From CNN iReport, the "pollen cloud" that hangs over the Southeast: Pollen season is unavoidable. Here in central North Carolina, the pollen count at the peak of pollen season is typically no higher than 1,500 grains per cubic meter. But on Tuesday, the pollen count in Raleigh was 3,524 grains per cubic meter. And Tuesday in Forsyth County? An astounding 9,632 grains … Read More
BREAKING NEWS: Obama Gives A Long Answer
Apparently, it's more important to report the number of words that Obama uses, and the number of minutes he speaks. What he actually says, however…. whether it is true or not, etc….. eh, that's just filler for this "news" article.
Letter To The Editor
I like this, from today's Winston-Salem Journal: I grew up during the Depression in a very staunch Republican family. Everything Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress did was found wanting. This past week I have been on a nostalgia trip because I have been hearing the same cries and moans and predictions of disaster, ruin, socialism, etc. that I heard in … Read More
The GOP Gets Cold Feet On Repeal
Prescient me, last week: This strikes me as a political tactic bound to fail. For one thing, healthcare reform will have already started, and people will like it. The obvious question to such GOP candidates will be this: "What part do you want to repeal first? The part where insurance companies can no longer drop your coverage when you get … Read More
Quote Of The Day
The right's arguments against health care reform have been laughably false, or have been getting worn from overuse. So now they've come up with another reason to hate health care reform. You ready? Health care reform is racist. And why? Because of the provision in the health care reform act that includes a 10 percent tax on indoor tanning salons … Read More
Justin Bieber Is Like 9/11 All Over Again
…except for the collapsing buildings. And instead of terrorist flying planes and a nation going into war in random overseas countries, there's a kid singing pop songs. But other than that, it's just the same. H/T Glenn Beck:
Self-Unaware Extremist
The Washington Post has a nice little biographical article about a guy named Mike Vanderboegh. Vanderboegh, a former militiaman from Alabama, is a blogger and self-proclaimed opposer of health care reform. His profile is pretty much what you would expect, full of blargh blargh about health care reform: "The federal government should not have the ability to command us to … Read More
Something I DIDN’T Know About The Health Care Reform Law
Restaurants, particularly fast food restaurants, must now prominently display nutrition information on all their items, including information at the drive-throughs — thanks to the law signed today by Obama.
A Poignant Reflection
Ted Kennedy sought health care reform all of his political life. A note by his grave from his son, Patrick Kennedy, reads "Dad, the unfinished business is done." [NOTE: Not to pick nits, but it's not done. It is, however, a good start]
Nothing Succeeds Like Success
One of the oft-heard memes these past few days from Republicans is that the new health care law was "rammed down the throats" of the American people who are (supposedly) "overwhelming against it". Republicans cited various polls showing that the majority of Americans (albeit not an "overwhelming" majority) disfavored Obama's health care bill. The problem with making that argument, as … Read More
“This Is A Big F*ckin’ Deal”
According to everything I've read in the past hour (certainly not a comprehensive scan), Joe Biden introduced President Obama for the signing of health care legislation this morning, turned and embraced him, and said "This is a big fucking deal"… and all that was captured by the microphone at the podium on live TV. Still, from the videos which supposedly caught … Read More
Selected Responses To Health Care Reform… From The Right Wing Rank-And-File
Early on the morning of March 19, someone threw a brick through the window of Rep. Louise Slaughter's office in Niagara Falls, New York, doing $350 of damage, the Buffalo News reported. Slaughter (D-NY) briefly attracted the ire of conservatives over the "Slaughter Solution," a procedural maneuver that was considered (but, ultimately, not used) to pass health reform. Also in … Read More
Other Conservative Parties and Health Care
The founding principles of the Conservative Party of Canada: A belief that all Canadians should have reasonable access to quality health care regardless of their ability to pay; The policy agenda of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom: As the party of the NHS, we will never change the idea at the heart of our NHS – that healthcare … Read More
The GOP Not Done Fighting Against Health Care Reform
Looking around the internets, there seem to be two ways that the GOP intends to undo what has been done. (1) Constitutional challenge to the law itself. Several state attorneys general plan to file a lawsuit challenging the newly passed law, on the grounds that the federal government cannot constitutionally require citizens to purchase health insurance. Without getting too deep … Read More
How Much You Want To Bet Glenn Beck Cries On TV Today?
Just asking…. UPDATE: Perhaps a better question would be: "Will Rush Limbaugh now move to Costa Rica?" UPDATE #2: Digby has the pushback for the whiny wingers: The teabaggers are all upset that the Democrats passed a bill without any Republican votes. Evidently, this makes it illegitimate and unconstitutional. I'm not surprised they think this. They get their constitutional instruction … Read More