Democratic

Friday Talking Points [102] -- Harry Reid's Glacial Progress Grinds On

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.21.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Harry Reid thinks he's got enough votes, but then this is the reason why the vote keeps getting pushed back -- because he's obviously still scrambling for the final few votes before he moves ahead.

Health Care Reform Struggle Will Not End This Year

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.17.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

No matter what healthcare bill passes, it is not going to remain static. It is going to be revisited again and again over the next few decades. That's how lawmaking works.

Happy Election Day, Mr. President

Charles Butler | Posted 11.05.2009 | Politics


Charles Butler

I think last year's vote proved people voted against Bush, and not for Obama. Today's votes are about the economy and jobs in the respective areas, not Obama policies.

Heart-Stopping Hallowe'en Horror, Left And Right

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.31.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Happy Samhain, everyone, if that isn't an inherent oxymoron. For those of you who expected (and were, of course, waiting for with bated breath... what...

Media's Credibility (Not Public Option) Is What Is Dead

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.28.2009 | Media


Chris Weigant

The media has been pushing the "public option is dead" theme for so long, it's no wonder they're so astonished by yesterday's news that a public option will be included in the Senate bill.

Friday Talking Points [99] -- Misdirection

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.26.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

The real head-scratcher for serious media-watchers right now is what the "war" between the White House and Fox News was meant to distract us from this week. The "war" itself is laughable, for a number of reasons.

Halftime At The Healthcare Reform Superbowl

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.15.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

A football locker room. Hundreds of Democrats are sitting on benches, to hear Coach's halftime pep talk in the Health Care Reform Superbowl. Some appear exhausted, some appear battered.

Friday Talking Points: Is Opt-Out The Answer?

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.14.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

The plan isn't going into effect until 2013. Think you're tired of TV ads and screaming folks at town hall meetings now? Picture a more local version of that for the next four years -- not a pretty sight.

Friday Talking Points [96] -- The Impressiveness of Alan Grayson

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.03.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

First, let's get rid of the distractions this week. Chicago will not be getting the Olympics in 2016, even after President Obama went over to Copenha...

Harry Reid Becomes GOP Target In Nevada

Wall Street Journal | JIM CARLTON | Posted 09.26.2009 | Politics


Mr. Reid, 69 years old, is facing mounting criticism in his home state and is trailing in the polls against two Republican challengers for his Senate ...

Friday Talking Points [95] -- A Call To Action

Chris Weigant | Posted 09.26.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

The progressives and Blue Dogs are going to have a showdown. It is going to culminate not in statements to the press (or the lack thereof), not in some whispered whip count, but rather in a very public vote.

Baucus' Bill Not Bipartisan, But Panmedia

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.16.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Baucus' was supposed to be the "bipartisan" bill, but the only way it can truly be referred to as such is in the growing bipartisan distaste for the bill.

Emerging GOP Theme: Nullification

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.14.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

The code words change over time (from "nullification" to "states' rights" to Pawlenty's "state sovereignty"), but the idea is the same -- we retain the right to ignore any laws we don't feel like following.

Friday Talking Points [93] -- Lies, Lies And Propaganda

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.11.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Political discussions in America are fast becoming solely theological in nature.. Each side has their beliefs. Each has their tenets which they fervently defend. Much of this is done on faith.

Did Obama's Speech Change The Game?

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.09.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Stylistically, the speech was reminiscent of Obama on the campaign trail. But the bar for him is so high that this was only remarkable because it has been so absent of late from Obama.

Taking Things Off the Table

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.23.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Obama absolutely loves the phrase "everything's on the table." But the time for piling "everything" on "the table" is over. Everything being on the table means that no decisions have been made.

Friday Talking Points [92] -- The End Of Silly Season

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.20.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Sadly, Obama's speech to school children has become mired in manufactured controversy from the right, with typical sky-is-falling rhetoric about the evil, evil man who occupies the Oval Office.

Friday Talking Points [91] -- Win One For Teddy

Chris Weigant | Posted 09.28.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Calling for some sort of decorous avoidance of politics during politicians' funerals is downright ridiculous. It'd be like eulogizing Charles Lindbergh and not mentioning airplanes.

Friday Talking Points [90] -- Obama To Switch Parties

Chris Weigant | Posted 09.21.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Ted Kennedy is putting both his legacy and his sense of entitlement to his office before the interests of his constituents.

Friday Talking Points [89] -- Fighting Crazy

Chris Weigant | Posted 09.14.2009 | Media


Chris Weigant

The media is not completely responsible for the state of the debate over healthcare reform. The Democrats have done such a poor job of presenting their case that they really bear the lion's share of blame.

Obama's Second Hundred Days

Chris Weigant | Posted 09.06.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Our look back at Obama's second 100 days will begin with a short overview, and then move on to the categories: "the best of times," "the worst of times," and "the age of (media) foolishness."

Friday Talking Points [87] -- A Tale Of Two Houses

Chris Weigant | Posted 08.24.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Simply for acting like a leader this week, Speaker Pelosi wins the Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week award hands-down.

It's Time To Lead, Mr. President

Chris Weigant | Posted 08.22.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Obama's legislative style has been to vaguely define what he's for, introduce a plan that is quite obviously open to lots and lots of negotiation, and then sit back and let Congress work it out.

Obama and Bright Lines in the Sand

Chris Weigant | Posted 08.08.2009 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Obama again refused to give a strong defense of the public option himself. By doing so, he just dug the hole deeper. What exactly does Obama stand for in the health care debate?

Arab Pro-Democracy Movements Should Support Iran's New Revolutionaries

Firas Al-Atraqchi | Posted 07.16.2009 | World


Firas Al-Atraqchi

While Iranians may look to the West for help, it is their immediate neighbors which should support their struggle.