—Karen notes that Anthem’s 39% rate hike in California – in part due to an altered risk pool in the struggling economy – makes a convincing argument for certain elements of health reform. The Obama administration agrees, and HHS Secretary Sebelius makes just that case on the White House blog. I would not be surprised to see this …
Congress
Obama in the Briefing Room
The president made a surprise visit to the daily press briefing Tuesday, only the third time he has made such an appearance to date. He reported back on today’s talks with congressional leaders from both parties, and took wide-ranging questions from the press.
Obama said he asked Republican leadership this morning to end the practice …
Bipartisan or Bi-posturing? Obama Convenes A Rectangular Table
The meeting has begun, between Republicans Mitch McConnell and John Boehner, Democrats Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer, and the senior White House staff, including President Obama.
This is the first of what Obama has promised to be monthly gatherings between Republicans and Democrats, and basically nobody has much hope that …
Morning Must Reads
Hey Swamplanders. As Karen mentioned, I’m going to be chipping in around here. One of the things I plan on doing is a daily “Morning Must Reads” post to share a few things that we’re currently following. Here is its maiden voyage:
–Consistent with the tenor of past health reform negotiations, Republican leadership and the White …
Re: Politics of Process…
Michael, per this post, I’d again like to make this argument: The filibuster is not the problem. The filibuster is the solution. If only they made Senators like they used to.
UPDATE: For those of you Swamplanders who want to delve into the geeky details of what it takes to actually conduct a filibuster, here’s a link to a 2003 report …
Re: Jack Murtha
As Jay notes below, Murtha was a close friend and mentor to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and her effort to install him as her second-in-command counts as a rare misstep in her leadership of her caucus. So why such a close and unlikely bond between the gruff Marine and the San Francisco liberal?
Jack Murtha, 77, Dies
Pennsylvania Rep. John C. Murtha, died today of complications relating to a gallbladder surgery. He was 77.
A decorated Vietnam War hero, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi credited Murtha — who was her first choice for majority leader — with helping to turn public opinion against the war in Iraq after he announced his opposition to the war …
Another Bipartisan Health Care Summit?
Palin’s Speech
The Grand Ole Opry may have been next door but Sarah Palin preached to the choir on Saturday at the National Tea Party Convention and brought down the house. The two-day event, held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Hotel, had been a relatively placid affair – Tea Partiers learned how to social network and reach out to young …
The GOP Twitter Kings
Everyone thinks of Obama-land and the Dems as the rulers of new media after their successful harnessing of facebook and social media networking during the 2008 campaign. Apparently, Congressional Republicans have caught on quick. According to a new Congressional Research Study, House Republicans are responsible for the majority of …
The Tea Party Goes Mainstream
The organizers of the National Tea Party Convention today announced that they will be forming a 501(c)4 corporation and related political action committee (PAC) to raise money to support 15-20 candidates for Congress or the Senate in the 2010 elections. “I have long said that the Tea Party movement doesn’t endorse candidates, …
Tea and Crumpets
Here’s my take from the first day – which was mostly meet and greet. Later in the evening former Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo delivered a predictable speech on immigration reform and the health care bill – an updated version of his 2008 stump speeches during his short-lived presidential campaign — as the audience munched on warm …
Bring on the Tea
In what will be one of the biggest thematic swings in my reporting career, a week after getting back from Haiti I’m heading to Nashville, Tennessee to cover the first ever National Tea Party convention.
As with any kind of grassroots movement, holding a national convention is somewhat of an oxymoron. Before dispatching me, my boss, …