Class move Arizona, class move.

"Thanks to Republican budget cuts in Arizona, 47,000 low-income children will lose their health coverage."

The Market Works!

And thanks for nuthin', Altmire. Used to be my representative.

a potential wrinkle I hadn't seen before: desmoinesdem reports that Braley (D-IA01) is now undecided based on the removal of a Medicare reimbursement parity provision from the original House bill he had supported. For those unfamiliar and wondering whether this problem is from the left or the right, Braley is a real rising star and one of the leaders of the House Progressive Caucus.

BIG UPS to the TROOPS!

And to those soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who perished in GWB's criminal war:

You're in our hearts.

My representative, Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15), noted in her e-mail to constituents explaining her vote that she lives with MS, so she understands the difficulties faced by Americans with pre-existing conditions. This group includes a certain Ohio resident with Parkinson's who turned up on video this week...

I will vote for the health insurance reform bill that will put our families and small businesses in charge of their health care choices. As many of my constituents know, I live with multiple sclerosis. I understand what millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions face, including my constituent who suffers from Parkinson's disease and who was physically harassed by opponents of health insurance reform just this week in front of my office.

I look forward to slappy's take on Bob, the Parkinson's guy.

Jesus, go to that fake memo link @ Politico and read the comments. The level of stupid in this country is appalling. Brainwashed morons who know nothing about anything. That is one of the saddest damned things I've seen. Years and years of propaganda have paid off for the GOP. They have a solid 30% of people salivating to kill liberals and too many others believing the Beck/Rush lies that the government is against them. I weep for my country.

Thanks to all the sociopathic war mongers who pushed for war in Iraq. Current count is about 1.7 US serviceperson-lives per day since the Iraq war began.

Regarding the final item (7th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq:

Stunning...just stunning!

And, still no mention of Green Zone, the movie with Matt Damon, whose character is searching for the non-existent WMD in Iraq. Seems strange that this movie is getting no press or mention in liberal blogs. While it is a fictional account, it does raise the issue, once again, of the false premise under which we invaded Iraq. Once again, I am disappointed that we are missing another opportunity to keep the outrage about the violence and lies of the previous administration and the current crop of deniers alive.

peace,
st john

According to its 2006 tax returns, Freedom Alliance reported revenue of $10,822,785, but only $397,900-or a beyond-measly 3.68%-of that was given to the children of fallen troops as scholarships or as aid to severely injured soldiers.

On the other hand, 62% of the money went to “expenses,” including $979,485 for “consultants” and an “advisor.” Yes, consultant/advisors got more than double what injured troops and the kids of fallen troops got. The tax forms show that “New World Aviation” got paid $60,601 for “air travel.” Was that for Hannity’s G5? Like I said, neither the charity nor Hannity is talking. And finally, that year, Freedom Alliance spent $1,730,816 on postage and shipping and $1,414,215 on printing, for a total of $3,145,031, nearly half the revenue the charity spent that year and about eight times what the injured troops and the children of fallen ones received.

For those who might wonder, Charity Navigator considers an "excellent" charity to be one with administrative costs less than ten percent of total income.

On the seventh anniversary of Little Georgie's invasion of Poland, the government of Iraq is now nearly completely allied with...

the Iranian theocracy.

Way to go, Republican "patriots." America is ever so much more secure after your sacrifice (you did volunteer to go, didn't you? Didn't you???)

I am shocked to hear that Christiane Amanpour will be the new anchor for ABC "This Week". Christiane Amanpour is a real journalist. This will definitely make ABC stand out on Sunday mornings. Christiane is brilliant. I don't see her letting guests get away with spin. I think she will do her homework and challenge Democrats and Republicans and let the chips fall where they may.

I don't think I have ever seen anyone act as badly as the republicans have during the whole health care debate, we have seen lies every day, dirty tricks and name calling, now a fake memo. Is there anything they will not do to stop people from getting health care?

Ditto Ladyhawke. I remember Amanpour broadcasting from hot spots that the rest of the MSM couldn't find with a map in one hand and Google in the other.

Now if CNN could gin up some viewers for the Global Public Square. . .

DAY - I could not agree more about Global Public Square. Fareed Zakaria is outstanding. His interviews are just amazing. I always learn something new when I watch his show.

JS - What you just said. It is astonishing to me how childish the Republicans are. They are like juveniles. There is no seriousness of purpose. I don't know how the government can operate with an opposition party that has no interest in governing. Basically, they don't want to govern and they don't want President Obama to govern. That's what the obstruction is all about. Governing might produce some good results, we can't have that.

I remember during the campaign, Senator Obama said he wanted to make government cool again. I thought that was a great line. President Obama is proving that It is possible to have smart, efficient government. That's why the Republicans are terrified.

In my humble moral opinion...

JS @ 7:23: I don't think I have ever seen anyone act as badly as the republicans have during the whole health care debate, we have seen lies every day, dirty tricks and name calling, now a fake memo. Is there anything they will not do to stop people from getting health care?

They probably wouldn't go so far as to provision their teabagger army with explosives and suicide vests...
But short of that?
No, there is nothing they won't do.

Ms.Joanne, I was going to comment on the Politico comments myself. I tried to post a complaint about one that talked of hanging/tar&feathering but no matter how many times I tried it kept refusing to accept.
Those opinon letter are confusing and reek of brain washing. I'd feel sorry for them if they weren't so scary. I thought most of the comments were disgusting and downright UnAmerican.

I look forward to watching Ms Amanpour in her new show. I know she will be better at it than those who are leading the Sunday morning talk shows. None of them are any good and all seem to have the loser McCain on speed dial.

Must say I'm rather partial to this type of a "success" story; the SOBs are so concerned about money, I can't help but cheer when they mis-invest...
http://washingtonindependent.com/79811/153000-later-titus-is-a-yes#more-79811

Great to see C. Amanpour get out from under CNN...and it looks like Stephanopoulos has finely found his true calling.

kc, when Benen first reported the anti-reform-vs-Parkinson's- sufferer story, and I voiced my concerns, I' pretty sure I wrote, on multiple occasions "hope I'm wrong." My concerns about whether or not the incident was staged was never really about the guy didn't have Parkinson's, but whether the entire confrontation and reaction was pre-planned. Were the dickheads real dickheads or pretend dickheads? "Why would someone pretend to be a dickhead" is as rhetorical question as "Why do some people call the news pretending to be an eyewitness to a horrific incident only to scream BOBBA BOOEY!?" Because if it was staged, then anti-reform advocates could point to it as proof that we're stooping to making them look bad (when they do it so well on their own). There was a moment on that video that gave me, and still gives me, reason to wonder. Somehow that concern got twisted into making it sound like I'm Glenn Beck's errand boy. If I'm wrong, and it looks like I was, then I'm happy to BE wrong. But don't paint me as a monster for having the audacity to wonder if what I was seeing was real. If memory serves, we the people didn't do enough of that about 7 years ago.

speaking of Russia, Russians will build some of India's nuclear power plants:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8561365.stm

Best. Lefty viral email. Ever.

Got someone who sends you right wing virals?
Try bouncing them this one.

"Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.) was a yes, and announced that he'll stay a yes. A key vote, to be sure."

I phoned his office twice and had lengthy talks both times. I honestly believe I helped.

I think I'll phone after the fact to thank him. Maybe a good idea for all of us.

On this auspicious coincidence between 7 years in Iraq and the HCR vote, I give you this reminder:

CONSTITUTION OF IRAQ - ARTICLE 31
"First: Every citizen has the right to health care. The State shall maintain public health and provide the means of prevention and treatment by building different types of hospitals and health institutions.

Second: Individuals and entities have the right to build hospitals, clinics,or private health care centers under the supervision of the State, and this shall be regulated by law.

*****

Our soldiers are shedding blood and dying in Iraq so its people can have (among other things)...Universal Health Care.

kc, when Benen first reported the anti-reform-vs-Parkinson's- sufferer story, and I voiced my concerns, I' pretty sure I wrote, on multiple occasions "hope I'm wrong." My concerns about whether or not the incident was staged was never really about the guy didn't have Parkinson's, but whether the entire confrontation and reaction was pre-planned. Were the dickheads real dickheads or pretend dickheads? "Why would someone pretend to be a dickhead" is as rhetorical question as "Why do some people call the news pretending to be an eyewitness to a horrific incident only to scream BOBBA BOOEY!?" Because if it was staged, then anti-reform advocates could point to it as proof that we're stooping to making them look bad (when they do it so well on their own). There was a moment on that video that gave me, and still gives me, reason to wonder. Somehow that concern got twisted into making it sound like I'm Glenn Beck's errand boy. If I'm wrong, and it looks like I was, then I'm happy to BE wrong. But don't paint me as a monster for having the audacity to wonder if what I was seeing was real. If memory serves, we the people didn't do enough of that about 7 years ago.

some random exec from sallie mae was on the pbs news hour saying how much the student loan bill would hurt her company... uh that's like al capone telling us how much honest cops would hurt his gambling and protection rackets.

They probably wouldn't go so far as to provision their teabagger army with explosives and suicide vests...

Well, no, doing that would require courage. To a lot of them, this is half politics, half reality TV show. Actually endangering themselves would not be entertaining.

Amanpour is an excellent journalist, but This Week seems a show based more on domestic rather than foreign policy, and the latter is really her focus.

Unless she's moving the show in a new direction...

I used to watch cnn news, till they screwed up cross fire. Then it became communist news network. I only watch fox news channel now. For what it's worth, It seems to me that all the money, time, and effort to push a unpopular health care bill, for so long of time, has been a total waste. Why havent both sides of the isle been working on promoting jobs, and working to help our friends in Israel? They should be ashamed. barack hussein obama needs to spend more of his time upgrading and managing foreign affairs. These days it seems the words God, Jesus, Christ, Christian, Christianity, and Christmas have become as nasty as the filthy "N" word. I am a Vietnam Era Veteran Honorable and I fought to keep communism from taking over, but it seems this adminastration is pushing to form that type gov. I am crippled with Parkinson's Disease. I have to buy meany medications for my health issues. Not one politician has approached me to get my opinion, as for that matter, not one politician has approached me. Who care anymore in Washington DC? I Thank God I am a Christian and I am NOT afraid or ashamed to admit I Love the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm NOT ashamed to say I love God. I'm not ashamed to say I love (you) my neighbor as my self. Seems to me that most politicians and president barack hussein obama think they are above the law. They seem to be out of touch with the average honest tax payers.
http://www.foxnewsmagazine.com/ Dr Doc dlcs

JS @ 7:23: I don't think I have ever seen anyone act as badly as the republicans have during the whole health care debate, we have seen lies every day, dirty tricks and name calling, now a fake memo. Well, the Republicans during the lead-in to the second invasion of Iraq. And the Republicans following 9-11. And the Republicans arguing for Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy, first because the economy was so good, and then because it was so bad. And the Republicans impeaching Clinton and trying to investigate every last little thing about the Clintons, and fighting against health care the last time around. And Newt Gingerich and Dick Armey, pretty much everything they ever said or did. And certainly everything Limbaugh ever said. And the whole corrupt Reagan cabinet. And Nixon's government. Hold on, I think I'm detecting a pattern.....

Whether or not you live in their districts, call the following Congresspeople (who are either undecided or are progressives who are considering opposing the legislation) and ask them to vote in favor of health care reform so that we can finally begin fixing our broken health care system.

Zack Space - Ohio (Zanesville, Dover, Chillicothe) - (202) 225-6265

Marcy Kaptur - Ohio (Toledo) - (202) 225-4146

Bill Foster - Illinois (Batavia, Dixon, Geneseo) - (202) 225-2976

Kathy Dahlkemper - Pennsylvania (Erie) - (202) 225-5406

Chris Carney - Pennsylvania (Clarks Summit, Shamokin, Williamsport) - (202) 225-3731

Melissa Bean - Illinois (Schaumburg) - (202) 225-3711

Steve Driehaus - Ohio (Cincinnati) - (202) 225-2216

Jim Matheson - Utah (South Salt Lake, St. George, Price) - (202) 225-3011

Stephen Lynch - Massachusetts (Brockton, Boston) - 202-225-8273

Peter DeFazio - Oregon (Eugene, Roseburg, Coos Bay) - 202.225.6416

Michael Arcuri - New York (Utica, Auburn, Cortland) - (202)225-3665

Rick Boucher - Virginia (Abingdon, Pulaski, Big Stone Gap) - 202-225-3861

Henry Cuellar - Texas (San Antonia, Laredo, Rio Grande City) - 202-225-1640

John Tanner - Tennessee (Union City, Jackson, Millington) - 202-225-4714

Glenn Nye - Virginia (Virginia Beach, Accomac) - (202) 225-4215

Brian Baird - Washington (Vancouver, Olympia) - (202) 225-3536

Dan Lipinski - Illinois (LaGrange, Oak Lawn, Chicago’s southwest side) - (202) 225 - 5701

Joe Donnelly - Indiana (South Bend, LaPorte, Michigan City, Kokomo) - (202) 225-3915

Marion Barry - Arkansas (Jonesboro, Cabot, Mountain Home) - (202) 225-4076

Harry Teague - New Mexico (Hobbs, Las Cruces, Socorro, Los Lunas, Roswell) - (202) 225-2365

Jerry Costello - Illinois (Carbondale, Belleville, E. St. Louis, Granite City, Chester) - (202) 225-5661

John Barrow - Georgia (Savannah, Augusta, Vidalia, Milledgeville, Sandersville) - (202) 225-2823

Nick Rahall - West Virginia (Beckley, Bluefield, Huntington, Logan) - (202) 225-3452

Solomon Ortiz - Texas (Corpus Christi, Brownsville) - (202) 225-7742

Horrors! You mean Politico, that vaunted news-gathering member of the village that you regularly link to is publishing false documents that paint Dems in a bad light?? Shocking!

Thanks so very much for the link. Again.

I see you still think consorting with the enemy is just fine.

re: Hannity's Freedom Alliance

The American Spectator has published a correction to the earlier story, along with a response from Freedom Alliance -- which claims the money is in a trust fund for when the children reach college.

Appears Debbie Schlussel completely jumped the gun on this, but the correction reads as if the American Spectator didn't do much more to check FA's defense than they did her original accusations.

Considering that Hannity makes his living fabricating and twisting the truth, I wouldn't believe anything anyone near him said that couldn't be verified.

st john. did you happen to read the insipid piece by Ross Douthat of the NYT about "Green Zone" not being "fair and balanced"? I have seen LTEs in various PNW newspapers taking Douthat to task for his column knocking the "Bush Lied, Many Died" theme.

Now, as Rachel Maddow targeted, last evening, David Vitter is still sending out "Please Donate" requests based upon that phony memo passed around by Drudge and Politico. DV still begs "Please, help me slay that Evil Demo Dragon and Carnal Lusts". Perhaps his wife needs a new leopard skin dress.

See where Michelle Malkin is requesting an emergency hold over at her right wing publisher for her new "Neo-Profiles in Courage" - She needs to send out a shout out to that "Brave" RepuG Arizona Guv.

I wasn't painting you as a monster, slappy, just ribbin' ya.

I would agree that it would be wise to do some verifying before making too much of a video like that, but you seemed to be exceptionally vehement that it was staged.

It's funny how worried liberals are about getting busted on something like that. If cons had a video that appeared to show a couple of liberal protesters acting like dickheads, they wouldn't give a damn whether it was staged or not. They'd tout it all over the place. And it'd be on heavy rotation on CNN for days (not to mention Fox).