Friday Talking Points [101] -- Count Me With The Misfits

Chris Weigant, 11.15.2009

Author, Political Commentator, and Blogger (ChrisWeigant.com)

Whether or not Harry Reid ever gets his act together, the achievement of Nancy Pelosi getting healthcare reform legislation should stand on its own as an admirable political achievement.

The Progressive Non-Revolution, The MSM's Take On Ft. Hood, And Gay Marriage's Failure At Ballot Box

Ted Johnson, Maegan Carberry, Teresa Valdez Klein, 11.11.2009

Variety's Wilshire and Washington

Attention all liberals who imagined that the country was going through some new progressive revolution after the last election: wake up and smell the ...

Nancy's Compromise

Taylor Marsh, 11.11.2009

Political analyst, commentator, with foreign policy focus

This isn't just political, it's personal. Though Speaker Pelosi may find that her compromise was all for naught, as Sen. Ben Nelson, aided by Mr. Lie...

The Answer to Heath Care

Jim Lichtman, 11.11.2009

Hold on to your hats, folks, I'm getting ready to be brilliant. I have the answer to the health care debate. No, really! Last Saturday, the House n...

Getting Higher on the Page

Mike Lux, 11.11.2009

Author, The Progressive Revolution: How the Best in America Came to Be

The cool thing about elections is that you can pick a side, and then you have one goal that is simple and clear-cut. Legislative fights, especially on the complicated, messy issues like health care, are not like that at all.

A Necessary Addition to Obama's China Trip Agenda: Chinese Public Interest Lawyers

Elizabeth Lynch, 11.11.2009

Attorney and Editor of chinalawandpolicy.com

You would never expect attorneys to hold a serious meeting in a McDonald's, but that is where I found myself last Friday when I met with three public interest attorneys, all recently disbarred, in Beijing.

You Are Not a "Great American," Sean Hannity

Andy Ostroy, 11.10.2009

New York City-based political analyst

If Sean Hannity truly wants to be the "great American" he claims to be, he can start by being truthful to his listeners and by not rooting for his supposedly beloved America to fail under the current leadership.

Compromiser-in-Chief No Backstop for Women's Rights

Martha Burk, 11.09.2009

Political psychologist, co-founder, Center for Advancement of Public Policy

The House passed an "historic" health care bill Saturday night - there was much celebration on the Democratic side and the proverbial wailing and gnas...

Coughing Up Stupak's "Morning-After" Poison Pill

M.S. Bellows, Jr., 11.10.2009

Writer, mediator, proprietor of Warranted Wiretaps: Inside Info from Outside the Beltway

Stupak's poison pill will kill the public option -- unless progressives react intelligently rather than emotionally, in which case they can actually turn the anti-abortion amendment to their advantage.

House Votes to Move Up End of World From 2012 to 2010

John Marshall, 11.09.2009

Comedian, Emmy-nominated writer

Buoyed by the passage of Saturday's health care bill, the House today voted to skootch up the end of the world to 2010, to give lawmakers a chance to address it before the mid-term elections.

One More Step

Mike Lux, 11.09.2009

Author, The Progressive Revolution: How the Best in America Came to Be

When people over the weekend asked why getting the votes for the health care bill was so hard, I would have to say: it just is -- it is the nature of the beast.

Democratic Party Out of Bounds

RJ Eskow, 11.09.2009

Consultant, Writer, Health Analyst

To the House Dems who reportedly chanted "Fired up! Ready to go!": This isn't a pep rally. This situation calls for a little less partying and a little more party leadership, a few less amendments and a lot more amends.

The Senate, Not the House, Is the Name of the Game on Health Care Reform

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, 11.08.2009

Political Analyst and Social Issues Commentator

The House vote on health care reform was historic only in that one body of Congress took the hotly contested first big step toward reform. The Senate hasn't spoken.

Kucinich's Brave Health Vote vs. Obama's Failed Promise

Lee Stranahan, 11.08.2009

Filmmaker, Writer, Photographer

Despite enormous pressure to support H.R. 3962, Rep. Kucinich did the right thing and voted 'no.' Unlike the Blue Dog votes against the bill, he did it for all the right reasons.

In Pelosi's House, 64 Democrats Sell Women Out

Taylor Marsh, 11.08.2009

Political analyst, commentator, with foreign policy focus

The first female Speaker of the House makes history by passing a health care bill that not only doesn't have a robust public option, but also sells out women's civil rights.

Another Reason We Will Win!

Rep. Earl Blumenauer, 11.07.2009

U.S. Representative from Oregon

Last night, my phone rings. "Are you available to talk to the Speaker?" I feel like I'm being called on in law school to explain a case on one of those rare occasions where I had actually briefed it the day before.

Congressmen Admit They No Longer Remember Which Health Care Bill They Are Voting On

Andy Borowitz, 11.07.2009

BorowitzReport.com

"Maybe I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I can't for the life of me remember whether this is the bill I liked or the bill I despised," said Rep. Rand DeVane (D-OH). "I'm only human."

Friday Talking Points [100] -- Whigging Out

Chris Weigant, 11.06.2009

Author, Political Commentator, and Blogger (ChrisWeigant.com)

I will explain that silly subtitle in a moment, but first we've got to delve even deeper into rampant silliness. If such silliness and unseriousness ...

Fort Hood Shooting: 1 Disturbed Man, 1 Gun, 13 Dead, 30 Wounded

Paul Helmke, 11.06.2009

President, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

America has seen an epidemic of horrific gun violence at churches and synagogues, workplaces, health clubs, high schools, universities, police stations and now Army bases.

CBO Score? Check. Bill Online For 72 Hours? Check. No Excuses To Vote Against House Healthcare Bill.

Bill Scher, 11.07.2009

OurFuture.org, LiberalOasis.com, WHMP, author of “Wait! Don’t Move To Canada!”

I have yet to hear a single conservative critic give credit where credit is due, let alone announce that since these concerns have been addressed, conservatives can now happily support the legislation.

The Next Phase of Health Care Apartheid

Norman Solomon, 11.05.2009

Norman Solomon is the author of a dozen books including "War Made Easy."

When it comes to guaranteeing quality health care for all, the gist of the policy is: "Let's not, and say we did." In Washington, "health care reform" has degenerated into a sick joke.