Moving People Off Employer Plans: Unfortunate Side Effect of Health Reform or Purposeful Goal?

October 22, 2009

“Despite promises by President Barack Obama, more than 70 million Americans who have health insurance through their jobs could be open to higher costs or denials of some coverage under a leading overhaul plan making its way through Congress.” All the more reason to shift them all to government-run plans.

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73% of GOPers Say Congressional Republicans Have Lost Touch With Their Base

October 22, 2009

Washington isn’t listening to the conservative base, according to overwhelming majorities of GOPers. “Just 15% of Republicans who plan to vote in 2012 state primaries say the party’s representatives in Congress have done a good job of representing Republican values.” And surprisingly, “younger voters tend to be less critical than their elders.”

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As Expected, Fed Hits Banks With Sweeping Pay Limits

October 22, 2009

“Treasury official Kenneth Feinberg said cash salaries paid to the highest-earning executives at seven companies getting exceptional federal aid will be capped at $500,000, while the group’s total pay level, annualized, will be 50% lower than a year before.” The rules will only effect November and December. No Christmas for you.

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White House Announces Big Pay Cuts for Bailed Out Firms, Banks

October 22, 2009

“Kenneth Feinberg, the special master at Treasury appointed by Obama to handle compensation issues at the seven firms getting exceptional assistance from the government’s $700 billion financial bailout package, is making the pay decisions” expected to hit executive pay at Bank of America, American International Group, Citigroup, General Motors, Chrysler, others.

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Conservatives Roar, Republicans Tremble, but Does it Even Matter?

October 22, 2009

It’s hard to take seriously the amount of attention paid to GOP infighting considering their complete and total irrelevancy to what’s going on in Washington right now. For GOPers worried their prospects will be “wounded by the flamboyant rhetoric and angry tone of conservative activists and media personalities,” we ask: What prospects?

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The Housing Market Hangs in the Balance: Is it About to Collapse?

October 22, 2009

“The housing market is heading into the winter doldrums, when fewer people shop for real estate, after a summer marked by strong demand for low-end to midrange homes, spurred by a temporary federal tax credit for first-time buyers.” How the market fares will be decided by a half-dozen factors, few of which look good.

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Felix Salmon on Henry Paulson's Secret Meeting with Goldman Sachs

October 21, 2009

Reacting to Sorkin’s book: “Paulson didn’t have this meeting out of fear or necessity: in fact, he told the directors that although there might be tough times ahead, ‘I think we may come out of this by year’s end.’ There was nothing in the way of extenuating circumstances which could possibly justify the secret rendezvous.”

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The Public Option Isn't Popular Enough, Time for Rebranding: Medicare For Everyone!

October 21, 2009

Public option scary, Medicare for everyone good. “Speaker Nancy Pelosi planned to unveil a proposal to her caucus Tuesday night that would include the public option favored by liberals in the healthcare bill Democrats want to bring to the floor, according to two House sources.” Michael Steel points out it’s like renaming Crystal Pepsi.

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The Taliban, Al Qaeda, and the Critical Nature of Afghanistan

October 21, 2009

Peter Bergen: “The centrality of Afghanistan to the war on terrorism is separate from the matter of whether we can actually secure the country. But, while Afghanistan will not be transformed into a stable country easily or quickly, we should take heart from the fact that the Afghan people want us to try.”

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Israel and the UN: Joining the Human Rights Council was a Mistake Obama Should Correct

October 20, 2009

Bolton: “The U.N.’s Human Rights Council (HRC) voted overwhelmingly on Friday to endorse the recommendations of the lopsidedly anti-Israel Goldstone Report,” which “concluded that Israel’s 2008-2009 military campaign against the terrorist group Hamas was actually aimed against Gaza’s residents as a whole.”

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