There appears to be real progress toward an interim nuclear deal with Iran. Of course, assorted neoconservatives will see this as appeasement or a betrayal or the impending end of life on earth as we know it…but they’re wrong. It’s not nirvana, but it’s a step in the right direction. It may mean that the [...]
We got sad word this morning of the death of Jack Nelson, longtime D.C. bureau chief of the Los Angeles Times and my first boss in Washington. He won his Pulitzer in 1960, for a series of stories exposing the abuses at a state hospital for the mentally ill in Georgia, and went on to [...]
The First Lady strays off-message at a Healthy Kids event at the White House this afternoon, rhapsodizing about the snack she craves the most: My favorite food in the whole wide world is French fries. I love them. Dearly. (Laughter.) Deeply. (Laughter.) I have a good relationship with French fries and I would eat them [...]
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid just told reporters that he will not be moving Senator Debbie Stabenow’s 10-year, $247 billion freeze on doctors’ Medicare payments. He said he thought he had the votes – and was promised Republican 27 votes from the AMA – but has since realized he doesn’t. “I don’t bring anything to [...]
The $247 billion bribe bill to help the nation’s doctors may be stalling out on the Senate floor this week (here’s my story). But Dems have won at least one concession from the group: an agreement not to push for the inclusion of medical liability reform in the broader bill. From Rebecca J. Patchin, M.D., [...]
The Capitol Hill dual loyalty dilemma–national interest vs. provincial interest–is clearly displayed in this quote from Sen. Harry Reid, who as the top Democrat in the Senate is responsible for getting health reform to President Obama’s desk. “I make absolutely no apologies,” he says, “none – – for helping people in my state.” The help [...]
It would have been hard to script this better. Eric Wohlschlegel, who actually works at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, had to break up a fake chamber press conference today, organized by a group that was not the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The National Press Club was not the only duped group. Reuters ran a [...]
Yup, he’s one of those 60 crucial votes on health care. And like most of his colleagues, he’s got some demands. Gotta love this AP lede: WASHINGTON – For Democrats determined to get a health care bill, Sen. Roland Burris is like the house guest who couldn’t be refused, won’t soon be leaving and poses [...]
In last week’s print column, I referred to David Makovsky and Dennis Ross’s book–Myths, Illusions and Peace: Finding a New Direction for America in the Middle East–merely as a book with a long title. That was unfair and bad karma for my next book, whenever it should bubble forth. You gotta steer people directly to [...]
