In response to Josh's Where's This Going? post of  September 7, 2009, 10:31AM --
It seems clear that the administration's preferred path (and Olympia Snowe's preference) is the direct path to "junk insurance" -- expensive, crappy coverage that is mandatory and that hurts those with the least flexibility in the system (i.e., those with preexisting conditions, those who've been turned down, those who already have expensive junk insurance).
The real idea behind "triggers" is to provide these cowards with political cover for making no meaningful progress at this time.
Public policy triggers never get pulled. There's no compelling argument that says they would get activated in the future. 
It's all about lacking political will, and it's starting to look like the Obama administration lacks both will and spine.

Can somebody please explain to me what happens to Arlen Specter's seniority on committees now that he has switched over to the Democratic side?

I certainly don't want to under-sell the tragedy of children being pressed into service as soldiers, but I do think Ms. Beyerstein misses a key point.

Apparently Ann Coulter's book sales are way down.

Now that Tennessee is buried in toxic coal waste sludge, I wonder if Michigan will declare that they should get no bailout from the federal government.

Obama could redeem himself somewhat if he were to "spank" Warren's views in his inaugural address and call for tolerance in a way that rebukes Warren's stated views.

the Dow drops almost 700 points?

As evidence, I submit the following chat on WashingtonPost.com, in which she is consistently and astonishingly wrong.

Say it ain't so, Joe!

McCain announces that he is about to change economic direction again:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14493.html

... if Sarah Palin is being forced to resort to having unscripted contact with the mainstream media.

What happened after the debate?
Both Barack and Michelle Obama stayed and shook every hand, signed every autograph, and posed for every possible photo with EVERY undecided voter at that debate.
The McCains, by contrast, fled the premises.
What the heck was going on with that???

Republican consultant Mike Paul was on the attack on 'Hardball' and kept repeating his linkage of Obama to "a radical who blew up government buildings in the 60s."
When Chris Matthews acknowledged that yes, okay, Ayers "was a Weatherman," Mike Paul looked right past him, then said, "Yes, that's nice -- AND he blew up government buildings in the 60s and 70s."
It took me a few seconds before I realized he was just spewing what someone had written for him on his notecards.
He did not know that Matthews was referring to Ayers' membership in the Weather Underground (aka 'Weathermen') group.
He believed that Matthews was indicating that Ayers had served at some point as a meteorologist!
The ignorance bar is set high if you're a Republican consultant!!!

Republican consultant Mike Paul was on the attack on 'Hardball' and kept repeating his linkage of Obama to "a radical who blew up government buildings in the 60s."
When Chris Matthews acknowledged that yes, okay, Ayers "was a Weatherman," Mike Paul looked right past him, then said, "Yes, that's nice -- AND he blew up government buildings in the 60s and 70s."
It took me a few seconds before I realized he was just spewing what someone had written for him on his notecards.
He did not know that Matthews was referring to Ayers' membership in the Weather Underground (aka 'Weathermen') group.
He believed that Matthews was indicating that Ayers had served at some point as a meteorologist!
The ignorance bar is set high if you're a Republican consultant!!!