×
- It's not the greatest policy solution, but Tom Carper's (D-DE) public option alternative that would allow states to decide if they want to set up co-ops or exchanges does have the benefit of being a smart political solution. If you're a red state that doesn't want "socialized medicine," then fine, let your people suffer. But in states that actually want to bring down costs and widen the insurance pool, they could participate in the benefits of health-care reform. And since the federal government would be picking up the tab initially, the Carper alternative would not be immediately hobbled by already-busted state budgets.
- I remember back when liberals questioned George Bush's foreign policy judgment it was considered treason by conservatives. Of course, now that comrade Obama is in the White House, attacking the president's foreign policy judgment is not only appropriate, but the height of patriotism. Whether it's Iran, Afghanistan or the Olympics, the default conservative position is to attack the policy, wrap it in a layer of betrayal and appeasement, and top it off with dereliction of duty. If these people were remotely self-aware they would quietly exile themselves from public life forever.
- It's of no small interest to see that a healthy majority of Mainers really, really want Olympia Snowe to back the public option in a health care reform bill. Snowe is one of the more popular members of Congress and she's not up for re-election until 2012, but if she turns her back on her constituents, she could suffer Lincoln Chaffee's fate -- getting booted out of office for being associated with Republican policies despite being extremely well-liked in her state.
- The next time RNC Chairman Michael Steele is making a fool of himself on some cable show, it would be nice if the host would ask him why he attached his name to a fundraising letter that compares the President of the United States to Stalin and Kim Jong-Il. The host could ask if Mr. Steele actually believes that the president is engaging in "indoctrination" and "propaganda" and "fanaticism" because those are serious charges to make against the highest elected official in the land. But since these terms have been rendered all but meaningless by their incessant abuse, I'm not holding my breath.
- Remainders: It's a testament to their political irrelevance that Republicans spend all their time trying to cast everything they oppose as illegitimate; Bill Kristol explains how the unfounded rumors he hears affects his virility; the NRA feels civil society is enhanced by allowing armed patrons to drink at bars; and privately-owned, borderline illegal security firms run by criminal scam artists are so damned creepy.
--Mori Dinauer
