Trigger

White House Thinks Trigger More Progressive Than Opt-Out: Mark Whitaker

The Huffington Post | Rachel Weiner | Posted 11.11.2009 | Politics


According to NBC News Washington Bureau Chief Mark Whitaker, some in the White House -- and on Capitol Hill -- think a 'triggered' public option is pr...

Obama: The Central Question of Our Time

Cenk Uygur | Posted 11.03.2009 | Politics


Cenk Uygur

Obama's first year has not been full of good signs. He got a few things done while clearly leaning on the wrong side on the most important issues. But it's nowhere near too late.

How Lieberman Stole Reid's Candy and Drank Snowe's Milkshake

M.S. Bellows, Jr. | Posted 10.27.2009 | Politics


M.S. Bellows, Jr.

Forty-eight hours ago, Snowe could have extracted almost anything from the Democratic leadership. Then 24 hours ago, Snowe became irrelevant -- and two hours ago, Lieberman seized his opportunity.

Please Mr. President, Stick To Your Guns and Don't Pull the Trigger on Public Option

Vivien Lesnik Weisman | Posted 10.26.2009 | Politics


Vivien Lesnik Weisman

Obama should be worrying less about Reid's arithmetic and more about losing some progressive senators who may not pass a plan that includes the trigger provision.

The Trigger is a Lie

Cenk Uygur | Posted 10.26.2009 | Politics


Cenk Uygur

There's a million ways to rig the Medicare system so that nothing ever gets triggered. In fact, that's the whole point of the trigger. Anyone who advocates otherwise is a liar.

Sam Stein and Ryan Grim

Leaderless: Senate Pushes For Public Option Without Obama's Support

HuffingtonPost.com | Sam Stein and Ryan Grim | Posted 10.25.2009 | Politics


President Barack Obama is actively discouraging Senate Democrats in their effort to include a public insurance option with a state opt-out clause as p...

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.

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.

Howard Dean vs. Rahm Emanuel

Cenk Uygur | Posted 09.30.2009 | Politics


Cenk Uygur

Once again, Howard Dean is right and Rahm Emanuel is wrong. What Emanuel doesn't seem to get is that real change is realistic.

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.

It's Good to Be Wrong Sometimes

Mike Lux | Posted 09.24.2009 | Politics


Mike Lux

A worried Senator called me last night to tell me they were extremely nervous that the White House was on the verge cutting a deal with Olympia Snowe on her trigger-that's-not-a-trigger amendment.

Key House Progressives Open To "Trigger" Bargain

Roll Call | Posted 11.08.2009 | Politics


Amid fresh signs that the White House is preparing to back a scaled-down health care overhaul that would only include a public insurance option as a f...

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.

Obama: Leaning Toward Limited "Regional" Public Option?

M.S. Bellows, Jr. | Posted 10.23.2009 | Politics


M.S. Bellows, Jr.

Gibbs seemed to hint at a new twist in the debate over whether a government-operated health insurance program will be one of the options available in health reform legislation.

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?