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Don’t the Democrats control Congress? How did Nancy Pelosi get to the point where she didn’t have enough votes in her own caucus to pass health reform unless she paved the way for language that, as Jon Cohn puts it, “mak[es] it more likely that millions of American women will no longer be able to purchase insurance that covers abortion services”?

I know it’s not sporting or even reasonable to expect Michelle Bachmann to make sense, but this was just too good not to pass along. In her floor speech just now, the good congresswoman from Minnesota just appealed to her colleagues to vote down health reform because “our forebearers are crying out for us to preserve their freedoms.” …

Once again with the health reform bill, we’re seeing how pro-life leaders manage to win popular support for their position by framing it in terms that seem quite reasonable. It’s only if you’re paying attention that you realize the description often doesn’t match the reality of what they’re proposing. To be fair, pro-choice leaders often …

Good Lord. GOP Congressman John Shadeeg just used the ultimate prop in his floor statement, hoisting six-month-old Maddie and telling his colleagues that the infant opposes the current health reform bill because, among other things, “she wants choices in her health care.” What a precocious little tyke. Maybe she could tackle immigration …

The deal was cut verrrrry late last night, so maybe the news hasn’t gotten out everywhere. When Obama arrived on the Hill to rally House Democrats to pass health reform around 11:30 this morning, his motorcade passed anti-abortion activists protesting outside with “Kill the bill!” “Kill the Pelosi bill!” signs. Yet just a few hours …

Despite the fact that solid information about yesterday’s mass shooting at Fort Hood are just starting to trickle in–heck, it was only 12 hours or so ago that we learned that the shooter wasn’t actually dead–speculation has swirled today about whether Nadal Malik Hasan’s brutal act was linked to his Muslim faith.

In general, …

A much-needed lighter moment, courtesy of last night’s Daily Show, an instant classic:

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This is devastating, especially given the extraordinary service and sacrifices the 1st Cavalry has already made, especially in Iraq. If you want to know more about this remarkable unit–and their community at Fort Hood–read this book.

One other thing: If it is true that Nadal Malik Hasan is a psychiatrist, as is being reported, then …

You’re surprised, right? The amazing thing remains McCain’s–and other uber-hawks’–lack of concern about one big fact on the ground in Afghanistan: What sort of Afghan government are we dealing with now? The Senator is only concerned about giving General McChrystal what he wants–an important part of the equation that has to be taken …

There are three suspects, one dead gunman and two others in custody. All three suspects are U.S. soldiers. The tally so far: 12 dead, 31 wounded–also U.S. military personnel. Shortly after 5 p.m., President Obama made these comments:

There has been a tragic shooting at the Ft. Hood army base in Texas. . . . What we do know is that a

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