Politics
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Quote of the Day: Winston Churchhill
That old socialist–always overreaching: The discoveries of healing science must be the inheritance of all. That is clear. Disease must be attacked, whether it occurs in the poorest or the richest man or woman simply on the ground that it is the enemy; and it must be attacked just in the same way as the
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Why Are the Blue Dogs in the Driver’s Seat?
There's been a lot written the last week that correctly asks the question: Why is the Progressive Caucus in the House considered obstructionist and the Blue Dogs not? Four out of the five committees in congress delivered a bill with the public option, and one, which hasn't gotten around to delivering anything, apparently will not
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Quote of the Day: Digby
In response to David Gergen's comment: "We don't think like Canadians. We don't accept government the way it is. We're not deferential to authority the way Canadians are or in Western Europe." . . . unlike the authoritarian Canadians who subserviantly submit themselves to a socialistic medical system, we individualistic Americans are more than happy
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More on the Tension between Liberty and Equality
First line of Gettysburg address: Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Last line: . . . that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this
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Bargaining 101 (Updated)
I do not think Matt [Yglesias], or Ezra Klein, or Kevin Drum, or Paul Starr are closet Blue Dogs, but I DO think, in terms of political bargaining, they DO represent well why Democrats and progressives are the worst political bargainers I have ever seen. Look, I have negotiated civil litigation settlements for 20 years.
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Help Congress Grow a Spine
Jane Hamsher at Firedoglake has been working hard to do this, and she deserves our support. If you're in tune with the basic thrust of what I've been saying here about the fight for healtcare reform, please go here and help her to do what I've been arguing has to be done. Postscript. See here
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Hopeful Signs of Spine Formation
We will not make a decision to pursue reconciliation until we have exhausted efforts to produce a bipartisan bill," said Jim Manley, a spokesman for Mr. Reid. "However, patience is not unlimited, and we are determined to get something done this year by any legislative means necessary." Privately, those involved in the talks now say
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Heathcare Reform Defeatism (Updated)
[Senator] Bingaman [D-New Mexico] may be the prime example of the way some Senate Democrats seem to have approached the healthcare debate this summer: count votes first, figure out what should be in the bill later. And while you're counting, take the most pessimistic view possible. Though three committees in the House and one in
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Fighting for Healthcare Reform III
Joseph at 538 'Comments' After 8 years of Bush the stars finally align for the Democrats, yet after less than 8 months, Democrats start running around like chicken little screaming that the sky is falling. It's no wonder Republicans call Democrats weak. We prove them correct with our panic. We also create our own self-fulfilling
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Fighting for Healthcare Reform II (Updated)
Krugman: So much, then, for Mr. Obama’s dream of moving beyond divisive politics. The truth is that the factors that made politics so ugly in the Clinton years — the paranoia of a significant minority of Americans and the cynical willingness of leading Republicans to cater to that paranoia — are as strong as ever.