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Reform

Africa's Seat at the Table

President Abdoulaye Wade | Posted 11.05.2009 | World

Read More: G-20 Summit, Governance, President Barack Obama, Malaria, Reform, G-20, Accra Speech, World Bank, g20, Senegal, Food Shortage, Robert Zoellick, Senegal President, United Nations General Assembly, Aids, President Abdoulaye Wade, World News
President Abdoulaye Wade

Battling global warming, the economic crisis, food and energy shortages, and AIDS and malaria requires co-partners, not post-colonial relationships.

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The Secrets To Goldman Sachs' Success: Contrary Bets, Predatory Lending, Government Connections, Offshore Tax Havens

McClatchy | Greg Gordon | Posted 11.01.2009 | Business

Read More: Foreclosures, Paulson, Regulation, Recession, Obama, Reform, Lloyd Blankfein, Mortgage Related Swaps, Mortgages, Goldman Sachs, Aig, Mississippi, Bailout, Predatory Lending, Securities Act of 1933, Blankfein, Hank Paulson, Foreclosure, Housing Crisis, Goldman Sachs Mortgage, Real Estate, Wall Street, Tax Havens, Housing Market, Blue Chips, Calpers, Derivatives, Moody's, Offshore, Tim Geithner, High Yield Bonds, Hedges, Barack Obama, Nyse, Cayman Islands, Banks, Sec, Subprime Mortgage, Economy, Business News

WASHINGTON -- In 2006 and 2007, Goldman Sachs Group peddled more than $40 billion in securities backed by at least 200,000 risky home mortgages, but n...

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Supreme Court To Hear Case About Excessive Pay; Parallels Seen In Executive Compensation

Washington Post | Robert Barnes and Steven Mufson | Posted 10.31.2009 | Business

Read More: John C. Bogle, Regulation, Reform, Obama, Investors, Mutual Funds, White House, Bailout, Sotomayor, Jones vs. Harris, Jones vs. Harris Associates, Wall Street, Excessive Pay, Vanguard Group, Kenneth Feinberg, Financial Reform, Compensation, Pay Czar, Nfl, Index Funds, Barack Obama, Corporations, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court, Jones v. Harris Associates, Bonuses, Ken Feinberg, Apeals Court, Executive Pay, Business News

The Supreme Court this week will hear a case that raises bedrock questions about the ability of the market to set "reasonable" corporate compensation,...

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

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.28.2009 | Media

Read More: Democrat, Committee, Public Option, House, Msm, Congress, Reform, Media, Democrats, Mainstream Media, Democratic, Baucus, Chris Weigant, Health, Public Option Is Dead, Harry Reid, Max Baucus, Health Care, Senate, Healthcare, Reid, Bill, Media News
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.

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Wall Street Follies: The Next Act

New York Times | GRETCHEN MORGENSON | Posted 10.25.2009 | Politics

Read More: House Financial Services Committee, Bailout, House Agriculture Committee, Obama Adminstration, Financial Reforms, Federal Reserve, Wall Street, Ag Committee, Derivatives, Economy, Financial Reform, Obama, Reform, The Fed, Consumer Protection Bill, White House, Financial Services Committee, Glass-Steagall, Politics News

It certainly sounded good. Hoping, perhaps, to persuade a dubious public that curbing reckless business practices is indeed a Washington priority, t...

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Arianna Discusses Public's Bailout Anger On BBC's Newsnight

Huff TV | Posted 10.25.2009 | Home

Read More: JP Morgan Chase, White House, Hank Paulson, Economy, Chase, Regulation, Larry Summers, Obama, Reform, Barack Obama, Recession, Goldman Saks, Bailout, Henry Paulson, Glass-Steagall Act, Home News
Huff TV

Arianna recently appeared on BBC's Newsnight to discuss the economic crisis, the lack of reform, and the effects of the bailout on American society an...

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Friday Talking Points [99] -- Misdirection

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.26.2009 | Politics

Read More: White House, Pentagon, Troops, Medicare for All, Rumor Mongering, Guantanamo, Monopoly, Reform, Alan Grayson, Dscc, Pentagon Budget, Roger Ailes, Nixonian, Charles Schumer, President, Magic, Military, Bailout, Emanuel, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Ailes, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Health Care, Reid, Public Option, Olympia Snowe, Democrat, Congress, Playing the Victim, Close Gitmo Now, Rumor, Stage Magic, Democrats, Barack Obama, Rage Against the Machine, Executive Compensation, Calls, Schumer, Mddotw, Rahm Emanuel, Wasted, Health, Weiner, Harry Reid, Nixon, Healthcare, Senate, Orchestra Pit Theory, President Obama, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Fox, Obama, Democratic, Media, Grayson, Friday Talking Points, Republican, Pelosi, Snowe, Enemy, Organizing for America, Misdirect, Guantanamo Bay, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Orchestra Pit, Victim, Robust Public Option, Anthony Weiner, Trigger, Trust Busting, House, Tom Morello, Victim Card, War, Ad, Opt Out, 1000 Hours, Defense Appropriations, Enemy of America, Misdirection, Wall Street, Chris Weigant, Health Insurance, Health Insurers, 300000, Fox News, Medicare, Chuck Schumer, Executive Pay, Torture, Morello, Politics News
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.

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Want Healthcare Reform? Pick Up The Phone.

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.25.2009 | Politics

Read More: President Obama, Senator, Obama, Reform, Democratic Party, Telephone, Pelosi, Call to Action, Switchboards, 2010, Nancy Pelosi, Health Care, Re-Elected, Reid, House, Contact, Congressmen, Democrat, Congress, Call, Democrats, Representative, Organizing for America, Barack Obama, Election, Pick Up the Phone, Congressman, Elections, Self Interest, Chris Weigant, Phone, Health, Hcr, Blue Dogs, Harry Reid, Healthcare Reform, Senate, Healthcare, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Yesterday, over 300,000 people picked up the phone and called Congress demanding health care reform this year. The phones ringing off the hook certainly did not go unnoticed by Congress.

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Dems Go After Antitrust Exemption For Insurers

AP | DAVID ESPO | Posted 10.22.2009 | Politics

Read More: Insurance Industry, Antitrust, Reform, Obama, Politics News

WASHINGTON — Democrats launched a drive at both ends of the Capitol on Wednesday to strip the insurance industry of its decades-old exemption fr...

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Medicare Part D Creators Now Working For Lobbyists With Billions At Stake

ProPublica | Olga Pierce | Posted 10.20.2009 | Politics

Read More: House Means Ways Committee, Gop, White House, Breaux, Lobbyists, Don Nickles, Obama, Tarplin Downs Young, Tarplin, John Breaux, House Ways and Means Committee, Baucus, Billy Tauzin, Raissa Downs, Breaux Lott Leadership, Downs & Young, Part D, Michelle Easton, John McManus, Lobbying, Medicare Part D, Phrma, Reform, Democrats, Insurance Industry, Drug Industry, Health Care Industry, Max Baucus, Medicare, Health Care Reform, Thomas Scully, Healthcare Reform, Politics News

Four years ago, a group of lawmakers and aides crafted Medicare Part D, the prescription drug program for seniors that has produced billions of dollar...

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CBO Health Care Estimates: Washington Post Profiles Agency That Estimates Health Care Bills' Costs

Washington Post | Lori Montgomery | Posted 10.19.2009 | Home

Read More: Health Care Bill, Insurance Companies, Phil Ellis, CBO Numbers, Public Option, House, Cbo, Reform, CBO Estimates, CBO Costs, Negotiations, Health Insurance Companies, Single-Payer, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Health Care, Senate, Home News

Phil Ellis may be the most powerful guy you've never heard of in the health-care debate. A senior analyst with the Congressional Budget Office, Ellis ...

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Small Group Now Leads Closed-Door Health Care Reform Negotiations

Washington Post | Perry Bacon Jr. | Posted 10.18.2009 | Politics

Read More: Baucus, Public Option, Nancy Pelosi, John D. Rockefeller, Pelosi, C-Span, White House, Obama, Reform, Max Baucus, Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid, Schumer, Negotiations, Bills, John Boehner, Health Care Reform, Anthony Weiner, Dodd, Chris Dodd, Health Care, Snowe, Politics News

Three senators are working on the bill behind closed doors. Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) sits at the head of a wooden table at hi...

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Frank Rich: Goldman Can Spare You A Dime

New York Times | FRANK RICH | Posted 10.17.2009 | Business

Read More: Timothy Geithner, Larry Summers, Economy, Barney Frank, Jobless, Regulation, Obama, Reform, Lloyd Blankfein, Frank Rich, Unemployment Rate, Goldman Sachs, White House, Jobless Rate, Bailout, Treasury, Blankfein, Wall Street, Health Care, Greed, Sec, Depression, Senate Finance Committee, Derivatives, Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, Goldman, Recession, Financial Services Committee, Health Care Reform, Bonuses, House Financial Services Committee, Business News

As leader of the Wall Street pack, Goldman declared surging profits, keeping it on track to dispense a record $23 billion in bonuses for 2009. But mos...

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Goodbye/Hello 14 "Burning The Ships "

Patt Cottingham | Posted 10.17.2009 | Politics

Read More: Citizens, Buring Ships, Constitution, Dysfunction, Lobbyists, Hernando Cortez, Courage, Washington, Reform, Democrats, No Retreat, Committment, Republican, Politics News
Patt Cottingham

In 1519 the Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez anchored his 11 ships off the Yucatan Peninsula. Thousands of miles of ocean separated him from Spa...

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Mayor Bloomberg's Record on Schools Key Issue in Campaign: "Portfolio" Approach is Central Feature

Thomas W. Carroll | Posted 10.15.2009 | New York

Read More: Portfolio, Foundation for Education Reform & Accountability, Education, Mayor Bloomberg, Diane Ravitch, Tom Vander Ark, Jim Shelton, Reform, Schools, Campaign, Paul T. Hill, New York, New York City Department of Education, Charter Schools, Bill Thompson, Education Reform, New York News
Thomas W. Carroll

Under Bloomberg and mayoral control (vs. how it was run under Bill Thompson under the old board of education), the public school system is viewed as a "portfolio" rather than as a centrally run monolith.

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Halftime At The Healthcare Reform Superbowl

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.15.2009 | Politics

Read More: 60 Votes, Win One for the Gipper, White House, Kennedy, Chris Dodd, Democratic, Reform, Alan Grayson, Football Metaphor, Grayson, Halftime, Snowe, Pelosi, Edward Kennedy, Win One for the Skipper, Baucus, Nancy Pelosi, Budget Reconciliation, Health Care, Reid, Reconciliation, Conference Committee, House, Football, Cheerleader, Olympia Snowe, 50 Votes, Democrat, Congress, Democrats, Floor Vote, Teddy Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Steny Hoyer, Coach, Chris Weigant, Sailing, Health, Corporate Whore, Max Baucus, Harry Reid, Superbowl, Dodd, Hoyer, Pep Talk, Healthcare, Senate, Politics News
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.

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Democratic Health Care Plan Fails, Feeds Fat Cat Insurance Lobby

Ray Hanania | Posted 10.19.2009 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, Lobby, Senator Max Baucus, President Obama, Public Option, Insurance, Re-Election, Campaign Cash Contributions, Reform, Republicans, Democrats, Healthcare, Inside DC, Politics News
Ray Hanania

So let me get this straight. President Barack Obama makes a clarion call to reform healthcare so that the 30 million Americans (not including the 12 m...

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Immigration Rally: Immigration Reform Advocates Gather At Capitol Hill

The New York Times | Ian Urbina | Posted 10.13.2009 | Politics

Read More: Immigration Reform, Capitol Hill, Illegal Immigration, Reform Immigration for America, Immigration, Immigrants, Immigration Bill, National Capital Immigration Coalition, Hispanic Caucus, Overhaul, Obama, Reform, Immigration Law, Politics News

Thousands of immigrants came to Capitol Hill on Tuesday for a day of lobbying and an afternoon rally calling for comprehensive immigration reform. Th...

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Cadillac Tax: Congress Is Split On Reform Effort To Tax Costly Health Care Plans

New York Times | DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and ROBERT PEAR | Posted 10.13.2009 | Politics

Read More: Gop, White House, Cadillac Tax, Senate Finance Committee, House, Charles Rangel, Cbo, Afl-Cio, Obama, Reform, Democrats, Health Care Bill, Health Care Tax, Pelosi, Rangel, Nancy Pelosi, Public Option, Baucus Bill, Health Care Reform, Tax, Republicans, Health Care, Senate, Politics News

A proposed tax on high-cost, or "Cadillac," health insurance plans has touched off a fierce clash between the Senate and the House as they wrestle ove...

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Max Baucus Has Only Himself To Blame

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.14.2009 | Politics

Read More: President Obama, Senate Finance Committee, Wasted Time, Timetable, Health Insurance Industry, Obama, Reform, Reid, Baucus, Obstructionism, Health Care, August, Committee, House, Finance Committee, Democrat, Congress, Bipartisan, Democrats, Barack Obama, Americas Health Insurance Plans, Insurance Industry, Chris Weigant, Health, Industry, Health Insurance, Max Baucus, Obstructionist, Harry Reid, Republicans, Ahip, Healthcare, Senate, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I have little sympathy for Baucus at this point, when he complains that his adversaries have had time to put out a report attacking his bill. Because there is one reason that they've had all that time.

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Friday Talking Points: Is Opt-Out The Answer?

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.14.2009 | Politics

Read More: Tax Code, Blue Dog, Progressives, Ways and Means, Compromise, Reform, Charles Schumer, Howard Dean, Tripled Down, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, 60 Vote, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Health Care, Nationwide, Public Option, States Rights, Democrat, Congress, Democrats, Barack Obama, Im in My Place, Nobel Prize, Schumer, Progressive, Mddotw, Put Her in Her Place, Health, Opt Out Plan, Blue Dogs, Americas Next Great Pundit, Healthcare, Senate, George Bush, President Obama, Teddy Roosevelt, Cloture, Senator, Dr Dean, Public Plan, State, Filibuster, Obama, Democratic, Charlie Rangel, Woodrow Wilson, Friday Talking Points, Bush, Dean, Republican, Pelosi, Double Down, Simpsons, Co-Op, Triple Down, Doubled Down, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Taxes, Trigger, Tax Laws, House, Nobel, Marge Simpson, Playboy, Nobel Peace Prize, Opt Out, Tenth Amendment, Rangel, Chris Weigant, Clockwork Orange, Afghanistan, Politics News
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.

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Fate of Healthcare Reform Is in Joe Lieberman's Hands

M.S. Bellows, Jr. | Posted 10.10.2009 | Politics

Read More: Snowe, Public Option, Obamacare, Firedoglake, Olympia Snowe, Public Plan, Fire Dog Lake, Joe Lieberman, Reform, Obama, Healthcare Reform, Health Reform, Healthcare, Jane Hamsher, Lieberman, Bellows, Politics News
M.S. Bellows, Jr.

Progressive observers may be forgetting that the 60 votes in the Senate necessary to invoke cloture, in most people's calculations, includes Joe Lieberman (I-Hartford Insurance).

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Glenn Beck Isn't Blocking Health Care Reform

Robert L. Borosage | Posted 10.07.2009 | Politics

Read More: Glenn Beck, Reform, Lobbyists, Teabaggers, Rush Limbaugh, Political Contributions, Republicans, Contributions, Politics News
Robert L. Borosage

It is worth remembering that Glenn Beck is not blocking the passage of a good health care bill. The old and new carny acts of the right aren't undermining the energy legislation or frustrating financial reform. To focus on who and what is standing in the way -- follow the money.

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Obama Poll Watch: Obama Halts His Slide

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.06.2009 | Politics

Read More: Polls, Obama Polls, President Obama, Monthly Polls, Obamapollwatch, Trendline, Reform, Poll, Obama, Disapproval, Charts, Bush, Approval Ratings, Polling, Data, Opinion Polls, Health Care, Obama Approval, Obama Poll Watch, Graph, Trend, Daily Polls, Chart, George HW Bush, Undecided, Approval Rating, Barack Obama, Job Approval, Realclearpolitics, Obama Poll Numbers, Opinion Poll, Chris Weigant, Poll of Polls, Health Care Reform, Graphs, Healthcare Reform, Healthcare, Pollster, Politics News
Chris Weigant

This month, the news for Obama fans is not bad. It's not get-up-and-cheer good, either, but it's a lot better than the news has been for the past two months.

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

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.03.2009 | Politics

Read More: 80, Chicago, Spiro Agnew, Eighty Percent, Reform, South America, Alan Grayson, DC City Council, Dc, Charles Schumer, Death Panel, Die Quickly, Grayson Transcript, William Safire, Floor Speech, Midotw, Sexual Harassment, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Don't Get Sick, Health Care, Kenneth Feinberg, Reid, Tarp, Abortion, Public Option, Grayson Speech, Democrat, Letterman, Congress, Pay Czar, Democrats, Barack Obama, Schumer, Mddotw, Child Rape, Health, Harry Reid, Vacation, Nixon, Bonuses, Polanski, Gay Marriage, Healthcare, Senate, David Catania, Ben Nelson, Cloture, President Obama, Sex Scandal, Washington, Filibuster, Moral Relativism, Obama, Democratic, Friday Talking Points, Grayson, Republican, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Paranoid Delusions, Rio, Roman Polanski, Salaries, Rape, House, Copenhagen, Nelson, Consensual, Olympics, Wall Street, Chris Weigant, Sex, Columbus Day, Chuck Schumer, Executive Pay, Troubled Assets, David Letterman, Agnew, Safire, Feinberg, Catania, Politics News
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...

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