January 29, 2010

Reconciliation Madness

Reconciliation might not be so quick. For example, according TNR:

The Finance Committee and the Health Committee would each have to mark up their portions of the reconciliation bill. Neither panel’s rules presently allow anything analogous to the cloture process to shut off debate during a markup, so a “filibuster by amendment” is possible in both committees. The markups will last as long as members keep offering amendments and demanding votes.

I don't know enough about the process to know how quickly amendments can be rushed through the committees. It could be rushed through, I suppose -- but it could also be excruciatingly slow and painful. Either way, it has to happen. They have to pass the Senate bill and fix it with reconciliation.

Meanwhile (ugh!) Baucus and Harken are confident healthcare reform will continue to move forward.

Filed under: Healthcare || Pass the Damn Bill || Reconciliation

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 29, 2010 7:18 AM | Comments (0)

Morning Awesome

Our U2 covers theme week wraps up almost where it began with...
Elvis Costello performing "Mysterious Ways"

Filed under: Awesome || Elvis Costello || Music || U2

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 29, 2010 6:04 AM | Comments (0)

January 28, 2010

Fighting to Save a Mountain

Americans putting their asses on the line for a good cause. Literally.

In West Virginia, climate activists are not just getting angry, they’re taking action — blocking the demolition of Coal River Mountain by coal company Massey Energy. The activists, members of the aptly named organization Climate Ground Zero, have been living in trees for over a week to prevent bulldozers from reaching the summit...

I hope someone gets their backs and pitches in. They're doing important work. Mountain top removal is a crime against the commons.

Filed under: Coal || Environment || Mountain Top Removal

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 28, 2010 8:35 PM | Comments (4)

Stay Classy, Teabaggers

Nope. Those teabaggers aren't motivated by racism. Not at all.

Then again, there's this fundraising image depicting the president as a pimp. Oh, and it comes from Dale "Niggar" Robertson's TeaParty.org outfit.

Keep going, teabaggers! You're doing great!

Filed under: Racism || Tea Baggers || Wingnuts

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 28, 2010 5:58 PM | Comments (2)

Breitbart Confirms Douche Status

This is insane. Shuster desperately trying to interview Andrew Breitbart about Watergate Jr. while Breitbart suffers from what appears to be a nervous breakdown.

I'd hate to be the poor bastard who has to launder his shorts after that one.

Adding... Interesting how Breitbart scolds Shuster for tainting the jury pool, but then goes off and explicitly outlines ACORN's guilt.

Filed under: Andrew Breitbart || Fake Pimp Gate || Wingnuts

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 28, 2010 4:06 PM | Comments (9)

Liz Cheney Makes Scary Commercials

Liz Cheney's new fear-mongering deep-voiced feargasm:

Run away! Run away!

Seriously, I wonder how many wingnuts see this and consequently piss in their big boy pants.

Filed under: Liz Cheney || One Nation Under Fear || Terrorism || Wingnuts

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 28, 2010 3:44 PM | Comments (13)

I Really Don't Get This Logic

I had real problems with the mentions of clean coal and off-shore drilling last night, but this was actually my least favorite part of the address:

[F]amilies across the country are tightening their belts and making tough decisions. The federal government should do the same.

Let's use the "government is like a business" metaphor. Imagine if you own a small business and your employees are having trouble making ends meet. What do you do? Do you suddenly cut back on costs as well? Maybe cut salaries or freeze expenses, just because your employees are struggling? No way. That makes no sense.

If you want to keep your business humming along with productive, happy employees, you do what you can to help them out -- to make their lives easier -- with either temporary or ongoing measures. You don't suddenly announce, "Hey, you're all struggling to make ends meet, so we're going to tighten our belts here. From now on, no more free coffee and pay reductions all around!" Not smart.

Filed under: Economy || Jobs || Spending Freeze || State of the Union

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 28, 2010 11:04 AM | Comments (27)

We're Looking at You, Harry Reid

Another favorite line:

To Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve problems, not run for the hills.

The old Democratic way of doing things -- currently reflected by Harry Reid -- is to do exactly that. Run. Run away. Harry Reid's "no rush" remark about healthcare, for example. Those days aren't over, but, gladly, they're numbered.

Filed under: Democrats || Harry Reid || President Obama || State of the Union

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 28, 2010 9:40 AM | Comments (3)

Possibly My Favorite Lines of the Speech

I campaigned on the promise of change – change we can believe in, the slogan went. And right now, I know there are many Americans who aren’t sure if they still believe we can change – or at least, that I can deliver it.

But remember this – I never suggested that change would be easy, or that I can do it alone.

That's right. He didn't. "We are the ones we've been waiting for," I think was the line. But dovetailing with what I wrote yesterday, I think progressives were out-hustled this past year. It should've been the progressive movement barnstorming the town hall meetings in August -- demanding a robust public option or even single-payer. We were caught off guard in Massachusetts, too.

We're never going to win -- we're never going to move the country to the left unless we're on the ground changing minds. Door to door if need be.

Having a friendly (or friendlier) government in place ought to empower us to be able to do more. Instead, we're screaming at the friendly (or friendlier) government about relatively trivial things like Jon Gruber and whatever the hell we're investigating Rahm Emanuel for. Sure, in a vacuum, they might warrant some attention. But not in the context of the serious challenges we're confronting every day.

Ultimately, politicians go where the voters are, and we need those voters to be influenced by progressive ideas. And we missed out on some golden opportunities to influence that kind of change.

Filed under: President Obama || Progressivism || State of the Union

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 28, 2010 8:45 AM | Comments (7)

Step Away from the Budget, Senator McCain

Here's John McCain last night:

During his first year in office, President Obama and Congressional Democrats have amassed a $12.4 trillion deficit that is growing each day.

As Josh Marshall wrote, yes, that'd be $1 trillion a month for 12 months. Which is ridiculous.

About that deficit:

...the FY 2009 deficit, which totaled $1.4 trillion, was already estimated to be $1.2 trillion when Obama came into office and "virtually the entire deficit over the next ten years" are due either to policies implemented under President Bush or to the recession, which began during Bush's tenure, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Filed under: Budget || Economy || John McCain

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 28, 2010 6:58 AM | Comments (9)

Morning Awesome

Our U2 Covers theme week continues with...
The Roots performing a U2 medley including "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Pride"

Filed under: Awesome || Music || U2

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 28, 2010 6:06 AM | Comments (4)

January 27, 2010

Snap Reactions to the State of the Union

Here's what I really liked...

--This president has an incredible knack for combining both big oratory with a very conversational -- almost informal -- style in his joint session addresses. He totally commanded that room. VERY presidential.

--I liked that he made it clear that he wants Congress to pass the current healthcare legislation and not some sort of watered-down quickie thing that bans pre-existing conditions and gives us all free lollipops. He demanded that the Democrats finish the job -- and not just during the healthcare section, but at the end, too. No excuses. This is leadership.

--Awesome that he got a little snarky with the Republicans about the budget process. Yes, the budget he's introducing now is the 2011 budget. That's next year, wingnuts.

--I liked that he didn't introduce ringers in the gallery.

Here's what I didn't like...

--Alito muttering, "Not true." Total breach of decorum.

--Nuclear power, clean coal and off-shore drilling. He's always talked about clean coal, but nuclear and "drill baby drill?" Come on.

--Enough with the bipartisanship. The Republicans aren't playing. Hell, they didn't even applaud the tax cuts.

More tomorrow.

Filed under: President Obama || State of the Union

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 27, 2010 11:09 PM | Comments (18)

State of the Union Open Thread

Discuss all of your State of the Union observations here.

I'll be here and on Twitter with my thoughts.

UPDATE: Transcript here.

Filed under: Open Thread || State of the Union

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 27, 2010 7:46 PM | Comments (137)

Does Pelosi Have the Votes?

Reports are coming in from all around that Nancy Pelosi said that she does, in fact, have enough votes to pass the Senate healthcare reform bill.

I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more as the day wears on.

Filed under: Healthcare || Nancy Pelosi

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 27, 2010 4:30 PM | Comments (1)

New Huffington Post Column

Progressives vs. The President

Can't wait to be flamed on this one.

Enjoy, Digg and Twitter often!

Filed under: Huffington Post || Just Like Bush || Kill the Bill || Progressivism

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 27, 2010 1:52 PM | Comments (32)

Fake Pimp Gate

Yesterday, I made a tongue-in-cheek remark about how Fox News might've paid O'Keefe to wiretap Mary Landrieu's office.

I was wrong.

It might've been Andrew Breitbart. But he's denying the allegation.

Filed under: ACORN || Fake Pimp Gate || Fox News Channel || Wingnuts

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 27, 2010 11:46 AM | Comments (8)

The New Insufferables?

Reconciliation for the House fixes on healthcare reform will eliminate the need for Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Joe Lieberman, Evan Bayh and Mary Landrieu. The Insufferables. But several weeks ago, I worried that reconciliation might bring in a new batch of insufferables who might stand in the way of a decent reconciliation bill.

Nate Silver specifically mentions McCaskill, Warner and Bill Nelson. I would also add Kent Conrad, Max Baucus, Tom Carper and Mark Pryor to that mix -- especially if the reconciliation fixes include a straight-up public option or Medicare buy-in.

The bottom line here is that reconciliation isn't necessarily a magic bullet for passing everything we want. Nor is it a cakewalk. But it's the only real path. And so it has to happen.

Filed under: Healthcare || Medicare || Public Option || Reconciliation

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 27, 2010 10:46 AM | Comments (5)

Pass the Damn Bill Now!

The House is ready to pass the damn bill. Now it's up to the Senate to pass the fixes.

Leading Democrats in the House still insist that "all options are on the table" to move ahead on health care. But for the first time since last Tuesday's special election in Massachusetts, it's clear that they're coalescing around the most widely discussed option: moving ahead with the Senate bill once it's clear that it will be changed through the filibuster-proof reconciliation process.

Let's do this!

Filed under: Healthcare || Reconciliation

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 27, 2010 9:59 AM | Comments (3)

The Public Option Is Back on the Table

I'm not getting my hopes up, but this is encouraging:

...in order to move health care through the House, Democrats either need to pick up progressives or conservatives. And the budget reconciliation process does not lend itself to altering abortion language reform, because that wouldn't have a direct, substantial impact on the budget.

That leaves progressives as the bloc available to pick up. Their demands -- changes related to the tax on insurance, a Medicaid or Medicare expansion, and a public option -- would likely be allowable using reconciliation. (The Senate parliamentarian would have the final say.)

Two House freshmen, Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.), circulated a letter, looking for signatures, that will be delivered to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Thursday on behalf of the plan, Polis told HuffPost.

Also...

"It is very likely that the public option could have passed the Senate, if brought up under majority-vote 'budget reconciliation' rules," reads the letter. "While there were valid reasons stated for not using reconciliation before, especially given that some important provisions of health care reform wouldn't qualify under the reconciliation rules, those reasons no longer exist."

I mean, it makes perfect sense. If this is the path forward, why not add the Medicare buy-in or the public option? The question is whether the Senate moderates would be able to bring more votes into their coalition. A reconciliation vote with the public option would be tight. It's more likely that the public option would be the Reid/Schumer opt-out public option.

At this point, I'm done making predictions, but I'm glad that this reconciliation plan is moving forward.

Filed under: Healthcare || Medicare || Public Option || Reconciliation

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 27, 2010 8:00 AM | Comments (1)

Morning Awesome

Our U2 Covers theme week continues with...
Smashing Pumpkins performing U2's "Stay (Faraway so close)"

Filed under: Awesome || Music || U2

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 27, 2010 6:04 AM | Comments (0)

January 26, 2010

Looks Like Meat's Back on the Menu, Boys

It looks like we're moving closer to passing the House healthcare reform provisions as amendments via reconciliation.

Laying out the way forward on health care reform Tuesday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) confirmed that Congress and the White House are discussing the use of reconciliation to "correct" the Senate legislation with a supplemental bill that would require only a simple majority in the upper chamber.

No word, though, on any progress in terms of guaranteeing the reconciliation fixes. I'm sure the House doesn't want to pass the Senate bill only to see the reconciliation fixes either not have the votes in the Senate, or for the measure to be buried. Greg Sargent spoke with House majority whip Jim Clyburn:

An influential House Democrat is now predicting that House Dems will pass the Senate health bill if they are persuaded they have a guarantee that it will be fixed in reconciliation — a declaration that could give a boost of momentum for the prospects of getting reform done via this route.

In an interview with me, House majority whip James Clyburn also urged the President to throw his weight behind this approach during tomorrow’s State of the Union Address, declaring that it would be “helpful.”

Meanwhile, Senators Nelson, Bayh and Lincoln have pledged to vote against passing the fixes. Even though they would've voted for the fixes had they been in a conference report. And never mind that they voted for other legislation via reconciliation. Cowards. Hypocrites.

Adding... I really have zero respect for Harry Reid.

The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, deflected questions about health care. “We’re not on health care now,” he said. “We’ve talked a lot about it in the past.” He added, “There is no rush,” and noted that Congress still had most of this year to work on the health bills passed in 2009 by the Senate and the House.

No rush? NO RUSH?! With all due respect, sir -- bite me. Yeah, I guess if you have government healthcare like Harry Reid, there isn't any rush. Rat bastard. Coward. Weasel.

Filed under: Ben Nelson || Healthcare || Jim Clyburn || Reconciliation

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 26, 2010 7:56 PM | Comments (7)

Fake Pimp Busted

My favorite story of the week. Those scam artists who caught ACORN on videotape have been arrested by the FBI for trying to wiretap Mary Landrieu's office.

Not to jump the gun on conspiracy theories, but I wonder who put them up to it. Fox News maybe?

Filed under: ACORN || Fox News Channel || Wingnuts

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 26, 2010 4:58 PM | Comments (13)

Job Creation Tax Credits

Paul Krugman wrote a pretty alarming post today about the president's proposed spending freeze, and ended with this:

Now, I still cling to a fantasy: maybe, just possibly, Obama is going to tie his spending freeze to something that would actually help the economy, like an employment tax credit. (No, trivial tax breaks don’t count). There has, however, been no hint of anything like that in the reports so far. Right now, this looks like pure disaster.

I tend to follow along with Krugman mainly because I'm an economic novice, and he's, well, you know. That said, I don't know if it's a "disaster" yet, because there are, in fact, employment tax credits being proposed by the White House today.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's push to create jobs includes a new tax credit for small businesses that add employees, an idea that has appeal as the nation struggles with an unemployment rate topping 10 percent.

I think this fulfills Krugman's fantasy.

Filed under: Economy || Jobs || Paul Krugman || Spending Freeze || Taxes

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 26, 2010 10:44 AM | Comments (22)

Whose Money Will Be Frozen?

The likely answer: poor people. Spending on social programs to help the poor will get slammed down by the spending freeze (Medicaid, however, is exempt from the freeze). Ezra Klein outlines that the discretionary spending programs without huge lobbies and constituencies will be smacked by the freeze.

For example, agriculture subsidies should be cut. But do we really believe that heavily lobbied, politically charged ag subsidies will be frozen or cut by self-proclaimed "fiscal conservatives" like Ben Nelson, Chuck Grassley and Blanche Lincoln -- all of whom come from predominantly agricultural states? No way. Since there isn't a group of powerful, wealthy lobbyists known as Big Poverty, there's not enough power to guard social programs from the freeze.

So far, I've been ambivalent about the spending freeze since we haven't heard all of the details. But some realities in Washington are perpetual. "Fiscal conservatives" are only "fiscally conservative" about the spending and the earmarks that don't belong to them or the special interests that feed them.

Filed under: Ben Nelson || Blanche Lincoln || Chuck Grassley || Economy || Jobs || Spending Freeze

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 26, 2010 9:50 AM | Comments (7)

Evan Bayh's Common Sense Solutions

I love it -- love it! -- when Democrats repeat Republican frames. Very helpful and effective to reinforce what these wackaloons have to say. Evan Bayh, for example, was on Morning Joe this morning and used variations of the phrase "common sense solutions."

We're gonna pursue a common sense path to get back on the right path.

Common sense solutions that show we're in touch with ordinary Americans...

It sounded familiar. Where have I heard that before?

But those common sense solutions there, especially with the cutting taxes on the job creators? That's not even being discussed.

Not when there are common sense solutions to meeting health care challenges in our country... So lots of commonsense solutions that need to be plugged in before ever considering federal government taking it over.

It's all about Americans who are hurting right now and what those solutions are that are so obvious, so common sense that need to be plugged in.

Sarah Palin on the Rush Limbaugh program.

Filed under: Democrats || Evan Bayh || Framing || Republicans || Sarah Palin

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 26, 2010 8:14 AM | Comments (8)

Morning Awesome

Our U2 Covers theme week continues with...
Sepultra covering U2's "Bullet the Blue Sky"

Filed under: Awesome || Music || U2

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 26, 2010 6:01 AM | Comments (2)

January 25, 2010

A Spending Freeze? Okay, Why?

I hear that healthcare and a second stimulus will be exempt, but this is really strange during a tenuous economic recovery:

President Barack Obama will propose a three-year freeze on federal spending outside of national security to save an estimated $250 billion over a decade as part of an effort to rein in record deficits, two administration officials said.

[...] The limit on discretionary spending would reduce the deficit by $10 billion to $15 billion in 2011, according to the officials, who briefed reporters on the plan. Last year’s budget shortfall was a record $1.4 trillion.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Commerce, Interior and Justice Departments are among the executive branch agencies subject to the freeze, officials said, while the Defense Department, Department of Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs and unspecified international affairs programs would be exempt.

How does this create jobs? I have no idea. I'm just skiddish about spending cuts when unemployment is high and the recovery is still embryonic. Waiting for more details on this one.

UPDATE: From Oliver via Twitter:

jobs are exempt, as is hcr from any kind of freeze. increased benefits for college loans, child care.

Filed under: Economy || Jobs || Spending Freeze

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 25, 2010 9:02 PM | Comments (24)

Wingnut History Began on January 20, 2009

It's just staggering what Fox News and wingnuttia will latch onto. Today, Fox Nation posted a front page item showing President Obama with his feet propped up on the Resolute Desk, with the headline: "Is Pres. Obama Disrespecting the Oval Office." SHOCK HORROR! Cue loud noises and tea party rallies!

Of course, Media Matters dug up almost the exact same photograph of George W. Bush with his feet propped up on the Resolute Desk.

And we're supposed to take these barrel fish seriously? We're supposed to engage in bipartisan civil discourse with these doofs?

Filed under: Fox Nation || Oval Office || Wingnuts

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 25, 2010 5:28 PM | Comments (9)

Superman vs. Bizarro Superman

I've been grappling with this conflicting agenda for most of the last several months, but today it seems more obvious than most. How, specifically, does the White House plan to focus on creating jobs when it's also focusing on deficit reduction?

These two goals are in direct conflict.

Add to the mix the discouraging fact that the president explicitly endorsed Kent Conrad's bipartisan debt reduction commission bill. Granted, there could be some political motivation here, but it surely won't encourage the Senate to support additional job creation measures involving government spending -- literally one of the only ways to create a lot of jobs in a short period of time. Again, the Democrats have to make a serious dent in unemployment, like, yesterday. Or else.

So we have two very contradictory goals that could potentially cancel each other out -- reducing an already dysfunctional Senate into a seized-up mess. Not to mention the further elevation of Kent Conrad who I was really hoping would more or less disappear after he perpetually slowed the healthcare reform bill.

Filed under: Economy || Healthcare || Jobs || Kent Conrad || President Obama

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 25, 2010 2:58 PM | Comments (7)

Project for a Healthy American Future

Steve Benen wrote a thorough memo pitching the urgency to pass the current healthcare reform legislation, a la Bill Kristol's anti-reform memo from the 1990s.

This is a must read.

Pass the bill, Congress!

Filed under: Bill Kristol || Healthcare

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 25, 2010 12:49 PM | Comments (6)

The Latest Very Complex Plan

This is kind of encouraging, while also being risky and complicated. EJ Dionne describes the latest plan for passing healthcare reform:

So here’s an idea, I have been told reliably, that leaders of both Houses are considering: The House would pass a version of the reconciliation bill containing the various amendments and send it to the Senate. The Senate would change it slightly (in ways that the House agreed to), which would require the House to vote on it again. Only after it got the revised reconciliation bill would the House take up the Senate bill. The House could then pass both bills and send both to the president. Problem solved, health-care passes, and we move on.

My worry, of course, is that this injects many more votes and a crapload of additional sausage into the mix. Lots of opportunities for asses like Lieberman or Stupak to throw wrenches into the works. Say nothing of further inciting the kill-billers and teabaggers. But at this point, my view is whatever it takes. They have to pass the Senate bill.

Filed under: Democrats || Healthcare || Kill the Bill

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 25, 2010 11:22 AM | Comments (2)

Without Healthcare Reform, What's the Path?

This past year, one of the most often used phrases has been "a path to single payer."

While the kill-billers are busily petitioning House members to not pass the Senate bill, and demanding their money back from anyone who does, I'm wondering if there's been any real thought put to the question: What then...?

Seriously, if healthcare reform fails and the Democrats are hobbled as a result, what's the path to single payer? How long will it take to create a path? Is there a plan? And if so, is it a realistic plan or one that depends upon blind allies like Obama should just yell at Lieberman and then...?

But I suspect it's the underpants gnome plan again:

1. Loud noises.
2. ????
3. Single-payer!

Filed under: Healthcare || Kill the Bill || Progressivism || Single-payer

Posted By Bob Cesca | January 25, 2010 8:53 AM | Comments (19)

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