I could have written any number of headlines about a health care poll released this week by Zogby International and the University of Texas Health Science Center. Like most of the polls done in the past year related to health care, there are an infinite number of story lines that could be pulled out to prove an infinite number of …
2012 Election
Health Care: The White House Readies Its Own Plan?
The signals are growing louder that the Obama White House is readying its own health care plan in advance of next week’s summit. Press secretary Robert Gibbs fueled the speculation in his briefing yesterday. Asked about the possibility, Gibbs replied: “Stay tuned.”
If so, it would be a sharp break from the strategy that the White …
You Know Things Are Bad When…
Morning Must Reads
–Despite the high profile retirements and a Majority Leader on the ropes in Nevada, the chances of the GOP flipping the Senate in November remain slim, albeit not impossible. Adam Nagourney looks at the map in today’s Times, concluding that Republicans would have to run the table in all competitive races to have a shot.
–Everybody …
McCain Gets a Primary Challenger
Sure, McCain’s had two primary opponents for months, but this one is so big that one of those original challengers — Minutemen Civil Defense Corps. founder Chris Simcox — actually stepped down and endorsed the new challenger. The newcomer isn’t really all that new, former Arizona Rep. J. D. Hayworth, who lost his seat in 2006. Hayworth …
The Jobs Bill: What Went Wrong
In case anyone was wondering what an earth happened last week with the jobs bill hokey pokey, here’s a time.com story from me looking into what went on behind the scenes. The most troubling aspect of all this? That Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin are apparently further screwing up a screwed up Senate in their fight over Reid’s corpse. …
Morning Must Reads
–D.C. dysfunction seems to be the theme of the day. Bayh says it’s why he’s retiring. Former Clinton chief of staff and Center for American Progress president John Podesta, citing GOP obstructionism, says the political environment “sucks.” Tea Party angst over big government run amok lands on the front page of the New York Times. A Wall …
Morning Must Reads
–Here’s some trivial President’s Day trivia: The folks at Smart Politics figured out that 20 percent of U.S. presidential elections (that would be 11) have been won by a candidate born under the astrological sign Aquarius. Before anyone gets too excited, it’s worth noting that one of the five presidents contributing to this number is …
Health Care Summit Details Released – Do the Dems Have a Deal Already?
The White House just released details for the Feb. 25 bipartisan health care summit President Obama called for. (h/t Greg Sargent) Here are the invitees and here is a letter about the format, in which Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says that before the summit, “we will post online the text of a proposed health …
Morning Must Reads
–Bill Clinton has been released from the hospital and doctors say his prognosis is “excellent.”
–Rhode Island Rep. Patrick Kennedy, the late Ted Kennedy’s youngest son, has announced he won’t seek a ninth term in office. It would be the first time in almost 50 years a member of the Kennedy clan is not serving in Congress. He is the …
We Have a Jobs Deal… Er, No.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and the top Republican on the committee, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, unveiled a long-anticipated bipartisan jobs bill this morning but clearly they didn’t run their plan past the leadership — or at least didn’t gain leadership support before they proceeded. This afternoon, Senate Majority Leader …
Politicians as (C-SPAN) Reality Stars
Talking Points Memo, a progressive outlet, is taking quite a bit of joy in House Minority Leader John Boehner wondering if President Obama’s upcoming health care summit will be simply a “political event.” Under the headline, “Boehner: How Dare Obama Televise The Health Care Debate After I Demanded He Televise The Health Care …
A Diaz-Balart Retires
Republican Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida — not to be confused with his brother Mario, who also serves in the Sunshine State’s House delegation — is expected to announce has announced he won’t be running for re-election in November.
The Miami Herald (via Ben Smith) reports this move sets off an elaborate electoral game of …