And I'm not asking rhetorically this time. Have there been any major national programs with an opt-out clause from which states have actually opted out? At a glance, Medicaid is opt out. But only...
Author - Bob Cesca
President Obama Opposes Stupak
From an ABC News interview today: I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test -- that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that...
Lies and Lying Lieberman
Joe Lieberman is insisting that the public option adds to the deficit, which, of course, is a total lie. Ezra Klein: This has been Lieberman's standard argument for the past few weeks, but he has...
Super Stupak
This will hopefully force the Stupak amendment onto the cutting room floor: In a move that will intensify the coming war over how to treat abortion in the health care bill, more than three dozen...
The Anthony Weiner Strategy
Steve Benen today: Roosevelt, the towering political figure of the 20th century, with an electoral mandate, a Democratic Congress, and the stench of a failed Republican president fresh on the...
Making the Public Option More Robust
I've been hearing a lot about how the public option, as written in the House bill and proposed for the Senate bill, is just an ineffectual half-measure and should therefore be jettisoned. While there...
Morning Awesome
Beastie Boys - "Sabotage" The Empire Strikes Back Mash-up
Insufferable Douchebag Pledges Filibuster
Help us, Connecticut. Please help us. This guy is saying that no healthcare reform at all is better than healthcare reform with a public option, so he's pledging to filibuster it. Now, I still don't...
The Measure of Reform
I've been thinking about how to peg yesterday's very historic reform victory in the House. Clearly 220 House votes for healthcare reform with a level-playing field public option and a conservative...
Quote of the Day
"I will guarantee you that we are committed to making sure that not one Republican will vote for this bill." —Eric Cantor at the teabagger rally this week Fail.
Republican Loud Noises
Here they are, yesterday, shouting down and disrupting the floor debate. The teabaggery is contagious.
Best Floor Remarks of the Night
Congressman George Miller (D-CA) wins the award for best floor remarks of the night. The walk-off at the end was the best part.
The Democratic No Votes
Jason Altmire PA John Adler NJ Rick Boucher VA Allen Boyd FL Brian Baird WA John Barrow GA Dan Boren OK John Boccieri OH Bobby Bright OH Ben Chandler KY Travis Childers MS Lincoln Davis TN Artur...
Morning Awesome
Harvey Danger - "Sad Sweetheart of the Rodeo" h/t Chez
House of Representatives Passes Healthcare
220-215. Truly historic. And it was bipartisan. Republican Anh "Joseph" Cao of Louisiana voted for the bill. Now it's up to the Senate and Harry (gulp) Reid. Then on to the conference committee and...
It's Looking Good
Just in: Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democratic leaders just emerged from a closed-door caucus meeting that included a personal appearance by President Obama confident the House will pass a...
Trancredo Storms Off
On MSNBC yesterday, Tom Tancredo ran away from Markos the same way he ran away from the draft. As excellent as that was, the larger question remains: Why the hell is Tom Tancredo invited on...
Morning Awesome
MST3K Saturday - "Speech"
The White House Statement on the House Bill
Specifically, the public option section: The Administration is pleased that the bill includes a public health insurance option offered in an exchange. As the President has said throughout this...
It Begins
The wingnuts are trying to connect Hasan with the Obama administration. I wish I was making this up. WorldNetDaily falsely claimed that alleged Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan "advised Obama...