Why Dems' move to hold the health care conference committee behind closed doors is awful news

I still remember the good ole days when President Obama promised to make sure that all the health care negotiations would be televised on C-SPAN. I didn't think that would happen (although I was hoping he'd try), but I did think there would be at least a modicum of transparency in this process. That we've gone from promising all negotiations would be televised for everyone to see to potentially a situation where the final, most important negotiations are locked behind closed doors is sad - not just from an objective transparency/democracy perspective, but, as you can see, from a progressive final-legislative-product perspective.

http://www.openleft.com/diary/16786/why-dems-move-to-hold-the-health-care-conference-committee-behind-closed-doors-is-awful-news

"* Commenting on progress towards health care reform, Dan Pfeiffer urges Americans not to "fall prey to the cynicism and pessimism of a lot of the chattering class." Sounds like good advice."-Benen

That's right. We should just continue to trust those senators and congressman who got us this far with HC reform. They are just looking out for our best interests so let them work in secret and STFU you chattering classes.

C-SPAN Wants in on House, Senate's "Informal Negotiations"

But in the absence of a "yes" from Pelosi et al, the least that the congressional leadership could do hear is to explain just why it is that it's impossible to have cameras in on the negotiations. And something with facts, and, like, constructed arguments.

Congress is a bit different. It is the people's body. It is the house where democracy rules. Pelosi and the rest may well have good arguments as to why having cameras inside the health care negotiations is simply untenable. After all, the legislative process is as already clogged up with procedure as it is. Or they might be operating upon baseless assumptions. But walking the public through what they see those reasons to be? Seems like that would be educational.

http://techpresident.com/blog-entry/c-span-wants-house-senates-informal-negotiations

The CIA f**k-up is huge.

I now have officially no trust in our intelligence service.

The war on terror has become the error of war.

Who's to say extremists haven't penetrated security everywhere? Including the cyber-sphere.

We do our selves no favors in dismissing the significance of the CIA episode in eastern afghanistan.

To those of you in the CIA...no hard feelings towards you guys. But it is a major major blow to how we gather intelligence.

* Commenting on progress towards health care reform, Dan Pfeiffer urges Americans not to "fall prey to the cynicism and pessimism of a lot of the chattering class." Sounds like good advice.

All Together Now: Shut Up You Lefties!

It's bound to happen, any time progressives have the audacity to demand brave leadership from a Democratic Party that asks for our money, our votes and our volunteer labor. The cry goes up from the self-proclaimed level heads of corporate media: You impractical, self-defeating lefties! Stop whining and let the adults run things! And so, as the leadership debacle that was health reform reaches its climax, it's little surprise that those of us who won't stop fighting for true reform are once again told to shut up.

You see, lefties? You can't hold your leaders accountable, because it's the nameless, faceless "system" that's to blame. Which is pretty much the same street-corner logic that leads millions of people to opt out of democracy altogether. Either the presidency matters or it doesn't. Either our leaders are accountable for the policies they create or they are not. And if they are not, let's drop the conceit of democracy and take the reform debate from there.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion/511889/all_together_now_shut_up_you_lefties

Whew. Based upon background reports trickling out of NPR and BBC, the Jordanian double agent's bombing of CIA personnel in Afghanistan is looking to be an intelligence disaster of truly catastrophic, historic proportion.

This is going to be a very sobering story to watch as it develops.

Unresponsive universities.

This is wrong on so many levels. First Universities are not supposed to be "trade schools" you go to college to learn basic principles then apply those principles to the area of employment you select.

Second, how does a college respond to say, a need for in more nursing staff. Expand the nursing program? Sure, if the state has the money and the regents let them and there is a question of whether universities should provide "technical" educations at all. Note these cost alot more to provide than do basic arts and sciences courses.

Second, computer programmers vs dentists? You get a undergrad degree in computer science you can go to work immediately. With a degree in dentistry and other health services you have to get a bachelor's first, THEN go to a specialized school for training. And many kids do not want to go the four or so years for the extra schooling. (And if they just want to clean teeth, they could avoid a university altogether and go to a technical college.)

Once again, a univerity intended to be more abstract so one learns general prnciples and basic facts about the culture on lives in to help one succeed not only in a career but as a well rounded citizen in general.

And I could go on but I won't...

STATEMENT by US SENATOR BYRON DORGAN

“Over this holiday season, I have come to the conclusion, with the support of my family, that I will not be seeking another term in the US Senate in 2010. It is a hard decision to make after thirty years in the Congress, but I believe it is the right time for me to pursue these other interests.

http://dorgan.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=321298

This is a major blow to Democrats in the Senate. Aside from Dorgan being a pretty solid champion for the middle class, in the populist prairie tradition, he represents a state that is pretty solidly Republican (although Barack Obama actually did half-decent there in 2008). John Hoeven is one of the most popular Governors in the country, and if he jumped into this race - which is pretty likely - I think he would win in a walk.

That’s an almost certain flip to the Republicans in the Senate, one they probably won’t even have to spend very much to get, and it really frustrates any opportunity for Democrats to maintain their 60-seat advantage. This is basically the last year of governing for the Obama Administration for the discernible future, especially as Democrats will have far more seats to defend in the Senate in 2012 and 2014. And they’ve already hinted that there will be almost no governing this year.

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/01/05/byron-dorgan-retiring/

Obama is right to want to "chew" a few new ass-holes in our intelligence realm.

How many brazillians of dollars have we spent on less than adequate technological marvels?

We are duped into thinking spending close to a trillion dollars a year on warfare is a wise use of public funds.

In a way, our wars are our public healthcare option since we have a vast veterans medical system in place.

Think of the 10,000s of brain damaged vets on "public" option health care right now.

Most of our war wonuded of late are folks who would've died in past wars.

Makes one pause.

On the pending home sales thing...

It was down a huge 16% in November. That's a *leading* indicator for home sales.

That's not a fall, that's cliff diving.

"The number of people preparing to buy a home in November fell sharply in the latest sign that the housing market, which had been rebounding strongly, may be headed for a 'double-dip' downturn over the winter."

Could this have anything to do with the first-time homebuyers credit originally originally expiring in December, and (one assumes) anyone who was planning to buy a home at any point last year getting it out of the way before December 1?

Nope. The effect of the home buyer's tax credit ending was seen earlier in the Fall, when there was a surge in sales, essentially people rushing in to buy before the credit expired.

The credit was eventually extended, but that doesn't seem to be helping home sales.

On one hand, this is actually semi-good news: one of the main problems is we have too much housing inventory that has to get reduced. A huuuuge amount of foreclosures will be brought on the market by banks this Winter. It'll depress the market in a major way, but it'll help to clear out housing stock.

I mean, either that or we start bulldozing foreclosed homes, and I don't see that happening.

Actually bulldozing foreclosed homes seems to be one of the best suggestions made of late. It is pretty clear the banks have no interest in fixing the problem either short or long term. It is equally clear that banks trying to peddle millions of foreclosed homes for pennies on the dollar is a recipe for another but bigger banking bailout. I hope the bankers enjoy the next round of bonuses we are probably going to have to force down their throats. Maybe it is time to fire Rubin's Wall Street rabble and solve the problem.

The war on terror has been about scaring people, not protecting them

The ease with which the plane bomber could operate exposes the vacuity and recklessness at the heart of the US response to 9/11

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2010/jan/03/yemen-anti-terrorism-rendition-security

CIA agents in Afghanistan are 'menace to themselves,' former operatives claim

Attacks expose long-term US intelligence failings

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/05/cia-intelligence-weaknesses

Guantánamo: The Definitive Prisoner List
( Updated for 2010 )

One year ago, it looked feasible that Guantánamo would close by January 2010. We now know that President Obama’s self-imposed deadline will be missed, partly through the unprincipled agitating of opportunistic opponents in Congress and the media, and partly through the government’s own lack of courage in the face of this opposition, but this is no reason for complacency. As the eighth anniversary of the prison’s opening approaches, it remains imperative that those who oppose the existence of indefinite detention without charge or trial — and who call, instead, for the full reinstatement of the Geneva Conventions for prisoners of war, and federal court trials for terrorists — maintain the pressure to close Guantánamo, and to charge or release the prisoners held there, as swiftly as possible.

http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2010/01/04/guantanamo-the-definitive-prisoner-list-updated-for-2010/

http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/

No facts to support this rant, but...didn't we fire a whole bunch, in the thousands, of Middle East linguists for being gay and out? Because some soldiers might feel uncomfortable with them around? I wonder how safe they feel now, with the CIA providing them cover?

I recommend everyone see AVATAR and receive the message of the power of indiginous community against the invading aliens...guess who the aliens are.
I See You,
st john

Steve: "Anything to add?"

Yes.

First, after spending a week at the Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl, I wish I was still on vacation.

Second, the Boise State Broncos proved themselves to be the best college football team west of the Mississippi, and yes, I think they're better than the Texas Longhorns. If the big-name BCS schools - particularly the smack-talking ones down south - think they're so superior, then they should prove it on the field and start scheduling the Broncos, rather than ducking them.

By all means, let's get all pissed off at Pelosi and Reid for choosing not to broadcast what are sure to be very delicate negotiations.

Because we all remember what a great understanding of congress and its procedures we have from studying the tapes of, say, the creation of social security, and medicare, and the major civil rights bills, and the EPA, and bank regulations (and the doing away with thereof), and... and...

oh wait.

You know, children, there was a time before video. And before CSPAN. And before blogs. And before Fox and John Stuart. And a lot of, you know, really, really important stuff got done. Really.

Holy cow! First Dorgan and now Ritter; two in on day. I thought guys in the d all strong, macho types, not afraid of a bit of competition?
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/colorado-gov-bill-ritter-joins-retiring-democrats-1.php?ref=mp

Sorry for the garbled message above; 'puter (mouse?) problems. "I thought guys in the heartland were all strong... etc"

Ritter folded. He has been the target of talk radio in Colorado for months. The rumor mongers have him linked to his Chief of Staff, Villafuerte, who just removed herself as the nominee for US Attorney in Colorado. Local republicans are on the air in Colorado 80 hours a week; they have been very successful in framing the debate and attacking the dems. The dems don't respond and don't answer. It is a shame that they don't fight back.

I would not be surprised if Bennet decided not to run. Pleased, but not surprised. This is tea party country and the radio is all theirs.

"Dear National Counterterrorism Center: please hire more Middle East analysts."

A de-FEMA-ization campaign to rid the agency of Bush-appointed time servers and graduates of Regent University would be useful, too.

Great Advice from Dan Pfeiffer. I hope colleen is listening.

"By all means, let's get all pissed off at Pelosi and Reid for choosing not to broadcast what are sure to be very delicate negotiations. "

Your thesis boils down to: sure they promised us something but lets not hold them to that, and lets not avail ourselves of new technology, instead lets just sit in the dark with our fingers in our ears and assume it all turn out alright.

In other words- you're a fool, cease speaking and start listening.

I think the aftermath of the Ritter decision will be pretty interesting. Ken Salazar has wanted to be gov in the past, but John Hickenlooper could win the election easily. Will Dems run a Republican-lite Dem cowboy to try and counteract McInnis' cowboy appeal, or will Dems unapologetically run a sucessful progressive big-city (for these parts!) mayor?

@ Tialoc
My, aren't we angry?
How about we stay home next election day? That'll show 'em!
How about we have a really liberal protest candidate to siphon off just enough of the vote. That worked out really well for us in MA in 1978, for instance:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_J._King
or for that matter in NY23 for the GOP this year.
Honest to Jeebus, people like you sound like the GOP sometimes: my way or the highway.
Would you rather the old fart (and Palin) had been elected?
Politics in real life is about getting things done. Sometimes its not the thing you want, or sometimes it doesn't go as far as you'd like, but that's what politics is about, for grownups.
Would I have liked Obama and Reid, especially, to be more ideological and more forceful? Absolutely. It would have been more satisfying, viscerally. Do I think they'd have accomplished anything more, and more quickly? Probably not.

Yesterday, I think, Steve posted about the *very* positive things that have been happening on the regulatory agency front, under the radar. Those kinds of things really do matter, you know.

As far as the technology: enh. You know we really did manage before that stuff. Technology should be the servant of the process, not the master.

There was actually some analysis in the 80's that suggests CSPAN changed congressional behavior, and not for the better. Sorry, no cite. Debate happens, votes happen, committees meet just the same.