and isn’t impressed. Although there are some positive provisions in the current House Tri-Committee bill – including insurance for all and payment reform demonstration projects – the proposed legislation misses the opportunity to help create higher-quality, more affordable health care for patients. In fact, it will do the opposite. In general, the proposals under discussion [...]
I’m guessing that the word “experiment” was pretty effective with the focus groups: (Via our friends at C-SPAN)
Benjamin Netanyahu’s phony flexibility on a two-state solution was always transparent–and it’s now becoming apparent that Israel is the prime impediment to progress in the Middle East. Over the weekend, the State Department asked Israel’s Ambassador Michael Oren to convey U.S. displeasure over continued Israeli settlement expansion in Jerusalem, which Netanyahu rejected out of hand. [...]
There’s been some chatter today about the fact that Obama is meeting at the White House today with Thomas Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also referred to as the Mormon church). As with Obama’s Vatican visit a few weeks ago, there’s always interest when a president meets with the [...]
The sun rises in the east. The sky is blue. Bill Kristol advises Republicans to vote against health care reform. The first time he tried this, in 1994, he established a reputation for tactical “brilliance,” as he managed to intimidate Bob Dole–whose life was saved by government health care–into opposing the Clinton effort. The Republicans [...]
Here’s some good reporting from the intrepid Pamela Constable about the situation in Helmand Province. I love the fact that our new Ambassador Karl Eikenberry is (a) getting out to the provinces on a regular basis and (b) not just visiting the troops, but walking through the bazaar, talking to the locals, getting a sense [...]
Because it’s Friday afternoon–and because Gary Busey is never not funny, in a crazed sort of way. After reading this ridiculous Politico article about Obama’s drinking habits (Does the President drink too much? Some callers to a Louisiana sports radio show think so!), I started looking for references to Jimmy Carter and alcohol, because my [...]
In reading the comments of CBO Director Doug Elmendorf from yesterday, a number of Swampland commenters asked what, precisely, might be done as part of health reform to (1) put more downward pressure on health costs overall and (2) make it deficit-neutral, as President Obama has promised. Today, OMB Director Peter Orszag reminds congressional leaders [...]
Paul Slansky does it again. What was your favorite indexable moment of the week?
