I'm afraid Laura Rozen is not nearly enough to lend any respectability to the Politico.

New twist: health care reform supporter shows up at a public event with a gun.

Ah, that's the second ingredient in a Shitstorm Cocktail.

Liberals should fight hard -against- health care reform. We're so short sighted: we're never willing to stand on principle, take a long, and position ourselves better for the next round. Instead, we fold--prove correct the right-wing theory that we're weak--and everyone knows we fold. So why bother ever giving us -anything-?

Yes, working against an opposing faction that is actively attempting to undermine the government-by-the-people--that actually boasts about drowning it in a bathtub--makes our job more difficult. But that means we need to fight smarter, not always one degree stupider.

going to miss Slate's "Today's Papers" feature, and think the magazine is making a big mistake by getting rid of it

Didn't reference WaPo often enough.

The addition of anyone at Politico would not make a difference.
That Laura opted to join such a publication says much.

* The H1N1 flu vaccination campaign will be "unprecedented in its scope."

Something does not quite jibe...

Is this action being taken by the same uncaring government that is being accused of planning "death panels" that would kill grandma in order to save on health care costs? Would it not be considerable more economical and efficient for the government to just do nothing about the H1N1 flu to rid the society of its weakest and less fit, thereby saving billions?

How about showing up armed with colorful plastic squirt guns at such events? Laugh at the fools, ey?

Classic Baucus. We in Montana know Baucus. "I'm for it, but I find the opposite acceptable too." Keep that finger in the wind, Max.

This liberal doesn't have to support a bad health care bill at all. Unlike Armbinder, I don't make my decisions based on how nutty I think the other side is. If the White House or my congresscritters want my support for this bill, they need to write a bill that earns my support. It is that simple. Which explains why no one in Punditopia will possibly understand it. For all they claim politics ain't beanbag, they sure do act like it is a giant game where homerism is all that matters.

I'd just like to point out that one of the 33 advertisers Beck has lost was the Clorox Co.

Talk about an eroding base of support. Beck is in serious trouble if he's even lost the support of people who do nothing all day but try to make things whiter.

Open thread:
We don't have those over the weekend, alas, so I'm posting today... Yesterday's WashPo's Outlook section had an excellent article, debunking the fright-wing's talking points on healthcare. As my husband said: should be compulsory reading, with tests, for all Congresscritters. I'd add that copies ought to be handed out to all attendees of townhalls, even those who have their hands full already (with guns).

The only thing missing from the online version (I read the article in hard copy) is the "all wee-weed up" quote from Obama. Too bad :)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/21/AR2009082101778.html

New twist: health care reform supporter shows up at a public event with a gun.

The Second Amendment is for liberals also.

So far, nobody has showed up with a gun to an insurance company stockholders' meeting.

So a libby has come to a townhall event armed, proving that all other leftists' talk about working things out without violence is just that, talk.

He probably wasn't pro-healthcare reform anyway. Just wanted to make all gun owners look bad by pretending he's a socialist.

Beck is in serious trouble if he's even lost the support of people who do nothing all day but try to make things whiter.

Fabulous.

I completely agree on the Today's Papers point. The new alternative is easily replaced by a two-minute scan of the NY Times front page and lacks the depth and relevance of the older features. Here's hoping that Slate brings it back.

Another in the myriad of reasons we need to dramatically reduce the amount of carbon dioxide we're pumping into the atmosphere or face the consequences:

Research finds higher acidity in Alaska waters

By DAN JOLING (AP) - 15 hours ago

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Erosion threatens to topple coastal Alaskan villages. Melting ice threatens polar bears. Now, a marine scientist says the state's marine waters are turning acidic from absorbing greenhouse gases faster than tropical waters, potentially endangering Alaska's $4.6 billion fishing industry.

The same things that make Alaska's marine waters among the most productive in the world — cold, shallow depths and abundant marine life — make them the most vulnerable to acidification, said Jeremy Mathis, a chemical oceanographer at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

"Ecosystems in Alaska are going to take a hit from ocean acidification," he said. "Right now, we don't know how they are going to respond."

Ocean acidification, the lowering of basicity and the increase in acidity of marine waters, is tied to increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

His research in the Gulf of Alaska uncovered multiple sites where concentrations of shell-building minerals were so low, that shellfish, including crab, and other organisms would be unable to build strong shells.

"We're not saying that crab shells are going to start dissolving, but these organisms have adapted their physiology to a certain range of acidity," Mathis said. "Early results have shown that when some species of crabs and fish are exposed to more acidic water, certain stress hormones increase and their metabolism slows down.

"If they are spending energy responding to acidity changes, then that energy is diverted away from growth, foraging and reproduction."

Acidification could affect the tiny pteropod, also known as a sea butterfly or swimming sea snail. It is at the base of the food chain and makes up nearly half of the diet of pink salmon. A 10 percent decrease in pteropods could mean a 20 percent decrease in an adult salmon's body weight.

"This is a case where we see ocean acidification having an indirect effect on a commercially viable species by reducing its food supply," Mathis said.

"Afghanistan's Finance Minister, with unofficial results, said President Hamid Karzai has won re-election with 68% support"

Where's the romantic, breathless, saturation coverage of a *stolen* election in Afghanistan?

* Hot off the presses: "The Obama administration on Monday released additional portions of a long-classified CIA report on the agency's interrogation of high-level Qaeda detainees. The document contains new allegations of detainee abuse at secret prisons around the world and seems likely to prolong a debate about the legality and effectiveness of employing coercive methods to elicit intelligence from terrorist suspects.... The report, presciently, noted that 'the agency faces potentially serious long-term political and legal challenges as a result of the . . . program, particularly its use of [Enhanced Interrogation Techniques] and the inability of the U.S. Government to decide what it will ultimately do with terrorists detained by the agency.'"

How you managed to get this out without mentioning the fact that the Obama administration plans to go forward with rendition is beyond me, but there you have it. Careful, Steve. Someone who just happened by your website might mistake you for a mere fluffer.

The Tomasky quote is an example of something that Bob Somerby harps about - "kicking down". He says defeat of a health care bill would be a victory for "the birthers and the gun-toters and the Hitler analogists". This is not the way to sway the mass of the people. Why not say it would be a victory for health insurance executives, fat cat lobbyists and conservative leaders??? Instead he goes out of his way to insult ordinary people who apparently don't have his savvy (i.e. he lumps all opponents of reform in with the nutters). Lets go after the leaders not the followers - even if some of the followers are a bit nutty or badly informed or just mean. The small people at the bottom are not the ones responsible for the current state of affairs.

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) says he really does support a public option.

Not so you'd actually *notice* it or anything.

-Z

Steve: "Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) says he really does support a public option."

Talk is cheap, and Max Baucus and his Senate Finance Committee has offered yet another item for sale as a blue-light special.

Mike K: "So a libby has come to a townhall event armed, proving that all other leftists' talk about working things out without violence is just that, talk."

What the fuck are you talking about, you moron?

A Clarence Thomas-wannabe shows up with an assault weapon at a VFW convention, and you just automatically assume he's liberal because he's African-American? "We the People" is a right-wing group with extensive ties to the militia movement, you know-nothing racist.

Now, get out of here, you stupid bimbo, before I'm tempted to call Kellogg Brown & Root with a false work order, and they rewire all your bathrooms acording to their Iraq military base specs, using the bathtub and shower stall drainpipes as the ground.

I have to say I do love the fact that the Healthcare Reform *supporter* came to a rally with a gun. I wish more Liberals would fight fire with fire, so to speak, and show the idiots on the other side that their guns don't make them special or *right*. I know it's silly and potentially dangerous, but I must say it tickles me. Reminds me of the Pink Pistols, a gay group that has the motto "Armed Gays Don't Get Bashed." You go, girl.

"The stupidity may be poised for a comeback, thanks to a far-right congressman from Arizona."

Speaking of Trent Franks, the comments on the Politico blog reveal that yes, indeed, the birthers are out in force. They show their ignorance by continuing to push the same nonsense that has been shot down repeatedly, but maybe they can't come up with anything new.

the addition of laura rozen has instantly made the politico a stronger publication.

mother of god, the addition of my brother, who runs sound equipment for trade shows in denver and environs, would have made politico a stronger publication.

The Obama administration has decided to break with Bush-era rules and will notify the International Committee of the Red Cross about the names of detainees held by U.S. Special Operations forces.

You forgot to add that the Obama admin has also decided to continue to Bush-era tradition of extraordinary rendition.

Fuckers.

Thx, junebug. Good to see someone else calling Steve out.

Earlier today a commenter suggested that McCain and Lierberman have their lifetime health care revoked and buy commercial health insurance.

Here's one better from Mrs. Anonymous:

They should DONATE their lifetime health insurance to some unfortunate and needy family of four or five. Money where their mouth is department.

"The H1H1 flu"

That darh swihe flu

Steve: "As of this morning, Glenn Beck has lost 33 advertisers."

And as of this evening, make that 36.

Michael Tomasky on health care reform and the left: "[L]iberals have to fight hard for something they're not terribly excited about. A health bill will likely have a very weak public option or it won't have one at all. But liberals will have to battle for that bill as if it's life and death (which in fact it will be for thousands of Americans), because its defeat would constitute a historic victory for the birthers and the gun-toters and the Hitler analogists. In the coming weeks, building toward a possible congressional vote in November, progressives will have to get out in force to show middle America that there's support for reform as well as opposition, even though they may find the final bill disappointing."

As usual, the otherwise-unemployable Michael Tomasky has his head stuck somewhere unpleasant, where he thinks he's breathing Chanel No. 5 rather than what he's really inhaling.

Voting for and supporting crap is idiotic, and for those who think I am being over the top about this, I strongly urge you to go buy the latest issue of Rolling Stone and read Matt Taibbi's article on the subject.

The "employer mandate" is no mandate. There is no requirement of minimum services such employer-provided insurance should offer. And if you turn down your employer's craptacular "insurance", you WILL NOT be able to go get insurance elsewhere, since ALL employer plans will be deemed "legally qualifying." If you decline to accept whatever you already have, the system will deem you unqualified for getting other insurance, and the IRS will hit you with a stiff tax penalty for failing to get insurance as required by the law.

Why in hell do you think Wal-Mart is supporting this alleged "reform"?????

I am so tired of retread Clintonistas like Tomasky - who's never held a real job in his life other than "pundit" - telling me what I have to do to be a "good liberal."

Go stick it back up your ass, Michael.

You know, I think it's reprehensible that George W Bush never produced his birth certificate either.

Never showed it to me once.

2800 local health departments administering a CDC-developed H1N1 vaccine? That sounds suspiciously like government-run, government-paid for healthcare to me.

mike k: So a libby has come to a townhall event armed, proving that all other leftists' talk about working things out without violence is just that, talk.

what violence?

meanwhile...

"All this hysterical and provocative talk invites, incites, and prepares a prefabricated justification for violence." - Conservative David Frum 8/23/09

If health care reform fails completely, it's going to create an electoral tidal wave for Republicans which will likely sweep away many of the blue dog Dem congressmen in 50/50 districts. (Yes, the same blue dogs who are smugly opposing the health care reform effort now.)

How does this make sense?

And what about Harry Reid? He's in a tight re-election battle right now. Anyone think he will survive the Republican tidal wave out in Nevada if liberals are totally demoralized about health care reform failure--and Obama's not on the ballot?

bob h: 2800 local health departments administering a CDC-developed H1N1 vaccine? That sounds suspiciously like government-run, government-paid for healthcare to me.

Everybody knows that the H1N1 vaccine is actually a virus created by Osama bin Laden and provided to his sleeper cell, Barack Hussein Obama, to give to the newly-created Death Panels to use to kill all white Americans. Starting with Sarah Palin's grandmother.

By which I mean, nicely played!

Um what do you think of the guy who ATTACKED the person who was open carrying in Portsmouth? Hmm, I thought so, no word on that... I think you can hardly say Kostric was 'threatening' violence when the paid Obama thugs walked right up to him and kicked him in the groin? I think he showed remarkable restraint not to draw his gun. If he was so dangerous, why didn't he?

Then the Paid Obama thugs had the nerve to walk along and spit in the camera.

Nice violence eh? Where is the outrage?

Look it up on Google... around Aug 12 --

Um what do you think of the guy who ATTACKED the person who was open carrying in Portsmouth?

You mean the guy with the sign that implied it's time to kill the president and water the "tree of liberty" with his blood?

The reason that no one else on the right is stupid enough to bring it up is because he was threatening the life of the president of the United States and calling for violence. Whoever may have kicked Kostric in his tiny balls wasn't a "paid Obama thug," as much as you'd like that meme to take hold, but what should have happened and didn't is the secret service tackling him to the ground, cuffing him, and hauling him off to Federal Court for charges.

When Bush was president you couldn't come within miles of him with the wrong tee shirt or bumper sticker much less a gun, and if you did you were arrested. Now that Obama is president conservetards whine when they can't bring a gun AND a "death to Obama" president to the same venue without someone taking objection.