Jack & Jill Politics

Obama’s position on health care reform and mandates during the primaries:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shR4HZzr52o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceOG90OCCRw


Obama’s position on health care reform and mandates now: “That's why under my plan, individuals will be required to carry basic health insurance – just as most states require you to carry auto insurance.

“But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange. Let me be clear – it would only be an option for those who don't have insurance. No one would be forced to choose it, and it would not impact those of you who already have insurance. In fact, based on Congressional Budget Office estimates, we believe that less than 5% of Americans would sign up”.

(The health care bill that was just passed in Congress and that is going through the senate has the mandate provision that Obama now advocates and limits the public option to a small percentage of Americans just like his plan)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/us/politics/1...

Obama’s position on FISA during the primaries:

Obama: "It is time to restore oversight and accountability in the FISA program, and this proposal -- with an unprecedented grant of retroactive immunity -- is not the place to start."

Bill Burton issues a statement, October 24, 2007, reaffirming Obama's position and pledging to support Chris Dodd's filibuster:

"To be clear: Barack will support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunication companies”

Campaign statement, December 17, 2007, further elaborating on this point in regards to a particular upcoming Senate vote on Dodd's filibuster:

“Senator Obama unequivocally opposes giving retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies and has cosponsored Senator Dodd's efforts to remove that provision from the FISA bill. Granting such immunity undermines the constitutional protections”

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com...

His position on FISA after the primary and during the general:

"I want to take this opportunity to speak directly to those of you who oppose my decision to support the FISA compromise.This was not an easy call for me…..“I know that the FISA bill that passed the House is far from perfect. I wouldn't have drafted the legislation like this, and it does not resolve all of the concerns that we have about President Bush's abuse of executive power. It grants retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that may have violated the law by cooperating with the Bush administration's program of warrantless wiretapping.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barack-obama/my-p...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL802U2PdgM


Obama’s position on NAFTA during the primaries:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF9gpvI2UfU

Obama’s perspective on his perspective of NAFTA after primaries:

"Sometimes during campaigns the rhetoric gets overheated and amplified," he conceded, after I reminded him that he had called NAFTA "devastating" and "a big mistake," despite nonpartisan studies concluding that the trade zone has had a mild, positive effect on the U.S. economy. Does that mean his rhetoric was overheated and amplified? "Politicians are always guilty of that, and I don't exempt myself," he answered.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/18/magazines/fortu...

Obama’s betrayal of Public Financing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOFEdFpGF8I&feat...

Grayson/Kucinich 2012

Peace

dthomas, I read enough of posts to understand your political outlook.

You do know a Grayson/Kucinich ticket is probably like asking for I don't know......aahhhhh Nadar/Ron Paul ticket. It's never going to happen. It's seems like you have a disconnect between what's possible politically and what you want. And it seems like you hold Obama and other politicians responsible for what is not politically possible.

I just hoped that Obama would be a different type of political leader and that he would actually fight for the things he said he believed in - that's all. I never expected him to win all ( or even most) political fights. He just seems to always capitulate to the status quo of politics (which he totally campaigned against) - and that in essence is my true frustration with him.

I hear exactly what you are saying and youhave every right to highlight the things that your President is "capitulating" on. I just the think when they get to the WH it's a whole different ballgame. Every President goes through what Obama is going through right now. The first Bush said,"Read my lips now new taxes." And he raised taxes. And he only had one term. The balancing act once you get elected is a tough one.

AFTERNOON OPEN THREAD IS UP

A police officer who used a stun gun on an unruly 10-year-old girl after he said her mother gave him permission has been suspended — not for using the weapon but for not having a video camera attached when he used it.

Cop suspended after Tasering 10-year-old girl

not for using the weapon - ON A CHILD - but, because he didn't have a video camera attached to it.

I'll say it again..

Law Enforcement has lost their damn minds with these tasers.

With his prospect of winning the 23rd Congressional District race now almost zero, Conservative Party candidate Douglas L. Hoffman suggested Wednesday in a letter that “ACORN, the unions and the Democratic Party” “tampered” with results to deny him victory.

Mr. Hoffman provided no evidence to support his claims, but asked fellow conservatives to send donations his way to “ensure every vote is counted.”

Hoffman: ACORN, unions, Dems tampered with NY-23 election

GMAFB.

ACORN?

this is absolutely ridiculous.

I told you this is why Hannity got off his half-assed apology so quick; he didn't want anyone to really research his past stories.

rikyrah: he didn't want anyone to really research his past stories.

Seeeeeeee- - - as I stated earlier on - - -

THIS, AGAIN, comes under the HEADIN' - - -
DON'T START NUTTIN' - - -WON'T B NUTTIN'!!

"The EX-GOV.", Hannity, Conyers, the writer of this morning's article 'bout PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS, etc. - - - OUGHTA! KNOW! BETTA!!

Dont' jump out there with your PRESENT annnnnnd - -SOMA your PAST; 'cause U gonna ENCOURAGE - - EVEN DARE people 2 go - - LOOKIN' 4 the REST of YOUR PAST!!!!

Just sayin'. . . . . . :>)

Sources Say Stephanopoulos Can’t Keep This Week Gig If He Gets GMA
by Steve Krakauer | 5:10 pm, November 18th, 2009

Last month we reported This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos was the leading contender to get the Good Morning America job opening up as Diane Sawyer takes over on World News.

Now sources tell Mediaite there may be a knot in the plans – Stephanopoulos would have to vacate the This Week job if he takes the GMA anchor spot.

From a purely logistical perspective, this makes sense. If Stephanopoulos were to anchor Monday-Friday for two hours each morning from New York, it would be near impossible to also anchor an hour in D.C. on Sundays. But two sources at ABC News say Stephanopoulos wants to keep the This Week job, as the harder news role continues to make dents in the ratings lead of Sunday morning leader, Meet The Press.

An ABC News spokesperson tells Mediaite, “We’re not going to discuss any speculation about any kind of decision until a decision is made.”

When we discussed potential replacements for Sawyer in September, we gave the best shot to current GMA anchor Chris Cuomo. If staying at This Week becomes a sticking point for Stephanopoulos, it could help Cuomo’s chances.

Of course, if Stephanopoulos leaves and takes the GMA job, that means ABC will be tasked with finding a replacement at This Week as well.

The New York Post reports on another angle to the story – whether Charlie Gibson wanted Sawyer to take over his position:

“He wanted George to get the job,” said one source at the network. “He was shocked when he learned Diane got it, and he was really angry that she stole his thunder. As soon as she was named, it was all about Diane.”

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/sources-say-stephano...

-----------------------
wonder if Robin Roberts will get the GMA gig.

Robin already has the GMA spot. She and Diane are co-anchors, much like Charlie Gibson and Diane were co-anchors when he was still there. When he left, then Robin got promoted from news contributor to the co-anchor spot.

If anything, I think Robin should be given more exclusive interview type shows like Diane gets. She did a great job with the Janet interview.

so, will she get the solo spot, a la Meredith Viera , Katie Couric and Jane Pauley?

Solo spot? I don't understand. On The Today Show, it was Matt & Katie, Bryant and Jane, Bryant and Katie, and now Matt and Meredith. There were never any solo spots for the female co-anchors.

I mean the ONLY female anchor. Just like Georgie Porgie would be the ONLY male anchor.Has a Black woman ever been given the chance to be the SOLE female anchor on a morning show? Not news reader, or even co-anchor, but when you think of the show, it's her and the other guy, like Bryant Gumbel was with Jane Pauley, Norville, and Couric?

The format of the morning talk shows has always been two co-anchors (usually one male, one female), one news reader and one weather person. There has never been an instance when ONE person -- black or white, male or female -- has been the sole anchor of a morning show.

BTW, if Georgie S. gets the job, then he will be the co-anchor with Robin.

I don't think we're disagreeing. When I said 'sole', I guess I used the wrong word, but I meant the ONLY female anchor. No sharing. No CO anything. I want to see a Robin Roberts sitting on that couch as the ONLY female anchor on GMA. The big one. She'll be sitting there next to Georgie Porgie, but she'll be the ONLY female anchor. She will be his equal.

Woah, this is crazy:

Report: Dad Shot Son After Sex Abuse Accusation

Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 5:11 am
By: David N. Goodman, Associated Press

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. (AP) — A 37-year-old father irate over hearing his 15-year-old son had sexual contact with a three-year-old girl made the teen strip at gunpoint, marched him to a vacant lot and shot him to death despite pleas from the boy and his mother, a relative said.

Michigan authorities filed a first-degree murder charge Wednesday against Jamar Pinkney Sr. in the shooting death Monday of Jamar Pinkney Jr. in the Detroit enclave of Highland Park.

Defense attorney Corbett O'Meara said prosecutors should consider evidence of the father's state of mind over the sex abuse report.

"If something were to happen that would cause a reasonable person to lose control of himself, that is something the prosecution would have to take into account," O'Meara said outside Highland Park District Court.

Tensions were high in the courtroom Wednesday as the handcuffed suspect was led into the room for the arraignment, which lasted less than a minute.

"No, No, No," one female relative cried before a police officer escorted her out.

Judge Brigette Officer entered a not guilty plea for Pinkney, who's also charged with assault, and ordered him jailed without bond until a preliminary examination Dec. 1.

"This is something that's hard to deal with for all the parties concerned, including the police," police Chief Ted Caldwell said afterward. "Highland Park is a small city. These are people who have been members of the community for years."

Caldwell said the sexual misconduct allegation that led to the confrontation wasn't part of the police investigation.

The shooting happened Monday night in a vacant lot in the once-prosperous city of 16,000, where decay, abandonment, fires and demolition have eaten away at many of the sprawling homes. Highland Park recently exited years of state financial oversight.

Visitors built an impromptu memorial at the shooting site. Two votive candles sat amid 10 stuffed animals, including two white teddy bears with red hearts embroidered with, "I love you."

The boy's mother, Lazette Cherry, told The Detroit Free Press that her son told her he had improper sexual contact with the girl.

"I called and told his father. This isn't something you sweep under the rug," she said.

Cherry said the elder Pinkney arrived at the home with a gun, ordered his son to strip and marched him outside despite her protests.

"He got on his knees and begged, 'No, Daddy, No,' and he pulled the trigger," Cherry said.

Cherry did not immediately respond to a message Wednesday from The Associated Press seeking comment.

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news...

What the hell? Speechless

that is scary.

Rep. John Conyers blasted President Barack Obama today on the Bill Press Show, accusing him of "bowing down" to the right and relying on Congressional progressives to "save his can."

Press asked Conyers whether he thinks Obama is showing enough leadership.

"Of course not," the 22nd-term Michigan Democrat replied. "You know, holding hands out and beer on Friday nights in the White House and bowing down to every nutty right-wing proposal about health care, and saying on occasion that public options aren't that important is doing a disservice to the Barack Obama I first met who was an ardent single-payer enthusiast himself."

"I'm getting tired of saving Obama's can in the White House," Conyers said. "I mean, he only won by five votes in the House, and this bill wasn't anything to write home about."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1109/Con...

Please with the faux concern for Obama. You guys got blindsided by Stupak because of the focus on the robust public option which never had the votes to pass. You lost the forest for the trees.

Rep. John Conyers needs to shut the fuck up.

of course he does! Criticism of the President arent allowed.

Criticizing ANYONE with a closet of full of skeletons is not appropriate. If Conyers felt so strongly about it why didn't he vote against it? Atleast Davis had the balls to vote how he wanted.

Whoever said Democrats suck as teammates hit the nail on the head.

Crabs In A Barrel.

We can talk shit about Republicans all day but they are good soldiers

Bush wanted tax cuts.......NO PROBLEM
Bush wanted war............NO PROBLEM

Obama wants stimulus........NOT ONE REPUBLICAN VOTE in the house.
Obama wants health care reform.....ONE VIETNAMESE REPUBLICAN votes for it in the House


The Dems are their own worst enemy.

*bangs head on desk*

Conyers needs to sit his old ass down somewhere before he makes a mess in his Depends. He has been in Michigan government how long and hasn't done shit for his constituents besides make a bunch of noise. If he was keeping an eye on his wife instead of Obama maybe she wouldn't be taking bribes.

he does need to be quiet before folks ask just how much he knew about his wife's dealings. I think he needs to be primaried. Detroit needs a whole new cadre of Black political representation.

You would think these guys that have been in congress for so many years would recognize that you can't keep waiting for the right bill. Ted Kennedy lived to regret not making a deal with Nixon in the 60's, thinking single payer was on the horizon.

Conyers is a time serving, do nothing, chair warmer. He has done next to nothing for Detroit, Wayne County, or the State of Michigan. He Needs to STFU and retire.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/tech...

Hope McDonnell can come up with some jobs for these folks. I have a friend who works for AOL up in Dulles who has been joking about being next on the chopping block. (gallows humor) This would be terrible to do before Christmas.

I'm watching The View, and Elisabeth got her daughter a Tiana Doll (From the Princess and the Frog) and her daughter loves it, and apparently White people were looking at her daughter funny like "why does that little White Girl have a Black doll"? I commend her for getting her daughter the doll. I had White Dolls, I had one that I LOVED (it drove my dad nuts) that I named "Susan" it drove my dad nuts.

Gotta start the kids out early so they know there's nothing wrong with people of different races.

LOL @ "Susan."

I remember one Christmas Eve, I was at Wal-mart getting some toys. This white woman wanted a Cabbage Patch doll for her daughter, but the only one left was a black doll. She looked so sad and disappointed, like she really didn't want to buy this black Cabbage Patch doll but the child obviously would be disappointed if she didn't get it (based on conversations she was having with her friend).

Then I was in Toys R Us yesterday and saw all the Princess Tiana dolls and wondered if white parents would have the same dilemma buying the Princess Tiana doll as the lady in the Wal-mart did about the black Cabbage Patch doll.

The kids probably won't care if they're playing with Princess Tiana, Belle, Barbie or Christie. It's the parents who are like "ugh" at the black doll.

And then I was thinking, these same parents who wouldn't buy a black Cabbage Patch doll or a black Barbie for their daughters would be OUTRAGED if a black person was like "ugh" at buying a white doll.

And where are the Latino/Asian dolls? Dora the Explorer is not enough.

I can't tell you how happy I was to buy Tiana for Peanut. It's been a long time since I had cause to go into the toy section, but I've been doing that lately, and while I am pleased to see more than one Black doll, I would like to see a 'happy to be nappy' Black doll.

It's funny, a lot of Black girls probably had at least one white doll at some point, but most White girls probably didn't have a Black doll back in the day (mostly because you couldn't FIND Black dolls). It would be interesting to find out. the stats for that.

I must boooooooo this casting decision

I would rather they just leave him gone and bring back Dru instead, it doesn't make any sense.

eww...that is SO not Malcolm.

co-sign about Boris Kodjoe.

Somebody on another message board suggested they should have gotten Boris Kodjoe to play Malcolm. It's not like Boris is busy or anything.

Yeah, I thought of him. Someone on the Nappturality board suggested this guy:
http://www.tvguide.com/images/pgimg/omari-hardw... I think he'd be good too, but we'd need to go back to the other Lily. (Hell, even with Dru and Malcom I, Lily is too damn light-skinned to be their kid)

Me likes!

someone on another site mentioned Henry Simmons, I'd watch every day if he was Malcom. LOL

In the words of Lil' John... YEEEEAH!

Henry....yummmm....oh my....and, he knows the soap grind, so it would be nothing new to him...but, Malcolm was Y&R's ' sexual chocolate'. .....that's what he needs to continue to be..BAD CASTING DECISION.

He was on CSI Miami this week :o)

Runner Keeps Title After Gender Dispute
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 19, 2009

Filed at 6:47 a.m. ET

JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- South African runner Caster Semenya will keep her 800-meter gold medal from the world championships, and the results of her gender tests will be kept confidential, the South African sports ministry said Thursday.

The ministry also said in a statement that the International Association of Athletics Federations has agreed to allow the 18-year-old Semenya to keep her prize money.

"Whatever scientific tests were conducted legally within the IAAF regulations will be treated as a confidential matter between patient and doctor," the sports ministry said. "As such there will be no public announcement of what the panel of scientists has found. We urge all South Africans and other people to respect this professional ethical and moral way of doing things."

On Wednesday, the IAAF said the gender tests performed on Semenya had not yet been completed. The body had been expected to announce its findings Friday.

Before the 800 final in Berlin, the IAAF said it had ordered gender tests because of Semenya's muscular build and rapid improvement in times. The case set off a storm in South Africa, and the IAAF was accused of violating her privacy. South African track officials were accused of failing to protect her.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/19/worl...

Republicans Move To Permit Credit Card Companies To Jack Up Their Rates For The Next Several Weeks
By: David Dayen Wednesday November 18, 2009 1:44 pm

Just now on the Senate floor, Republicans objected to a motion by Chris Dodd (D-CT) to immediately take up a bill to move up the effective date on the CARD Act, which was passed several months ago. In the intervening time, credit card companies have been jacking up their rates in what Dodd described as “a last-ditch attempt” to pad their profits until all of the provisions of the CARD Act, which prevents arbitrary interest rate, fee and finance charge increases on existing balances, take effect. The bill Dodd sought would have frozen all rates, charges and fees until all of the CARD Act’s provisions became law. It would also have reduced rates for every cardholder who saw arbitrary rate increases in 2009.

So basically, the banksters have been gouging their customers one last time, Sen. Dodd wanted to stop them from doing that, and Republicans objected. The bill, which has already passed the House, could come up under regular order in the future, but Republicans basically engaged in a needless delay so credit card companies could wring some more profits from their customers.

With all this talk of right-wing populism, it would be nice if Democrats could actually do something with this vote. We basically have Republicans voting to maintain flat-out gouging of Americans by the banking industry, with Democrats on the side of the people. That the public doesn’t have an understanding of this is a failure of communication and messaging.

http://news.firedoglake.com/2009/11/18/republic...

North Dakota Blue Cross Attacks Health Reform
by Adam Blomeke [Subscribe]
Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 01:21:07 PM PST

Sorta Cross-posted at NorthDecoder

Amazing. Just amazing. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota is apparently feeling the heat. They're putting the pressure on. All BCBSND policyholders(who pay 90% of the insurance premiums here) were just mailed a letter today. It's disgusting.

Pure Bull.

Follow me over the flip.


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/11/18/805729...

Barack Obama rewards big donors with plum jobs overseas
By JEANNE CUMMINGS | 11/19/09 12:20 AM EST

He may have promised to change Washington, but President Barack Obama is continuing one of its most renowned patronage traditions: bestowing prized ambassadorships on big donors.

Of the nearly 80 ambassadorship nominations or confirmations since Obama’s Inauguration, 56 percent were given to political appointees and 44 percent have gone to career diplomats, according to records kept by the American Foreign Service Association.

The latest nomination came this week, when Beatrice Wilkinson Welters was nominated to serve as ambassador to the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean.

Welters, a longtime advocate for underprivileged children, and her husband, Anthony, an executive with UnitedHealth Group, generated between $200,000 and $500,000 in donations to Obama’s presidential campaign and an additional $100,000 for his Inauguration, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that tracks political giving.

The Welters can be counted among the nearly two dozen Obama bundlers — fundraisers who together organized and solicited more than $10 million in donations during the 2008 campaign — who now are being dispatched to some of the world’s greatest cities.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29699...

No biggie! The President conceded this point early in his administration when reporters asked about it then. They just like being able to say, "See, Obama's just like Bush." I'm like, whatev.

Only the names have changed in Washington DC. Any administration that would make Holder the AG just because he looks good in a suit is no better than Bush-2.

When AG Holder writes a memo similar to the infamous torture memo, start purging state AGs strictly because of a political agenda, stop pursuing white collar crime, or, return to gutting the civil rights division within the DOJ, then we'll have a better comparison to B--- 2.

Holder is about to put on a soviet style show trial in NYC for KSM. The entire trial will make a mockery of the federal court system.

I concur mon the KSM trial is just for show. No matter what happens KSM will never see the light of day. (He should have been executed awhile ago as far as I'm concerned.)

But for you to compare Holder to Gonzalez or Mukasey is not a fair or accurate comparison.

Disparity in sentencing and sending countless number of POC to jail and prison without the benefit of true representation at trial is a mockery of the entire U.S. court system accepted by this society. What's different? What is suddenly offending?

Well what you said doesn't fit any of the good talking points....duh

rikyrah: Good morning'! :>)

Seeeeeeeee. . . NOW it's time 2 go lookin' 4 DATA on the POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS of OTHER presidents!!!

This comes under the HEADIN': DON'T START NUTTIN' - - - WON'T BE NUTTIN'!! WHEW!!!

***shakin' my head - - early in the mornin'*** :>)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Here is my problem with Palin
She is writing this book and doing this media tour, and she is basically saying "the Sarah Palin you saw in the campaign wasn't really me." She is going around saying she would have done this differently, or would have done that differently, and that all that is wrong with her image, and with the campaign, was the fault of McCain, his advisers, or the media.

I couldn't figure out what bothered me about this, until now. It is a question of leadership, and being a true leader. Leaders don't let themselves get pushed around, their values questioned, or their convictions trampled. Leaders will only do things they disagree with if it makes sense for the objective as a whole, and if they don't agree with it, they will fight like hell to prevent it from happening. This woman is positioning herself to run for President in 2012. She thinks that if Barack Obama can do it with his limited experience, so can she. But how, even forgetting everything else she has lied about, can she expect people to think she is worthy of such responsibility if she gets pushed around by McCain aides? The point is that she is remarketing herself as the American standard for leadership, strength, steadfastness, and conservatism. Yet, in the clutch she showed none of those things. She has no job, no platform, no policy interests, but she is on TV 24/7? That means she is purely a media creation, the fantasy of middle aged TV/news executives, because she is sassy, younger and hotter than their wives, but older than their daughters.

posted by Brian Francis at

http://www.politicalinaction.com/2009/11/here-i...

Texas' gay marriage ban may have banned all marriages
By Dave Montgomery
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
AUSTIN — Texans: Are you really married?

Maybe not.

Barbara Ann Radnofsky, a Houston lawyer and Democratic candidate for attorney general, says that a 22-word clause in a 2005 constitutional amendment designed to ban gay marriages erroneously endangers the legal status of all marriages in the state.

The amendment, approved by the Legislature and overwhelmingly ratified by voters, declares that "marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman." But the troublemaking phrase, as Radnofsky sees it, is Subsection B, which declares:

"This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage."

Architects of the amendment included the clause to ban same-sex civil unions and domestic partnerships. But Radnofsky, who was a member of the powerhouse Vinson & Elkins law firm in Houston for 27 years until retiring in 2006, says the wording of Subsection B effectively "eliminates marriage in Texas," including common-law marriages.

She calls it a "massive mistake" and blames the current attorney general, Republican Greg Abbott, for allowing the language to become part of the Texas Constitution. Radnofsky called on Abbott to acknowledge the wording as an error and consider an apology. She also said that another constitutional amendment may be necessary to reverse the problem.

"You do not have to have a fancy law degree to read this and understand what it plainly says," said Radnofsky, who will be at Texas Christian University today as part of a five-city tour to kick off her campaign.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/sto...

I'm still waiting for these lawmakers to define their terms. What is a "man" and what is a "woman", according to these documents?

Isn't it common knowledge that man=human? So I suppose two women could get hitched.

Reid plan ups pressure on moderates
By CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN | 11/18/09 8:04 PM EST
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unveiled his $848 billion health reform bill Wednesday to broad support from fellow Democrats — and the move quickly turned up the pressure on the last few wavering moderates to support the plan, which includes a sizable chunk of deficit cutting.

Reid’s plan would expand coverage to 94 percent of Americans through a government-run health insurance option — allowing states to opt out — and other features, all while reducing future federal deficits by $130 billion over the next 10 years, according to a Congressional Budget Office report released late Wednesday.

“Tonight begins the last leg of this journey” to bring health reform to the nation, Reid said in announcing the bill.

But Reid’s plan contains considerable differences from House legislation passed earlier this month — with a more limited public option and different ways to pay for the bill. Reid included an excise tax on insurers who offer “Cadillac” health plans, not the “millionaire’s tax” that’s in the House bill.

And one of the biggest differences between the bills – on language restricting federal funding for abortion – could prove problematic for Reid. His bill doesn’t include as many limits as the House bill and already is drawing fire from anti-abortion activists.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29694...

"Reid’s plan would expand coverage to 94 percent of Americans through a government-run health insurance option — allowing states to opt out — and other features,...."

This is not a pubic option, when one it does not set national standards and two, a state can opt out.

* NOVEMBER 19, 2009

Breast Exam Guidelines Raise Furor

By SHIRLEY S. WANG

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius tried to dispel concerns Wednesday that new guidelines on breast-cancer screening threaten insurance coverage for the procedure amid a growing debate about the guidelines among patients, medical professionals and legislators.

A federal task force on Monday reversed the recommendation that women in their 40s get annual mammograms. The panel also said that women aged 50 to 74 should get routine mammograms every other year, rather than once a year. "They do not set federal policy and they don't determine what services are covered by the federal government," Ms. Sebelius said of the task force. "I would be very surprised if any private insurance company changed its mammography coverage decisions as a result of this action."

The task force said the new guidelines strike a better balance between the benefits of early cancer detection and the unnecessary anxiety and extra costs associated with false positives, which sometimes result from the tests.

Karla Kerlikowske, a professor of medicine, epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco, said the task force made the right call. The data on the benefits and harms of mammography in younger women are "a toss-up," she said. The age at which to begin routine screening "depends on where do you draw the line."

Many others disagree with the new guidelines, including the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "Every day we discover invasive breast cancer in a woman age 40-50," said Sandhya Pruthin, director of Mayo's Breast Clinic.

The American Cancer Society said it stood by its recommendation that women initiate mammograms at age 40. The Johns Hopkins Hospital's breast center in Baltimore, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and other institutions also said women should have regular access to mammography starting at age 40.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125859364756654...

If I am understanding all of the discussion correctly, the significance of the task forces decision is strictly tied to insurance companies behavior when receiving requests for routine mammograms? In other words, higher payments, out of pocket expense for those in age range 40-49 requesting routine routine mammograms?

that's what I believe completely.

Fox News Is Now The Sarah Palin Network
by KingOneEye [Subscribe]
Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 07:38:48 PM PST

With interviews by Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity in the can, the network has gone full-tilt Palin in promotions and hype. And of course they bring along their patented proclivity for lying.

Brought to you by...
News Corpse
The Internet's Chronicle Of Media Decay.

* KingOneEye's diary :: ::
*

Just one week ago, Jon Stewart exposed Sean Hannity for inserting video of a rally last summer to make a less successful rally this month look like it was well-attended. It was a blatant distortion that could not plausibly have happened by accident. Nevertheless, that is exactly the excuse Hannity coughed up, as he sought to trivialize the affair and sweep it under the rug. I wonder how Fox News will explain it this time.


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/11/18/805869...

Federal Court Judge Finds Army Corp Liable for Katrina Disaster (my headline)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la...

The Government will find a way to weasel out of the situation.

this is an excellent story, because the true story of what happened has never been told.

This decision will go to the supreme court. Since NOLA had a 100 year history of neglecting levees, pumps, flood walls, and common sense precautions, I am not sure how the judge decided that the Corp's actions were the direct cause of the flooding, especially since Katrina was an act of GOD.

The levees being neglected and too weak to hold was an act of MAN.

Panel Approves Curbs on 'Too Big' Firms
By MICHAEL R. CRITTENDEN

WASHINGTON -- A key House panel voted Wednesday to give government the power to break up large financial firms whose collapse might threaten the broader economy, despite aggressive lobbying by major financial institutions to kill the measure.

The amendment illustrates how some lawmakers are willing to go beyond the authority sought by the White House -- which stopped short of giving regulators power to break up healthy firms -- in the redrawing of the financial world's regulatory framework.

A divided House Financial Services Committee voted 38-29 to approve an amendment offered by Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D, Penn.) that would allow a council of regulators to determine whether factors including the size or interconnectedness of an individual firm pose "a grave threat to the United States." Such a firm could be prohibited from merging with another firm or be required to sell business units or assets.

The measure still must be approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate before it could be sent to the White House for approval.

Democrats mostly supported the measure, though a few voted with Republicans against it. Republicans who opposed the proposal said it would give the government nearly unchecked powers to demand changes at otherwise healthy companies.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125858925917154...

90 Accomplishments of Pres. Obama Which The Media Fails to Report...
by bacalove [Subscribe]
Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 03:59:39 AM PST

Media loves to say that President Obama is not getting much accomplished which the facts belie and fail to report the 90 plus accomplishments of administration, so far!

* bacalove's diary :: ::
*

"Professor Watson writes

Hi friends,

I am always being asked to grade Obama's presidency. In place of offering him a grade, I put together a list of his accomplishments thus far. I think you would agree that it is very impressive. His first six months have been even more active than FDRs or LBJs the two standards for such assessments. Yet, there is little media attention given to much of what he has done. Of late, the media is focusing almost exclusively on Obama's critics, without holding them responsible for the uncivil, unconstructive tone of their disagreements or without holding the previous administration responsible for getting us in such a deep hole. The misinformation and venom that now passes for political reporting and civic debate is beyond description.

As such, there is a need to set the record straight. What most impresses me is the fact that Obama has accomplished so much not from a heavy-handed or top-down approach but from a style that has institutionalized efforts to reach across the aisle, encourage vigorous debate, and utilize town halls and panels of experts in the policy-making process. Beyond the accomplishments, the process is good for democracy and our democratic processes have been battered and bruised in recent years.
Let me know if I missed anything in the list (surely I did).

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/11/19/805925.......

THE INFLUENCE GAME: Front group fights health bill
By ALAN FRAM
The Associated Press
Sunday, November 15, 2009; 11:22 AM

WASHINGTON -- One operative tried to enlist trade groups in Maine to oppose government-run health coverage. Another helped a member of a Las Vegas conservative group appear on local talk radio to criticize the proposal. A third persuaded a Louisiana activist to post an opinion piece on a conservative blog.

These below-the-radar activities were the handiwork of a law firm in Charlotte, N.C., that operates a secretive group called Americans for Quality and Affordable Healthcare. The organization's sponsors remain a mystery - its Web site offers no clues, and the law firm won't say.

In a year that has seen hundreds of millions of dollars spent on health care lobbying and TV ads, the advocacy group's impact is hard to gauge since the full scope of its operations is unclear. But its activities illustrate how some are furtively trying to shape public and congressional opinion through front groups - seemingly independent organizations that pursue their founders' goals while masking their identity.

One clue to the mystery group may lie in its goals: to oppose any government-run insurance option, the approach favored by President Barack Obama and most Democrats, and to support requiring all Americans to buy insurance.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...

Slumped on his bed with a single bullet wound to the head, Evan Chandler was barely recognisable as the prominent Beverly Hills citizen he had once been.

The 65-year-old dentist who accused Michael Jackson of molesting his young son killed himself in his waterfront flat.

Michael Jackson accuser Evan Chandler found Dead

his conscience finally got to him.

Probably ran out of settlement money.

Media Alert
John Rodgers, Desiree's X, head of Ariel Capital, is on CNBC. will post video when available.

thank you

More on the Democratic party’s War on Breasts. - HHS Secretary Sebelius is trying to do some damage control on the recent ’suggestion’ that women stop getting routine mammograms before they’re 50...

If any women out there are having trouble finding a doctor to do their mammogram I'm personally doing breast examinations on women 40 years old and younger. 100% (my) Satisfaction guaranteed.

My first girlfriend issued my official breast examination certificate and I have been re-certified hundreds of times since then. Been passing with flying colors for years. Thank you

Holder took his lumps yesterday but he came out alright. He has made a decision and so now he had to go up to Congress and defend it. This is the typical strategy by the minority party. Ask very simple questions to very complex issues and make the person appear stumbled. The majority party asks a bunch of softball questions that affirm the Party line. Good entertainment that's about it. The bottom is it doesn't matter where KSM is tried he is either going to being in jail for the rest of life or he is going to the gallows. They'll never let him go. This is a tough issue. I wonder why the Bush administration never tried KSM in military tribunal? Hmmmmmmm? According to Karl Rove "liberal lawyers were stopping them."

I do agree that KSM will be convicted; however, he will get his chance to be publicly martyred. A swift military tribunal and a firing squad are for more suited for this situation.

I hear you vdrome. All of them including Hasan should be lined and executed. Chuck Schumer wants 75 million dollars for his state for this "trial."