Cloture Vote Foreshadows Critical End Game for Health Care

December 21, 2009

What remains — ironing out the policy differences in a way that meets the demands of the House: “Big differences remain between the two bills, such as over how to handle the contentious issue of abortion, how to pay for the reforms or whether or not to include a government-run insurance plan.”

More →

Trende: The Health Care Bill is Political Suicide

December 19, 2009

“If Democrats need to appeal to Independents and moderates to hold their majorities, then passing this bill is a terrible idea… With majorities of Independents strongly opposed to the bill, it’s really hard to imagine any boost in Democratic turnout from passing the plan being enough to surpass the ensuing backlash.”

More →

Nelson Supports Health Care Passage After Half-Measure on Abortion

December 19, 2009

Nelson’s anti-abortion motivation is far less than Stupak’s. “The compromise Nelson agreed to with Reid makes it so states could disallow abortion coverage in the new health insurance exchanges,” relying on a “segregation of funds” model that pro-life groups have already rejected several times over.

More →

Books You Should Read: The End of Secularism

December 18, 2009

An interview with Hunter Baker, author of The End of Secularism: Do you think that communism’s force lives on in the less violent but still all-encompassing secularism of today — on issues like climate change and economic socialism? And second, do you think that those who strive against secularism today are on the losing side of history?

More →

Liberal Revolt on Health Care Stings White House

December 18, 2009

As the White House courts Nelson and Lieberman, “liberals are signaling that they have compromised enough. Grassroots groups are balking, liberal commentators are becoming more critical of the president, some unions are threatening to withhold support and Howard Dean is urging the Senate to kill its health bill.”

More →

Pakistan Unwilling to Bow to US Pressure to Fight Taliban

December 17, 2009

The Pakistani “remains reluctant to extend its targets to include the groups that most concern the U.S. A drone-fired missile strike on a suspected militant target in North Waziristan that claimed at least 12 casualties on Thursday, however, underscored U.S. determination to take the fight to its enemies sheltering in Pakistan.”

More →

Vote on Health Care Could Come on Christmas Day

December 17, 2009

The spillover from the left’s renewed opposition — the AFL-CIO and SEIU are considering opposing the bill outright — could keep the Senate in session even longer as Reid tries to find the middle ground between Bernie Sanders and Joe Lieberman. Have fun with that.

More →

Anger From the Left: Obama Didn't Do Enough to Win on Health Care

December 16, 2009

Howard Dean: “The Senate version is not worth passing.” “As Democrats tried to salvage health reform Tuesday, some liberals could barely hide their sense of betrayal that the White House and congressional Democrats have been willing to cut deals and water down what they consider the ideal vision of reform.”

More →

Polls: Economy, Health Care Send Obama to New Lows

December 16, 2009

ABC News/Washington Post: Fifty percent “approve of the president’s work overall, down 6 points in the last month; nearly as many, 46 percent, now disapprove. On the economy, 52 percent disapprove, a majority for the first time. On the deficit, his worst score, 56 percent disapprove.” On health care, 53 percent disapprove.

More →

Congress Travels, Public Pays: Increasing Concerns About Congressmen Flat Hatting Around Europe

December 16, 2009

“In Scotland, the House members toured historic buildings. Some shopped for Scotch whisky and visited the hotel spa. They capped the trip with a dinner at one of the region’s finest restaurants, paid for by the legislators, who got $118 daily stipends. Eleven of the twelve legislators then left the five-day conference two days early.”

More →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →