to Raphael Patai, father of the bizarre psychological theory that led to the psychosexual abuse of Arab prisoners.
Finally, a smart political reporter!
Damon Weaver, 5th grader, Florida. Two best questions: "Do you have the power to make school lunches better?" And: "Were you ever bullied in school?" Best comment: "I loooove mangoes."
UPDATE: Damon Weaver knows how to put on a full court press.
UPDATE: Damon Weaver knows how to put on a full court press.
Cash for Clunkers... Fantastic
Especially if you're Toyota.
Government data shows that while 54 percent of the top-10-selling vehicles were manufactured domestically, eight out of 10 carry Japanese or South Korean nameplates. The Toyota Corolla is the most popular car bought under the program. Only the Ford Focus and the Ford Escape cracked the top 10.
American automakers are dominating one area -- trade-ins. All the top trade-ins were made by U.S. companies, with the Ford Explorer four-wheel-drive leading the pack.
Aren't those Toyotas made in Tennessee, a red state whose senators were against the stimulus bill? Maybe the program should only extend to American cars.
Government data shows that while 54 percent of the top-10-selling vehicles were manufactured domestically, eight out of 10 carry Japanese or South Korean nameplates. The Toyota Corolla is the most popular car bought under the program. Only the Ford Focus and the Ford Escape cracked the top 10.
American automakers are dominating one area -- trade-ins. All the top trade-ins were made by U.S. companies, with the Ford Explorer four-wheel-drive leading the pack.
Aren't those Toyotas made in Tennessee, a red state whose senators were against the stimulus bill? Maybe the program should only extend to American cars.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Lanny Davis: Boycotts are evil
Lanny Davis, best known as a supporter of Lieberman in 2006, for being appointed to serve as the only Democrat on Bush's Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (great job, Lans!), and more recently as a lobbyist for the Pakistani government, is backing Whole Foods CEO John Mackey, accusing the left of mirroring "extreme tactics on the right."
Surely that can't mean he opposes the work of Rosa Parks and Cesar Chávez, though who can really say for sure. Davis says that Mackey provides health care to all his employees (a claim Mackey himself disclaimed in his op-ed piece).
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being an Ayn Rand inspired libertarian in your private life. Many young white men with two to four years of college and an interest in business find themselves attracted to social darwinism. Why wouldn't they, after all: born on third base, they are very well disposed to buy theories that tell them they've hit a triple. A little education is harmful indeed.
So Mackey is a successful CEO who isn't a deep thinker. That's hardly a sin, or, for that matter, a novelty. But surely he isn't a bad businessman. As the CEO of a company with a dark blue consumer base, he should have known better than to fight one of the progressive movement's central dreams. He was just insulated enough from reality to think that no one would notice. He surely won't make that mistake again. But as long as he takes public positions that are diametrically opposed to his clients' conscience, there is no reason for the company he founded not to pay the price.
Surely that can't mean he opposes the work of Rosa Parks and Cesar Chávez, though who can really say for sure. Davis says that Mackey provides health care to all his employees (a claim Mackey himself disclaimed in his op-ed piece).
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being an Ayn Rand inspired libertarian in your private life. Many young white men with two to four years of college and an interest in business find themselves attracted to social darwinism. Why wouldn't they, after all: born on third base, they are very well disposed to buy theories that tell them they've hit a triple. A little education is harmful indeed.
So Mackey is a successful CEO who isn't a deep thinker. That's hardly a sin, or, for that matter, a novelty. But surely he isn't a bad businessman. As the CEO of a company with a dark blue consumer base, he should have known better than to fight one of the progressive movement's central dreams. He was just insulated enough from reality to think that no one would notice. He surely won't make that mistake again. But as long as he takes public positions that are diametrically opposed to his clients' conscience, there is no reason for the company he founded not to pay the price.
Only $200 billion of stimulus spent
Reverend Moon's Washington Times is very upset. But what it really means is that the remaining $600 billion will be spent on projects that continue into the 2010 elections. Maybe that's what's really bothering Republicans about the stimulus.
Real letters to Whole Foods
Here's a nice one:
Hello,
I spend about $100 per week at the Portland, Maine Whole Foods. I love the fresh produce, the great selection of wines, and the great people who were there. I also have Type 1 Diabetes - i.e a "pre-existing condition" which disqualifies me from receiving health care insurance.
After reading your CEO's editorial in the WSJ basically damning people like me to guaranteed sickness without medical care, I will no longer spend even $1 at your stores.
Hello,
I spend about $100 per week at the Portland, Maine Whole Foods. I love the fresh produce, the great selection of wines, and the great people who were there. I also have Type 1 Diabetes - i.e a "pre-existing condition" which disqualifies me from receiving health care insurance.
After reading your CEO's editorial in the WSJ basically damning people like me to guaranteed sickness without medical care, I will no longer spend even $1 at your stores.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
In case you missed it
An excerpt from Whole Foods CEO John Mackey's op-ed piece:
"Many promoters of health-care reform believe that people have an intrinsic ethical right to health care—to equal access to doctors, medicines and hospitals. While all of us empathize with those who are sick, how can we say that all people have more of an intrinsic right to health care than they have to food or shelter?
"Health care is a service that we all need, but just like food and shelter it is best provided through voluntary and mutually beneficial market exchanges. A careful reading of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution will not reveal any intrinsic right to health care, food or shelter. That's because there isn't any. This "right" has never existed in America."
His solution? It's even more self-serving than you might have imagined. You won't need health care reform if you just shop more at Whole Foods:
Recent scientific and medical evidence shows that a diet consisting of foods that are plant-based, nutrient dense and low-fat will help prevent and often reverse most degenerative diseases that kill us and are expensive to treat. We should be able to live largely disease-free lives until we are well into our 90s and even past 100 years of age.
Never mind that the most of people's health care costs occurs in the last year of life. Unless ten dollar a pound organic edamame can stop you from dying too.
"Many promoters of health-care reform believe that people have an intrinsic ethical right to health care—to equal access to doctors, medicines and hospitals. While all of us empathize with those who are sick, how can we say that all people have more of an intrinsic right to health care than they have to food or shelter?
"Health care is a service that we all need, but just like food and shelter it is best provided through voluntary and mutually beneficial market exchanges. A careful reading of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution will not reveal any intrinsic right to health care, food or shelter. That's because there isn't any. This "right" has never existed in America."
His solution? It's even more self-serving than you might have imagined. You won't need health care reform if you just shop more at Whole Foods:
Recent scientific and medical evidence shows that a diet consisting of foods that are plant-based, nutrient dense and low-fat will help prevent and often reverse most degenerative diseases that kill us and are expensive to treat. We should be able to live largely disease-free lives until we are well into our 90s and even past 100 years of age.
Never mind that the most of people's health care costs occurs in the last year of life. Unless ten dollar a pound organic edamame can stop you from dying too.
The #2 contributor to Blue Dog Democrats
You guessed it, it's the health care industry. #3 is financial services. #4 is the defense industry. #5 is energy.
Here's what you might not have guessed. The #1 contributor to health care is labor. And they are now officially fed up.
Let's hope that will get the Blue Dogs in line and that more good comes out of this than just nixing a tax on employee based health care.
Here's what you might not have guessed. The #1 contributor to health care is labor. And they are now officially fed up.
Let's hope that will get the Blue Dogs in line and that more good comes out of this than just nixing a tax on employee based health care.
Inexplicable
Black Eyes Peas about to break the record for most consecutive weeks at #1. In fairness, they wouldn't be much worse than previous recordholders Boys II Men and Usher.
"Likely Quentin Tarantino’s best film"
A surprising review of Inglourious Basterds:
Inglourious Basterds is likely Quentin Tarantino’s best film. It’s his most realistic, at least in terms of characters and dialogue; surprising for a surreal WWII story that seems to use the historical record as rolling paper. It also contains the best performances in any of his films, from the enjoyably hammy Brad Pitt to the fierce but wounded Mélanie Laurent to Christoph Waltz’s polyglot Landa, strolling about like an aristocratic Pazuzu. And most importantly, it’s Tarantino’s least annoying work, one in which he’s able to communicate his intense passion and vast cinematic knowledge without having someone sit down and talk about White Line Fever for 20 minutes. [...]
The story is engrossing - wild and pulpy without descending into parody - the characters feel remarkably honest and neither the violence nor the humour overwhelm the film’s warm, albeit amoral, heart. What more could you want from a mutilated fairy tale?
Inglourious Basterds is likely Quentin Tarantino’s best film. It’s his most realistic, at least in terms of characters and dialogue; surprising for a surreal WWII story that seems to use the historical record as rolling paper. It also contains the best performances in any of his films, from the enjoyably hammy Brad Pitt to the fierce but wounded Mélanie Laurent to Christoph Waltz’s polyglot Landa, strolling about like an aristocratic Pazuzu. And most importantly, it’s Tarantino’s least annoying work, one in which he’s able to communicate his intense passion and vast cinematic knowledge without having someone sit down and talk about White Line Fever for 20 minutes. [...]
The story is engrossing - wild and pulpy without descending into parody - the characters feel remarkably honest and neither the violence nor the humour overwhelm the film’s warm, albeit amoral, heart. What more could you want from a mutilated fairy tale?
Republican base doesn't want to stop with the President anymore
They want to kill the whole First Family:
The Secret Service is investigating a man who authorities said held a sign reading "Death to Obama" outside a town hall meeting on health-care reform in western Maryland.
The sign also read, "Death to Michelle and her two stupid kids," referring to the first name of President Barack Obama's wife, said Washington County Sheriff's Capt. Peter Lazich.
The Secret Service is investigating a man who authorities said held a sign reading "Death to Obama" outside a town hall meeting on health-care reform in western Maryland.
The sign also read, "Death to Michelle and her two stupid kids," referring to the first name of President Barack Obama's wife, said Washington County Sheriff's Capt. Peter Lazich.
Here's the counterargument
To yesterday's Wall Street Journal piece that argues Obama is a micromanager--shades of Jimmy Carter. Noam Schriber:
So, to summarize, we have Obama weighing in on derivatives regulation, the stimulus, the structure of the banking industry, and executive pay--arguably four of the five most important economic issues facing the administration (the fifth being what to do about failing banks). If you can't wade into these issues without being labeled a micromanager, I'm not sure what's left....
If I had to guess, I'd say what happened is that the Journal found itself with a nice story about the way Obama makes decisions, but that it seemed too positive. As the piece itself notes: "Unavoidably, the accounts all come from people who admire Mr. Obama, not from his critics, who aren't privy to such sessions." The "micromanager" frame was presumably added somewhere along the way to correct for this problem and make the piece seem more even-handed.
For what it's worth, I can sympathize with the impulse--you do worry about being too puffy when writing about a president who has lots of admirable qualities. But, if that was your concern, maybe the solution was to avoid writing a piece about this particular admirable quality, not obscuring it with some rhetorical misdirection. The cure in this case seems a lot worse than the disease.
Here, however, is a spot-on critique from the original article:
Dean Baker, co-director of the liberal Center for Economic and Policy Research, says Mr. Obama has taken some "very big bites of the apple" on issues like health insurance and financial regulation. But, facing a choice between his vision and making a deal, Mr. Obama has tended to choose the latter, Mr. Baker says. "He's thinking big but being cautious."
Next: a picture of what it looks like to have a smart president. Can you think of a recent president, including Bill, who would have slapped economics professors around like this?
On July 1, advisers gave Mr. Obama a briefing on "House Prices, Consumer Debt and Consumption." Among their charts was one showing how homeowners during the boom used the rising value of their houses to borrow more against them. At the end, the president pushed the presentation aside. "Guys, this is great research," he said, according to Mr. Emanuel. "But you're telling me that people have been using their houses as ATMs. I could have told you that."
Finally, this is not promising at all:
Mr. Summers organizes the meetings, usually picks the topic, and sometimes acts as a devil's advocate. "I often take the role of making sure that discussions in the daily briefing incorporate views not in the room," says Mr. Summers, a former Clinton administration Treasury secretary. Aides say Mr. Obama often questions the "dominant proposal" under consideration and asks to be briefed on proposals that he and his team don't support.
Larry Summers may be smart, but he's a boor. I yet to see any evidence that he would present opposing viewpoints fairly or give them the weight they deserve. The proof is the nearly categorical exclusion of progressive economists from Obama's economic team, including former Obama campaign advisor (and longtime Summers enemy) Joseph Stiglitz. While this may leave Stiglitz with the freedom to tell the truth, it's very bad news for taxpayers... and great news for Wall Street swindlers.
So, to summarize, we have Obama weighing in on derivatives regulation, the stimulus, the structure of the banking industry, and executive pay--arguably four of the five most important economic issues facing the administration (the fifth being what to do about failing banks). If you can't wade into these issues without being labeled a micromanager, I'm not sure what's left....
If I had to guess, I'd say what happened is that the Journal found itself with a nice story about the way Obama makes decisions, but that it seemed too positive. As the piece itself notes: "Unavoidably, the accounts all come from people who admire Mr. Obama, not from his critics, who aren't privy to such sessions." The "micromanager" frame was presumably added somewhere along the way to correct for this problem and make the piece seem more even-handed.
For what it's worth, I can sympathize with the impulse--you do worry about being too puffy when writing about a president who has lots of admirable qualities. But, if that was your concern, maybe the solution was to avoid writing a piece about this particular admirable quality, not obscuring it with some rhetorical misdirection. The cure in this case seems a lot worse than the disease.
Here, however, is a spot-on critique from the original article:
Dean Baker, co-director of the liberal Center for Economic and Policy Research, says Mr. Obama has taken some "very big bites of the apple" on issues like health insurance and financial regulation. But, facing a choice between his vision and making a deal, Mr. Obama has tended to choose the latter, Mr. Baker says. "He's thinking big but being cautious."
Next: a picture of what it looks like to have a smart president. Can you think of a recent president, including Bill, who would have slapped economics professors around like this?
On July 1, advisers gave Mr. Obama a briefing on "House Prices, Consumer Debt and Consumption." Among their charts was one showing how homeowners during the boom used the rising value of their houses to borrow more against them. At the end, the president pushed the presentation aside. "Guys, this is great research," he said, according to Mr. Emanuel. "But you're telling me that people have been using their houses as ATMs. I could have told you that."
Finally, this is not promising at all:
Mr. Summers organizes the meetings, usually picks the topic, and sometimes acts as a devil's advocate. "I often take the role of making sure that discussions in the daily briefing incorporate views not in the room," says Mr. Summers, a former Clinton administration Treasury secretary. Aides say Mr. Obama often questions the "dominant proposal" under consideration and asks to be briefed on proposals that he and his team don't support.
Larry Summers may be smart, but he's a boor. I yet to see any evidence that he would present opposing viewpoints fairly or give them the weight they deserve. The proof is the nearly categorical exclusion of progressive economists from Obama's economic team, including former Obama campaign advisor (and longtime Summers enemy) Joseph Stiglitz. While this may leave Stiglitz with the freedom to tell the truth, it's very bad news for taxpayers... and great news for Wall Street swindlers.
Whole Foods: Responsible for 60 deaths a day?!
Single Payer Action calls for a boycott, using statistics in a way that would make the GOP proud.
Here's how to find a farmers market in your state.
Here's how to find a farmers market in your state.
Welcome Daily Kos readers
And thanks for the link to our call to boycott Whole Foods. It never occurred to me that no one had called for one yet. So for once we were out ahead of Kos' fiery diarists. Vote with your feet.
The next step, for the intrepid, would be to find out if there are any fraudulent business practices over at Whole Foods.
Scientists: Are there any foods labeled organic that have a trace of pesticide on them? Videotape your visit, bring the produce to your lab. If you find something, put your whole trip on YouTube.
Labor activists: What do they pay their workers? What kinds of benefits do they get?
Progressives: how does this company give back to the community? How about picking two issues that are so patently offensive to progressives (their CEO's position on health care reform is really enough of course), and organizing a picket?
If, for whatever reason, health care reform were to fail, make the boycott permanent. Every business that depends on progressive customers should have to make a pro-reform stand now, or at the very least do no harm.
The next step, for the intrepid, would be to find out if there are any fraudulent business practices over at Whole Foods.
Scientists: Are there any foods labeled organic that have a trace of pesticide on them? Videotape your visit, bring the produce to your lab. If you find something, put your whole trip on YouTube.
Labor activists: What do they pay their workers? What kinds of benefits do they get?
Progressives: how does this company give back to the community? How about picking two issues that are so patently offensive to progressives (their CEO's position on health care reform is really enough of course), and organizing a picket?
If, for whatever reason, health care reform were to fail, make the boycott permanent. Every business that depends on progressive customers should have to make a pro-reform stand now, or at the very least do no harm.
Start your own chain letter
Get the facts out there. Copy this into an email and send it to everyone you know. Add this link at the end: http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/faq
The White House is simply unable to combat a disinformation campaign this massive on its own. Everyone needs to be a radio transmitter now.
The White House is simply unable to combat a disinformation campaign this massive on its own. Everyone needs to be a radio transmitter now.
Pine marten syndrome
A look back at Hillary's tirade this week in London's Daily Mail.
If the feisty, Bill-less, commie, feminist icon Hillary had run in 2008 instead of the racism and assassination-inciting, Fox News Channel appearing one we ended up with, she would have won Iowa and New Hampshire. And Vice President Barack Obama would have been selling her health care plan to the (more closely divided) Senate.
Here's the video again, in case you missed it... with Hindi subtitles and racist, misogynist commentary!
If the feisty, Bill-less, commie, feminist icon Hillary had run in 2008 instead of the racism and assassination-inciting, Fox News Channel appearing one we ended up with, she would have won Iowa and New Hampshire. And Vice President Barack Obama would have been selling her health care plan to the (more closely divided) Senate.
Here's the video again, in case you missed it... with Hindi subtitles and racist, misogynist commentary!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Why did the police drag black women out
Of Claire McCaskill's town hall meeting? Because they got angry when Missouri's white birthers tore up their poster of Rosa Parks. No reporters "worked this story" as yet, but plenty of them covered the angry white birthers. What a disgrace.
UPDATE: Jack and Jill says it best: "Bring a gun, get on HARDBALL..bring a SIGN, get a PO-Lice escort."
UPDATE: Jack and Jill says it best: "Bring a gun, get on HARDBALL..bring a SIGN, get a PO-Lice escort."
BOYCOTT Whole Foods
Its CEO has come out foursquare against health care reform. Not very smart for a company that depends almost entirely on wealthy Democrats who are willing to pay five dollars for a six ounce carrot soda. Come on, you can do it, boycott them for at least a week and discover how much money you can save at Trader Joe's.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Hooray for Sargento cheese
For canceling its Glenn Beck ads. They should cancel the rest of their Fox News ads as well. Congratulations to GEICO for doing the same. Color of Change deserves a huge amount of credit for the successful, good fight.
Undermining the Catholic Church and American society
Ave Maria Law School's Michael Orsi, all round idiot and, unbeknownst to himself, an opponent of Catholic doctrine. But he's a true exponent of post-Reagan American Republican Catholic doctrine, in which sex trumps world peace and the welfare of the poor. Every time.
Man brings gun to Obama's NH townhall
This is the Republican endgame. All the incitement by Republican leaders and talk radio hosts is designed to harm the President. And if they fail to stop him politically, they hope to inspire someone in their base to do it another way. There isn't a whole lot of difference between John Wilkes Booth and today's birthers. And guns are way cheaper than they were in 1865.
Don't call it a comeback
"I Look to You" sounds like Whitney Houston trying to sound like Celine Dion trying to sound like Whitney Houston. Weirder still, songwriter/peemeister R. Kelly's version is better.
It's time
For our semi-annual tribute to the governor who should have been our first woman president back in 1992. She would have been ten times more progressive than Bill Clinton, and without a Monica Lewinsky problem, her vice-president would have won in 2000 as well.
This eulogy by Molly Ivins is one of the best.
This eulogy by Molly Ivins is one of the best.
Trouble in paradise?
Levi says yes:
Sarah Palin's marriage has been in trouble from the beginning, says Levi Johnston, the father of their grandson Tripp and ex-fiance of daughter Bristol.
What's more Levi told RadarOnline.com in an exclusive video interview that he believes marital problems were behind Palin's decision to resign as governor of Alaska.
When we asked if the couple had marital problems, Levi responded: "Oh yeah. There have been from day one."
RadarOnline.com then asked if Levi thought marital problems were the reason she stepped down from political office. Levi answered, "Oh yeah I do."
He didn’t stop there. He also told RadarOnline.com that he thinks Palin will be chasing an even bigger paycheck now that she’s out of public office and on the speaker circuit. “She took the money,” he said. “That’s what she’s talked about, that’s what I’m gathering and I think that’s what she’s doing.”
He did add that he did not believe cheating was a factor in Sarah and Todd's marriage.
Scratch that last sentence. Levi's response to the question, if you care to watch the video, was, "No [laughing], I'm not going to get into that."
Sarah Palin's marriage has been in trouble from the beginning, says Levi Johnston, the father of their grandson Tripp and ex-fiance of daughter Bristol.
What's more Levi told RadarOnline.com in an exclusive video interview that he believes marital problems were behind Palin's decision to resign as governor of Alaska.
When we asked if the couple had marital problems, Levi responded: "Oh yeah. There have been from day one."
RadarOnline.com then asked if Levi thought marital problems were the reason she stepped down from political office. Levi answered, "Oh yeah I do."
He didn’t stop there. He also told RadarOnline.com that he thinks Palin will be chasing an even bigger paycheck now that she’s out of public office and on the speaker circuit. “She took the money,” he said. “That’s what she’s talked about, that’s what I’m gathering and I think that’s what she’s doing.”
He did add that he did not believe cheating was a factor in Sarah and Todd's marriage.
Scratch that last sentence. Levi's response to the question, if you care to watch the video, was, "No [laughing], I'm not going to get into that."
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Yes, the big news is the Seinfeld reunion, but far more exciting is the return of the Blacks, and in particular J.B. Smoove, a/k/a Leon.
Even better: Wanda Sykes will be making an appearance.
Even better: Wanda Sykes will be making an appearance.
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