Asked–and answered. It sounds like the Catholic bishops conference won’t need time to consider whether to oppose health reform because of objections to coverage for abortion services. A handful of Catholic leaders, led by USCCB president Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, released a statement yesterday expressing their “deep …
The Coming Deficit War: Why You Will Be Paying More To Uncle Sam (Or Getting Less From Him)
The New Republic’s Noam Scheiber has a piece up this morning describing the bipolar economic pressures that the White House is now struggling with: the need for more stimulus spending vs. the need for less deficit spending. (I also have a piece in the next issue of the magazine–subscribe here $1.99 for six weeks–on the same topic.) …
Between Furious and Astounded
That’s where bailout watchdog Elizabeth Warren finds herself these days. She talked about that and more this morning on C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal”:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dH07-hlXEA&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
In the ArenaUncategorized
A Noble Lecture
Oslo
How does a rookie President, having been granted the Nobel Peace Prize, go about earning it? Well, he can start by giving the sort of Nobel lecture that Barack Obama just did, an intellectually rigorous and morally lucid speech that balanced the rationale for going to war against the need to build a more peaceful and equitable …
Barack Obama’s Nobel Prize Speech Transcript
As delivered today at Oslo City Hall, in Oslo, Norway.
Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, distinguished members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, citizens of America, and citizens of the world:
I receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility. It is an award that speaks to our highest aspirations — that for all the
…
Of Coins, Medals, Neutral Evidence, Hanukkah and Latex Gloves
Five things you probably don’t need to know about:
1. Have you noticed recently that friends or neighbors are lugging hundreds of pounds of mint condition currency from their mailbox to their cars? Well here’s what’s going on: They have discovered the apparently-legal, frequent-flier, dollar-coin, free-shipping gambit you probably …
New Arrests In Pakistan: Another Homegrown Threat?
TIME’s Bobby Ghosh files this report:
AP is reporting that Pakistani authorities in the northeastern city of Sarghoda have detained five U.S. nationals. Three of the men are of Pakistani origin, one is of Egyptian descent and the fifth man is of Yemeni descent. All are aged between 18 and 20, according to local authorities.
It is …
Desirous to Speak with Desiree
Congressman Peter King had an awkward moment at the White House Monday night. Climbing the stairs in the East Wing to attend the President’s Holiday reception for Congress, the New York Republican bumped into White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers. The two exchanged pleasantries, never mentioning that King, the top Republican on …
Forget William Shatner, Byron Dorgan Does It Sexier
File under “Best Filibuster Ever.”
Over at TPM, Christina Bellantoni points to this video of North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan reading the scripts of televised pharmaceutical ads yesterday on the Senate floor. Like William Shatner doing the Palin family on Conan O’Brien, a little bit of Dorgan goes a long way, especially when it comes to …
In the ArenaSarah Palin
Palin Drone
The Washington Post devotes valuable op-ed space today to Sarah Palin, who uses it to denounce “politicized science”:
I’ve always believed that policy should be based on sound science, not politics.
Okay. But she’s not denouncing the politicized, oil-drenched policies of the Bush Administration. She’s joining the right-wing hysteria …
Senate Kills Nelson Amendment–Over To You, Bishops
No surprise here. As expected, the Senate voted down the Nelson abortion amendment late Tuesday (technically, they voted to table the amendment, which is essentially the same thing as killing it) by a vote of 54 to 45. Pro-choice GOP Senators Snowe and Collins supported the move, while pro-life Democratic Senators Bayh, Casey, Conrad, …
Is the Public Option Dead? Plus, Amendments That Might Actually Matter
The Associated Press and New York Times are reporting tonight that the 10 senators tapped to negotiate an alternative to or compromise on the Senate health reform bill’s public option have dropped the idea of a government-run health insurance plan altogether. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters that the group is sending …
In the ArenaUncategorized
Iran on Fire
Andrew Sullivan is doing the righteous thing, keeping track of the continuing student protests–and assorted government depredations–in Iran. The Khamenei-Ahmadinejad dictatorship has been killing prisoners, imprisoning and beating protesters, harassing its political enemies at an unprecedented rate. Given the government’s obvious …